Names are so unique to each person and each thing that they represent. To create this Connections puzzle I took 16 names: Mercury, Achilles, Apollo, Nike; Bengal, Siamese, Sphinx, Persian; Fibonacci, Pythagoras, Pascal, Euclid; and Andes, Atlas, Himalayas, and Rockies. All of these words are names involved in topics that have interested me throughout my life. The first group, Mercury, Achilles, Apollo, and Nike, represents mythological figures from Roman and Greek mythology. They showcase cultural stories and legends that have shaped literature and society for centuries. For me, they are a reminder of the Percy Jackson stories I read as a kid and all of the related books by Rick Riordan. The second group, Bengal, Siamese, Sphinx, and Persian, relates to cat breeds. I chose to group these words together because some of them could be related to mythology. Growing up I have always had cats; however, I have never known their breeds, as they always join our family after being strays we found in our yard. The third group, Fibonacci, Pythagoras, Pascal, and Euclid, honors historical mathematicians. I have enjoyed and been fascinated with math my entire life, which led me to pursue a computer science degree. Although I have shed many tears when trying to learn these mathematician's contributions to math, more of me has found it satisfying when everything finally clicks in my mind. The final group, Andes Atlas, Himalayas, and Rockies, refers to famous mountain ranges across the world. Coming up with this category was more random than the others, as I created it based on the trip I took last week when driving through the Rockies (driving through the mountains can be scary).

Navigating anxiety has at times, been a difficult presence in my life, leaving me dreading social interactions and second-guessing my capabilities. However, it has also driven me to grow, adapt, and challenge myself in ways I never thought possible. In high school, I made the conscious decision to confront my anxiety by immersing myself in various activities and leadership roles. Joining and running several clubs, including National Honor Society, Key Club, and serving as a class officer, allowed me to step outside my comfort zone. These roles helped me develop organizational skills and foster a sense of belonging and purpose. Yet, my most transformative experience came through my time with the Miss Bridgman Scholarship Organization. Participating in this program taught me invaluable public speaking and interview skills, which I was later able to utilize in DECA and helped me advance to the international competitions. More importantly, it surrounded me with a community of like-minded friends who shared my passion for giving back to our small town. Feeling their support, I realized that my anxiety did not need to be a huge factor in my life and was simple one tiny aspect of who I am. These experiences of competing through the Miss Bridgman Scholarship Organization Program, and after getting to attend events, as a part of the court, such as food drives, reading to elementary schools, and meeting other royalty in the area, I gained confidence in my ability to connect with others and contribute meaningfully to my community. The journey hasn't always been easy, but it has taught me resilience and the importance of seeking out opportunities that push me to grow. The transition to college brought a new set of challenges. Starting my first semester in an unfamiliar environment where I didn't know anyone certainly made my anxiety worse. Social interactions felt overwhelming, and I struggled to meet people (living in a small town my whole life, I never did anything without having at least one person I knew). However, I realized I was never going to grow, and I could not let fear hold me back. Over time, I began building connections, starting with my roommates, and then expanding to the other girls on my dorm floor. To continue branching out, I spontaneously decided to join the ballroom dance team. This experience of practicing and competing not only introduced me to a new skill but also helped me form meaningful friendships with my teammates. This summer, I will spend seven weeks in Iceland, an experience that excites me but also brings its own challenges. Traveling to a foreign country where I don't know anyone is scary, and I am naturally worried about meeting people. However, I see this opportunity as another step in my life to overcome anxiety. I plan to approach this adventure with an open mind and believe this trip will not only help me grow in the present but also prepare me for future challenges, reinforcing my confidence in navigating unfamiliar situations. My educational goals are deeply rooted in my desire to continue this growth. I am currently majoring in computer science and aspire to pursue a career where I can do public speaking and presentations for tech companies. This career path excites me not only because of the technical skills I will develop, but also because it will challenge me to step even further outside of my comfort zone. By combing my passion for technology with my dedication to personal growth, I aim to inspire others and contribute to the advancement of technology. As I look to the future, maintaining my mental health remains important to me. I plan to continue engaging in activities that challenge and inspire me, as these have proven to be the most effective ways to overcome my fears. My journey has shown me that growth often comes from discomfort and that the most rewarding experiences are those that require perseverance.

