From discovering my passion, advancing my skills, and keeping my mind sharp, college was an easy option for me following my high school graduation. I applied to eleven different schools and was accepted into each of them, but the decision ultimately fell upon my chosen field. I decided on a science-related degree early in high school when I was involved in many environmental activities through my local Future Farmers of America Organization. Furthermore, I took AP Environmental Science and thoroughly enjoyed the material and labs. This allowed me to plan my future and decide on a degree path, which ultimately ended up being Geosciences with a concentration in Natural Resources and Conservation. In a recent course that I took through college, I was tasked with creating the research project for my capstone course within my degree. I chose to study shoreline erosion at a beach that was local to me. Over the past few decades, the shoreline has seen several feet of degradation, and currently, there are restoration efforts in place to mitigate shoreline erosion in the area. I hope to study North Topsail Beach in my capstone course and the future. In doing so, I hope to determine what the major causes of shoreline erosion are, how to combat the issue, and what specific management practices will be the most effective in preventing future loss while also ensuring the health and sustainability of aquatic life. Coastal North Carolina is home to some of the East Coast’s most visited tourist attraction beaches, including Topsail Island, which is currently facing shoreline erosion and the imminent threat of sea level rise. Coastal restoration efforts have been at the forefront of repairs after the effects of major hurricanes spanning from Hazel in 1954 to Dorian in 2019. Progress towards these repairs has not been heavily focused on. Restoration efforts started in 2002 and are ongoing to this day. Notable events throughout that time frame include the creation of the Inlet Management Plan and Beach/Dune Nourishment in 2002, a five-step Phase plan involving sand deposition and dredging, and the Coastal Storm Risk Management project created in 2010. By studying this topic in this area, I hope to bring this issue into a greater light to initiate change. The research conducted in this project will impact those currently focused on the rehabilitation and restoration of coastal shorelines. The first step in communicating research to a target audience would be making all of the information collected throughout this project readily available for anyone to use. In doing so, other researchers can use this information to help guide new projects of a similar nature. From a larger perspective, however, this research will have a greater impact, especially on those who live near the coast or those whose personal belongings, homes, or recreational activities take place at the ocean. There is only so much that one person can do in a lifetime, but if I had to choose one thing to accomplish, fighting for ocean and environmental health would certainly be a great thing to do.

From discovering my passion, advancing my skills, and keeping my mind sharp, college was an easy option for me following my high school graduation. I applied to eleven different schools and was accepted into each of them, but the decision ultimately fell upon my chosen field. I had decided on a science-related degree early in high school when I was involved in many environmental activities through my local Future Farmers of America Organization. Furthermore, I took AP Environmental Science and thoroughly enjoyed the material and labs. This allowed me to plan my future and decide on a degree path, which ultimately ended up being Geosciences with a concentration in Natural Resources and Conservation. Choosing the Geoscience field was an exciting decision for me as I knew it would open up a variety of opportunities for me to partake in. For example, I could see myself working within the education field, government, or even business. This way, I could continue to explore my passion for lab experiments, planning, and being in nature. Choosing this career field helps me do the one thing that most people are excited about when choosing geosciences: helping to protect the planet by learning from it and helping to predict the future of our world. For me, the prospect of being able to change some of the harm that we are doing to the environment is an exciting opportunity. It sounds corny to say, but I always knew I wanted to give back to the planet that gives us so much. There is so much to be excited about in the field of geoscience, and as I am nearing my degree conclusion, I am beginning to ponder what opportunities are available to me. For example, I could branch into volcanology, move to Hawaii, and help predict eruptions and learn about our past. I could also go a geology route, predict, and plan for earthquakes, and help to design quake-resistant infrastructure. The possibilities truly are endless and that is what makes a degree in science so exciting. Ultimately, the most exciting part about partaking in a science degree program is the hands-on learning experiences. Even though I attend an online college, I can participate in lab experiments from the comfort of my own home utilizing lab kits and manuals to follow. By doing this, I was able to test the pH of water after the addition of Alka-Seltzer in different water temperatures and I was able to test the laws of physics. I would not trade these experiences for anything, and continuing down this degree path, I can be certain that these opportunities will continue to present themselves and I can continue my passion for learning. In doing so, I may also be able to bring about good change in the world.

