In my free time, I help give tours to incoming first-year students, run food and blood drives, help raise money for organizations, decorate the school, tutor students, create and donate blankets, and more. By volunteering at the high school and running the peer tutoring program, I have built relationships with teachers and students I did not have class with or learn from. These relationships have provided me with a support network that I can rely on; when I need help or support from someone, I can ask numerous people for help and, in return, get help from others. While living in Pennsylvania, I volunteered at our local library for six hours every weekend. My favorite part of the volunteering was running the STEM activities with the little kids. I remember walking into the library one day, thinking it would be a long day. Don't get me wrong. I was excited to volunteer; I was just tired from not sleeping well. I got there, set up a massive bucket of water, and pulled out aluminum foil, paper, paper clips, hot glue, and scissors for the kids to use. Once it hit lunchtime, the kids started arriving and meeting up. I called all the kids over and gave them their mission. Create a boat that will float in water and hold most paper clips. The winner would get a prize. All the children ran over and started to grab supplies. This little boy was nervous; it was his first time at one of these events, and he did not know anyone well enough to want to ask. I approached him and guided him to join a team of kids. This activity was an individual project, but I wanted them to help still and support each other. The boy tested his boat, and it sank immediately. He tried two more times, but both failed. The next thing I knew, he was crying and upset. He then stood up, got his boat, and returned to work. When it was the end of the activity, everyone tested their boats one last time, and what would you know, his boat held the most paperclips! I love to tell the story of the time I ran this activity. By doing this activity, I saw how perseverance is essential in life; we need to have it, or we will give up and not succeed. I currently take challenging dual credit classes. It's not easy, but I must have faith in myself and push through the boundaries I unknowingly set for myself. While the boy's boat was not the most pretty, it was the most successful. I learned that it is okay to mess up, but how you learn from those failures and grow matters the most. Serving the community can be as small as showing up and being there, donating, volunteering, or running an event. These events include helping at local schools, libraries, and community centers and organizing donation drives, parades, or fairs. By helping to serve the community, you are creating a better environment for you and everyone living there. People will never turn down good help when needed, and everyone can help. Even a small impact can change or improve someone's day. Volunteering has no requirements except for one: a small amount of your time. Communities that have people who volunteer have more events, build closer relationships, help each other more, and build a lasting community that benefits all.

Books open the door to many worlds, thoughts, and ideas. Each book tells a different story about people from unique cultures, places, and lifestyles. Historical fiction books tell a story from another era, whereas realistic fiction tells a story you can experience. My favorite genre is fantasy; it teleports you to another realm where vampires, fae, werewolves, witches, and magic are an essential aspect that shapes the story. Books can be similar in many ways with themes, but each tells a different perspective and process for the character showing growth. “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas is one of my all-time favorite books. The main character starts as cold and smart-mouthed, but quickly, you learn she is doing it to protect herself and ensure her survival. Throughout the book, Celeana Sardothian faces numerous battles of wills, from holding her tongue, training to fight, challenging flashbacks, and trying to ensure she is sane. Regardless of the rules, Celeana has a massive curiosity that leads her to danger, but she follows it because she believes it is suitable for her to do so to protect others. This book taught me that although things seem opposing and wrong, you need to fight for yourself and what you believe is right. This book has helped shape my goals because it has shown me that although I face my mental challenges, it is okay to experience them, but I must push myself back up again. While I might not be fighting for my life like Celeana, I am fighting battles internally, and now I know that I can come back from anything. I will not let myself get stopped by my challenges; I will overcome them and fight back. The lesson of finding your place in the world is a massive theme in the children’s chapter book, “The Unwanteds,” by Lisa McMann. At the beginning of this book, children are selected as unwanted and sent to this place in the middle of nowhere to die slowly. Quickly, the children learn that their family and friends disowned them. After being left alone, a magic castle and world magically appear in front of them, and they’re invited with open arms and fit right in with everyone else. Additionally, the other children sent out throughout the years were all grown up and thriving. In the end, the children find their place in the new magical world, gain new friends, and even fight back against the home that abandoned them. This book has taught me that there are people out there who understand you and care about you. It may not seem like it, but there is. I am currently facing a dilemma within my friend group, where I feel I do not belong. Looking back upon this book, I know there is a place for me somewhere, and I will find it, maybe not now, but possibly when I go to college and meet new people. This book has made me stand up for myself more and want to explore the unknown while meeting new people. For an introvert, that is a lot to say. Books can teach a person many things about the world and inspire people to try new things and experiences. It is why I have had a library aid at our high school for the last year, continuing for the years 24-25. I want others to read and gain life lessons from books; that is what they are there for to help you grow. These mind-blowing adventures have taught me to stand up for myself and others and try new things.

