If there's one movie that I could rewatch repeatedly, despite its humble makings and beginnings, it would have to be the 1999 "The Mummy". I'll tell you why. First of, the movie's plot was, though admittedly quite simple, was just enough to keep the audience glued to their seats. Surely it was not Oscar material but that was entirely beside the point. The movie as a whole returned something iconic of an era to us and that was a sense of grand adventure; something we knew dearly with larger, more elaborate, and much much more successful franchises such as Indiana Jones. Personally, I received the same sense of awe, anticipation, cathartic release, and escapism yearning that I did from Harrison Ford's journeys through the trilogy. Lest we forget, Egypt has always been a beloved theme for old-school fiction fans. Some well-written comedy and gunfighting just added the cherry on top. Next, we have the captivating presence of Brendan Fraser. Most people would love to cite his other allegedly more iconic and artistic works but I dare say that only a few of us would refute that The Mummy, especially the first one, was his most entertaining and memorable work. John O'Connell did not take himself seriously at all yet he had all the rights, too. He was part of the luminous Foreign Legion fighting in one of the bloodiest periods in its history. He could shoot and fight like no one else could and had the amount of bravery one could hardly distinguish from pure foolhardy recklessness. I believe only Brendan could have captured the essence of John and he brought the beloved adventure to life splendidly, shining next to his lovely co-star Rachel Weisz. Lastly, I would be remiss if I failed to mention how much of a masterpiece the entire score of The Mummy was. And how could it not be? It was produced by Jerry Goldsmith. The same creative guy behind scores like Patton's and Alien's. The music brings the movie back to the front of my mind's vision as soon as the first few notes of the first track "Imhohep" play. I can easily go through the entire album right before the complete consumption of its brother, the Mummy Return's score, although the latter is admittedly less compelling. I have watched this lovely movie hundreds of times, for movie nights, dishwashing, cooking meals, writing exercises, and during other creative activities. I know I will continue to enjoy it for years to come and then introduce it to my offspring and their offspring. It has not stopped inspiring me to go on adventures of my own, writing adventures for imaginary characters, and so much more. It is truly a wonder work.

A cross-over between Hannah Montana (HM) and Suite Life of Zack and Cody On Deck (SLOD), would be pretty cool as a throwback/reunion type of episode, similar to what Disney Plus did with the Doctor Who series. The title would be "Rock star rocked the boat!". Miley got a last-minute invitation to perform on the Cruise the twins were on thanks to her Dad working his old connections from his rock star days and the main star guest called in sick. The original star guest was a famous female metal singer that Cody was looking forward to meeting, whose show he was dying to attend. Cody could not stop talking about, let's call her Hailey Mornings, and Zack was sick of hearing his twin brother talking about his celebrity crush. A scene showed Cody gushing gleefully about Hailey coming to the boat to other cast members, his brother teasing him for it, and London boasting about meeting Hailey multiple times at past Hollywood events. Mr. Moseby overheard this conversation, and having been told about the last-minute change of star guest, sarcastically told poor Cody that he was in for a disappointment since someone else was coming in place of Hailey. This shocked Cody and he started protesting non-stop, even overtly hinting that Mr. Moseby had the power and thus the responsibility to undo the change. Mr. Moseby laughed at his naivety and continued on his way. Later, Cody was shown talking to the other cast members about how much he had just learned about Hannah Montana's personal life, how many scandals she was in allegedly, and how her music was too mainstream for his taste. Little did he know, Miley had decided to arrive on the boat early with her friends and family, was sitting nearby, overheard his rants, got upset, and decided to confront him as Miley rather than Hannah. This resulted in a hilarious outburst of arguments about who was better as a singer and whose music was more popular. Cody talked a lot of smack about Hannah. They both walked away upsetbut Miley vowed to put Cody in his place. Later, Zack went to snoop on Hannah's staff crew to see if he could meet any other celebrity. Miley, already in costume as Hannah, found him snooping and confronted him, albeit confused at first due to her not realizing that Cody and Zack were twins and that it was Zack that she caught. After learning that it was Zack's twin Cody that she argued with earlier, Hannah decided to give Cody a little payback by playfully seducing Zack and asking him to come see her show. Zack, oblivious to Miley's ploy and mistaking her playfulness as her interest in him, dragged Cody and his friends to the show despite Cody's protest. At the show, Miley personally came out to greet the group and gave everyone but Cody VIP backstage and front-row passes which confused and upset Cody greatly. "That's not fair!" he shouted, "you can't do this to me!" Zack snuck out halfway through the show, found his brother still sulking outside, and decided to sneak him into the show to show him how great Hannah was. Cody came in after a weak protest to save his pride and was pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoyed the show. At one point during the performance, Miley saw cody star-struck next to his brother Zack and winked at him. Later on, having realized how childish she was, Miley talked to Cody, revealed her secret, and surprised him by facetiming Hailey who said hi to a mouth-gaping Cody.

