As I begin my journey through high school, I'm starting to observe the world around me differently. The world constantly seems very big, and sometimes, there are too many things to do in such a short time. Balancing work, learning, and play is becoming almost impossible. Learning about the world is essential to knowing our surroundings, yet some people ignore that and look toward the skies. Some say the answers to our world are in space. They then spend millions on space exploration and technology to find the answers. The real question is: Will we find the answers in time? Since starting high school, I've had more work and less free time. When my mind wanders, it leads me to the million things I must do, each as distant as the stars. Looking up at space, one can feel so small and insignificant. That feeling of the world being too big could lead us to think we have no work here on Earth, and that our future lies in space. Believing this, some dedicate their whole lives to developing tools for space exploration, but the main problem is its expense. Space exploration is costly: why are we spending so much on it when we have yet to explore our world? Of course, space is part of nature, part of our universe. All our mistakes and achievements are linked to nature, from science to engineering to math. All have a connection to our living and nonliving world, so, therefore, we should search for the answers we need in nature. However, not everything is in plain sight; most concepts are hidden underneath much of our understanding. If humans continue this way - exploring space more and more while our planet is left unaided - eventually, Earth won't sustain us anymore. Pollution, global warming, famine, droughts, and forest fires - all have risen in considerable numbers in the past centuries. We've been working on how to solve these problems, but not enough. The numbers have not diminished and don't appear to diminish in the coming years. The cosmos might help us find another planet like Earth, but the money spent on those explorations and investigations could be turned over to our own Earth. We could use those expenses to solve our pollution and famine problems. Some have been turned over to those problems, but our space expenses are too great. Space exploration and Earth exploration are equally important. To understand both, we must explore both. However, which is more important? The cosmos, which will be there forever, or our planet, which is dying away from our cause? To find answers, we must help and explore Earth, our source of life, and work together to undo the damage we've done to our home.

Whether it's been for school or everyday life, I've always had an affinity for learning. The reason doesn't matter: if it's about people, hobbies, nature, or science, my mind searches for answers. My fondness for learning has helped me advance academically and socially. It has fueled my love for learning and education my whole life. My affinity for knowledge has led to my dreams of the future, where I plan to attend college. Since I was little, I've moved to many places and met new people. I was born in the Dominican Republic to Dominican and Puerto Rican parents and lived in the US since childhood. Social skills were never my strong suit as a kid; I usually had few close friends and kept to myself. I was always very independent and resourceful; I never worked well in teams and liked doing things alone. My shyness posed a few problems, including my ability to make friends and meet new people. My timidness affected me until my first teenage years, but ever since I moved to Puerto Rico, I've opened up and made many new friends. I moved to Fajardo, Puerto Rico, two years ago, and I enjoy it more and more every day. The people and ambiance are kinder and warmer, and it's very distinct from living in the US. Since I moved, the most challenging transition must've been the language change. Although Spanish is my first language, I wasn't used to reading and speaking Spanish everywhere. I was frequently asked where I was from because I had no Puerto Rican accent. Here in Fajardo, I've learned how to socialize and learn about people's lives in Puerto Rico. I love living in Fajardo, where I can stay close to family and friends. However, living in Puerto Rico can pose some disadvantages. To pursue an advanced educational degree, a college student must leave the country and go to the US to achieve their academic goals. Moving poses many problems, including financial ones. I've seen these effects on my family: my cousin moved from Puerto Rico to the US to pursue an advanced medical degree, and the transition was difficult. Scholarships are a crucial solution to financial issues in college; they provide funds for the winner's academic future. I've always wanted to attend college, even if I didn't know what to study. A lingering feeling tells me that going to college is part of my destiny, a goal I should always be mindful of when doing work or thinking about my future. Although I might be a little young to think about college or scholarships, it's always good to have a goal and stay fixed on it. This scholarship would help me achieve my dreams of attending college and shaping our world.