I walked through the library's aisles, my heart beating excitedly. I was on my own today and out of my volunteer training! The tan cart creaked behind me as I dragged it onto the elevator. The ride-up was bumpy. The elevator abruptly stopped on the highest floor, and I tried to get off, only to get stuck between the elevator and the floor. Giving the cart a huge push, it came off squeaking. I then started in the children's section, walking past letter-labeled boxes to find the letter I was looking for. When I was almost done shelving the whole cart, someone approached me and said, "Miss." Not knowing he was talking to me, I shelved the books until he asked, "Could you help me find a book?" I swung around and said, "Of course, I could help find a book. What was the title?" Giving me the title, the little boy watched me walk up to the computer to see its location. Looking it up in the system and finding the area, I left the desk to walk to the kid's section. I found the letterbox with the first letter of the author's name. He then helped me find the book, but I found it first, and his face lit up when I handed it to him. Running off, he showed it to his mother; they then checked it out and left. My heart felt full of joy that I could help this little boy and make his day better than it was. I felt good serving the community this way and decided to continue serving, but through more pathways. I am a high school senior who takes dual credit classes to graduate with an associate's degree. When you meet me, I can be standoffish. I only socialize sometimes and always want my personal space. Being raised with siblings who have ADHD and autism makes you crave space due to it being so overwhelming. It feels like once you get to know me, you genuinely meet another person. Getting to know the true me is a different experience; I am a very sassy and feisty woman who always wants to talk and never shuts up when needed. In my free time, I hang out in the school library, where the librarian matches my attitude with another attitude, and we get along. At home, I also read and knit. I am knitting a blanket I have been working on since the end of July. I plan to volunteer whenever I can. I truly understand that people have bad and good days, as well as a limited schedule to go places and spend a few hours. Currently, I help plan times for students to receive tutoring for free at our high school during class time to help them better understand the content and improve their abilities. In November, I host a high school food drive and donate all the items to local food banks. After graduating from medical school and gaining experience, I plan on continuing to volunteer by going to local health facilities. One day, I plan to be a teacher at a medical facility or school to help other students be able to help others. Having an impact on your community is not just donating money; it's showing up and putting the effort in to help others, no matter how hard. I have days where it is rough, but I volunteer regardless to help make a better world for everyone in it and help make other's days better.

I walked through the library's aisles, my heart beating excitedly. I was on my own today and out of my volunteer training! The tan cart creaked behind me as I dragged it onto the elevator. The ride-up was bumpy. The elevator abruptly stopped on the highest floor, and I tried to get off, only to get stuck between the elevator and the floor. Giving the cart a huge push, it came off squeaking. I then started in the children's section, walking past letter-labeled boxes to find the letter I was looking for. When I was almost done shelving the whole cart, someone approached me and said, "Miss." Not knowing he was talking to me, I shelved the books until he asked, "Could you help me find a book?" I swung around and said, "Of course, I could help find a book. What was the title?" Giving me the title, the little boy watched me walk up to the computer to see its location. Looking it up in the system and finding the area, I left the desk to walk to the kid's section. I found the letterbox with the first letter of the author's name. He then helped me find the book, but I found it first, and his face lit up when I handed it to him. Running off, he showed it to his mother; they then checked it out and left. My heart felt full of joy that I could help this little boy and make his day better than it was. I felt good serving the community this way and decided to continue serving, but through more pathways. I am a high school senior who takes dual credit classes to graduate with an associate's degree. When you meet me, I can be standoffish. I only socialize sometimes and always want my personal space. Being raised with siblings who have ADHD and autism makes you crave space due to it being so overwhelming. It feels like once you get to know me, you genuinely meet another person. Getting to know the true me is a different experience; I am a very sassy and feisty woman who always wants to talk and never shuts up when needed. In my free time, I hang out in the school library, where the librarian matches my attitude with another attitude, and we get along. At home, I also read and knit. I am knitting a blanket I have been working on since the end of July. I plan to volunteer whenever I can. I truly understand that people have bad and good days, as well as a limited schedule to go places and spend a few hours. Currently, I help plan times for students to receive tutoring for free at our high school during class time to help them better understand the content and improve their abilities. In November, I host a high school food drive and donate all the items to local food banks. After graduating from medical school and gaining experience, I plan on continuing to volunteer by going to local health facilities. One day, I plan to be a teacher at a medical facility or school to help other students be able to help others. Having an impact on your community is not just donating money; it's showing up and putting the effort in to help others, no matter how hard. I have days where it is rough, but I volunteer regardless to help make a better world for everyone in it and help make other's days better.