I have learned a great deal from the books that I have read so far and simultaneously not enough. I have learned that as a person I have a lot of areas to improve and that the world is a massive place. I am humbled and excited to find my place in that world and determined to discover what kind of legacy I have to leave it and the future generations born into it. I have learned that as a species, we are prone to do things in ways that may not be in our best interests. We have propelled far beyond the point from which our first bipedal ancestors started: Technologies that may as well be magic to primitive humans and soon, very probably, even the ability to put a stop to the natural cycle of life and death. We have also created weapons that can render Earth no more than a lifeless rocky husk hurling meaninglessly across space and time. I have learned that the mistakes we made in the past continue to haunt us and our decisions of today. The discovery of value in fossil fuel is the gift that has stopped giving and now continues to take more as time goes on. Oppenheimmer's greatest work managed to put a stop in one of the most destructive wars humans have witnessed and now continues to loom over the horizon as a threat that can end us all. I have learned that the journey we share with our planet is only now turning to the stars and the prospects of the future we are still learning as we go. 1969 was the year my elders saw a glimpse of the promise of life beyond the birth planet that we are on. Today, my generation and the generations after mine witness the Artemis program that seeks to put a base on the very moon that inspired us all decades before. Elon Musk seeks to put our species on the red sandy terrain of Mars. I have learned that the same planet cries out for help and it is incumbent upon us to answer the call. Famine. Global warming. Extreme weather events that were once freaks of nature are slowly becoming the norm. The ozone layer is being torn apart piece by piece. All of that while we are looking at the possibility of a third world war with some fearing it may be the last war we will ever witness. I have learned that there is beauty in the fanciful world weaved up through the unparalleled imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien as well as in the heart-wrenching words of Sylvia Plath before she took her own life. I have learned that there is fun to be had in seeing the world of science through the lenses of master science fiction writers such as Andy Weir but there is just as much fun if not more in reading how real visionaries like Doctor Michio Kaku envision the future that we can expect through the development of real science. But none of what I have learned will count for anything unless I can manifest their teachings and their values in real life. For every new book that I read, I add a new piece of puzzle into my forming worldview and what I want to do with it. I have no choice in how the world began and how my predecessors ran it, but I fully intend to be involved in leaving a positive impact during my time in it.

My favorite Netflix show of all time has to be Stranger Things and Designated Survivor. I guess I don't have to say much for Stranger Things since the concepts are all phenomenal, albeit not necessarily original. The character development was satisfying in some characters (e.g. Hopper, Joyce, Sadie, Steve) and a little underwhelming in others, especially the main characters. With that said, the story writing was excellent and the material research was very detailed, such as into the 80s culture. I am absolutely in love with IPs like the movie The Mist so Stranger Things scratched that itch. I believe that anyone who enjoys The Mist as much as I do is bound to cherish Stranger Things in the same way. I will say this: The way the writers weaved the game Dungeons and Dragons into the plot is very creative; focusing on the boss monsters of the game is even more so. The idea that we live only in one of many parallel dimensions is not new but I enjoy the fact that Stranger Things went in the "The-Mist" direction instead of making the other dimension all hunky-dory. I truly believe terror and struggles bring out the best and worst in humans and so contribute greatly to character development as well as plot development. Let's not forget how goose-bump-worthy the scene of Eddie rocking out some Metallica in an epic showdown with denizens from the upside down. I have high hopes for the next installments of the series and I believe everyone should binge it. Now, onto my second favorite show: Designated Survivor. I never realized how much I could love the political drama/thriller genre until I started Designated Survivor. I watched it all within the span of a few days and was left wanting more at the end, which is rare for me with any show that is not sci-fi or dystopian survival (e.g. The Walking Dead). The show itself opened the door for me to other shows and movies like it. It is thanks to Designated Survivor that I can now enjoy other great IPs like Madamn Secretary, House of Cards, and Billions, albeit the last one isn't on Netflix. Keifer Sutherland was such an amazing cast for the role of President Tom Kirkman. The way he expressed his emotions made me believe that he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders and, even more satisfyingly, that he was not trained for this kind of weight. Every new story arc was a new journey through which Tom Kirkman could grow, not just as the President of the United States but also as a human, a father, a son, a brother, a husband, etc. Of course, having a peek into the inner workings of the Executive branch was a pleasure unto itself, as well. The pace was also just right so I could not stop getting to the next episode. I cannot wait to see more of the show.

