One of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I try to live my life and why these traits are the basis of both my faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it is about working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but, the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my home community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would try to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. On top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares in the morning. I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. I only seem to be able to manage the bare minimum. I feel well enough to go to school, but I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years of high school, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. As I got older and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. I'm majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Powering the Future-Whiddon Memorial Future Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University. My disease makes working while going to school full time difficult. On top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. In addition to my diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever, I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling and he now lives with his forever family. I have volunteered in many other capacities throughout my life. I have worked at vacation Bible School serving snacks, making arts and crafts, and singing songs. I have made bear bags for families of the deceased at Vitas Hospice. The bears are made of clothing of their loved ones. I have washed dogs to raise money for a local woman with cancer. It fuels me to use my passions to help others. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling and he now lives with his forever family. Throughout my high school career I participated in FFA. Most notably I was in the entomology team and we placed in a few competitions. I also participated in a Wash and Wag event to raise money for a local woman with cancer. Being able to give back in ways that involve my passion really fuels me. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized, my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body as I reach to turn it off. After minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it’s been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years, I’d watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizings my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. On top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but, the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the Ten Commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave us this beautiful environment and I want to protect it so it can continue to help me physically and mentally and so many others!

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it is about working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave me this beautiful environment that surrounds us and I want to use my God given talents to protect it!

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. In addition to my diagnosis of FMF, I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. To me, success means getting my degree and working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I chose and out of state university because they have a great zoology program but the cost is higher. Most zoology programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian, Colorado State University's program focuses more on conservation. The Redefining Victory Scholarship would help me to achieve my degree by funding my education.

My name is Chloe Luna. I am a sophomore at Colorado State University. I work at the Blanco County Courthouse and the shop at the Blanco County Cafe. I am also a cheer coach for the Johnson City Middle School Cheer Camp. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But, in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling. He now lives with his forever family. We also transported a cat with a possible broken leg to the veterinarian. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I believe one of the most pressing environmental issues is very broad. All species and their homes are interrelated. My goal is to work in conservation in the field to protect threatened and endangered species as well as their homes. Everything in our environment is intertwined and my goal is to protect these animals and their homes. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us, from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are, and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s in the ten commandments. We are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly. He treated everyone with respect and kindness, no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that's always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money, but to better your community. It's doing something that you might not always like, just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I've always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology. In my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is because it is who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. Over the years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms were not any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a four-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. My experiences with my brother and other family and community members was inspirational for my volunteer work with Blanco CoApt which is a drug and prevention program for the youth in Blanco County. And on top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then, in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class. My teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money, but to better your community. It is doing something you might not always like, for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals. You are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling. He now lives with his forever family. We have also Transported a cat with an injured leg to the veterinarian for evaluation. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression. One thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I hope to work in conservation in the field.

I’ve always been “smart’ or “gifted” but for as long as I can remember I’ve always struggled with simple things like making decisions, organization, prioritizing tasks, and time management. We always kind of suspected I had ADHD but I was doing fine in my classes so we never sought a diagnosis. But once I got into high school it really started affecting me. I'd forget about assignments, procrastinate, and loose papers and this is what most people think the extent of ADHD is, but in reality it goes so much deeper. No one talks about how sometimes you have energy to do a certain kind of task, but not another or how if the one you have energy for is done you just feel kind of bored the rest of the day but you still can’t make yourself do the other. No one talks about the emotional dysregulation, how your feelings can change just as fast as your thoughts or how painfully aware you are that you’re messing up, or making something more difficult than it should be. The amount of times I've thought why can’t I just do this? It just kept getting worse, but my sophomore year when I was fifteen years old I was finally diagnosed because I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was crying everyday. I’m medicated now and it does help a little, but something about the diagnosis is comforting. It’s reassuring sometimes to know I'm not just lazy or weird, my brain just works in different ways. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my Familial Mediterranean Fever I need a lot more rest then the average teenager so I am unfortunately unable to work while attending school so this scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment I believe I am a good canidate for this scholarship because I have struggled with health issues as well as learning disabilities but have still found ways to be successful!

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I am currently a sophomore At Colorado State University majoring in zoology. I chose this major because I wanted to help the environment. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever, I suffer from anxiety, depression, nausea, arthritis and joint pain. The one thing that has always helped me has been nature. I want to protect the thing that has always helped me. That is how I chose this degree. In spite of my obstacles, I have always achieved at high levels in spite of my disease. I have managed to achieve many honors in spite of my health struggles.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. When I think about my belief in God, my family took me to church as a little girl. I was given the idea early. It's always helped to have Faith to hang on to. As I got older and looked at what the church taught us as in how to treat your fellow man, it just made sense. Treat others as Jesus would and you are bound to be doing the right thing. So, my faith in God is based on human goodness and just having to believe in a power greater than yourself. I think without my faith life could feel hopeless and I could feel insignificant. I know I have a purpose as God created me with one. I have grown up praying before every test, cheer tryout, etc... One morning I was trying out for high school cheer. Things were going wrong. My mom dropped an entire gallon of orange juice on the floor. I said, there is no way I am making it. The day had started off bad. As we left my mom reminded us to pray. During the prayer she kept saying St. Thomas pray for us, but she was trying to say another saint. Frustrated, I asked her why she kept saying St. Thomas. She said she didn't know. So, I looked up Saint Thomas, he ended up being the patron Saint of doubters. I ended up making cheer that year.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. This decision was following an arrest and he ended up being arrested several more times. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again. His decisions and other health struggles had put me into depression. I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. The students impacted by incarceration scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