Navigating anxiety has at times, been a difficult presence in my life, leaving me dreading social interactions and second-guessing my capabilities. However, it has also driven me to grow, adapt, and challenge myself in ways I never thought possible. In high school, I made the conscious decision to confront my anxiety by immersing myself in various activities and leadership roles. Joining and running several clubs, including National Honor Society, Key Club, and serving as a class officer, allowed me to step outside my comfort zone. These roles helped me develop organizational skills and foster a sense of belonging and purpose. Yet, my most transformative experience came through my time with the Miss Bridgman Scholarship Organization. Participating in this program taught me invaluable public speaking and interview skills, which I was later able to utilize in DECA and helped me advance to the international competitions. More importantly, it surrounded me with a community of like-minded friends who shared my passion for giving back to our small town. Feeling their support, I realized that my anxiety did not need to be a huge factor in my life and was simple one tiny aspect of who I am. The transition to college brought a new set of challenges. Starting my first semester in an unfamiliar environment where I didn't know anyone certainly made my anxiety worse. Social interactions felt overwhelming, and I struggled to meet people (living in a small town my whole life, I never did anything without having at least one person I knew). However, I realized I was never going to grow, and I could not let fear hold me back. Over time, I began building connections, starting with my roommates, and then expanding to the other girls on my dorm floor. To continue branching out, I spontaneously decided to join the ballroom dance team. This experience of practicing and competing not only introduced me to a new skill but also helped me form meaningful friendships with my teammates. This summer, I will spend seven weeks in Iceland, an experience that excites me but also brings its own challenges. Traveling to a foreign country where I don't know anyone is scary, and I am naturally worried about meeting people. However, I see this opportunity as another step in my life to overcome anxiety. I plan to approach this adventure with an open mind and believe this trip will not only help me grow in the present but also prepare me for future challenges, reinforcing my confidence in navigating unfamiliar situations. My educational goals are deeply rooted in my desire to continue this growth. I am currently majoring in computer science and aspire to pursue a career where I can do public speaking and presentations for tech companies. This career path excites me not only because of the technical skills I will develop, but also because it will challenge me to step even further outside of my comfort zone. By combing my passion for technology with my dedication to personal growth, I aim to inspire others and contribute to the advancement of technology. As I look to the future, maintaining my mental health remains important to me. I plan to continue engaging in activities that challenge and inspire me, as these have proven to be the most effective ways to overcome my fears. My journey has shown me that growth often comes from discomfort and that the most rewarding experiences are those that require perseverance.

Navigating anxiety has at times, been a difficult presence in my life, leaving me dreading social interactions and second-guessing my capabilities. However, it has also driven me to grow, adapt, and challenge myself in ways I never thought possible. In high school, I made the conscious decision to confront my anxiety by immersing myself in various activities and leadership roles. Joining and running several clubs, including National Honor Society, Key Club, and serving as a class officer, allowed me to step outside my comfort zone. These roles helped me develop organizational skills and foster a sense of belonging and purpose. Yet, my most transformative experience came through my time with the Miss Bridgman Scholarship Organization. Participating in this program taught me invaluable public speaking and interview skills, which I was later able to utilize in DECA and helped me advance to the international competitions. More importantly, it surrounded me with a community of like-minded friends who shared my passion for giving back to our small town. Feeling their support, I realized that my anxiety did not need to be a huge factor in my life and was simple one tiny aspect of who I am. These experiences of competing through the Miss Bridgman Scholarship Organization Program, and after getting to attend events, as a part of the court, such as food drives, reading to elementary schools, and meeting other royalty in the area, I gained confidence in my ability to connect with others and contribute meaningfully to my community. The journey hasn't always been easy, but it has taught me resilience and the importance of seeking out opportunities that push me to grow. The transition to college brought a new set of challenges. Starting my first semester in an unfamiliar environment where I didn't know anyone certainly made my anxiety worse. Social interactions felt overwhelming, and I struggled to meet people (living in a small town my whole life, I never did anything without having at least one person I knew). However, I realized I was never going to grow, and I could not let fear hold me back. Over time, I began building connections, starting with my roommates, and then expanding to the other girls on my dorm floor. To continue branching out, I spontaneously decided to join the ballroom dance team. This experience of practicing and competing not only introduced me to a new skill but also helped me form meaningful friendships with my teammates. This summer, I will spend seven weeks in Iceland, an experience that excites me but also brings its own challenges. Traveling to a foreign country where I don't know anyone is scary, and I am naturally worried about meeting people. However, I see this opportunity as another step in my life to overcome anxiety. I plan to approach this adventure with an open mind and believe this trip will not only help me grow in the present but also prepare me for future challenges, reinforcing my confidence in navigating unfamiliar situations. My educational goals are deeply rooted in my desire to continue this growth. I am currently majoring in computer science and aspire to pursue a career where I can do public speaking and presentations for tech companies. This career path excites me not only because of the technical skills I will develop, but also because it will challenge me to step even further outside of my comfort zone. By combing my passion for technology with my dedication to personal growth, I aim to inspire others and contribute to the advancement of technology. As I look to the future, maintaining my mental health remains important to me. I plan to continue engaging in activities that challenge and inspire me, as these have proven to be the most effective ways to overcome my fears. My journey has shown me that growth often comes from discomfort and that the most rewarding experiences are those that require perseverance.

