1. Thank you for asking such an insightful question My name is Faith Adams, and I am majoring in Systems engineering. I have always loved science and mechanics, which eventually led me to engineering. In the future, I plan to earn my master's degree in Systems engineering and eventually manage my own research and development team. Some of my hobbies include writing, acting, swimming, and reading. My latest hobby has led me to learn how to crochet hats. It is the true and unconditional love of my family that motivates me to be the very best leader that I can be. I first became a leader in my community service organization, The Delta G.E.M.S, at age 12, and continued to serve within this organization until I turned 16. To this day, I continue to serve independently throughout my community. My role as a leader has been defined by the success of the people around me. I chose to become a leader because I wanted to help people become the best versions of themselves. I have developed my skills to meet my community service goals by listening to those around me, and by using the resourceful ideas and concepts of my team members, I made decisions to help my group reach our project timeline goals. Participating in community service has given me a chance to provide leadership in my community as well as learn teamwork, support, and empathy. I believe that I can bring these values from my community to the Honors College community. Once I began volunteering at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey with my school, I realized that even in one of the wealthiest states in the county, friends and family are hungry. Volunteering there has taught me that empathy for those in need along with teamwork with my fellow volunteers and friends can assist us in helping both the community and the volunteer. 2. The thrill of discovery is what fuels my love of STEM. Since the first grease, I have wanted to create advancements in technology that make life easier for those in need, and I wanted to become a systems engineer to create using my passion for design, research, and technology. Three of my favorite fields of study, biology, material science, and medical practices, combine to make system engineering the perfect profession for me. I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want to use my problem-solving skills and love for research and development to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. With my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for all. By leaving the world a more highly informed and neatly organized place within the medical industry, I will leave a positive impact. 3. One hardship that I have faced this year was my experiences with my mental health. Each year my goals in higher education become more ambitious and rewarding with the experiences that I face in maintaining my mental health. Throughout my freshman year of college, I thought that keeping my feelings to myself about the changes happening in my life as a growing teenager was the best way to cope. As a result, I was easily irritable and angry at that time, My grades began to fall, and I became socially closed off from my classmates. At this time I also learned that two friends of mine were suffering through a mental health crisis as well. I decided to change my outlook on my mental health, and the first step towards change was starting a conversation about it. One day at a family dinner I asked my parents if they had ever felt grief and how they dealt with it. This began a long conversation about the emotions we were feeling and how to address them. I believe that mental health doesn't just affect the brain but the body as well. I try to maintain my mental health by taking time out of my day to exercise, specifically running. This allows me to clear my head, and focus on my school work both in school and at home. I now study Systems Engineering at a 4-year institution in the future and become a pioneering medical device researcher with a focus in bioinformatics. Through taking care of my mental health, I found my love for research and development as well as a fascination with the health of a human being. Through taking care of my mental health, I found my love for research and development as well as a fascination with the health of a human being has grown exponentially. Doing things greatly improved my mental, and physical health and academic ambition for the long-term future.

My struggle with my mental health has been an uphill battle, but I believe that I have finally reached the mountaintop. At this mountain top, I no longer view my mental health as a detriment. Each year my goals in higher education become more ambitious and rewarding with the experiences that I face in maintaining my mental health. At the beginning of my freshman year my grandmother, who was one of my closest relatives, passed away. I was devastated and didn’t know how to emotionally react to this change. I thought that keeping my feelings to myself was the best way to cope. As a result, I was easily irritable and angry at that time, My grades began to fall, and I became socially closed off from my classmates. At this time I also learned that two friends of mine were suffering through a mental health crisis as well. They both had also experienced traumatic hardships at the beginning of freshman year and were taking drastic measures to cope with their grief. I tried my best to help them but never knew what to say to make them feel better. My friends reached out to me as well, but never quite knew how to talk about mental health either. This sparked my interest in speaking about mental health with my friends and family and trying to find ways to remain in good mental health. The first step was starting a conversation about mental health. One day at a family dinner I asked my parents if they had ever felt grief and how they dealt with it. This began a long conversation about the emotions we were feeling and how to address them. Just speaking about mental health was such a calming experience. As I began to discuss mental health, I began to speak about the effects that the pressure of schoolwork had on me. I now knew that I was not alone in my feelings and had love and support to guide me. My mother suggested doing things that I love to maintain my mental health. I think mental health doesn't just affect the brain but the body as well. I try to maintain my mental health by taking time out of my day to exercise, specifically running. This allows me to clear my head, and focus on my school work both in school and at home. I now aim to study Biomedical Engineering at a 4-year institution in the future and become a pioneering medical device researcher. Through taking care of my mental health, I found my love for research and development as well as a fascination with the health of a human being. The field of biomedical engineering encompasses these two fields and marries them into a profession I want to pursue. Doing things that make me and those I love happy has improved my mental, and physical health and academic ambition. It is not easy, but changing the narrative around mental health can start right now. It can inspire a vast world of higher education goals.

For my career path in biomedical engineering, I am interested in conducting research in the biomaterials sector of biomedical engineering; more specifically, researching tissue innervation and muscle mimicry. My curiosity in testing and developing 3-dimensional tissue models that identify the characteristics of neuronal tissue and compare them to the parts of muscle tissue. My combined passion for research, analytics, and problem-solving has allowed me to expand my interest in the engineering process. I have always enjoyed using and creating new inventions and designs along with the process used to create them. I continue to create new inventions and designs as an undergraduate researcher in the Tissue Inervation and Muscle Mimetics laboratory at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In this lab, I conduct research alongside PhD candidates on solutions for reinnervation of muscle tissue using collagen-formed scaffolds. In the future, I would like to continue my education in graduate school and work with Dr. Helen Lu at Columbia University in the City of New York. I seek to work in the Biomaterials and Interface Tissue Engineering Laboratory and conduct research to explore the understanding and applications of biomaterials age in conjunction with tissue engineering. I believe that Dr. Lu’s laboratory is best suited for my studies as orthopedic tissue engineering most closely aligns with my current laboratory experience, which I wish to continue in the tissue engineering field in the future. My goals post-PhD program are to facilitate the creation of the world's most easy-to-use, economically beneficial, and versatile medical devices in Western medicine. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs and also open the conversation about overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. I believe that it is vital to address the issues of overpriced healthcare while providing safe and cost-effective prosthetics to those in need to show the entire world of healthcare that it is possible for people of all income levels. I have learned that even a little bit of motivation, creativity, and engagement from strong and sincere leaders, could prompt someone to find their purpose in life and give others hope to keep going. In the future, I plan to achieve this by being the founder of my engineering firm. My future engineering firm will specialize in creating medical devices and innovating new safe, and cost-effective processing techniques that improve the medical device industry for the company and the client. I now aim to become a pioneering medical device researcher. Through taking care of my mental health, I found my love for research and development as well as a fascination with the health of a human being. The field of biomedical engineering encompasses these two fields and marries them into a profession I want to pursue. Academic support from a faculty advisor is an invaluable resource of guidance and support both in the classroom and in navigating college life. The HireTigers Career Fairs held each year hold amazing job prospects and networking opportunities that can help me propelle my future career, and this interests me a lot. I want to earn my PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University in the City of New York due to its rigorous yet critical coursework, academic support system, and career readiness. Furthermore, I want to pursue a career in biomaterial research and development to improve the quality of life for all of humanity.