1989 is full of excellent songs. At only 18, I don’t have tons of life experience but there is something I know all too well, the dynamics of high school. My favorite song on 1989 and one of my favorites in Taylor’s discography is “New Romantics”. The song is a satirical way of addressing how young people look at love and life. It represents a time in life when you realize life isn't like the movies, so there’s no point in living your life for others or being like everyone else when figuring out what you want in life and being fearless will make you feel so much more fulfilled. The first verse of the song is my favorite. As someone who grew up in a small town with a population of 1,780 and a graduating class of around 90 students, this is the most accurate representation of what high school was for me and so many others. The verse starts with the lyrics “We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything” This line really hits home since it articulates how stagnant life can feel when you’re around the same people every day especially when you don’t fit in. The verse ends with the lines “We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom, honey life is just a classroom”. It’s the same drama on repeat. Sometimes it felt like it was never going to end. I was never involved in much. I was kind of on the outside. Never involved with drama. At the beginning of senior year homecoming nominees were chosen. I was not one. One girl broke the rules and was bribing students for votes with a party. Someone told the principal. She decided I was jealous of her, and I wanted her nomination. She told everybody I did it and I was pathetic for caring that much. I had no clue what happened till the end of the day. The majority of our grade was planning to go to that party, so I was essentially iced out. Throughout the rest of the year, I was pretty much ignored but the times I did hear something said about me, it was always about that. The part of the chorus where Taylor wrote “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me, and every day is like a battle” really resonated with me. That line holds some weight for everyone because everyone knows that feeling when you think people are looking at you or whispering about you. The powerful part of the song is the end of the chorus. Regardless of what people are saying, she still ends on a positive note. She says, “We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet baby, we’re the new romantics the best people in life are free”. I love that part of the song because I've struggled with mental health, regardless of what happened over the past year, I still really enjoyed myself. I was able to have fun. It’s amazing to get to that point in your life. My best friend, (who has never required anything of me except to be myself) and I wound up having a great year. We went to homecoming, bought pink wigs, and went to prom, no matter how anyone looked at us or who was around we still had a great time. I think that’s an important lesson no matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, once you accept that and decide to live for yourself, life becomes more vibrant.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Zamora Borose Goodwill scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like, just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. We named him Sterling.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Since I was little I have always climbed something. Partially this came from my small stature and a need. I often hiked and climbed with my mom growing up. In college I have climbed at horsetooth and often barefoot. It seems to give me a better grip on the rock. I just enjoy being out in nature and feeding my soul. The Sean Allen Memorial Scholarship would help me to continue working on my Bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University. I chose Colorado State University because their program is geared more towards conservation whereas the programs near me in Texas were more pre-vet. I plan to work in conservation in the field. However, with an out of state university comes the cost of out of state tuition.

Both of my Grandfathers were military veterans. They came to my veteran's day performances when I was in elementary school. My Mom's dad served in the Air Force and also served in the Navy during Vietnam. My Dad's Father was in the Air Force and also served in the National Guard as well. My Mom's biological father was also in the National Guard. My cousin served 4 tours in Iraq. I grew up with a strong respect for the military as well as education. Education was extremely important to both of my grandfathers. When my Grandfather on my dad's side was passing away I had just been accepted to college. He told me to "Make him proud" in reference to my upcoming graduation and college acceptances. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like, just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling. He now lives with his forever family. We have also transported a cat to the animal hospital to be treated for a broken leg from Paws of Central Texas. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. Being able to turn it up to 11, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money, but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Since protecting the environment has always been important to me, I not only work with animals, I do all I can now to protect their environments now. Aside from working with animal rescue, I chose a university which is focused on conservation as well. My university has recycling downstairs as well as composting. I sort my recycling and composting and take it downstairs. I chose a Subaru because it is not only a reliable vehicle, their company contributes to animal rescues and environmental impact causes as well. I planted a plant that lives in my dorm and came home with me for Christmas. I purchase some clothing from resale shops and try to make sustainable purchases.