The universe is made up of color. Chartreuse to cerulean to cinnabar. Most people look around the world in awe of its beauty; some strive to dive deeper into how this beauty is made. What makes the stars appear so heavenly? Why do sunrises give people hope? Astronomy, psychology, and geology can all be broken down to their core of mathematics. Every shift of the stars, every chemical released in the brain, and every rock turned into a fossil is governed by the laws of mathematics. Of course, there are the obvious ways my life has been impacted by math. I have vivid memories of doing my math homework at the dining room table, tears running down my face, as my dad tried to teach me fractions until it finally clicked in my mind. Through perseverance, later, I would sit at the same table, roles reversed, showing my dad what I learned about differential equations. Then, there's the math that has impacted me outside of my academic life. Like everyone else, I was impacted by Covid statistics that determined who was allowed to work and who was likely to get sick. Math was also vital in running my small business. I learned math to find suppliers, set prices, and understand taxes. Even the code making up my website and the encryption used to safely take customers' credit card information rely entirely on mathematics. My appreciation for how math impacts our daily lives has led me to a career in computer science. Maybe one day I will harness my love of math to develop new Artificial Intelligence systems or improve quantum computing to replace traditional computers. Through all the hobbies I picked up as a child and all the careers I have researched and considered, the one constant was their reliance on mathematics. For me, the beauty of math is the beauty of the world. When I look in awe at the colors of the universe, I see the beauty of the math that governs it and my childhood memories of math. Only those who embrace the reality that the world is painted by mathematics can truly understand how beautiful the universe is. I will never give up my desire to learn more about this universe and plan to do so through computer science. Even quantum particles I will study, that don’t appear to follow known mathematical rules, follow some unknown mathematical patterns, just waiting to be discovered in the future.

What if Ant-Man’s quantum realm was real? What if we could move through time like the Flash? These superheroes use physics that we don’t consider possible, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely without reason. While these superhero movies are not likely to become a reality anytime soon, my academic and career goals involve studying these theoretical concepts and making significant technological advances. Over the last few years, I have taken classes and participated in scholarship programs that introduced me to coding. My love for programming and learning about the world through physics has led me to major in computer science at the University of Michigan. After college, I plan to work with and program quantum computers. Currently, quantum computers are millions of dollars, and average people don't need their speed. However, I plan to use my education to make these computers more affordable and worth using in everyday life. Superheroes don’t need to be super-fast or have worlds with their own set of physics; superheroes are instead ordinary people, integral to our society. Everyone has the potential to be one of these people by simply stepping up in their communities and helping others. This is why I love volunteering; it is an amazing way to make a large impact on many people. Over the years I have been able to give back to my community through various forms of community service. From providing childcare in my school district to cleaning up the beaches and parks to collecting donations for my high school’s feminine hygiene cart, I always feel good about helping others. Out of everything I've done, my work for the Mobile Food Pantry at Woodland Shores in the last few years has been the most rewarding. In my sophomore year of high school, I attended the Thanksgiving Mobile Food Pantry, which was way more crowded than previous months I had gone. This was one of the coldest times I had volunteered, which made it even more heartwarming to see the number of other volunteers who had come out to help. Being able to provide turkeys and other Thanksgiving foods to so many in need, truly made me feel like a superhero and showed me how just taking a few hours of my time could change lives. My volunteer work will not cease after I graduate. By using my STEM degree to work with quantum computers, I will be able give back to my community by creating easier and cheaper access to technology. One day down the road, I also hope to return to my hometown to settle down with a family of my own, volunteering at some of the same places I do now. Volunteer work has changed my life and combined with STEM will give me a way be a superhero in the community that raised me.

