The extracurricular activities in which I have participated throughout high school have enriched my life and enabled me to develop my leadership skills. In eighth grade, I was selected as my town’s Ambassador to Project 351, a Massachusetts-based youth-led community service organization. As a member of Project 351, I have led clothing, care package item, and food drives. Coordinating these projects has allowed me to work with friends and peers to improve the lives of those in our community. My experiences with Project 351 have encouraged me to join other service-based organizations, such as my school’s chapter of the National Green Schools Society (NGSS). During my senior year, I served as the president of NGSS. One of my favorite environmental service activities in which I have participated as a member of NGSS is managing the composting station in my school’s cafeteria. Even though I do not plan to go into a field related to environmentalism, volunteering at the compost station has inspired me to continue my involvement with sustainability once I begin college. I hope that as an undergraduate student, I will be able to expand the environmental efforts at my school by using the experiences I had as the president of NGSS. In addition to wanting to create more extensive environmental initiatives, I hope that I will be able to conduct research in the field of neuroscience as an undergraduate student. For many years, the function of the brain has fascinated me, and I am excited to learn more about it as I begin lab work. After I finish my undergraduate studies, I hope to gain a Ph.D. in neuroscience. When I begin my career, I plan to combine my passion for research and helping others by becoming a professor and managing my own lab. I would like to mentor students who take my classes or work in my lab while also searching for treatments for neurological conditions. I am so grateful for the opportunity to pursue these dreams. Last year, I attended a webinar to hear about the journey of a local community service leader. He recounted a story about how he was in a drunk driving accident and worked hard to recover. This story struck me because of how the speaker could have lost so much if the events of his accident transpired differently. A few months ago, I learned what it may have looked like for the speaker’s friends, family, and community if his accident had been worse. On the night of a celebration for my senior class, one of my peers passed away in a drunk driving accident. I never could have imagined that this would happen to any of my classmates, and my community is still shaken by this loss. I hope that eventually no one will be negatively impacted by events like these. I want to keep my friends and others on the road safe by volunteering to be the designated driver if my friends decide to drink. I know only a fraction of the sadness that those closest to my classmate felt after his passing, but I hope that I will be able to prevent anyone else from experiencing this type of pain by ensuring that my friends can return home safely.

Throughout high school, I have been involved with many different types of extracurricular activities. I am a member of Project 351, a Massachusetts-based youth-led community service organization. Since being selected as a Project 351 Ambassador in eighth grade, I have led collection drives for clothing, care package items, and non-perishable foods. Another organization in which I have been incredibly involved throughout high school is the Marblehead branch of the National Green Schools Society (NGSS). This past year, I served as the president of NGSS, and one of my main tasks was managing the composting station in my high school’s cafeteria. My experiences as a member of NGSS have encouraged me to remain involved with environmentalism even though I plan to pursue neuroscience as a career. A common thread between what I find interesting about my extracurriculars and academics is the opportunity to gain knowledge. Whether I am learning about how local government agencies influence environmental policy or about how the immune system has the tools to fight off any type of pathogen, I enjoy being exposed to new information that expands my understanding of the world. This desire for knowledge is part of what makes me interested in pursuing a STEM career. STEM fields constantly evolve due to new discoveries, so being employed in a STEM career will enable me to be involved in the acquisition of knowledge. One of my goals after I graduate college is to be a neuroscience researcher so that I can help discover ways to help those with neurological conditions. Another reason I am interested in pursuing a career in STEM is that I love the involvement with STEM that I have already had. I am currently nearing the end of my AP Biology class, and it is one of my favorite courses that I have taken during high school. Some of my favorite topics from the class have been genetics and the immune system. In addition to the lecture-based portions of the class, I have been able to learn about these topics first-hand by completing lab assignments. One of my favorite labs was a gel electrophoresis activity in which I tested DNA samples to determine whether or not they contained a mutation that causes cystic fibrosis. I hope to continue this type of experiential learning as an undergraduate student so that I will be prepared for a career in research. As a young woman, I can influence the world of science and technology by inventing new ways to carry out research that will help others. Women and other marginalized groups are often overlooked when it comes to the diagnosis and treatment of certain conditions, so as a woman in STEM, I will ensure that my work is inclusive of and beneficial to all. Using the skills I gained through coordinating service projects and participating in lab assignments, I will become a leader in the field of neuroscience in order to pursue knowledge and improve the lives of others.