How many times have you not been allowed to say what you think or feel because it might possibly upset someone? Probably way more than you can count, or even remember right? Hearing opposing views and respectfully discussing them is the only way we can grow. My opinions have formed and improved from listening to, and partaking in these types of conversations. Every now and then you will inevitably hear something that will make you a little uncomfortable. Everyone has different opinions and having a nice calm discussion is the best way to see all aspects of an issue, or maybe even get your point of view across. On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have censorship. Censorship is when something is prohibited purely because someone else decided that it was unacceptable. Who should get to decide what thoughts you can and can not express? With censorship there is no room for growth or coming to an understanding. Censorship crushes the diversity we all are used to, and prevents people from sharing their ideas. People say crazy things, and I admit sometimes I wish I could make them stop. It is a lot less fun when we think about someone restricting what we think and say. Our country is based on freedom. No matter what kind of person you are, it is a safe haven for you, and your beliefs. Imagine never being able to say what you believe. It sounds vastly different than the beautiful disorder we all have grown to love where we get to think and believe what ever we desire. Not everyone has these rights. We need to realize what privileges we have and we need to protect them not only for ourselves, but for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you believe. You deserve freedom and you deserve to enjoy the many rights that our country has to offer. The First Amendment should never be selective. The second you stop someone from saying something even if it is actually wrong, you compromise both your own and everyone else’s rights. Free speech is necessary for the well being our country. It fuels growth, conversation, ideas, and even respect. It teaches us how to have polite conversations, and respect others and their opinions regardless of how we differ. It allows us to see all sides of disputes and take a less biased approach. It can even allow us to come to compromises which we would not have originally seen. Censorship while it can sound good in theory will never be the answer to our problems. What makes America so great is the individualism that it was built on. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes, or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. And on top of FMF, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year, I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But, in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love, and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I’ve always loved nature. It’s been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime, I am finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. He now lives with his forever family. Some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. At this point, I don’t believe being an underrepresented minority in STEM has affected me. because I have only completed one semester. I did receive Hispanic Recognition for my test scores. This did enable me to receive a little higher scholarship at Colorado State University so that was definitely positive! I know you have many qualified applicants for the SigaLa Education scholarship but I hope my application stands out. But throughout these obstacles I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me continue to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years, I'd watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework. I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Instead, accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of FMF, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. Instead of giving up, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch friends' sports games, and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I'm a believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time's gone on. This has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. I also believe my empathy and drive to help others plays a part. I've played many roles such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. I've made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions allowed me to acquire confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel comfortable or help with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I'll continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes, or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us, from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Due to my experiences, I’m a believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time’s gone on. This has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I’ve played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I’ve made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions allowed me to acquire confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel comfortable or help with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I’ll continue using these skills in college to help students in classes or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible. I’ve always loved nature. It’s been a passion since I was little. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I’ve always known I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime, I’m still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money, but to better your community. It’s doing something you might not always like for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals. You’re required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized, my mom and I volunteered to pick him up. He now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I’m diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. I've also struggled with anxiety and depression. One thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That’s why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. I know you have many qualified applicants for the Jim Maxwell Memorial scholarship, but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. I have a rare auto inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever ( FMF), which can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it’s been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past years of high school, I’d watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. As time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. Due to my life experiences I was a member of Blanco CoApt in high school, which is a coalition to prevent drug and alcohol use amongst our youth. CoApt recognizes youth often use substances when they are struggling with mental health issues. There is a large focus on mental health. With CoApt we have hosted annual Wellness Fairs attended by about 300 community members. The Wellness Fairs bring services for our families for their health and wellness including mental health and even meditation. CoApt brings speakers to the school’s regarding drug and alcohol prevention and mental health issues. We also hosted events at campuses that include education on drugs and alcohol as well as mental health and meditation. I was an officer of CoApt for two years. I’ve always loved nature. It’s been a passion of mine since I was little . As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we’re doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I’ve always known that I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. And on top of my diagnosis of FMF, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That’s why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My brother taught me lessons that guide and shape how I live. He was the kind of brother that’d pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. As time went on he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. He cried and promised he’d change. Every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. With little warning he called drunk, suicidal, and crying. He said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit. Although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive, walked around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Last year, around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried, but I also decided that was the last time I’d have expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better. I’ll be there for him, but I’ll no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. I believe in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time’s gone on. This led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. My empathy and never-ending drive to help others plays a part. I’ve played roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I’ve made every effort to help those I serve. These positions allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or help with homework. While these things sound small, I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel comfortable or help with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I’ll continue using these skills in college to help other students in classes or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible. Nature’s has always been my passion. As I got older, I became aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we’re doing to the world around us from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. Some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I’m diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I've struggled with anxiety and depression. One thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Kidney failure is the biggest risk my FMF has on my health, but at this point, all my tests have come out just fine. My stepgrandfather (not genetically related to me, so a different disease) had kidney failure. I watched him live on dialysis from my birth until he passed away when I was in middle school. It was inspiring to see how hard he fought, but also a reminder of what could happen to me if I didn't care for my health. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it’s been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my days. During the past years of high school, I’d watched peers stay up until the early hours of morning to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch friends' sports games, and attend bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. This disease taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than most anything else in my success. Determination will help get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so I won’t give up when it gets tough. It keeps me motivated through issues that may occur. The best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of of work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can help me go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and do everything I can until I achieve them. It keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I’ll do anything and everything to get there. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in my future. It’ll give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I participated in Future Farmers of America in High School and was on the entomology team. We placed at some events. I also participated in a Wash and Wag event through my high school which raised $1,000 for a local woman with cancer by washing dogs. I participated in quite a few fundraisers each year. My best friend raised pigs and I often helped with her pigs. Anytime I can be around animals I choose to do so!