What if Ant-Man’s quantum realm was real? What if we could move through time like the Flash? These superheroes use physics that we don’t consider possible, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely without reason. While these superhero movies are not likely to become a reality anytime soon, my academic and career goals involve studying these theoretical concepts and making significant technological advances. Over the last few years, I have taken classes and participated in scholarship programs that introduced me to coding. My love for programming and learning about the world through physics has led me to major in computer science at the University of Michigan. After college, I plan to work with and program quantum computers. Currently, quantum computers are millions of dollars, and average people don't need their speed. However, I plan to use my education to make these computers more affordable and worth using in everyday life. Superheroes don’t need to be super-fast or have worlds with their own set of physics; superheroes are instead ordinary people, integral to our society. Everyone has the potential to be one of these people by simply stepping up in their communities and helping others. This is why I love volunteering; it is an amazing way to make a large impact on many people. Over the years I have been able to give back to my community through various forms of community service. From providing childcare in my school district to cleaning up the beaches and parks to collecting donations for my high school’s feminine hygiene cart, I always feel good about helping others. Out of everything I've done, my work for the Mobile Food Pantry at Woodland Shores in the last few years has been the most rewarding. In my sophomore year of high school, I attended the Thanksgiving Mobile Food Pantry, which was way more crowded than previous months I had gone. This was one of the coldest times I had volunteered, which made it even more heartwarming to see the number of other volunteers who had come out to help. Being able to provide turkeys and other Thanksgiving foods to so many in need, truly made me feel like a superhero and showed me how just taking a few hours of my time could change lives. My volunteer work will not cease after I graduate. By using my STEM degree to work with quantum computers, I will be able to give back to my community by creating easier and cheaper access to technology. One day down the road, I also hope to return to my hometown to settle down with a family of my own, volunteering at some of the same places I do now. Volunteer work has changed my life and combined with STEM will give me a way to be a superhero in the community that raised me.

What if Ant-Man’s quantum realm was real? What if we could move through time like the Flash? These superheroes use physics that we don’t consider possible, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely without reason. While these superhero movies are not likely to become a reality anytime soon, my academic and career goals involve studying these theoretical concepts and making significant technological advances. Over the last few years, I have taken classes and participated in scholarship programs that introduced me to coding. My love for programming and learning about the world through physics has led me to major in computer science at the University of Michigan. After college, I plan to work with and program quantum computers. Currently, quantum computers are millions of dollars, and average people don't need their speed. However, I plan to use my education to make these computers more affordable and worth using in everyday life. Superheroes don’t need to be super-fast or have worlds with their own set of physics; superheroes are instead ordinary people, integral to our society. Everyone has the potential to be one of these people by simply stepping up in their communities and helping others. This is why I love volunteering; it is an amazing way to make a large impact on many people. Over the years I have been able to give back to my community through various forms of community service. From providing childcare in my school district to cleaning up the beaches and parks to collecting donations for my high school’s feminine hygiene cart, I always feel good about helping others. Out of everything I've done, my work for the Mobile Food Pantry at Woodland Shores in the last few years has been the most rewarding. In my sophomore year of high school, I attended the Thanksgiving Mobile Food Pantry, which was way more crowded than previous months I had gone. This was one of the coldest times I had volunteered, which made it even more heartwarming to see the number of other volunteers who had come out to help. Being able to provide turkeys and other Thanksgiving foods to so many in need, truly made me feel like a superhero and showed me how just taking a few hours of my time could change lives. My volunteer work will not cease after I graduate. By using my STEM degree to work with quantum computers, I will be able to give back to my community by creating easier and cheaper access to technology. One day down the road, I also hope to return to my hometown to settle down with a family of my own, volunteering at some of the same places I do now. Volunteer work has changed my life and combined with STEM will give me a way to be a superhero in the community that raised me.