If I could have everyone in the world read one book, it would be "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson. In short, this book covers the expansion of science regarding agriculture after the Second World War. Carson explains throughout the book how the application of pesticides and other chemicals pollute our streams, harm animals, and even negatively impact humans. In my senior year of high school, I read this book in my environmental science class, and it truly opened my eyes to the horrors that people lived through during the time of mass chemical application. I remember seeing videos of children being doused with these chemicals and being diagnosed with cancer or dying suddenly later on. As for why someone else should read this book, it never hurts to be educated about the past because, after all, an untold past leads to a repeated future. Humans have already done irreparable harm to the environment, each other, and animals alike. Reading about and learning from past mistakes is the first step in making things right. This book was influential enough for me to major in an environmental science program in college in hopes of combatting some of the damage we have done to the world. Another reason to read this book is because the message still resonates with readers today. Written 62 years ago, this book, filled with scientific evidence of the harm of chemicals, continues to inspire and educate those who pick up the book today. Furthermore, Rachel Carson calls for banning many chemicals in this book and for better regulation of them, which is still a prominent message to be considered today. Also, this book serves as an example of a woman excelling in her field and inspires young women everywhere to be passionate, not be silenced, and work hard to achieve their goals. Despite being attacked personally by the government and naysayers, Rachel Carson remained persistent and a leading figure in policymaking for chemicals, their use, and their impact on the environment. If that alone isn’t enough to convince someone to read this book, maybe learning more about the legacy she leaves behind will help inspire.

Let me first start off by saying that Taylor Swift is, in fact, the music industry. She comprises THE ENTIRETY of the top fifty of my most listened-to songs on Spotify, and I have an 8 1/2-hour playlist dedicated to my favorites from each of her albums. That being said, 1989 is a fantastic album, and one of her best, vocally. My favorite song from the album actually comes from the deluxe version, and it is Wonderland. This song, to me, is about getting lost in lust with someone, whether a "Lover" or friend. It symbolizes time moving slowly and living in the moment, and I think there's something extraordinary about a song that invokes that kind of feeling. This world is moving by far too fast, and what I would love more than anything else in the world is to be able to live and the moment and appreciate every second of life I have left in me. Apart from the catchy music and rhythmic drums during the chorus, this song really just makes you feel some type of way. "Didn't they tell us don't rush into things, didn't you flash your green eyes at me." In these lyrics, she uses her wit to make allusions to Alice in Wonderland, which I believe is what the song is written about. She also says "Didn't you calm my fears with a Cheshire cat smile?" Alice in Wonderland and all of the remakes and variations are some of my favorite movies to watch with my family, so it just adds another layer of appreciation for this song. I would have to say it is probably for the best that a cap was put on how many words could be included, given that I could talk about Taylor Swift for HOURS. Unfortunately, I was not able to get tickets to her Eras Tour, but I find peace in knowing that I have an 8.5-hour playlist that I can pop on with some noise-canceling headphones and clear my mind in a workout or a long drive. Taylor Swift has truly changed my life, helped me to embrace my sexuality, (especially in You Need to Calm Down and many of her other songs in her discography I can live vicariously through), and reignites my love for listening to music. She has so much passion in her songs that she can make you feel the emotions she is singing about even if you've never experienced them before. For the record, I would like to say that I am one of the ones who recommended 1989 to the bracket and voted for it every time! :)

If I were to say right now that I love math, I might be viewed as weird or peculiar but it is true. Mathematics is an extremely important tool for us to have, and it helps much more than you might think. Numbers and mathematic functions help us to make sense of the world around us. We always hear about the real-world applications of math, but most people don't take into consideration just how fundamental these applications are in our everyday lives. We are constantly surrounded by numbers, functions, equations, and algorithms that dictate the course of our day. Moreover, mathematics is extremely important in business and the workplace, as they help categorize and organize large sets of data and are used to show a profit, calculate paychecks, and create profit and loss statements for companies. Sure, the math may not be easy to solve and may sometimes be more frustrating than it is worth, but where would we be without it? Math is good for our brains by giving it a challenge every once in and while, and it will help you in any career you choose to enter in the future. Objectively, mathematics helps you with problem-solving skills, and organization, and can overall just help you in life. You will find that the use of math helps you delve deeper into a multi-surface level of understanding, rather than finding yourself stuck scraping the surface. A final note worth considering is that math makes sense. In all other degree fields, there is room for speculation, changes, and discrepancies, but math is a finite solution. Sure, there are several ways to get to an answer, but the point is that the answer doesn't change. Therefore, if you are someone who is relatively static and does not like rapid change, math is something you can find comfort in. There are many reasons to like math, but I feel as though this overview does a well enough job explaining just how fundamental math is in our daily lives and how it is important on all levels of existence and comprehension.