My struggle with my mental health has been an uphill battle, but I believe that I have finally reached the mountaintop. At this mountain top, I no longer view my mental health as a detriment. Each year my goals in higher education become more ambitious and rewarding with the experiences that I face in maintaining my mental health. At the beginning of my freshman year my grandmother, who was one of my closest relatives, passed away. I was devastated and didn’t know how to emotionally react to this change. I thought that keeping my feelings to myself was the best way to cope. As a result, I was easily irritable and angry at that time, My grades began to fall, and I became socially closed off from my classmates. At this time I also learned that two friends of mine were suffering through a mental health crisis as well. They both had also experienced traumatic hardships at the beginning of freshman year and were taking drastic measures to cope with their grief. I tried my best to help them but never knew what to say to make them feel better. My friends reached out to me as well, but never quite knew how to talk about mental health either. This sparked my interest in speaking about mental health with my friends and family and trying to find ways to remain in good mental health. The first step was starting a conversation about mental health. One day at a family dinner I asked my parents if they had ever felt grief and how they dealt with it. This began a long conversation about the emotions we were feeling and how to address them. Just speaking about mental health was such a calming experience. As I began to discuss mental health, I began to speak about the effects that the pressure of schoolwork had on me. I now knew that I was not alone in my feelings and had love and support to guide me. My mother suggested doing things that I love to maintain my mental health. I think mental health doesn't just affect the brain but the body as well. I try to maintain my mental health by taking time out of my day to exercise, specifically running. This allows me to clear my head, and focus on my school work both in school and at home. I now aim to study Biomedical Engineering at a 4-year institution in the future and become a pioneering medical device researcher. Through taking care of my mental health, I found my love for research and development as well as a fascination with the health of a human being. The field of biomedical engineering encompasses these two fields and marries them into a profession I want to pursue. Doing things that make me and those I love happy has improved my mental, and physical health and academic ambition. It may not be easy, but changing the narrative around mental health can start right now. It can inspire a vast world of higher education goals.

I want to study Biomedical Engineering in college to create advancements in technology that make life easier for those in need, and I want to become a biomedical engineer to create using my passion for design, research, and technology. Three of my favorite fields of study, biology, material science, and medical practices, combine to make biomedical engineering the perfect profession for me. I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want to use my problem-solving skills and love for research and development to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. With my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. My creations involve the use of quality materials to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of cleaning of prosthetics. This would improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. My career goals are to create advancements in medical device technology that make life easier for those in need. My combined passion for research, analytics, and problem-solving has allowed me to fall in love with the engineering process. I have always enjoyed using and creating new inventions and designs along with the process used to create them. A career milestone I project to achieve by 2032 is to develop the most economically beneficial, and versatile prosthetic limbs in western medicine with an emphasis on ease of use for the user. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, and also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. Through this development, I project that I would be the founder of my own engineering firm, focused on medical devices for those in need globally. I believe that it is vital to address the issues of overpriced healthcare while providing safe and cost-effective prosthetics to those in need to show the entire world of healthcare that people of all income levels and backgrounds can have access to affordable healthcare to improve their way of life and make the world a better place.

Music has always been the strongest influence on my life. A song that holds a strong importance in my life is "I Like Your Smile" by Shanice. It is a song that my mother would sing to calm me down when I was a baby, and to this day, it still holds a significant place in my heart. Once I was born, my mother noticed that my smile resembled that of my grandmother's smile, and she found it only fitting to tell me that. Whenever I become rowdy or sad, my mother noticed that singing "I Like Your Smile" was one of the only songs that would calm me down, and as a result, she began singing the song to me almost every night before bed. My exposure to this song helped to instill a sense of self-confidence in me at a young age. I began to sing along whenever "I Like Your Smile" came on the radio as if I had known the words my whole life. I loved the bouncy and fun rhythm of the music, and the words "I like your smile" ringing in my head like a melodious compliment. It was simple and easy to learn the notes of the song while playing the recorder in elementary school, and I swiftly learned the notes to "I Like Your Smile." From this, I followed in my mother's footsteps and began to play the flute in middle school, finding "I Like Your Smile to be my favorite song to play. I believe that "I Like Your Smile" represented the joy and comfort of those I love. It has helped me build the foundation of my self-worth and has encouraged me to be creative in the way I express myself, through music.

My career goal as a Biomedical Engineer is to make the world a better place. I want to become an engineer to live out my passion for design, research, and building. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by creating medical devices that make people's lives more efficient, enjoyable, and better. More specifically, I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to show that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. The world is ever-evolving and changing, and I believe that with my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. I want my creations to involve the use of quality materials such as pure Tin, Copper, and high-grade polymers, to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of cleaning of prosthetics. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, and also open the conversation about overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. I believe that to spread positivity throughout the medical devices field, it is vital to address the issues of overpricing in the industry while providing safe and cost-effective devices to those in need. Through community service throughout my high school and college tenures, I have learned of the hardships of obtaining healthcare services from third-party accounts and personal experiences. During high school, while volunteering with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, I learned of the thousands of people who have slipped into poverty due to medical emergencies that take thousands of dollars and many months to pay off. In college, I learned that a short trip to the local hospital over a small cut would cost hundreds of dollars, which I could not afford without my parents' help. I believe that people of all income levels and backgrounds can have access to affordable medical products to help improve their way of life, and hopefully leave a positive impact on the entire world. With much prayer, hard work, determination, and support from my family and community, this has been my journey. My plans to make a difference in my life and the lives of others are my passion. May God be pleased.