What if Ant-Man’s quantum realm was real? What if we could move through time like the Flash? These superheroes use physics that we don’t consider possible, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely without reason. While these superhero movies are not likely to become a reality anytime soon, my academic and career goals involve studying these theoretical concepts and making significant technological advances. Over the last few years, I have taken classes outside of school and participated in scholarship programs (virtually and at Michigan Technological University) that introduced me to coding. My love for programming and learning about the world through physics has led me to major in computer science at the University of Michigan. After college, I plan to work with and program quantum computers. Currently, quantum computers are millions of dollars, and average people don't need their speed. However, I plan to use my education to make these computers more affordable and worth using in everyday life. Superheroes don’t need to be super-fast or have worlds with their own set of physics; superheroes are instead ordinary people, integral to our society. Everyone has the potential to be one of these people by simply stepping up in their communities and helping others. This is why I love volunteering; it is an amazing way to make a large impact on many people. Over the years I have been able to give back to my community through various forms of community service. From providing childcare in my school district to cleaning up the beaches and parks to collecting donations for my high school’s feminine hygiene cart, I always feel good about helping others. Out of everything I've done, my work for the Mobile Food Pantry at Woodland Shores has been the most rewarding. In my sophomore year of high school, I attended the Thanksgiving pantry, which was way more crowded than previous months I had gone. This was one of the coldest times I had volunteered, which made it even more heartwarming to see the number of other volunteers who had come out to help. Being able to provide turkeys and other Thanksgiving foods to so many in need, truly made me feel like a superhero and showed me how just taking a few hours of my time could change lives. My goal is to be able to make this type of impact through the rest of my life and to be able to incorporate my career to do so. My volunteer work will not cease after I graduate. By using my STEM degree to work with quantum computers, I will be able give back to my community by creating easier and cheaper access to technology. One day down the road, I also hope to return to my hometown to settle down with a family of my own, volunteering at some of the same places I do now. Volunteer work has changed my life and combined with STEM will give me a way be a superhero in the community that raised me.

The universe is made up of color. Chartreuse to cerulean to cinnabar. Most people look around the world in awe of its beauty; some strive to dive deeper into how this beauty is made. What makes the stars appear so heavenly? Why do sunrises give people hope? Astronomy, psychology, and geology can all be broken down to their core of mathematics. Every shift of the stars, every chemical released in the brain, and every rock turned into a fossil is governed by the laws of mathematics. Of course, there are the obvious ways my life has been impacted by math. I have vivid memories of doing my math homework at the dining room table, tears running down my face, as my dad tried to teach me fractions. Later, I would sit at the same table, roles reversed, showing my dad what I learned about differential equations. Then, there's the math that has impacted me outside of my academic life. Like everyone else, I was impacted by Covid statistics that determined who was allowed to work and who was likely to get sick. Math is also vital in running my small business. It has required math to find suppliers, set prices, and understand taxes. Even the code making up my website and the encryption used to safely take customers' credit card information rely entirely on mathematics. My appreciation for how math impacts our daily lives has led me to a career in computer science. Maybe one day I will harness my love of math to develop new Artificial Intelligence systems or improve quantum computing to replace traditional computers. Through all the hobbies I picked up as a child and all the careers I have researched and considered, the one constant was their reliance on mathematics. For me, the beauty of math is the beauty of the world. When I look in awe at the colors of the universe, I see the beauty of the math that governs it. Only those who embrace the reality that the world is painted by mathematics can truly understand how beautiful the universe is. I will never give up my desire to learn more about the universe. Even quantum particles that don’t appear to follow known mathematical rules follow some unknown patterns, just waiting to be discovered by bright minds in the future. I hope one of these minds will be me.