My name is Joshua Filling, and while it is not evident from a profile, I think it is important to mention that as a child, I experienced domestic abuse. No one really tells you how hard it is to manage symptoms of CPTSD, or how you can develop extreme anxiety at someone raising their voice or their hand too quickly. Before jumping into my rather extensive list of mental instabilities, I would imagine it is important to build the foundation of how I ended up the way I am. When I was a kid, my mother was married to my biological father who was extremely abusive to the point of leaving marks with a belt, punching my sister in the jaw at 10 years old, and giving my mother a traumatic brain injury by throwing her up against our front door. I learned very quickly from a young age exactly how I was expected to behave and knew that anything out of the ordinary involved pain and crying silently in my bed. I was practically raised solely by my mom and an older sister who worked diligently to shield me from the troubles of the world. I guess you could say I was born into disaster, 9/11, graduated in disaster, COVID-19, and am pretty much prone to it for life. My mom and sister tried their hardest to shield me from my biological father and anyone who threatened my safety or happiness and I could never thank them enough for it. Throughout my formative early years, I developed anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and still live with these ailments to this day. I’ve tried medication to no avail, and I just take it day by day. On the outside, I am a very happy person, especially around my family. I would not say that dark thoughts control me, but rather they hit me out of nowhere and I am trapped with emotions, worry, and immense sadness. I am not sure that I know what happened for me to deserve such treatment as a child to impact who I am today but I have spent years working through repressed feelings and even tried the forgiveness route for my father, but it was surely wasted because he fell into the same routine. Only this time, it was emotional and verbal abuse. I chose to cut him completely out of my life and am working even more towards becoming a better person, seeing the light in everything, working through repressed anger, and desensitizing myself to things that make me anxious.

Oh, where to start? My mother. My rock. My light at the end of the tunnel. There’s this stigma that “momma’s boys” are hard to love because they are always searching for love like what their mothers have shown them growing up. I’ll say it now, I do not think I will ever find that kind of love. My mom has been my absolute best friend, mentor, and role model, and if I turn out as half of the person she is, I would consider my life blessed. From a young age, I have vivid memories of my mom protecting me, and not from a monster under the bed perspective. I grew up in an abusive household. There really isn’t a more blunt way to put it. My father had so much pent-up rage in his life and dissatisfaction with everything that he often took it out on my sisters and me as well as my mom. I can remember him punching my sister in the jaw when she asked when mom was coming home when she was away from work and I can remember my head being shoved through the slats on the side of my dresser, though I cannot remember what for. At any rate, my mother was my hero and protector, and I will never be able to thank her or repay her for the trauma that she spared me from in my childhood and early teen years. She worked all day, took care of us at night, and never got any breaks until my stepdad came into the picture. He is a truck driver, and he makes enough money for them to live comfortably so she does not have to work. Since he came into our lives, my mom has been diagnosed with a TBI, or traumatic brain injury from her ex-husband throwing her up against the front door. Not once did she waver though. Side-stepping from abuse and protection, my mother has been the biggest influence on my life. She was the first person I came out to, even though I was terrified she would not support me. She met me with open arms and promised to love me no matter what. My mom taught me about life, and how to be respectful, especially to women, and she taught me how to cook. She single-handedly shaped me into a person that you wouldn’t be able to tell went through trauma and abuse. She is my superhero, and I hope that life blesses her in the way she has blessed my life with her presence. I do not think there is anyone stronger, more compassionate, and more caring than has ever existed. She has been my rock, and my adviser, and she lives a life I hope to experience one day. I hope that she knows that I am here for her in all the ways that she is for me, and I tell her that I love her every single day. I would not be who I am without my mother.