I want to attend college to refine my knowledge of the practices within my major, connect with peers and professionals striving to leave a positive impact on the world, and leave a positive impact on the world myself. I want to study Biomedical Engineering in college to create advancements in technology that make life easier for those in need, and I want to become a biomedical engineer to live out my passion for design, research, and building through creating prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than earlier generations. With my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. My combined passion for research, analytics, and problem-solving have allowed me to fall in love with the engineering process. Making the world a better place has been a goal of mine ever since middle school when I was challenged by a terrible event that taught me empathy and patience. I faced this challenge in middle school, where I learned empathy, patience, and how to stay calm in tough situations. One morning, my grandmother, grandfather, and I drove to the local Sears department store for an eye doctor’s appointment. I was annoyed to find out that our 9 AM appointment was backlogged and we had to wait to see the doctor for at least two hours. As we sat down I realized that I had nothing to do; no phone, no iPad, and I was incredibly impatient and bored. Three hours later, out of nowhere, a man who sat diagonally across from us slowly stands up, holding his chest in pain. The man tries to look up as he begins to vomit a watery yellow liquid and falls to the ground in sharp convulsions. Very scared and unknowing of what to do, I sat there, frantic as my grandparents and others tried to help the man up. He continues to convulse, vomit and even cry as the people move him to an open space and the receptionist calls an ambulance. In the midst of all this, I found the strength to get up, and frantically ran to the secretary’s table, and nearby appliance department, to call 911. Once the man was taken upstairs and into an ambulance, a First Responder informed everyone there that the man had a light seizure due to heart palpitations and that calling for help so quickly may have saved his life.“I’m just happy no one else got hurt”, said my grandfather. I learned about the importance of first aid training and that a seizure could happen to someone regardless of where they may be. It helped me to realize that life is precious. That day I learned to show courage in the face of calamity. The event lingered within my mind and inspired me to become certified First Aid and CPR administration by the American Red Cross Association later on in high school. Since then, I have become more patient in times of unrest. I continue to be kind to others and watch out for signs of a person experiencing any sickness or seizure. This event has taught me to be a more patient, considerate, and kind person. It has helped to mold me to pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering, to help people in need.

Hello! My name is Faith Adams. I am currently a high school senior. I have always been super passionate about science, and technology and finding fun, innovative ways to learn more about it. I am currently a rising senior at Applied Technology High School. During my time at Applied Tech, I have worked significantly with engineering design programs such as AutoCAD and Fusion 360 and also developed skills in engineering design, project development, and team management. Outside of school, I love reading, coding, writing, singing, and dancing. I have a Youtube channel where I film, edit, and post videos about some of my favorite things: movies, TV shows, music, and life in general, including one fun fact in each video. It is a very fun creative outlet for me, and I have so much fun doing it. Another creative outlet that I have is running and competing in fun sports competitions with friends. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by creating medical devices that make people's lives more efficient, enjoyable, and better. More specifically, I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to show that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. The world is ever-evolving and changing, and I believe that with my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. I want my creations to involve the use of quality materials such as pure Tin, Copper, and high-grade polymers, to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of cleaning of prosthetics. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation about overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. I believe that in order to spread positivity throughout the medical devices field, it is vital to address the issues of overpricing in the industry while providing safe and cost-effective devices to those in need. This would start to show the entire world of healthcare that it is possible for people of all income levels and backgrounds to have access to affordable medical products to help improve their way of life, and hopefully leave a positive impact on the entire world. With much prayer, hard work, determination, and support from my family and community, this has been my journey. My plans to make a difference in my life and the lives of others are my passion. May God be pleased.

While it may sound absurd, the children's cartoon Super Why had a very significant, positive impact on my life. As an African American girl, it was very important to see representation from an early age.

My best skill is being a great leader. I exhibit the qualities of great leadership by my ability to motivate and move others. I believe that a good leader leads through words, but a great leader leads through words and actions. Through comradery with like-minded members to practicing service within my community, Great leadership means that a good leader will exhibit the principles of leadership, service, character, and scholarship through their entire lives, and lead by example as a positive role model. Ever since I became a leader in my community service organization, the Delta G.E.M.S I have loved being a leader. Recently I was challenged to lead a team of peers who were not familiar with the competition and worked with them to learn the S.T.E.M design process to enter the competition. This was a rewarding experience that taught me the importance of taking initiative and working with other people towards a common goal. Over the years I have read great leadership books from other great leaders such as John C. Maxwell, Dale Carnegie, Stephen Covey, and Success magazine. I utilize Youtube videos on all things leadership to improve my skills as well. I plan to continue my growth and development by attending seminars, webinars, and college classes to become the very best leader I can be.

My all-time favorite hobby is running. Running allows me to clear my mind, take time to reflect, and help me stay in good physical shape. Over the pandemic, my love for running has grown exponentially, and I go running with friends, family(reluctantly), and by myself often. At first, I was not interested in running. I preferred swimming. I was in eighth grade, and I had just taken several swimming classes at my local YMCA when I became interested in continuing swimming in high school sports. However, upon entering my first day of high school, I learned that there is no swimming team available at my high school. Determined to find a school sports team, I asked upperclassmen and watched several hours of ESPN and clips from the summer Olympics to determine which sports I like. I was mesmerized by the Track and field events. It was amazing how the athletes could push their bodies to move so quickly in such a short amount of time, and I wanted to be like them. For the first two years of high school, I was a part of my high school’s track & field team, and I first discovered my love for long-distance running. At first, it was not easy, and I could only run around the track once before getting tired, but I was determined to be like the Olympic athletes I saw on television. Over the next few months I kept practicing and practicing, telling myself ‘ there’s just a few more steps to go’ to motivate myself to keep going. As time went on, I slowly became a better runner, running four or five laps around the track at a time. The height of my track and field journey came when I placed third in the 800m timed trials in a regional high school competition. I was so proud of how far I came and how far I could still go. Since then, I have continued running regularly. My favorite trail to run on is this Hackensack River trial. It is a beautiful park bike and pedestrian path with picturesque views of the river and beautiful sunsets. I love going on long runs, whether on a park trail or a high school track. Running has so many benefits that I could go on and on about. It brings me joy. My love for running is my favorite hobby.

https://youtu.be/YYGbcr9X0qY

I want to attend college to refine my knowledge of the practices within my major, connect with peers and professionals striving to leave a positive impact on the world, and leave a positive impact on the world myself. I want to study Biomedical Engineering in college to create advancements in technology that make life easier for those in need, and I want to become a biomedical engineer to live out my passion for design, research, and building through creating prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than earlier generations. With my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. My combined passion for research, analytics, and problem-solving have allowed me to fall in love with the engineering process. Making the world a better place has been a goal of mine ever since middle school when I was challenged by a terrible event that taught me empathy and patience. I faced this challenge in middle school, where I learned empathy, patience, and how to stay calm in tough situations. One morning, my grandmother, grandfather, and I drove to the local Sears department store for an eye doctor’s appointment. I was annoyed to find out that our 9 AM appointment was backlogged and we had to wait to see the doctor for at least two hours. As we sat down I realized that I had nothing to do; no phone, no iPad, and I was incredibly impatient and bored. Three hours later, out of nowhere, a man who sat diagonally across from us slowly stands up, holding his chest in pain. The man tries to look up as he begins to vomit a watery yellow liquid and falls to the ground in sharp convulsions. Very scared and unknowing of what to do, I sat there, frantic as my grandparents and others tried to help the man up. He continues to convulse, vomit and even cry as the people move him to an open space and the receptionist calls an ambulance. In the midst of all this, I found the strength to get up, and frantically ran to the secretary’s table, and nearby appliance department, to call 911. Once the man was taken upstairs and into an ambulance, a First Responder informed everyone there that the man had a light seizure due to heart palpitations and that calling for help so quickly may have saved his life.“I’m just happy no one else got hurt”, said my grandfather. I learned about the importance of first aid training and that a seizure could happen to someone regardless of where they may be. It helped me to realize that life is precious. That day I learned to show courage in the face of calamity. The event lingered within my mind and inspired me to become certified First Aid and CPR administration by the American Red Cross Association later on in high school. Since then, I have become more patient in times of unrest. I continue to be kind to others and watch out for signs of a person experiencing any sickness or seizure. This event has taught me to be a more patient, considerate, and kind person. It has helped to mold me to pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering, to help people in need.