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

The Eras Tour is full of excellent songs. At only 18, I don’t have tons of life experience but there is something I know all too well, the dynamics of high school. My favorite song on 1989 and one of my favorites in Taylor’s discography is “New Romantics”. The song is a satirical way of addressing how young people look at love and life. It represents a time in life when you realize life isn't like the movies, so there’s no point in living your life for others or being like everyone else when figuring out what you want in life and being fearless will make you feel so much more fulfilled. The first verse of the song is my favorite. As someone who grew up in a small town with a population of 1,780 and a graduating class of around 90 students, this is the most accurate representation of what high school was for me and so many others. The verse starts with the lyrics “We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything” This line really hits home since it articulates how stagnant life can feel when you’re around the same people every day especially when you don’t fit in. The verse ends with the lines “We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom, honey life is just a classroom”. It’s the same drama on repeat. Sometimes it felt like it was never going to end. I was never involved in much. I was kind of on the outside. Never involved with drama. At the beginning of senior year homecoming nominees were chosen. I was not one. One girl broke the rules and was bribing students for votes with a party. Someone told the principal. She decided I was jealous of her, and I wanted her nomination. She told everybody I did it and I was pathetic for caring that much. I had no clue what happened till the end of the day. The majority of our grade was planning to go to that party, so I was essentially iced out. Throughout the rest of the year, I was pretty much ignored but the times I did hear something said about me, it was always about that. The part of the chorus where Taylor wrote “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me, and every day is like a battle” really resonated with me. That line holds some weight for everyone because everyone knows that feeling when you think people are looking at you or whispering about you. The powerful part of the song is the end of the chorus. Regardless of what people are saying, she still ends on a positive note. She says, “We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet baby, we’re the new romantics the best people in life are free”. I love that part of the song because I've struggled with mental health, regardless of what happened over the past year, I still really enjoyed myself. I was able to have fun. It’s amazing to get to that point in your life. My best friend, (who has never required anything of me except to be myself) and I wound up having a great year. We went to homecoming, bought pink wigs, and went to prom, no matter how anyone looked at us or who was around we still had a great time. I think that’s an important lesson no matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, once you accept that and decide to live for yourself, life becomes more vibrant.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. I have always loved nature. It’s been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Like everyone, there have been times I didn’t succeed. One that stands out to me happened at the end of my eighth-grade year. I was trying out for the JV high school cheer squad. I didn't make it. This wasn't my first time not making it. I tried out at the end of sixth grade and was called back. Ultimately, I didn't make the squad. However, at the end of my seventh-grade year, I tried out and made it. I was a cheerleader for the entirety of my eighth-grade year. I was crushed when I opened the letter and the first word wasn't congratulations. There weren't even callbacks that year so scores must not have been close to the girls who made it. It was a hard decision to make after two failures and one success, but I decided to work all year and try out again at the end of my freshman year. I worked on jumps at least once a week with a private cheer coach as well as taking other tumbling classes once a week to help with body control. At least two days a week for a year I worked on a sport that I wasn't even a part of. As tryouts approached, I worked harder and once tryout material was released I worked with my coach almost daily to make sure I was improving and using proper technique. Luckily at the end of my freshman year, I made the team, but I didn't stop practicing. I continued lessons and made the squad throughout my senior year. This experience taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than natural ability. The work I put in is what allowed me to make the squad and while this was years ago It taught me one of my best traits: determination. Determination will creatively inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It'll encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can help me find options when nothing seems to work, by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It keeps me motivated through issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and do everything I can until I achieve them. It keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I'll do anything and everything to get there. Determination will propel me through life, and help me through it all. I'll use determination in the future. It'll give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. Science is how I want to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. I've also struggled with anxiety and depression, but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I've faced many struggles, especially when it comes to my health. But throughout these obstacles, I've persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. The Redefining Victory scholarship would help me achieve the success of my long-term goal of zoology.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. And by receiving the Women in STEM scholarship I would more easily be able to pursue my education in a male dominated STEM field where I could work my hardest to show women can excel in STEM as well as advocate for other women.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. And by receiving the Innovators of Color in STEM scholarship I would more easily be able to pursue my education in a male dominated STEM field where I could work my hardest to show women of color can excel in STEM as well as advocate for other women of color.

Nature’s been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I have always known I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to focus on conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I believe conserving our environment is good for everyone’s mental and physical health.