For the last eight or so years of my life, I have lived in a closet that I felt was reinforced with iron bars. I was terrified to be myself and was pained by the thought of never being able to be my authentic self. I remember being called gay throughout grade school and in junior high because I never had a girlfriend and never expressed interest in the same things other guys usually did. I remember having extremely dark thoughts and constant battles with mental health, but thankfully, I never acted upon those thoughts. About a year ago now, I finally mustered up the courage to come out to my mother, but I couldn’t face her so I did it through a printed note. I remember asking her to come to the bottom of the stairs, handing it to her, and then running back up to my room. She called me back down to her room roughly ten minutes later and we sat she told me how she would love me no matter what and that she will support me in anything I do. Sometimes I sit and think that I really do not belong to the LGBTQ community. Not in a sense that I do not fit in, but more so because I am not officially out. However, I have several friends through college that also are gay, lesbian, and transgender. I have had many conversations with them regarding my feelings of not belonging and I have never felt more seen and understood than when talking to them. They showed me just how much I belonged, even though I still have not come out to the rest of my family. Truth be told, I really do not feel the need to make a declaration about my sexuality because it is my private life. My goals, hopes, and dreams haven’t changed since coming out, and I do not feel confined to a direction to take my life in as a result of being a part of the LGBTQ community. Fortunately, I have not been on the receiving end of any sort of discrimination, probably because I have not outed myself. It makes me nauseous to think about what others go through daily from discrimination to misgendering and everything in between. I hope to live in a world where it is safe to come out and live as you are, but I do not know if we are there yet. Regardless, I am extremely grateful to my friends in the LGBTQ community for helping me live my truth to a degree that I am comfortable with. My future goals involve me living a life that I can be proud of in a relationship with the person of my choosing. While fighting for my own rights when I am comfortable enough to come out, I will also be fighting for the environment to ensure a healthy world for my niece and nephew to grow up in. I also hope that I can fight for a world in which they are comfortable living in where they can be their true authentic selves. I also hope to conquer my fear of coming out in an effort to live my life as me, a gay male, instead of hiding who I am until I am old enough to regret my decisions.

As someone who grew up playing outside in the woods, hunting, fishing, and camping, I have been brought up with an appreciation for the world around us, and that passion continued into my school studies. I joined a program called FFA that specializes in the agricultural world and the environment around us. Coincidentally, this program is also where I found my love of competition and learning where I competed in areas such as aquatic, soil, and forestry knowledge. I plan to continue my education in the environmental field as I major in Geosciences at SNHU. As someone who loves the outdoors and the world we live in, I know we are headed toward global disaster. By global disaster, I certainly mean global warming and climate change. Global warming is a national threat to our natural ecosystems and the world in which we spend our daily lives. One of the most highly debated topics surrounding global warming is whether humans are the cause of this global crisis. However, many individuals are not inclined to believe that humans are a major influence on this phenomenon, but that global warming is just the Earth going through its natural oscillations of high and low temperatures and changing weather patterns. The human population is a huge accelerator of climate change. This is due to increased carbon emissions, a hindrance to a switch to clean energy and an unsustainable method of farming and agricultural activities. Each of us has a vital role to play in managing our impact on the world and I have even set forth options in my own home to help mitigate my impact. In my home, I plan to advise my family to convert to a locavore lifestyle with me to limit our carbon footprint and food miles. However, for us, there is not much change that needs to occur because we like to do our part in supporting our community's small businesses and farmers’ markets. The very first step in switching to this type of lifestyle is to set the range in which I am allowed to buy. This does not necessarily mean that I must travel 99 miles to get something, but rather what I am buying needs to have come from the 100-mile range that I set. Another aspect of a locavore lifestyle involves supporting local businesses by buying locally. As someone who typically buys from farmer’s markets over chain supercenters, I have an even fonder appreciation for the hard work that the farmers and small business owners put into their services and goods. Also, working on a farm in my youth has contributed appreciation for small and family-owned businesses. In adopting this lifestyle, I am hoping to limit my carbon footprint by eliminating food miles, reducing my need to travel great distances, and recycling and reusing/upcycling whenever possible.