My goals in life are to essentially make the world a better place. I want to study Biomedical Engineering in college to create advancements in technology that make life easier for those in need, and I want to become a biomedical engineer to live out my passion for design, research, and technology. I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. With my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. My creations involve the use of quality materials to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of cleaning of prosthetics. This would improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. My reason for my goals is my mother. She inspires me to be the best possible version of myself every day. I know that sounds very cliche, but I believe that my mother is a stunning example of an exemplary human being, who I aspire to be like. My mother is an academic trendsetter herself. She was one of the first in her family to graduate college at 21, a part of the first line of women in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority chapter at her university, and one of the few people I know to enroll in a highly coveted doctorate program. However, I was never intimidated by her academic achievements or thought of her as a standard of excellence that I could never achieve, but I think of her as ‘just mom’. While her resume would impress anybody with high regard for higher education, my mother never tried to force me to follow her, but rather encouraged me to find my own path and do my best in school. I was inspired by her achievements and humbleness to reach for goals that would not only impact me but the entire world in a positive manner. I want to study Biomedical Engineering in college to create advancements in technology that make life easier for those in need. My combined passion for research, analytics, and problem-solving have allowed me to fall in love with the engineering process. I have always enjoyed using and creating new inventions and designs along with the process used to create them. I believe that by 2032, I would help in the creation of the world's most easy-to-use, economically beneficial, and versatile prosthetic limbs in western medicine. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. I believe that it is vital to address the issues of overpriced healthcare while providing safe and cost-effective prosthetics to those in need to show the entire world of healthcare that it is possible for people of all income levels and backgrounds to have access to affordable healthcare to improve their way of life and make the world a better place.

I have faced strong adversity while I was in middle school, where I learned empathy, patience, and how to stay calm in tough situations. One early spring morning, my grandmother, grandfather, and I drove to the local Sears department store. I was annoyed to find out that our 9 AM eye doctors’ appointment was backlogged and we had to wait to see the doctor for at least an hour. As we sat down I realized that I had nothing to do; no phone, no iPad, and I was incredibly bored. The ticking of the clock on the wall made each minute feel like hours. Three hours later, out of nowhere, a man who sat diagonally across from us slowly stands up, holding his chest in pain. The man tries to look up as he begins to vomit a watery yellow liquid and falls to the ground in sharp convulsions. Very scared and unknowing of what to do, I sat there, frantic as my grandparents and others tried to help the man up. I looked up at my grandmother and grandfather, and they looked empathetic towards the man. He continued to convulse, vomit and even cry as the people move him to an open space and the receptionist calls an ambulance. In the midst of all this, I found the strength to get up, and frantically run to the secretary’s table, and nearby appliance department, to call 911. Once the man was taken upstairs and into an ambulance, a First Responder informed everyone there that the man had a light seizure due to heart palpitations and that calling for help so quickly may have saved his life.“I’m just happy no one else got hurt”, said my grandfather. I sat back down with a smile on my face, knowing that the man's life was saved today, by random people. I learned about the importance of first aid training and that a seizure could happen to someone regardless of where they may be. It helped me to realize that life is precious. That day I went “above and beyond” by learning to show courage in the face of calamity and overcame fear and confusion to learn how to be strong. Today I look back on this situation with empathy and more understanding. The event lingered within my mind and inspired me to become certified First Aid and CPR administration by the American Red Cross Association later on in high school. Since then, I have become more patient in times of unrest. I continue to be kind to others and watch out for signs of a person experiencing any sickness or seizure. This event has taught me to be a more patient, considerate, and kind person. It has helped to mold me to pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering, to help people in need. I plan to help develop artificial limbs and other medical products to assist people in need, just like the man at the eye doctor’s office, to live happy, more productive lives.

A good leader leads through words, but a great leader leads through words and actions. Through comradery with like-minded members to practicing service within my community, Great leadership means that a good leader will exhibit the principles of leadership, service, character, and scholarship through their entire lives, and lead by example as a positive role model. Being a leader is important to me because good leadership improves the lives of others in need of a positive role model, and helps me to become a better person both inside and outside of school. I exhibit the qualities of a good leader by my ability to motivate and move others. Ever since I became a leader in my community service organization, The Delta G.E.M.S, at age 12, my role as a leader has been defined by supporting the success of the people around me. The more I see my peers and love ones succeed, the more I am inspired to lead others on a path to success. An example of this is when a friend’s recent victory in an academic competition inspired me to enter a competitive S.T.E.M-based competition. I was challenged to lead a team of peers who were not familiar with the competition and worked with them to learn the S.T.E.M design process to enter the competition. This was a rewarding experience that taught me the importance of taking initiative and working with other people towards a common goal. Another example of this is when I interviewed a community leader about the hardships people who frequent the local food bank face. I learned that people of all backgrounds, social classes, and occupations can fall on hard times, and use the food bank as a lifeline. I was sad to hear about the hardships people face every day, and I gained the drive to work hard at the food bank and provide a safe space for them. The principle of scholarship within my high school experience has been shaped by my character, service, and leadership skills and can be seen in countless moments of triumph and challenges. These principles have remained active with me throughout my high school career and have helped me to lead and thrive in my academic endeavors, including all of the projects mentioned above. I plan to incorporate these four pillars into all my future endeavors because of the positive impact each pillar has had on my personal growth. In the future, I wish to continue offering help, service, and support to my new college community. Providing knowledge, physical and emotional support to my fellow peers has helped me become the person I am today. In the future, I will continue to contribute ideas, leadership, and drive to serve the community. I have learned that even a little bit of motivation and engagement from a strong and helpful leader, could prompt someone to find their purpose in life and give others hope to keep going.

My favorite scientific discovery is the discovery of Penicillin. It is the quintessential scientific discovery to begin the era of modern pharmaceuticals that helped to prevent so many ailments and diseases. I believe that it is one of the most important discoveries of the 20 and 21 centuries. The accidental discovery of penicillin lead to life saving antibiotics that have saved innumerable amounts of lives from succumbing to fever, infection, viruses and so many other ailments.It is amazing how an accidentally cultured petri dish could lead to a discovery that would save so many lives. I was once prescribed antibiotics with penicillin for a terrible eye infection. The infection made my eyes swell and itch without fail, and no other medical treatment would help. However when prescribed antibiotics, my eyes were back to normal in four days. In conclusion, the discovery of penicillin has led to life saving medicines,with life changing results.