I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. Ever since then, I have always known that somehow, some way I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you're required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my disease working while in school would be difficult, but I do work when I am able. The Kalia D. Davis Memorial Scholarship would help me to earn my bachelor's in zoology. As I am reading about Kalia, I am seeing many similarities between her and myself. She seems like such an amazing person to be gone so soon. Like Kalia, I ran Cross Country (for two years) and then was the Cross Country Manager for two years. I was also a Varsity Cheerleader. I mostly made A's in high school although I did make an occasional B graduating with a 3.98 and in the top 10. I applied and was accepted to the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana. The beach has always been a happy place for my family.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years of high school, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I was allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. This experience taught me the value of determination. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It keeps me motivated through the issues that may occur. Determination can help me through stress by letting me picture the end goal of the work so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. Because of my career goals I chose to major in zoology, and in ten years I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I was involved in many extracurricular activities in my school, the most notable being Varsity cheer, UIL, Leo club, NHS, and CoAPT (Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, And Treatment of Substance Abuse). I do several types of community service including some for the activities listed above however the volunteer work I feel most connected to is my work at the Paws Shelter of Central Texas. I get to help socialize the animals, walk dogs, photograph them, and overall help them to be more adoptable so that they can find a home where they will be loved and taken care of. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and my symptoms include nausea, fever, joint pain, and excessive fatigue. Due to my disease working while being a full time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. Scholarship assistance would be helpful due to the fact that I have chosen to attend Colorado State University and have to pay out-of-state tuition. Throughout all of my accomplishments I can safely say I have developed the trait of determination. Determination creatively inspires me. It motivates me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It also encourages me to find alternative and favorable routes by compelling me to see every possible angle. Throughout all of my obstacles I have managed to stay a top student among my peers. My hard work and determination will help me succeed. The Bright Lights Scholarship would make help me achieve my dreams of earning my Zoology degree and fight for our environment.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. Because of my career goals, I chose to major in zoology, and in ten years I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I am involved in many extracurricular activities in my school, the most notable being Varsity cheer, UIL, Leo club, NHS, and CoAPT (Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, And Treatment of Substance Abuse). I do several types of community service including some for the activities listed above however the volunteer work I feel most connected to is my work at the Paws Shelter of Central Texas. I get to help socialize the animals, walk dogs, photograph them, and overall help them to be more adoptable so that they can find a home where they will be loved and taken care of. I am not currently employed and I do not plan to work in college besides summers. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and my symptoms include nausea, fever, joint pain, and excessive fatigue. Due to my disease working while being a full time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. On a scale of one to five I would rate myself around a three for need of scholarship assistance due to the fact that I wish to attend Colorado State University and have to pay out-of-state tuition. Throughout all of my accomplishments, I can safely say I have developed the trait of determination. Determination creatively inspires me. It motivates me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It also encourages me to find alternative and favorable routes by compelling me to see every possible angle. I have been fortunate that my parents have been able to help me ensure I can attend college but I also have saved since I was a little girl.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, somehow, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. Because of my career goals I chose to major in zoology, and in ten years I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I am involved in many extracurricular activities in my school, the most notable being Varsity cheer, UIL, Leo club, NHS, and CoAPT (Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, And Treatment of Substance Abuse). I do several types of community service including some for the activities listed above however the volunteer work I feel most connected to is my work at the Paws Shelter of Central Texas. I get to help socialize the animals, walk dogs, photograph them, and overall help them to be more adoptable so that they can find a home where they will be loved and taken care of. I am not currently employed and I do not plan to work in college besides summers. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and my symptoms include nausea, fever, joint pain, and excessive fatigue. Due to my disease working while being a full time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. On a scale of one to five I would rate myself around a three for need of scholarship assistance due to the fact that I wish to attend Colorado State University and have to pay out-of-state tuition. Throughout all of my accomplishments, I can safely say I have developed the trait of determination. Determination creatively inspires me. It motivates me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It also encourages me to find alternative and favorable routes by compelling me to see every possible angle. Although I have struggled with health issues, I am fortunate that my parents have helped me significantly to ensure I can attend college and I have saved since I was a little girl.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. For me, it was important for me to find a career I was passionate about and I felt I was making a difference. I don’t think finding a job in my career will ever be a problem. I have spoken to people in my field who have assured me they could always help me get a job when the time come. It seems to be a growing field. I plan to work in conservation in the field.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. Her name was Pam Meir and she really helped me to find my passion, as well as encouraging me in pursuing all of my interests. We talked about the environment, did research, and ran experiments allowing me to really explore my passion. It was thanks to her that that year I figured out how I was going to help, by contributing to conservation efforts. I aspire to help others as she has helped me and so many of her other students. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. It excites me to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. Fortunately I have not known the challenges of cancer but I do know the challenges that come with a chronic health issue. Like Maggie, I left my home state and support system to pursue my education. I chose my University because they have the best program for my degree which is Zoology.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I was lucky enough to grow up with a beach house. The ocean has always been special to me. My mom and I would grab coffee, walk and talk. Some of my earliest memories are when we would park on the beach in Texas and my dad would clean any trash in the area before we set up our spot. Our world is so connected and everything we do to preserve this beautiful environment affects something else. I believe my work on conservation in the future would most definitely affect the oceans and keep them cleaner for all species.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. To live sustainably I recycle. I chose a school that is known for living sustainably. Colorado State University recycles and compost. When I am home we composs. I purchase much clothing from thrift stores and I try to purchase bags made from recycled materials. I try to purchase high quality clothing when I can. Things that are made to last to reduce waste. My family and I reuse everything we can to reduce waste as well.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. One thing that has always helped me is nature and living things.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to give back to your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. This drive is what has enabled me to acquire as many honors as I have such as: Penguin Random House Creative Writing Award Honorable Mention (75 winners out of 1,000 entries) National Hispanic Recognition Program: Sophomores and Juniors are eligible if they identify as Hispanic and score in the top 10% on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 within the program by state eligible if they score a 3 or higher on two or more distinct AP exams in the eligible exam periods. Must have a 3.5 GPA at the time they are completing their application. National Rural and Small Town Recognition: Recognizes students based on the location of their high school. AP Scholar Award 1st Team Cross-Country Academic All-State Academic All-State Cheerleader