I am one of those people that suffer from brain fog and/or low energy days. It wasn't until I learned the role that sugar plays in exacerbating the above two issues and the role that a healthy and diverse diet plays in improving your gut health and your overall health by extension. Furthermore, my time in the military and as one of the stake owners of a public health program during my time in the Navy further advanced my understanding of what lean eating can do for my health as a person and for my ability to perform at the levels required by my service and to stay mission-ready at all times. I was not the only one. Indeed, the issue of unhealthy eating due to stress or other mental health conditions, uninformed lifestyle choices, as well as limited budget or choices continues to play a significant role in impacting service members' lives in every branch of the Department of Defense. On top of that, being a member of the healthcare team representing my service branch, the US Navy, to take care of Marines, Sailors, and sometimes even their family members means that I need to keep wellbeing-centered nutrition front and center in a lot of my interactions with them: Eating a diverse diet, be wary of fad diets with an unproven track record or insufficient scientific evidence backing, eating less heavily processed or "junk" food, drinking less sugary and energy drink, drinking more water, etc. Not only do I feel the importance of promoting such healthy eating and drinking habits, but I also understand the importance of leading by example. I strive to take my own advice and I see the difference made by every decision I make every day: Low sugar consumption helps me avoid "sugar crashes" and maintain a more stable energy level throughout any given day. Eating more vegetables gives me healthier digestion. Eating healthy fats from both plants and animals gives my brain the daily sharpness and focus I need to operate effectively. Drinking lots of water helps me feel refreshed, hydrated, and overall happier every day. I just cannot overstate the importance of eating healthily and in a careful and controlled manner as well as making a point of incorporating such a mentality into a long-lasting lifestyle instead of just short periods of time for specific reasons like weight-loss or improving temporary health conditions. "You are what you eat" rings true in more than one ways.

I mean I already love all things Disney and would love to spend money on an Annual pass to frequent the parks as much as I could if I could afford it. I grew up with almost all the Disney movies and shows there to watch. But if I had to pick, the thing I love the most about Disney is its unapologetic stance when it comes to stretching the boundaries of imagination and advocating for following your dream no matter how ridiculous it may sound. One of my life's most memorable moments, without a doubt, was the first time I saw the Fantasmic Show in Disneyland. Words cannot ever hope to properly describe the feelings that went through my 16-year-old mind. I still get intense goosebumps whenever I hear the theme song. I have seen the show probably half a dozen times now and still want to go back to see it again. I want to bring my kids there. I want to bring everyone important to me there. I'm probably one of those people who may be called "Disney adults" in a less-than-kind way but I truly don't mind. I will continue to dream and let myself enjoy the magic that Disney, its IPs, and its theme parks continue to serve. Disney stands to me as not just a symbol of pure childlike wonder that continues to nurture and inspire generation after generation but also a textbook example of what passion and hard work can achieve: The penultimate American dream. If you can dream it, you can do it. Some of the most memorable memories I made during my time in service were moments when I talked to other service members who I met, usually while going through "the suck" (common struggles) together, and became friends with over talking about Disney-related-stuffs such as what Marvel movies we wanted to watch as soon as we got liberty time or what characters we grew up loving the most. I still do this thing to this day! Disney just has this way of connecting people from all walks of life and I think that's another wonderful power that the brand has. It's become more than an entertainment company. It's a powerful subculture with millions of fans everywhere. Indeed, you can just as easily talk about Disney for minutes on end with someone who's from a country thousands of miles from you and still share the same enthusiasm you would with a nother friend from home.

If someone had told eight-year-old me that one day he would become a combat medic serving in the best Naval forces in the world, he would probably respond with complete disbelief. That is me. I spent almost 8 years as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, with approximately a third of that time serving with the Marine Corps as their organic infantry line medical personnel. "The grunts" was what we were often collectively referred to by outsiders as well as by ourselves as a small point of pride. The Navy side of the house has taught me valuable lessons that I still carry and use to this day, such as leadership, long- termed planning, networking, mentoring, etc. The Marines taught me perhaps the most important lessons of all. Even when things seem calm, a moment of complacency can completely change someone's life. There is wisdom in even the most mundane of things. Hard work always pays off in the end. And last but not least: Attention to detail can mean the difference between a mission won or a catastrophe. I desire to bring these lessons, skills, and experience to bear in the Tech field, especially the cybersecurity field, which I am passionate about to create real impacts in defending our nation. We are paddling through rapid water today with the dawn of Artificial Intelligence, the significance of which is reminiscent of the type of gravity caused by the proliferation of the commercial internet in the 90s. The only difference this time is that we are still not completely sure how big or impactful the implications are of this revolutionary technology, both in good and bad ways. It is my sincere belief that these simultaneously exciting and unnerving times demand the type of mentality, experience, and discipline that I possess, which can still be further strengthened by the education that I seek. My biggest dream is to become a founder and executive of a cutting-edge tech firm that creates real products with lasting profound impact, not serving just the US population but also developing nations whose citizens may not enjoy the same level of access and privileges. Not only do I want my company to lead the charge in pioneering new tech products, my background as an educator and training manager in the Navy inspires me to make a goal of leading change in mindsets, lifestyles, and cultures around tech, tech literacy and tech security as well. It takes people to create true long-lasting changes in the world and so progress should begin with people. Towards that lofty goal, I am currently working towards a Bachelor of Science in Business and want to complete micro-credentials as a means to further supplement, strengthen, and solidify my understanding of techs. Not only do I want to have a deeper understanding of cybersecurity, but I also want to have a firm grasp on cloud technologies and much more. To be an impactful visionary, leader, and entrepreneur, I need to both deepen and broaden my pool of knowledge and skills. To this end, your esteemed scholarship will support me tremendously and help me take wider strides to quickly achieve my goals.