Since the eighth grade, I have been a member of Project 351, a Massachusetts-based youth-led community service organization. As a member, I have met so many inspiring people, from my peers to the adults who sustain the organization. These people, especially the other members my age, motivate me to be a better person. Through their service, they teach me the positive impact that just one person can make on the life of another, which encourages me to find new ways to expand my service so I can help even more people. Members of my school community also inspire me to be a better person. I am the president of my school’s chapter of the National Green Schools Society (NGSS), and during most of my lunch periods at school, I manage the compost station in the cafeteria by making sure that students sort their trash, recycling, and compost properly. It can be frustrating when people place items in the wrong bin, but there are so many students who take the time to learn where they should place certain items or ask for help if they need it. Whenever someone does this, it makes my day. Even though these seem like relatively insignificant interactions, they are important to me because they show me that although not everyone shares my passion for environmentalism, they care enough to take a few minutes out of their day to make a difference. These interactions inspire me to become a better person because they remind me of the happiness that can be brought about by another other person’s kindness, and I want to spread that happiness to those around me. Before I officially decided that I wanted to major in neuroscience, I knew that I wanted to enter a career that would enable me to help others. As a neuroscientist, I would like to develop new tests and technological innovations that make recognizing and treating neurological conditions far easier. No matter what specific aspect of neuroscience becomes my focus area, I want my work to improve our ability to understand the brain and how to help people who have brain or nerve damage. One area of interest is Alzheimer’s. I hope to be able to discover ways to prevent the negative effects of this condition by studying the brain. This will have a positive impact on people affected by Alzheimer’s, whether they themself have it or are close to someone who does. The desire to help others will motivate my work just as it has driven my extracurricular interests and career choices.

Once when I was attending a training, the facilitator asked, “Is being a leader a choice?” After reflecting on the question for a few minutes, I came to the conclusion that being a leader is a choice because, in order to lead, one must decide to step up to make a difference in their community. Over the years, I have chosen to be a leader in my school and community by coordinating service projects. Each year since eighth grade, I have run clothing drives, care package item collections, and food drives to benefit people in my town and state. I was responsible for advertising the projects, confirming host sites, and delivering donations. In addition to demonstrating leadership by organizing service projects, I have also led diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops for students in middle and elementary schools. Some of these trainings were coordinated by my school’s branch of Team Harmony, and as a facilitator, I presented to fifth, seventh, and eighth grade students in response to acts of discrimination that have taken place in my community lately. I also led the Playbook Initiative, a leadership and anti-bias training created by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, for seventh and eighth graders to provide them with skills to address hate in our community. For both trainings, I prompted students by asking questions to encourage their participation. To me, great leadership means taking the time to gain an understanding of how you can best apply your skills and talents to a situation in order to resolve a problem. Public speaking is often viewed as an important skill for leaders, and while in some cases this is true, a single talent does not make someone a leader. A person who is uncomfortable with public speaking but can use their social media talents to effectively advertise an event is a better leader than someone who feels comfortable speaking to large audiences but does so when there are other tactics that could better support their cause. Being a leader is important to me because as a leader, I can effectively utilize my skills in order to help others. Leadership enables me to make a difference in so many aspects of my life, and I could not be more grateful for the opportunities I have had to lead.

Giving is important to me because there are so many people who do not have access to the most basic necessities, such as food, clean water, and housing. No one should be denied these vital resources, and although I alone cannot fix the problems that have led to this denial, I can make a difference. Giving enables me to help others both directly and indirectly, and if everyone who is able to give did so, that would make a valuable difference in the lives of so many people. I give back by providing goods or services that help others in my state and local communities. For example, one way I give is by leading service projects such as food and clothing drives. When I coordinate collections, all of the donations I receive go to other organizations that can distribute the items to those who need them. Knowing that the items I collect will help someone going through a difficult time motivates me to continue serving. I also donate my time by removing trash from local parks to keep the community safe and clean or by packaging meals that will be distributed to food banks. I believe that many people can do more to give back to their community, myself included, so I hope to expand my involvement in service during my time in college and beyond.