1989 is full of excellent songs. At only 18, I don’t have tons of life experience but there is something I know all too well, the dynamics of high school. My favorite song on 1989 and one of my favorites in Taylor’s discography is “New Romantics”. The song is a satirical way of addressing how young people look at love and life. It represents a time in life when you realize life isn't like the movies, so there’s no point in living your life for others or being like everyone else when figuring out what you want in life and being fearless will make you feel so much more fulfilled. The first verse of the song is my favorite. As someone who grew up in a small town with a population of 1,780 and a graduating class of around 90 students, this is the most accurate representation of what high school was for me and so many others. The verse starts with the lyrics “We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything” This line really hits home since it articulates how stagnant life can feel when you’re around the same people every day especially when you don’t fit in. The verse ends with the lines “We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom, honey life is just a classroom”. It’s the same drama on repeat. Sometimes it felt like it was never going to end. I was never involved in much. I was kind of on the outside. Never involved with drama. At the beginning of senior year homecoming nominees were chosen. I was not one. One girl broke the rules and was bribing students for votes with a party. Someone told the principal. She decided I was jealous of her, and I wanted her nomination. She told everybody I did it and I was pathetic for caring that much. I had no clue what happened till the end of the day. The majority of our grade was planning to go to that party, so I was essentially iced out. Throughout the rest of the year, I was pretty much ignored but the times I did hear something said about me, it was always about that. The part of the chorus where Taylor wrote “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me, and every day is like a battle” really resonated with me. That line holds some weight for everyone because everyone knows that feeling when you think people are looking at you or whispering about you. The powerful part of the song is the end of the chorus. Regardless of what people are saying, she still ends on a positive note. She says, “We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet baby, we’re the new romantics the best people in life are free”. I love that part of the song because I've struggled with mental health, regardless of what happened over the past year, I still really enjoyed myself. I was able to have fun. It’s amazing to get to that point in your life. My best friend, (who has never required anything of me except to be myself) and I wound up having a great year. We went to homecoming, bought pink wigs, and went to prom, no matter how anyone looked at us or who was around we still had a great time. I think that’s an important lesson no matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, once you accept that and decide to live for yourself, life becomes more vibrant.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

Like everyone, there have been times I didn’t succeed but one that stands out to me the most happened at the end of my eighth-grade year. I was trying out for the JV high school cheer squad and I did not make it. But this was not my first time not making it. I tried out at the end of sixth grade and was called back but ultimately I did not make the squad. However, at the end of my seventh-grade year, I tried out and made it so I was a cheerleader for the entirety of my eighth-grade year. I think that is why I was so crushed when I opened the letter and the first word was not congratulations. There were not even callbacks that year so my scores must not have been close to the girls who made it. It was a really hard decision to make after two failures and only one success but I decided to work all year and try out again at the end of my freshman year. I worked on jumps at least once a week with a coach from a cheer and tumbling business as well as taking other tumbling classes once a week to help with body control. So at least two days a week for a year I worked on a sport that I was not even technically a part of. As tryouts approached I worked harder and once tryout material was released I worked with my coach almost every day to make sure I was improving and using proper technique. Luckily at the end of my freshman year, I made the team but I did not stop practicing. I continued my lessons throughout the years and made the squad throughout my senior year. This experience taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than natural ability. The work I put in is what allowed me to make the squad and while this was years ago It taught me one of my best traits: my determination. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in the future. It will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. Her name was Pam Meir and she really helped me to find my passion, as well as encouraging me in pursuing all of my interests. We talked about the environment, did research, and ran experiments allowing me to really explore my passion. It was thanks to her that that year I figured out how I was going to help, by contributing to conservation efforts. I aspire to help others as she has helped me and so many of her other students. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

The First Amendment has been drilled in to our heads for as long as we can remember. Freedom of speech, religion, and press, but what a lot of us don’t realize is how often people decide that these rules don’t apply to others. How many times have you not been allowed to say what you think or feel because it might possibly upset someone? Probably way more than you can count, or even remember right? Opposing views and respectfully discussing them is the only way we can grow. All of my opinions have formed and improved from listening to, and partaking in these types of conversations. Every now and then you will hear something that will make you a little uncomfortable, but, that’s life. Everyone has different opinions and having a nice calm discussion is the best way to see all aspects of an issue or maybe even get your point of view across. On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have censorship. Censorship is when something is prohibited because someone else decided that it was unacceptable. With censorship there is no room for growth or coming to an understanding. Censorship crushes the diversity we all are used to, and prevents people from sharing their ideas, and possibly changing the world for the better. It’s a lot less fun when we think about someone restricting what we get to think and say. Our country is based on freedom and while all the people and all the ideas can be a little chaotic and overwhelming at times the chaos is what makes our country beautiful. It’s a safe haven for you and your beliefs. One is freedom the other is a form of oppression. Are they even comparable? Imagine never being able to say what you believe or everyone having to pretend they believe the same thing. It sounds vastly different than the beautiful disorder we all have grown to love where we get to think and believe what ever we desire. Not everyone has these rights, and yet, here we are trying to take them away from each other, rather than embracing them. We need to realize what privileges we have and we need to protect them not only for ourselves but for everyone. Everyone deserves to express their beliefs and opinions whether we agree or not. It doesn’t matter what you believe. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat you deserve to be able to express your opinions. You deserve freedom and you deserve to enjoy the many rights that our country has to offer. The First Amendment should never be selective it should apply to everyone and everything. But the second you stop someone from saying something even if it is actually wrong, you compromise both your own and everyone else’s rights. The second you decide you can stop someone from saying something the whole first amendment is out the window. If you make that decision for someone than anyone can make that decision for you or who ever they feel they should make it for. Free speech is necessary for the well being our country. It fuels growth, conversation, ideas, and even respect. It teaches us how to have polite conversations and respect others and their opinions regardless of how we differ. It allows us to see all sides of disputes and take a less biased approach. It can allow us to come to compromises which we would not have originally seen. Censorship while it can sound good in theory will never be the answer to our problems.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That’s why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. I know you have many qualified applicants for this scholarship but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. I have a rare auto-inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever ( FMF), which can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles, I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I know you have many qualified applicants for this scholarship but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. My rare auto inflammatory disease can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles, I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better and to care for God's creation.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time, I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog, and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. Due to my disease working while attending school could be difficult although I do take jobs when I am able. And by receiving this scholarship I would more easily be able to pursue my education. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. This drive is what has enabled me to acquire as many honors as I have such as: Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards Honorable Mention AP Scholar National Hispanic Recognition National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program 1st Team Cross Country Academic All-State Team Academic All-State Cheerleader Chip Roy Exceptional Senior Citizenship Award (1 of 4 selected from Blanco High School) Academic Achievement in Principles of Business and Finance