One person that inspires me every day is my mother. I know that sounds very cliche, but I believe that my mother is a stunning example of an exemplary human being, who I aspire to be like. My mother and I have a very strong connection. Whether it’s our similar features, shared love of family, or mutual appreciation of reality and home improvement tv shows, we both have a lot in common. However, my mother and I share many differences as well. My mother likes pepperoni pizza, but I like sausage pizza. I prefer hip hop music during long car rides, while my mother prefers gospel music. My mother believes that socializing with my friends outside of school takes away from my academic studies, while I believe that socialization is an essential piece of my personal growth and development. I mention all of this to say that it is through our similarities that my mother strengthens my tenacity and through our differences that I learn the life lessons that inspire me to become a better person. My mother is an academic trendsetter. She was one of the first in her family to graduate college at 21, a part of the first line of women in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority chapter at her university, and one of the few people I know to enroll in a highly coveted doctorate program. However, I was never intimidated by her academic achievements or thought of her as a standard of excellence that I could never achieve, but I think of her as ‘just mom’. While her resume would impress anybody with high regard for higher education, my mother never tried to force me to follow her, but rather encouraged me to find my own path and do my best in school. When I asked her how she has influenced me to apply for college, she said it is simply her example of hard work and my own tenacity that I have goals of attending college. At the time I asked this I nodded in agreement with her, saying that her influence did not really affect me. However, this could not be further from the truth. My mother affects every aspect of my life today, even if she does not realize it. She influences my decisions every day. From the way she walks to the way she talks, to the way she conducts her career, to her everlasting faith in God, and (most importantly) the way she displays academic excellence and pride in her work. One example of this occurred recently when I was talking to my mother about my first day at my new internship. She asked me “What goals do you have in mind for this?” she asked. “Goals? I’m pretty sure my manager and I will go over that,” I said back, confused as to why I should have goals for a short, part-time job. She then proceeded to talk to me about the importance of having goals to reach, not only for my job but for myself. She asked me all of these questions to show that I must set a standard for my own personal growth and remain open-minded about learning along the way. I cherish these words now and hold them in high regard as to why I want to apply to college: To expand my intellect and grow as a person. My mother and I share many similarities and differences, but one thing passed down from her to me, is the drive to strive for more, and to strive to hold myself to a standard of excellence.

I once faced strong adversity in middle school, where I learned empathy, patience, and how to stay calm in tough situations. One early spring morning, my grandmother, grandfather, and I drove to the local Sears department store. I was annoyed to find out that our 9 AM eye doctors’ appointment was backlogged and we had to wait to see the doctor for at least an hour. As we sat down I realized that I had nothing to do; no phone, no iPad, and I was incredibly bored. The ticking of the clock on the wall made each minute feel like hours. Three hours later, out of nowhere, a man who sat diagonally across from us slowly stands up, holding his chest in pain. The man tries to look up as he begins to vomit a watery yellow liquid and falls to the ground in sharp convulsions. Very scared and unknowing of what to do, I sat there, frantic as my grandparents and others tried to help the man up. I looked up at my grandmother and grandfather, and they looked empathetic towards the man. He continued to convulse, vomit and even cry as the people move him to an open space and the receptionist calls an ambulance. In the midst of all this, I found the strength to get up, and frantically run to the secretary’s table, and nearby appliance department, to call 911. Once the man was taken upstairs and into an ambulance, a First Responder informed everyone there that the man had a light seizure due to heart palpitations and that calling for help so quickly may have saved his life.“I’m just happy no one else got hurt”, said my grandfather. I began to calm down with a smile on my face, knowing that the man's life was saved today, by random people. I learned about the importance of first aid training and that a seizure could happen to someone regardless of where they may be. It helped me to realize that life is precious. That day I learned to show courage in the face of calamity and overcame fear and confusion to learn how to be strong. Today I look back on this situation with empathy and more understanding. The event lingered within my mind and inspired me to become certified First Aid and CPR administration by the American Red Cross Association later on in high school. Since then, I have become more patient in times of unrest. I continue to be kind to others and watch out for signs of a person experiencing a seizure. This event has taught me to be a more patient, considerate, and kind person. It has helped to mold me to pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering, to help people in need. I plan to help develop artificial limbs and other medical products to assist people in need, just like the man at the eye doctor’s office, to live happy, more productive lives.

In the early months of 2020, I volunteered at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey alongside my high school's chapter of the National Honors Society. Currently, I am a mentor, tutor, and volunteer at my National Honors Society. The most significant takeaway from my community service is the principles of the National Honors Society. The four main pillars of the National Honors Society are Leadership, Service, Character, and Scholarship. Each pillar has guided me to become a better person through my service to the community. Leadership; I exhibit the qualities of a good leader by my ability to motivate and move others. Ever since I became a leader in my community service organization, The Delta G.E.M.S, at age 12, my role as a leader has been defined by supporting the success of the people around me. The more I see my peers and love ones succeed, the more I am inspired to lead others on a path to success. An example of this is when I was friend’s recent victory in an academic competition inspired me to enter a competitive S.T.E.M-based competition. I was challenged to lead a team of peers who were not familiar with the competition and worked with them to learn the S.T.E.M design process to enter the competition. This was a rewarding experience that taught me the importance of taking initiative and working with other people towards a common goal. Character & Service; I exhibit character through my desire to support and encourage people to become the best versions of themselves. The building of character usually occurs through community service, where I am able to compassionately help others. I have developed my skills through community service, where I learned to have empathy for others, bravery in the face of hardships, and drive to always do my best in my service. An example of this is when I interviewed a community leader about the hardships people who frequent the local food bank face. I learned that people of all backgrounds, social classes, and occupations can fall on hard times, and use the food bank as a lifeline for essential products that are taken for granted. I was sad to hear about the hardships people face every day, and I gained the drive to work hard at the food bank and provide a safe space for them. Scholarship; The pillar of scholarship has been one of the main driving forces behind my stride for academic excellence. The scholarship within my high school experience has been shaped by my character, service, and leadership skills and can be seen in countless moments of triumph and challenges. For example, in my Engineering Workshop class, I lead my group in creating two small service vehicles both on time and under budget. I helped to oversee that these goals were met by keeping notes of our progress, encouraging our team, and helping team members remain on task. While the first service vehicle did not meet our high expectations, we learned from the project’s missteps and created a better more efficient vehicle for the next class assignment. These principles have remained active with me throughout my high school career and have helped me to lead and thrive in my academic endeavors, including all of the projects mentioned above. I plan to incorporate the four pillars of the National Honors Society into all my future endeavors because of the positive impact each pillar has had on my personal growth. All four of these main pillars have supported my membership in the National Honors Society