All of my life, I have had medical issues piling up. From a young age, I was in the hospital due to having a weak immune system, probably at least once a month. Once I turned six, though, I was diagnosed with dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is not well-known; when people find out I have it, I have to explain what it is and what it means to my health. This disease is a nervous system issue; it messes with my body, and everyone experiences it differently. Still, another person in my family had it, making diagnosing it easier. For me, the symptoms have always been dizziness, nausea, loss of balance, low blood pressure, and migraines. Additionally, I have been diagnosed with low blood pressure and chronic migraines. My medical issues have interfered with what I do. I can’t do sports, nor can I participate in group activities where we do a lot of motion; I can get overwhelmed easily when sick and running around knocks my system off balance. When I got accepted into Camp RYLA last summer, we were unsure if I could go due to the heat and exercises, I would be doing there. Defeating the odds, I made it through and participated in all the activities. It got hard towards the end, but I made it through with little to no issues and enjoyed the new experience; I’d never been able to go to a summer camp like this before! On top of dysautonomia, I have anxiety, which is a whole other level of challenge that I have been struggling to overcome. These experiences have made me want to become a cardiologist. I want to show people that medical issues should not prevent you from accomplishing your dreams. It drives me insane when people constantly ask if I am alright and warn me to be careful. I have gone through these experiences and want to help others, even if it is not in the medical field. I love giving back to the community as much as possible because you never know what someone else is going through. All children dream of becoming a doctor, but very few become one. But I never let go of that dream, which continues to guide me. I have pursued this by taking as many challenging classes as I can and starting my Pre-Med degree plan. I have also researched different health concerns in my classes to help me decide what type of doctor to be. I want to continue my research and shape my future as a doctor. I have to work on myself before I can help others. I want to gain the experience and knowledge that your college offers so I can use this information to help others improve their health and their daily lives.

All of my life, I have had medical issues piling up. From a young age, I was in the hospital due to having a weak immune system, probably at least once a month. Once I turned six, though, I was diagnosed with dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is not well-known; when people find out I have it, I have to explain what it is and what it means to my health. This disease is a nervous system issue; it messes with my body, and everyone experiences it differently. Still, another person in my family had it, making diagnosing it easier. For me, the symptoms have always been dizziness, nausea, loss of balance, low blood pressure, and migraines. Additionally, I have been diagnosed with low blood pressure and chronic migraines. My medical issues have interfered with what I do. I can’t do sports, nor can I participate in group activities where we do a lot of motion; I can get overwhelmed easily when sick and running around knocks my system off balance. When I got accepted into Camp RYLA last summer, we were unsure if I could go due to the heat and exercises, I would be doing there. Defeating the odds, I made it through and participated in all the activities. It got hard towards the end, but I made it through with little to no issues and enjoyed the new experience; I’d never been able to go to a summer camp like this before! On top of dysautonomia, I have anxiety, which is a whole other level of challenge that I have been struggling to overcome. These experiences have made me want to become a cardiologist. I want to show people that medical issues should not prevent you from accomplishing your dreams. It drives me insane when people constantly ask if I am alright and warn me to be careful. I have gone through these experiences and want to help others, even if it is not in the medical field. I love giving back to the community as much as possible because you never know what someone else is going through. All children dream of becoming a doctor, but very few become one. But I never let go of that dream, which continues to guide me. I have pursued this by taking as many challenging classes as I can and starting my Pre-Med degree plan. I have also researched different health concerns in my classes to help me decide what type of doctor to be. I want to continue my research and shape my future as a doctor. I have to work on myself before I can help others. I want to gain the experience and knowledge that your college offers so I can use this information to help others improve their health and their daily lives. I truly want to make the impact of helping people with medical issues, especially in cardiology. Due to suffering from it my entire life, I know what it is truly like to suffer through medical issues, including the highs and lows, from being in the hospital to feeling great and wanting to rule the world. People deserve to have the good days, where anything feels accomplishable, and I want to help them feel this way, especially with younger kids.