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. This drive is what has enabled me to acquire as many honors as I have such as: Penguin Random House Creative Writing Award AP Scholar National Hispanic Recognition National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program 1st Team Cross Country Academic All-State Team Academic All-State Cheerleader Chip Roy Exceptional Senior One of 4 Citizenship Awards for Junior Class at Blanco High School Academic Achievement in Principles of Business and Finance

My alarm blares at six in the morning.I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. Symptoms of my FMF are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

No. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in my future. It will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Despite any difficulties I have faced, I have remained at the top of my class finishing number 6 in the class. I have achieved National Recognitions such as AP Scholar, National Hispanic Recognition, National Rural and Small Town Recognition. I was the only student selected from my High School as a Chip Roy Exceptional Senior. I was 1st Team Academic All-State in Cross Country and Academic All-State Cheerleader. I was one of 4 students to receive the Citizenship from my school for the Junior Class. All of these achievements show I can be successful in the face of adversity!

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years of school, I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework, while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. My genetic disease and perseverance to succeed despite my difficulties make me uniquely deserving of this award. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with biology class. My teacher helped me realize that science was my favorite subject. Science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. As this kind of person, I would hope to be able to be there for those that may have an unplanned pregnancy in our community. My family and I have donated to centers for women with unplanned pregnancies in our communities. One of the centers sends us pictures of women and children. I love to see the families looking happy. We have always supported those we know who are pregnant in any way we can. Living out our faith daily with those around us is one of the best ways to make people feel they are not alone. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my disease working while being a full-time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. I chose to attend Colorado State University because they have the best degree program for conversation. Many of the zoology programs in Texas are Pre-Vet. I wanted to focus on conservation. With and out of state University comes the cost of out-of-state tuition. The Bight Lights Scholarship would help me achieve my dream of becoming a zoologist. Achieving my dream as a minority will help to set the path and open doors for others.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time, I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years, I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was little. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment. In middle school, I fell in love with biology. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology. This degree closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to change this world for the better. I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Elevate Mental Health Awareness scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more.

I’ve always been “smart’ or “gifted” but for as long as I can remember I’ve always struggled with simple things like making decisions, organization, prioritizing tasks, and time management. We always kind of suspected I had ADHD but I was doing fine in my classes so we never sought a diagnosis. But once I got into high school it really started affecting me. I'd forget about assignments, procrastinate, and lose papers and this is what most people think the extent of ADHD is, but in reality, it goes so much deeper. No one talks about how sometimes you have the energy to do a certain kind of task but not another or how if the one you have energy for is done you just feel kind of bored the rest of the day but you still can’t make yourself do the other. No one talks about the emotional dysregulation and how your feelings can change just as fast as your thoughts or how painfully aware you are that you’re messing up or making something more difficult than it should be. The number of times I've thought why can’t I just do this? And it just kept getting worse but my sophomore year when I was fifteen years old I was finally diagnosed because I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was crying every day. I’m medicated now and it does help a little but something about the diagnosis is comforting. It’s reassuring sometimes to know I'm not just lazy or weird, my brain just works in different ways. I know you have many qualified applicants for this scholarship but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. I have a rare auto-inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever ( FMF), which can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles, I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. My transcript and activities show I can be successful despite my challenges. Due to my disease working while attending school could be difficult although I do take jobs when I am able. And by receiving the Texas Women Empowerment scholarship, I would more easily be able to pursue my education in a male-dominated STEM field where I could work my hardest to show women can excel in STEM as well as advocate for other women.This scholarship could allow me to focus on my studies. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross-country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I strive to be a kind accepting person someone people can talk to.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My genetic condition is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my disease will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us, from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, that year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross-country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six a.m. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. My FMF will never go away. I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I'd do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This degree could be the thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State Univerisity could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. More women leading with kindness and compassion will make great changes in our world.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, joint pain, nausea and fatigue. I have succeeded despite my obstacles. I have achieved academically earning recognitions such as AP Scholar, National Hispanic Recognition, National Rural and Small Town Recognition, 1st Team Cross Country Academic All-State Team, and Academic All-State Cheerleader. I was just nominated as a Chip Roy exceptional Senior and have locally recieved Citizenship awards as well as Academic Achievement in Principles of Business and Finance. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more.