I once faced strong adversity in middle school, where I learned empathy, patience, and how to stay calm. A quick trip to the doctor’s office before a day of Spring Break fun…right? 9 am; my grandmother, grandfather, and I piled into our 1997 Pontiac Sunfire and drove to the local Sears department store. I was annoyed to find out that our appointment was backlogged and we had to wait to see the doctor for at least an hour. As we sat down I realized that I had nothing to do; no phone, no iPad, and I was incredibly bored. The ticking of the clock on the wall made each minute feel like hours. 11 am; We are still waiting for the doctor’s appointment as the small waiting room began to fill up with other visiting patients. I had now resorted to reading a Sears Optical brochure several times over while my grandfather read a small sunglasses booklet and my grandma checked her nails. 12:30; I noticed that my grandfather was also a little impatient as he began to fidget around in his chair. The flustered receptionist frantically filed papers, called patients, and answered phone calls as the room grew impatient. A stressed-out businessperson grabbed their hair and handed the receptionist an insurance card. A new mother tried to corral her kids into the door. A man in a green jacket and brown scarf cheerfully walks in, toting a smile and warm greeting for the receptionist and waiting room population. If only I could be as animated as he is? I asked my grandmother something along the lines of, “How much longer do we have to wait?” She says “As long as we need to make that appointment.” 12:56 pm; the man who sat diagonally across from us slowly stands up, holding his chest in pain. The man tries to look up as he begins to vomit a watery yellow liquid and falls to the ground in sharp convulsions. Very scared and unknowing of what to do, I sat there, frantic as my grandparents and other people tried to help the man up. He continues to convulse, vomit, and even cry as the people move him to an open space and the receptionist calls an ambulance. In the midst of all this, I found the strength to get up, and frantically run to the secretary’s table, and nearby appliance department, to call 911. My grandfather placed the man’s scarf near his head to protect him from convulsions. My grandmother and I informed the eye doctor and the nurse of the man’s condition. 1:10 pm; One first responder holding a notepad asked me what happened. Without hesitation, I told him everything. Through a bit of newfound courage, I asked to help and eventually searched for paper towels and cleaning supplies to clean the vomit on the floor. Once the man was taken upstairs and into an ambulance, a First Responder informed everyone there that the man had a light seizure due to heart palpitations and that calling for help so quickly may have saved his life. I should have been dismayed because there were further appointment delays, but it no longer mattered to me. How could such a scary event happen on such a mundane day? “I’m just happy no one else got hurt”, said my grandfather. I sat back down with a smile on my face, knowing that the man's life was saved today, by random people, including me. That day I learned to show courage in the face of calamity and overcame fear and confusion to learn about empathy.

Hello! My name is Faith Adams. I am currently a high school senior. I have always been super passionate about science, technology and finding fun, innovative ways to learn more about it. I am currently a rising senior at Applied Technology High School. During my time at Applied Tech, I have worked significantly with engineering design programs such as AutoCAD and Fusion 360 and also developed extensive skills in engineering design, project development, and team management. Outside of school, I love reading, coding, writing, singing, and dancing. I have a Youtube channel where I film, edit, and post videos about some of my favorite things: movies, TV shows, music, and life in general, including one fun fact in each video. It is a very fun creative outlet for me, and I have so much fun doing it. Another creative outlet that I have is running. However, some of my proudest moments outside of school have occurred while participating in community services. I want to attend college to refine my knowledge of the practices within my major, connect with peers and professionals striving to leave a positive impact on the world, and leave a positive impact on the world myself. I want to do my part in making the world a better palace, and by attending college I can learn the skills and gain the experiences needed to do so. Outside of my academic studies I also want to attend college to leave a direct positive impact on my college community. In the future, I wish to continue offering help, service, and support to the Honors community. Providing knowledge, physical and emotional support to my fellow peers has helped me become the person I am today. In the future, I will contribute ideas, leadership, and drive to the Honors community. Through service to my community, I have learned that even a little bit of motivation from a strong and helpful leader, could prompt someone to find their purpose in life. Participating in community service has given me a chance to provide leadership in my community as well as learn teamwork, support, and empathy. Once I began volunteering at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey with my school, I realized that even in one of the wealthiest states in the county, friends and family are hungry. Volunteering there has taught me that empathy for those in need along with teamwork with my fellow volunteers and friends can assist us in helping others with both care and respect. Distributing food supplies to senior citizens across the state helped me realize that just caring about the well-being of a person can lift their self-esteem and their faith in humanity as a whole. All of these lessons I’ve learned through just volunteering to help my community grow throughout my high school years. With all said, I am very passionate about making the world a better place. With the volunteering services that I have participated in, what I have learned about myself and about life, and the skills, knowledge, and growth that I will gain by attending college, I will do my very best to truly make this world a better place.

My career goals are to make the world a better place. I want to become an engineer to live out my passion for design, research, and building. I want my creations to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations It is my desire to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, affordable, and better the lives of those in need. These creations will reflect the values of caring for all people of the human race and that an easier life void of any limitations seen in the past is possible for anyone. My creations will involve the use of quality materials to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of maintenance of prosthetics. Most of all, want to benefit the lives of those in need. This would improve the performance of everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of accessible healthcare for low-income and disabled communities everywhere.

Hello! My name is Faith Adams. I am currently a high school senior. I think of myself as a unique person who loves reading, coding, writing, singing, and dancing. I have a youtube channel where I film, edit, and post videos about some of my favorite things: movies, tv shows, music, and life in general, including one fun fact in each video. It is a very fun creative outlet for me, and I have so much fun doing it. Another creative outlet that I have is running. For the first two years of high school, I was a part of my high school’s track & field team, and I first discovered my love for long-distance running. I love going on long runs, whether on a park trail or a high school track. Running allows me to clear my mind and take time to reflect. I hope that I I want to attend college, I hope to impact the world in a positive way and make the world a better place. I want to become an engineer in the medical and mechanical fields to live out my passion for design, research, and building. More specifically, I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. The world is ever-evolving and changing, and I believe that with my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. My creations involve the use of quality materials such as pure Tin, Copper, and high-grade polymers, to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of cleaning of prosthetics. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. I believe that it is vital to address the issues of overpriced healthcare while providing safe and cost-effective prosthetics to those in need to show the entire world of healthcare that it is possible for people of all income levels and backgrounds to have access to affordable healthcare to improve their ways of life I also want to attend college to give back to my community. I am a part of a volunteer/youth group called the Delta G.E.M.S, and I volunteer as a camera operator at the Bergen County Board of Commissioners. I am very passionate about giving back to my community in a major way, and volunteering allows me to do so. Furthermore, I am a determined, goal-driven, and caring student, who wants to make the world a better place through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Life will be very different if not for technology such as smartphones, artificial intelligence, or computer automation. Social media websites, such as Facebook or Snapchat, have become staples for productivity and advancement in the world we live in today. These technologies are used to communicate and interact with people around the world. As per the question regarding my opinion about top companies in the technology industry protecting their users without government interference of security protection, I vehemently agree. I believe that the three most dominant technology companies should include the confidential storage of a user's personal information (which coincides with a user's trust), simple and direct trade of limited information with third-party companies, and a holistic approach to the technology. How will solutions to security affect technology companies all over the world? Improvements in cyber security will gain tech companies the trust of their users, which would lead to a positive company reputation and increase users and overall revenue. First, a solution to the technological security problems faced by companies today should include third-party security firms, managing general information (i.e residential region, food preferences, leisure, sports preferences), and only giving back said data to social media companies through the fourth party permission. Next, using sub-censored algorithms to advertise to customers on a general scale and group based on prefer content but not personal info or location can also elevate the security standards of technology companies around the world. I believe a short, bullet-pointed contract clearly listing the legal standards, laws, regulations, and values of the company should be presented to and agreed on by the consumer before any form of data can be collected. Finally, cybersecurity sectors of companies can act as a firewall between user personal info and hacker/ransomware. With the prevention of future server hacks, companies can focus more time and resources on the quality and profitability of their products or services. I believe that if all these practices are put to use and practice throughout the world throughout every company in technology user info will be much safer. In conclusion, I strongly agree with and believe that the winners of the "race" to be the most successful technology company will be the companies that best protect and connect with their users and customers without government interference, throughout the world.