How can you incorporate a bold mindset against barriers standing in your way? The trick is to change your view of the obstacles while practicing a healthy mindset. Even if barriers seem conflicting, you must think ahead and reach your goal. When I tried different methods and used them, they helped amplify my sights on my possibilities and opened opportunities I would've overseen. Barriers can feel massive and opposing at times. Sometimes, they can loom over you like a shadow, lurking where you least expect them to. Barriers can benighten your sights, blocking your goal from sight and leading you the wrong way. When I encounter obstacles, I pay attention to what they're trying to prevent me from doing and how. Sometimes, these barricades discourage me, and I spend a long time wallowing in frustration. For example, once, I was exposed to a new situation in a new place, and nothing was progressing. I wasn't doing things right, and those alongside me were coping better than I was. I realized that my state of mind was overwhelming, and I needed to calm down to see how everyone else was enjoying themselves. I practiced and could work out my worries by doing things right. What helps me get past these barriers is seeing them from a different angle, calming down, or asking for help. Asking for help isn't a weakness, as some people think. Pursuing assets from those who support you is no flaw. Another strategy is to set small goals to accomplish them efficiently and work your way up. Barriers can seem overwhelming, but there's always a way to surpass those obstacles. All we have to do is find it. A famous quote follows: "Believe you can, and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt. To have a gritty mindset, you must apply gumption in everything you do. I would start small, like working around your community and learning about your environment. Sometimes, when you pay too much attention to the barriers before you, you don't notice your surroundings and what might help you. Your mind is too focused on flaws and hurdles that it doesn't focus on what might aid you. Grit and strength can come from the most unexpected places. Disconnect from what causes harm to your state of mind, and that way, you'll find the grit in life. To obtain your goal, you must always think ahead. When you have an objective, you mustn't let distractions interfere with your progress. When you see obstacles as a test of strength or grit, you can surpass them with your goal in mind. I like to use this method for simple and challenging objectives; it helps keep you focused and on point. Small goals, for example, can be finishing a project in a specific class at school or joining a new extracurricular club. If my objective is one of these, I think about what I will benefit from once I've finished, and I use that thought as motivation for what's ahead. Reaching your goals and doing the right thing will fuel you for your future.

Forming a Stranger Things trio is an important job because they all have their strengths and weaknesses. If I had to, I'd choose my favorite characters: Eleven, Dustin, and Steve. They all have different skills and can work together. That way, they don't fight one another because of those unique skills, like Dustin's smarts or Steve's wit. As an example, I'll take Steve. At the beginning of the series, I hated him and his character because of how he acted and how controlling and bossy he was. Honestly, he was the character I most despised. If I had stopped watching Stranger Things during the first season, he would've stayed as my least favorite character. But that all changed in Season 2, where he gets a massive character development and starts to be friendly. After that, he's one of my favorite characters, besides the other two I've mentioned. He's smart, has got handy tricks, and fights well. Along with the other two characters, he'd be the fighter/adventurer kind and fit in well. Eleven is also the fighter type, but she's also kind and curious. Her powers also would help her fight any gnarly threat to her town and her weird connections to the Upside Down. One downside to her being on the team is that she doesn't understand everything she sees. She could be emotion-driven by certain things, but Dustin and Steve won't let her jump into something she doesn't understand. The other two would help her understand anything she's never faced. Last but not least, Dustin. Now, we all know that Dustin doesn't think things through, like when he raised a Demodog in his room by feeding it nougat. However, he would be the brains for the team and provide infinite knowledge about the weirdness in Hawkins. He could also be emotion-driven, along with Lucas, but Dustin tends to stick to the facts and inquire about things he doesn't know. He's smart and nerdy, too, which separates him from the rest of the team. Altogether, they can beat whatever Hawkins is haunted with. When it comes to smarts, Dustin and Steve deliver. As for brawn, Eleven and Steve can fight whatever they need to. They all could overcome whatever obstacle in their way - in their unique way.