Change is a scary but inevitable thing. It comes to us maybe when we least expect it, but when we so desperately need it to. In these days of troubling conflicts, racial and sexual discrimination, and climate crisis, we are in dire need of some change. Personally, I have a few areas in which I would love to see some change occur, specifically in my community, country, and the world. In my community, I would desperately like to see more emphasis on kids involved in the arts instead of showcasing only athletes. These kids put in the work for their productions and it often goes unnoticed. I am surely not suggesting that the student-athletes do not work hard, but they typically do not have to worry about whether or not fans and supporters will show up for them when the time comes. In the years that I was involved in the arts, the majority of the crowd was the families of the performers and not many from the community showed. In my country, I wish I could see more kindness. Simply put. There is so much negativity, rudeness, and exclusivity of those of different races, sexuality, religions, backgrounds, and political affiliations. As a moderately liberal queer person, I have found myself on the receiving end of various threats and hate speech from people on the internet and my own "friends" and "family" because of who I love and who I vote for. To me, that doesn't seem like a country whose people love each other and a place with the freedom to be genuinely you. I know, however, that other countries have it much worse than we do here in the United States, and believe me, I feel for them as if they were my own brothers and sisters. Though it would be unrealistic to wish for peace, kindness, and tranquility among nations that have been engaged in conflict longer than I have been alive, I would love to see the world transition into post-war times. To see places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine in a time of peace would bring about a completely different side of the world that I personally have not seen. While on the topic of worldly changes and development, I would really like to see a transition into heavier use of renewable energy like wind, solar, or hydroelectric. Norway has set a stellar example to follow with most of its energy supply being powered by hydroelectric means. It is one thing to sit here and make wishes on what things I would like to see changed, but if I do not take action in my own community, how can I expect to see these changes? It may be repetitive and burned into my brain at this point since turning 18, but I need to VOTE to help jumpstart change. My vote matters and I can help to elect people into office that I feel will make the right decisions for the people. Also, I can use my spare time to advocate for these officials and encourage others to vote too! This revolves around my local community, state, country, and the world. In order to cultivate kindness within my community and nation, I can lead by example. That is one of the core mottos that were instilled in me from a young age. Lead By Example. I can advocate and volunteer for different organizations that do good in the world like the Red Cross and Voting Centers on top of doing my civic duty of voting in local, state, and national elections. To make a difference in global warming and climate change, I can do my part to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and I can also support businesses that are going green and limiting their emissions and waste. A lot of our climate crisis is stemming from the misuse and overuse of non-renewable resources. There are a lot of problems in the world and we certainly have a long way to go but I believe this is the generation of change and we are long overdue.

As a Geosciences major with a concentration in Natural Resources and Conservation, I truly believe that science is the glue that holds everything together. Within the category that is Science, there are different subcategories that cover all the bases that science deals with. For example, there is medicine, biology, chemistry, environment, food, and animal sciences. These categories alone barely scratch the surface of the many different hats that science wears. I believe that science is one of the most, if not the most, important subjects that one could be involved in. It creates the medicines we need to survive and is used to improve the quality of life through vaccines and chemotherapy as well as over-the-counter medications. Furthermore, science helps users to identify problems and create solutions and make predictions to keep up informed on what things could happen in the future. Science is essential to progress but is also the key to knowing about the past and where we came from. Evolutionary science helps us understand where we came from and how the world has changed via fossil records, soil patterns, and rock formations. Another aspect of science that has transformed the world around us and our own personal security is food preservation. With the development of preservatives, we are able to keep food on our shelves longer than it used to be even fifty years ago. This helps to mitigate food waste and is a step in the right direction towards battling world hunger. Science is used to explain the things we see around us as well. For example, we can observe the leaves changing in fall and the discoloration of plants indicating what nutrients they are lacking. This helps increase yield and allows us to be more informed about the world around us. Arguably my favorite aspect of science falls within the topic of the environment. This area of science helps to preserve the ecosystems and the natural environment around us. Throughout this discipline, we developed the use of water, wind, and the sun through the creation of the hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy. These inventions helped reduce our strain on nonrenewable resources which ultimately may be the salvation of the human race when it comes to global warming and climate change. As I had mentioned before, these few groups that I outlined in the previous paragraphs only scratch the surface of science. Science covered the smallest of atoms up to the largest galaxies in the universe. I won't say that other subjects are not as important as science, but I think that if others knew the broad range of topics that it covers, they may be able to see the importance and assure others in society that it is as well.