I have developed character through the lessons and experiences I have acquired by participating in community service. Giving back to my community is not only an interest of mine, but it allows me to explore my interests and passions in a positive way while making my little slice of the world a better place. One example of this includes my interest in innovative technology with the Technology Students Association, using my skills to create STEM-focused children's stories to be read at a local library. Furthermore, I find that the community service that challenges my thinking, my philosophy, and my integrity become activities that build my character. Volunteering services such as an editor at my high school's Newspaper Club, the first extracurricular club I joined in my freshman year, taught me the importance of punctuality, creative thinking skills through writing, and honesty on the subjects of school matters that I presented in my articles. Through my writing, I was able to inform my school community on upcoming events, social issues, and even fun puzzles and games. Volunteering at my County's Board of Commissioner's Public meetings was a much-welcomed challenge, as I would be giving back to my community by broadcasting the meeting to the public. In a world where many can not make it to the Commissioner's meetings due to the pandemic, live broadcasts can mean a lot. The Bergen Tech Winter Track and Field team has taught me to be courageous in the face of fear, to be self-controlled in times of doubt, to the importance of teamwork, and to loyalty to the code of sportsmanship. I believe these are the most important examples of how my character has been built through extracurricular activities and community service, and how these characteristics apply to my role as a leader.

One of my favorite quotes ever is a quote from my father that holds a special place in my heart. "Winners do what they have to do when they have to do it." This quote is significant to me because it is a quote that would ultimately change my perspective on my academic life. At the time my father first said this, it was my first week of middle school. The deadline for my first official essay of sixth grade was fast approaching, and I was tired of all of the homework and new expectations put on me from school. I was complaining to my mother and she just told me to continue my work without complaining so that I could receive a good grade. My father, who was sitting next to my mom, looked at me and simply asked, "Are you a winner?" I said "definitely", of course. "Then you have to do what you have to do," he said firmly. "It's too hard, Dad. I don't want to," I once again complained. He gave me a short but impactful lecture on working my hardest and best to achieve my goals, giving examples of the many times felt like giving up in school and in life. He told me that my love for school shouldn’t wane when the going gets tough and that I was a champion, who always does her best whether I 'felt like it or not.’ In the end, he said, "Winners do what they have to do when they have to do it." “ I’m a winner,” I shouted in response. Today, I have a copy of this quote as a poster in my room, typed in bold, cursive lettering. His words helped me to not only finish the essay in sixth grade but motivated me to keep on excelling in everything that I do, from academics to sports, to everyday life. Recently, I remember feeling stressed out, as I had multiple Biology assignments due at one time, and I just felt like giving up on my work. I remembered the quote my father told me, and I internalized it within my heart, and told myself that “I am a winner.” I ended up not only completing these assignments but receiving an A on all of my assignments, as my father’s quote pushed me to focus on the quality of my work. Even as I write this, I continue to use this quote to inspire me to be the best version of myself every day.

2020 was the year I faced some extraordinary hardships, and I struggled to find my purpose but gained a newfound attitude for life. With the circumstances that COVID-19 brought into my family life, my well-being, and the world around me, I had to quickly become more mature and take full responsibility for my own actions for the first time ever. The beginnings of 2020 were extremely positive, as I was super excited to “have 20/20 vision”, and I was looking forward to improving my grades, my social status in school, and making big plans for a fun spring/summer season. This all would be somewhat canceled on March 10, when my school district closed indefinitely for two weeks. At first, I was very nonchalant about things and expected life to go back to normal by June or July. I began to realize the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic a few days later on March 13, when I went out to eat with my family and sneezed, only to find a bunch of people stare at me and cover their food. Some weeks later in April, my mother suddenly contracted COVID-19, there were a lot of unknown factors in her treatment and the well-being of myself and the rest of my family. Due to her absence from hospital treatment, I had learned how to cook dinner for myself and my dad, I learned to discipline myself to get up early for (virtual school), and how to use my free time (which I now have a lot of) wisely. As my mom thankfully returned home I learned how to take extra caution to keep myself safe such as washing my hands more often, sanitizing hard surfaces, wearing a mask, and social distancing. From continuing classes in virtual school, I learned how to truly manage my time, how to motivate myself to continue to succeed in school, and how to manage oncoming tasks of junior year in high school. Later this year, I found myself not only bored but apathetic in interacting with my family and friends, as I felt that the pandemic put a strain on my social life that could not be fixed. However as school began again in September and social distancing restrictions relaxed, I learned that I didn’t need a large group of friends around me 24/7 to validate my existence and that my self-reassurance and vision for my life should provide me with a sense of purpose that would canary me through life. This was a really important lesson for me to learn, and I am still learning to follow this advice to this day. Even as the pandemic restrictions loosen and schedules for vaccination appointments were set, I still have a lot more to learn about taking responsibility for myself, finding my self-worth, and truly believing in myself. As the year 2021 is almost at its halfway mark, and I begin to settle into being a rising high school senior, I continue to learn more about life every day, and my experiences during the past year and a half have helped to shape my future. I plan to take an academic internship at a local medical engineering company, as I have grown to love helping people over the past year, and my goal of becoming a biomedical engineer has become my priority, and I plan to apply to 10 colleges next year. I hope that the lesson of self-worth continues to stick with me in the (hopefully) post-pandemic world. I wish each and everyone the very best of everything to come in 2021 and beyond.