I actively listen to others around me by showing I am paying close attention to what they are saying and reacting in a thoughtful way. Most times when someone talks to me, whether they are a friend starting a conversation about one of their interests or a teacher leading a lecture, I nod, usually unconsciously, to show I am following along with what they are saying. Sometimes, I am drawn out of my state of concentration mid-nod and realize that I have been doing so unconsciously for several minutes. Although this makes me feel like a bobblehead, I believe it is important because it is how I show that I am focused on what someone else is saying. My reactions when it is my turn to speak in a conversation are just as important as my reactions when the other person is talking. I often try to ask questions based on what the other person said to show that I paid attention and am invested in learning more about what they have to say. These actions convey to others that I am interested in what they have to say and that they have my full attention. To me, listening means just that - giving another person your attention and genuinely caring about the conversation in which you are involved. As someone with many unusual and intense interests, I am always appreciative when my friends bring up specific details I mentioned about what happens in my favorite book or remind me of a long math problem I did for fun. These types of actions show that they listened, even though the subject matter may not have been the most interesting to them. I hope that by actively listening, I can bring my friends the same joy they have brought me.

Two simple pleasures that make me happy are reading and crafting. I find both activities calming and believe they are a refreshing way to pass the time. I have been especially busy during my senior year of high school, so these two activities have become even more important since they allow me to forget about the stress of my schedule. I like reading many different genres, such as mystery, realistic fiction, and fantasy, but my favorite book by far is Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Although the story itself is heart-wrenching, it is one of my simple pleasures because reading and analyzing it brings me so much joy. Recently, I got to write about Les Misérables for an assignment, and I had so much fun. This project allowed me to examine aspects of the book in ways that I had not before, and I gained an even greater appreciation for the text. I am not as fascinated with Les Misérables as I once was, but each time I revisit the story, I am reminded of why I love it so much. As I mentioned, another of my simple pleasures is crafting. During the pandemic, my mother taught me how to rug hook, a type of project created by looping strips of wool through a piece of burlap. My grandmother also began teaching me how to quilt last summer. I enjoy these activities because I can get lost in them, but at the end, I have a product that showcases my hard work. I hope that I will eventually become skilled enough to be able to combine my passion for these crafts and for Les Misérables by creating a pillow or wall hanging portraying the events in the book.

In eighth grade, I was selected as my town’s Ambassador to Project 351, a Massachusetts-based youth-led service organization. As an Ambassador, I planned and led my own service projects for the first time. Throughout high school, I have remained involved with Project 351 and other local service organizations. My work with these groups has taught me the true impact just one person who serves can have on others or their community. One of the most impactful types of projects I have worked on over the past few years is service to address food insecurity. Many people lost their jobs when the pandemic began, causing food insecurity to become a more widespread problem. During this period, I continued leading Project 351’s Fall Service to benefit my town’s food pantry and worked with others in my community to deliver food and toiletries. In addition, I coordinated a regional collection for a soup kitchen in my community. I worked with other Project 351 Ambassadors and Alumni to make desserts, cards, and bags with utensils and snacks that could be served alongside meals. This project was so special to me because we found a way to serve others in spite of the pandemic. In addition to larger-scale service projects, I also partake in environmental service at my school. One of my favorite sustainable activities this year has been managing the composting station in our cafeteria. Figuring out what needs to go in the compost, recycling, or trash can be confusing, so as a volunteer at the station, I help people sort their waste from lunch. Though it may seem like a small project, leading the compost station allows the school to greatly reduce what goes into landfills, and I could not be more grateful that I have the ability to make this happen.

When I joined the local chapter of the National Green Schools Society (NGSS) as a freshman, I had no idea it would have such an impact on me. NGSS is responsible for the composting and recycling initiatives at my school, and this year, I volunteered at the composting station in the cafeteria during most of my lunches. Although sometimes this job gets me into sticky situations (like getting sauce from a compostable tray on my hands), it has also become one of the most important parts of my school life. When people come up to the station and ask for help sorting their leftovers, it makes my day because although they are not NGSS members, they still do their part for the environment. The small moments inspire me to drive environmental change on a larger scale. As the president of NGSS, I lead an environmental politics subcommittee. Throughout the year, this group has met with government officials and candidates running for office at both the local and state level. These meetings have fueled my passion for environmentalism by teaching me how easy it can be to work with politicians to pass reforms for a cleaner and greener future. Part of my current and future commitment to environmentalism is sustainable practices in my own life. Shortly before Christmas, my parents bought two gifts for us to enjoy during the holiday season. They gave my brother a Disney Plus subscription, and they gave me a Black Earth Compost subscription. My excitement about participating in a composting program was greater than my brother’s excitement about the streaming service. I am still so grateful for my composting bin and for the amount of waste it saves from landfills. I hope that I inspire others to be passionate about the environment, just as I am.