Learning is one of the first things we do in our lives. Learning to walk, talk, eat, and keep our heads up by ourselves is what starts the first steps to a hopefully long and fulfilled life. Why should learning have to stop the moment we graduate high school, vocational school, or college? There is no one saying that we cannot adopt a lifestyle of lifelong learning which is exactly what I intend to do. In terms of relative importance, I would say that learning would find itself at the top of my list. I have always been told that "competence leads to confidence," which boils down to the more prepared you are for something, the more likely you are to walk in with your chin up and do well. Learning also helps you to keep an open mind, and it allows you to set goals and make a plan to reach them whilst learning along the way. Creativity boosting, increased opportunities, and information retention is also some reasons that learning is important to me. The most important factor, however, is that learning helps you attain the valuable skills you will need to make it through life whether that be in the workforce, family, or friendships. Making lifelong plans at such a young age is sometimes viewed as naive, but I truly believe that a lifetime of learning is something that everyone can accomplish. For me, I plan to obtain a job that requires me to keep up with trends, updated information, and new practices for accomplishing a task. Sure, things can be done "the old ways," but what better way is there to keep a job interesting than learning different ways to accomplish the same tasks? Paired with this job, I plan to recognize and establish my interests and goals and work avidly towards accomplishing them while also ensuring that I am living in the moment and making the most of my short time on this planet. Finally, I will commit to a lifetime of learning by encouraging myself to try new things always. I plan to learn new languages like Spanish (which I have already started) in order to get in touch with some of my family that live in Puerto Rico, and I plan to learn new skills that would make me a valuable asset to any team that I am working with. I recognize that a lifetime of anything seems like it would be too much to some, but as a gifted, straight-As student, learning is all I ever found comfort in besides shoving my nose in a book. The little accomplishments that come with realizing you know how to do something are what keep me motivated to continue to try and put myself out there for new opportunities and "bold" experiences.

I can confidently say that this prompt took me several attempts to figure out what book had the most impact on my life. I considered options such as Harry Potter which prompted my love of reading book series, and "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson which ignited my passion for the environment. However, I do truly believe the most transformative book that I have ever read was "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes. I can vividly remember sitting in Mrs. Smith's class in 8th grade reading this book as a class and there were hardly any dry eyes in sight. The story follows a man named Charlie, who has a developmental disability and is a trial patient for a surgical procedure that was supposed to increase his intelligence. The experiment was successful for both him and the test mouse named Algernon. However, after he reached the status of genius he observed a flaw in the experiment and watched the decline of himself and Algernon. The book ends with him placing flowers on Algernon's grave because he sees it as the loss of both of them as his intelligence diminishes. That part of the novel is what absolutely destroyed me. In the grand scheme of things, this book helped to show a little insight into living with that developmental disability. I think a lot of what this book conveyed is that people with different disabilities may act or look different but we all share similar feelings and emotions. As a young teenager, this book gave me an appreciation and understanding of those who were deemed "different" than me. Up until that point, there was no mention of how special these people are and the uniqueness that their minds bring to perspective. This book had the highest of highs and lowest of lows that I have ever seen in a book. We celebrated victories with Charlie and felt the sorrows he felt as his life was slipping away. To this day, that book is burned into my memory in the best way possible. I will forever thank my eighth-grade English teacher for letting us read that book, watch the movie, and delve into a class discussion about what we thought. I absolutely would say that this book was the most transformative part of my early education years, and my only regret is not having the book in my personal collection to be able to read right now.

While it may be a safe pick and the most well-known of all, my favorite Disney character is Mickey Mouse. I could go on to say that Mickey Mouse is the face of Disney and that he was the original Walt Disney, which is all true, but it is not why he is my favorite. As kids, my sister and I often struggled to sleep through the night. To help us fall asleep, my grandmother would play Fantasia (the 1940 version) and it worked like a charm. I can vividly remember the dancing flowers and the dark and mysterious mountain. Most of all, however, I can remember the part of the movie when Mickey is carrying buckets of water from upstairs down to the fountain. That is usually the part of the movie that my sister and I would make it to before inevitably falling asleep. A part of my will always miss the younger days of laying on the couch in her basement as she grabbed the VHS tape of Fantasia. I am sure she got tired of watching that movie but there's nothing quite like holding two of your grandchildren so captivated by a movie, I'm sure. I would imagine that she could probably tell you the exact order of all songs and scenes of that movie, as could my sister who was a little older and could remember better than I could. Thinking back on this I find myself chuckling at the thought that my sister, now 25, still watches Fantasia if she can't sleep at night. I am sure when I find myself in that predicament, the movie would have the same effect on me. I would say that is why Mickey Mouse is my favorite Disney character, but I have to say that I absolutely love nearly all Disney movies so I am sure I would have several top contenders for other favorites. I just find joy in thinking about the time spent with my grandmother with that movie.