2020 was the year I struggled to find my purpose but gained a newfound attitude for life. With the circumstances that COVID-19 brought into my family life, my well-being, and the world around me, I had to quickly become more mature and take full responsibility for my own actions for the first time ever. The beginnings of 2020 were extremely positive, as I was super excited to “have 20/20 vision”, and I was looking forward to improving my grades, my social status in school, and making big plans for a fun spring/summer season. This all would be somewhat canceled on March 10, when my school district closed indefinitely for two weeks. At first, I was very nonchalant about things and expected life to go back to normal by June or July. I began to realize the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic a few days later on March 13, when I went out to eat with my family and sneezed, only to find a bunch of people stare at me and cover their food. Some weeks later in April, my mother suddenly contracted COVID-19, there were a lot of unknown factors in her treatment and the well-being of myself and the rest of my family. Due to her absence from hospital treatment, I had learned how to cook dinner for myself and my dad, I learned to discipline myself to get up early for (virtual school), and how to use my free time (which I now have a lot of) wisely. As my mom thankfully returned home I learned how to take extra caution to keep myself safe such as washing my hands more often, sanitizing hard surfaces, wearing a mask, and social distancing. From continuing classes in virtual school, I learned how to truly manage my time, how to motivate myself to continue to succeed in school, and how to manage oncoming tasks of junior year in high school. Later this year, I found myself not only bored but apathetic in interacting with my family and friends, as I felt that the pandemic put a strain on my social life that could not be fixed. However as school began again in September and social distancing restrictions relaxed, I learned that I didn’t need a large group of friends around me 24/7 to validate my existence and that my self-reassurance and vision for my life should provide me with a sense of purpose that would canary me through life. This was a really important lesson for me to learn, and I am still learning to follow this advice to this day. Even as the pandemic restrictions loosen and schedules for vaccination appointments were set, I still have a lot more to learn about taking responsibility for myself, finding my self-worth, and truly believing in myself. As the year 2021 is almost at its halfway mark, and I begin to settle into being a rising high school senior, I continue to learn more about life every day, and my experiences during the past year and a half have helped to shape my future. I plan to take an academic internship at a local medical engineering company, as I have grown to love helping people over the past year, and my goal of becoming a biomedical engineer has become my priority, and I plan to apply to 10 colleges next year. I hope that the lesson of self-worth continues to stick with me in the (hopefully) post-pandemic world. I wish each and everyone the very best of everything to come in 2021 and beyond.

A song that has significantly influenced my life is "I Like Your Smile" by Shanice. It is a song that my mother would sing to calm me down when I was a baby, and to this day, it still holds a significant place in my heart. While this song was released almost 14 years before my birth, it was always one of my mother's favorite songs to sing while cleaning the house or running errands. Once I was born, my mother noticed that my smile resembled that of my grandmother's smile, and she found it only fitting to tell me that. Whenever I become rowdy or sad, my mother noticed that singing "I Like Your Smile" was one of the only songs that would calm me down, and as a result, she began singing the song to me almost every night before bed. My exposure to this song helped to instill a sense of self-confidence in me at a young age. By the time I entered Kindergarten, my mother noticed that I began to sing along whenever "I Like Your Smile" came on the radio as if I had known the words my whole life. She began to play the song even more around me to see if I knew all of the lyrics. I loved the bouncy and fun rhythm of the music, and the words "I like your smile" ringing in my head like a melodious compliment. I was already a member of my local Baptist church's choir when I began playing the recorder in the third grade. I love how simple and easy it was to learn the notes of the recorder, and I swiftly learned the notes to "I Like Your Smile." As I entered middle school, I became better at note reading and in proxy recorder playing. It is at this time, I followed in my mother's footsteps and began to play the flute, finding "I Like Your Smile to be my favorite song to play. In the present day, I currently play the recorder, the flute, and recently, the acoustic guitar. I believe that "I Like Your Smile" has influenced me to build the foundation of my character on my self-worth, and has encouraged me to be creative in the way I express myself, through music.

First, I would like to introduce myself. Hello! My name is Faith and I love learning about new things. I love learning about new technology, new languages, new advances in the world of science, and new developments in current events & news. My love of learning probably stems from a quote from my father's saying, "question everything." I realize that my love of learning heavily influences the hobbies that I enjoy today. Some of my hobbies include learning how to play new instruments (including the recorder), singing, learning to code in Python, dancing, video editing, and, most recently, crochet. I attend Applied Technology High School, a magnet school situated within a community college campus, where all students can take college classes and receive college credits while still in high school. Throughout my years in high school, I have come to realize that attending both college and high school classes in a campus environment is very different from attending a conventional high school, in positive and negative ways. This is just a glimpse into the many aspects of my wonderful life. However, that does not matter when applying to colleges. College admission boards want to know what impact you will leave on the school. The impact of a student in a college or university all depends on their most valuable qualities not just as a student, but as a person. One of my best qualities is my ability to perceive. Yes, that right, I believe that my ability to perceiver is the one factor in life that keeps me on the road to success. Ever since I was born, my parents have taught me to always be grateful for what I have, and to give to those in need. I grew up in a middle-class family, so I was always grateful for the house I lived in and the things we had. Through those values taught by my parents, I learned to have a love of helping others at a very young age. I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to say that I care for all people of the human race and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. the world is ever-evolving and changing, and I believe that with my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. My creation would involve the use of quality materials such as pure tin, copper, and high-grade polymers, to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of cleaning of prosthetics. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. I believe that it is vital to address the issues of overpriced healthcare while providing safe and cost-effective prosthetics to those in need to show the entire world of healthcare that people of all income levels and backgrounds can have access to affordable healthcare to improve their ways of life.

I want to study Biomedical Engineering in college to create advancements in technology that make life easier for those with disabilities. I have always enjoyed using and creating new inventions along with the process used to create them. I believe that by 2032, I would have created the world's most easy-to-use, economically beneficial, and versatile prosthetic limbs know to the western world. This would both improve the ease of performing everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low-income and disabled communities. I believe that it is vital to address the issues of overpriced healthcare while providing safe and cost-effective prosthetics to those in need to show the entire world of healthcare that it is possible for people of all income levels and backgrounds to have access to affordable healthcare to improve their way of life.

I want to create prosthetic-like pieces of technology that are quality, inexpensive, and better the lives of those in need. I want my creations to say that I care for all people of the human race, and that I want them to have easier lives than the earlier generations. the world is ever evolving and changing, and I believe that with my contribution to the advancement of technology, the world can advance into a future of equality for those who are disabled and security for those who believe they cannot afford prosthetics. My creations to involve the use of quality materials such as pure Tin, Copper, and high-grade polymers, to create inexpensive prosthetics to improve the quality of movement use, and ease of cleaning of prosthetics. This would both improve the ease of preforming everyday activities for those without natural limbs, but also open the conversation of overpriced healthcare for low income and disabled communities. I believe that it is vital to address the issues of overpriced healthcare while providing safe and cost-effective prosthetics to those in need to show the entire world of healthcare that it is possible for people of all income levels and backgrounds to have a cess to affordable healthcare to improve their ways of life.