What if Ant-Man’s quantum realm was real? What if we could move through time like the Flash? These superheroes use physics that we don’t consider possible, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely without reason. While these superhero movies are not likely to become a reality anytime soon, my academic and career goals involve studying these theoretical concepts and making significant technological advances. Over the last few years, I have taken classes outside of school and participated in scholarship programs (virtually and at Michigan Technological University) that introduced me to coding. My love for programming and learning about the world through physics has led me to major in computer science at the University of Michigan. After college, I plan to work with and program quantum computers. Currently, quantum computers are millions of dollars, and average people don't need their speed. However, I plan to use my education to make these computers more affordable and worth using in everyday life. Superheroes don’t need to be super-fast or have worlds with their own set of physics; superheroes are instead ordinary people, integral to our society. Everyone has the potential to be one of these people by simply stepping up in their communities and helping others. This is why I love volunteering; it is an amazing way to make a large impact on many people. Over the years I have been able to give back to my community through various forms of community service. From providing childcare in my school district to cleaning up the beaches and parks to collecting donations for my high school’s feminine hygiene cart, I always feel good about helping others. Out of everything I've done, my work for the Mobile Food Pantry at Woodland Shores in the last few years has been the most rewarding. In my sophomore year of high school, I attended the Thanksgiving Mobile Food Pantry, which was way more crowded than previous months I had gone. This was one of the coldest times I had volunteered, which made it even more heartwarming to see the number of other volunteers who had come out to help. Being able to provide turkeys and other Thanksgiving foods to so many in need, truly made me feel like a superhero and showed me how just taking a few hours of my time could change lives. My goal is to be able to make this type of impact through the rest of my life and to be able to incorporate my career to do so. My volunteer work will not cease after I graduate. By using my STEM degree to work with quantum computers, I will be able give back to my community by creating easier and cheaper access to technology. One day down the road, I also hope to return to my hometown to settle down with a family of my own, volunteering at some of the same places I do now. Volunteer work has changed my life and combined with STEM will give me a way be a superhero in the community that raised me.

The universe is made up of color. Chartreuse to cerulean to cinnabar. Most people look around the world in awe of its beauty; some strive to dive deeper into how this beauty is made. What makes the stars appear so heavenly? Why do sunrises give people hope? There are many ways to learn about our world: astronomy, psychology, geology. Every one of these fields can be broken down to its core of mathematics. Every shift of position of the stars, every chemical released in the brain, and every rock turned into a fossil, is governed by the laws of mathematics. Of course, there are the obvious ways my life has been impacted by math. I have vivid memories of doing my math homework at the dining room table, tears running down my face: my dad trying to teach me how fractions worked. Then getting older, sitting back down at the same table, roles reversed, showing my dad what I learned about differential equations. Then, there's the math that has impacted me outside of my academic life; the math that is hidden in the background of my daily reality. Like everyone else, I was impacted by the statistics of Covid that determined who was allowed to work, who was likely to get sick, and even who would use Photomath on their online schoolwork. Math is also a vital component in running my small business. There are the common ways math is used in small businesses, but many people forget, that the code making up my website and the encryption used to safely take customers' credit card information is entirely reliant upon mathematics. Perhaps it is no surprise that my appreciation of how math impacts our daily lives has led me to STEM-based careers. Maybe one day I will harness my love of math to develop new Artificial Intelligence systems or improve quantum computing so it will one day replace traditional computers. Or maybe I’ll take a broader approach and study Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, finding ways to make possible what people claim is science fiction. Although I don’t have a clear path, my current goal is to major in computer science and earn a PhD in quantum computing. For me, the beauty of math is the beauty of the world: so when I look in awe at the colors of the universe, I see the beauty of the math that governs it. Only those who fully embrace the reality that the world is painted by mathematics can truly understand how beautiful the universe is and how each individual plays an important role in it. I’m never going to give up my desire to learn more about the universe. Even quantum particles and other phenomena that don’t appear to follow the known rules of mathematics, follow some unknown patterns that are just waiting to be discovered by some bright minds in the future. One of these minds will be me.