A fun little blip about me is that my life is constantly changing day by day. I wake up each morning with the intent to make some sort of progress even on the days when I am not in my best headspace or feeling physically well. This year began the journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Throughout my mental health journey, I learned how to be comfortable saying no, asking for help, and knowing how to talk through my feelings and I think that really has helped me to grow as an individual and has allowed me to be more in tune with who I am. I have also recently moved to a new town to immerse myself in new opportunities. Change is hard for me, but I am looking to make myself a more rounded individual. Around March of last year, I came out to my close family as gay, and in the following months, I tried to hide every detail about who I was in fear of being treated differently. Throughout my journey of self-reflection and personal growth, I have allowed myself to confide in close friends and family regarding intimate details about my life, and I am not afraid to be who I am. In fact, I am proud of the person I have become, and I hope to learn more about myself as I continue this journey of self-appreciation and enlightenment. This reformative lifestyle that I have chosen to embark on throughout this year has renewed my zest for life. Honestly, I am more willing to try new things, put myself out there, and just be authentically me. I was never seen as the type to go out for social events or get-togethers, but I do believe that my introverted-ness stemmed from a place of self-deprecation. I now believe that the things that make me different are what is unique about me and that if I continue to hold optimism and continue to show up and put myself out into the world, it can only go up from here. I am grateful for the renewed self-love and motivation, and I hope that this growth will continue indefinitely. My relationships with others have come and gone over the recent months. Once I came out, I lost a few friends and even had to distance myself from around a third of my family. I chalked it up to being the consequence of being raised in a conservative small town, but I quickly learned that political and religious affiliations did not determine that type of behavior. The fact of the matter is that I have a best friend who supports me even with his core beliefs in Christianity. He had the choice to cut me out but instead showed support. I am also fortunate enough to have several family members who do know and support me as well. This all may have been hardships but nothing will keep me set-back for long. I am determined, and I am selflessly me.

I am the proud owner of a seven-year-old mixed breed dog who is my absolute best friend in life and my comfort "person," so to speak. He is Jack Russell Terrier, Pitbull, and Treeing Walker Coonhound. My dog's name is Batman because my sister and I loved that superhero as kids. We bought a coffee cup with a cape attached that he wore up until he grew out of it. Before I got Batman, I had two German Shepherds, one of which got hit in the road on a rainy night and the other was put to rest after a cancer diagnosis. Losing an animal is never easy, but from then on, Batman was my comfort through the rough and lonely times. It is funny when people ask about my dog because he acts like a human. He sleeps under my blanket on my bed with his head on my pillow and sometimes sits on the bench with me at the table while eating dinner. He is very respectful though, and he does not beg while sitting there. He is also my sweater pup, and he loves wearing a snowsuit during the cold PA winters. I am hoping to have him moved down to North Carolina where I currently live in the next week or so. I also own two more dogs by proxy you could say. My sister has a little pitbull mix named Lycan and an all-black German Shepherd named Zya. They are also bed dwellers and like to keep me warm in the middle of the night. I would not say that they have the same role in my life as Batman does because I did not grow up with them and only moved down here recently, however, their constant love and affection are growing on me. Zya has a small head and eyes that are so big inside her little skull that she is a little cross-eyed but we love her the same. Within the move in the very near future, I hope that these three dogs can get along well because I absolutely would not be half the person I am today without the influence of my dog. He has taught me compassion, responsibility, and how to love unwaveringly. He is, again, my absolute best friend and "my person" in pup form. I absolutely love animals, being a dog dad, and being able to give my fur babies all of my love in the world!

Change and growth are inevitable. While they can be scary and challenging at times, they can bring forth a world of opportunities, people, and new experiences to try and familiarize yourself with. One way that I have grown over the past year is by taking the time to put my mental health first and work on self-improvement. Growing up, I never made time for my needs in order to keep my mental state as fit as it could have been, and I've come to realize the effects that it has when you become older. I struggle to make new friendships, deal with anxiety and depression, and express my feelings. This year began the journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. I worked through past trauma to be comfortable in my own skin and even pushed myself to lose around 50 lbs. I also came to terms with putting my mental health higher on my list of priorities. Throughout my mental health journey, I learned how to be comfortable saying no, asking for help, and knowing how to talk through my feelings and I think that really has helped me to grow as an individual and has allowed me to be more in tune with who I am. Around March of last year, I came out to my close family as gay, and in the following months, I tried to hide every detail about who I was in fear of being treated differently. Throughout my journey of self-reflection and personal growth, I have allowed myself to confide in close friends and family regarding intimate details about my life, and I am not afraid to be who I am. In fact, I am proud of the person I have become, and I hope to learn more about myself as I continue this journey of self-appreciation and enlightenment. This reformative lifestyle that I have chosen to embark on throughout this year has renewed my zest for life. Honestly, I am more willing to try new things, put myself out there, and just be authentically me. I was never seen as the type to go out for social events or get-togethers, but I do believe that my introvertedness stemmed from a place of self-deprecation. I now believe that the things that make me different are what is unique about me and that if I continue to hold optimism and continue to show up and put myself out into the world, it can only go up from here. I am grateful for the renewed self-love and motivation, and I hope that this growth will continue indefinitely.

If I were to say right now that I love math, I might be viewed as weird or peculiar but it is true. Mathematics is an extremely important tool for us to have, and it helps much more than you might think. Numbers and mathematic functions help us to make sense of the world around us. We always hear about the real-world applications of math, but most people don't take into consideration just how fundamental these applications are in our everyday lives. We are constantly surrounded by numbers, functions, equations and algorithms that dictate the course of our day. Moreover, mathematics are extremely important in business and the workplace, as they help categorize and organize large sets of data and are used to show profit, calculate paychecks, and create profit and loss statements for companies. Sure, math may not be easy to solve and may sometimes be more frustrating than it is worth, but where would we be without it? Math is good for our brains by giving it a challenge every once and while, and it will help you in any career you choose to enter in the future. Objectively, mathematics helps you with problem solving skills, organization, and can overall just help you in life. You will find that the use of math helps you delve deeper in to a multi-surface level of understanding, rather than finding yourself stuck scraping the surface. A final note worth considering is that math makes sense. In all other degree fields, there is room for speculation, changes, and discrepancies, but math is a finite solution. Sure, there are several ways to get to an answer, but the point is that the answer doesn't change. Therefore, if you are someone who is relatively static and does not like rapid change, math is something you can find comfort in. There are many reasons to like math, but I feel as though this overview does a well enough job explaining just how fundamental math is in our daily lives and how it is important on all levels of existence and comprehension.

As a queer person living in the United States, I would love to see a change take place regarding the stigma around mental health, especially involving men and those affiliated with the LGTBQIA+ community. Despite advancements made with recognizing those deviated from what is considered "the norm," I feel as though we have a long way to go in making everyone feel accepted. It is one thing for me to come out to the public as a homosexual, but it does not mean much if I am afraid to be myself in public in fear of being targeted via hate crime and slurs. I would like to have the opportunity to be out and proud without being treated differently by a society that believes in traditional heterosexual relationships. Now, this nation is plagued with hardships via every minority, political affiliation, and sexual orientation, and I certainly would not want to invalidate those individual's experiences. However, I do believe that seeing this type of change would allow me to be comfortable in my own skin without having to hide my true identity. I would also be an avid supporter of those protesting and creating change in the areas of women's rights, racial equality, gender equality, trans rights, and equal voting rights for all. This world has absolutely changed in a way that is almost unrecognizable to the world I remember even five years ago. Police brutality is at an all-time high, minorities are being targeted once again, and we are almost always on the brink of war or national crisis. As terrible as it sounds, it makes me long for the days that I had as a child. My parents did a fantastic job shielding me from the terrors of the world, and I will always thank them for the shelter they gave me in my youth. Now that I am an adult, I see that world for what it is, and I cannot honestly say that I like the image that we are portraying. I am scared each and every day by the thought of nuclear war, the stripping of LGBTQ rights, women losing rights to their bodies, and all of the other terrible events that are going on within our borders. The world is divided for the most part, and it seems that the split is Republicans vs. Democrats but neither party seems to have the best interest for the country in mind. Being a registered voter, I thought my vote would make a difference in 2020, but with the global pandemic that still is not under control and all of the speculation of election fraud, it seems the parties are more focused on taking the other down instead of being the elected leaders and voices for the American people. I personally would not involve myself in politics because I do not know much about foreign policy let alone our own policies. However, some change needs to happen because I do not think I like the direction that we are headed. The change starts with my generation and I, and I hope that it is not to late to change the direction to a place that supports individuals around us and advocates for world peace and security.