Like everyone, there have been tons of times I didn’t succeed but the one that stands out to me the most happened at the end of my eighth-grade year. I was trying out for the JV high school cheer squad and I did not make it. But this was not my first time not making it. I tried out at the end of sixth grade and was called back but ultimately I did not make the squad. However, at the end of my seventh-grade year, I tried out and made it so I was a cheerleader for the entirety of my eighth-grade year. I think that is why I was so crushed when I opened the letter and the first word was not congratulations. There were not even callbacks that year so my scores must not have been close to the girls who made it. It was a really hard decision to make after two failures and only one success but I decided to work all year and try out again at the end of my freshman year. I worked on jumps at least once a week with a coach from a cheer and tumbling business as well as taking other tumbling classes once a week to help with body control. So at least two days a week for a year I worked on a sport that I was not even technically a part of. As tryouts approached I worked harder and once tryout material was released I worked with my coach almost every day to make sure I was improving and using proper technique. Luckily at the end of my freshman year, I made the team but I did not stop practicing. I continued my lessons throughout the years and made the squad throughout my senior year. This experience taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than natural ability. The work I put in is what allowed me to make the squad and while this was years ago It taught me one of my best traits: my determination. Determination will inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and better routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving toward success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in the future. It will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject, science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject, science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. A good leader leads by example they help others and make sacrifices so that they can help those around them. I used to struggle with leadership because I'm a bit shy and I didn’t want to come off as overbearing but over time I realized there's more than one way to be a leader. I can lead by setting an example or I can help my peers with their homework. I even took leadership positions in clubs. Leadership is a quality anyone can have and I've found that it has taught me how to work with people so that I can collaborate in college or when I start my career. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. In my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. In the last four years, I have gained environmental experience in many ways. The most basic of which is owning pets and being surrounded by animals every day as well as gardening and composting. However, I also volunteer at my local animal shelter (Paws of Central Texas) and have tried my best to incorporate my goals into my course load. I’ve taken small animal science, and equine science in addition to upper-level math, and science classes such as AP biology and AP chemistry. And I think these classes along with my experiences have provided me with a good base for my future education in science.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have learned to prioritize my personal wellness to suceed at all aspects of my life including college.

My alarm blares at six a.m. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning doing homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although, my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the thing that would allow me to make the impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better.

Our strengths help us throughout everything in life and determine how we handle different scenarios. My strength happens to be determination. Now determination can help us do many things in the present, but I think it will prove even more useful in the future. How determination will be useful in my future determination will inspire me creatively, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and better routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in my future it will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Determination will help me achieve my goals!

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it's been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed, would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it's been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed, would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many. students struggling with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time, I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. We own a beach house and walking the beach has been a special part of my life. While I prefer to focus on mammals in zoology, I am unsure where my career path will lead me. Our ecosystms are so closely related and everything we do in this world impacts other things. I just want to help protect all the beautiful things in our world.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning, he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying. He said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. My brother and my Science teacher impacted me in two different ways, but both have helped me become the person I am today.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend, or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. A good leader leads by example, they help others, and make sacrifices so that they can help those around them. I used to struggle with leadership because I'm a bit shy and I didn’t want to come off as overbearing, but over time I realized there's more than one way to be a leader. I can lead by setting an example or I can help my peers with their homework. I even took leadership positions in clubs. Leadership is a quality anyone can have and I've found that it has actually taught me how to work with people so that I can collaborate in college or when I start my career. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. Athletics was a stepping stone to my being a leader.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF is an autoinflammatory disease) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State Univesity could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, that year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as Student Council Secretary, Cross Country Team Manager, and Varsity Cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my Biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, that year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. In the last four years, I have gained environmental experience in many ways. The most basic of which is owning pets and being surrounded by animals every day as well as gardening and composting. However, I also volunteer at my local animal shelter (Paws of Central Texas) and have tried my best to incorporate my goals into my course load. I’ve taken Small Animal Science, and Equine Science in addition to upper-level math, and science classes such as AP biology and AP chemistry. And I think these classes along with my experiences have provided me with a good base for my future education in Zoology. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. In my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life.

y alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as Student Council Secretary, Cross Country Team Manager, and Varsity Cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. The major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I’ll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new traits that will continue to benefit me throughout my life, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized it that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may seem a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may seem a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes. The major of zoology could be the thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjustto think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle andto minimize the effects my illness hasd on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. Although While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle andto minimize the effects my illness hasd on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle and to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started doing this. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to consider ways that I could adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While I know it seems a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it, I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle and to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students struggling with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it, I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats I'll throw on for school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires that I’d skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I’m performing better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. Due to my experiences, I am a believer in advocating for mental health. I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my drive to help others plays a part. I have learned to help those who need a friend or help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make me feel comfortable or help me with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate. I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus and in the world around me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it, I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I’m performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students struggling with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would try to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate. I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus