My favorite book-to-film adaptation is The Handmaid’s Tale series that was created after the book. This is very special to me because I believe that this story is an amazing way to bring attention to some of the policies that are changing in our country. There are politicians around the nation that are trying to take away women’s rights to their own bodily autonomy. This book my Margaret Atwood shows how quickly things can go south and how it is essential to push back on these policies that are being implemented. The book is frightening. And that’s exactly why it is important. It is an example of what can happen if our country keeps heading down this path. Not only is the book very close to my heart because of the impact that it has, but the TV show is one of my favorite shows. Every episode leaves the audience on a cliff hanger and leaves you wanting more. This show brings the book to life and the scenes no longer need your imagination to bring them to life. You are now able to see for yourself the terrible world that these people are living in and it makes the situation all the more real. Personally, I prefer the book over the series because the book is less optimistic. It shows what could potentially happen to women around the nation if policies limiting women’s rights keep being passed. The series has a lot of hope and the viewer feels that they will be able to make it out alive and safe the country but the book isn’t like this at all. There is a lot more death and tragedy in the book and this makes it a lot more realistic. Because, if we’re being honest, there’s not always going to be a quick revolution against the corrupted government. Realistically, it would take a long time for people to rally and rise up against the abuse that is being inflicted upon them. This makes the book a lot more powerful than the series because of its terrifying nature. I strongly believe that everyone should read and watch The Handmaid’s Tale. The story makes you more aware of the terrible things that are affecting women now. These policies affect everyone so it is important to know what is going on and be knowledgeable about policies because everything can be flipped upside down one day and we’ll be wondering what happened. The impact that the book and show has is why it is my favorite adaptation.

Insurance and insurance agencies not only help us pay for scheduled costs that occur consistently but also help to ensures that ourselves and our property does not experience financial loss in the case of an unexpected situation. This is very important in our everyday life because someone could be on their way to work and get into a car crash, and if they were not paying for car insurance then they would have to pay out of pocket for the damage to their car and possibly to themself. Because of insurance, it aids the majority of people from having to lose too much, or any, money from something that they were unable to plan for. Life is very difficult and by being covered by an affordable and flexible insurance, life is more manageable and less scary about the unavoidable. People feel safe and protected when they have good insurance, which is always a good feeling because security allows you to feel less anxious about what you cannot control. Insurance impacts our lives in a positive way by allowing us to live more comfortable lives. As long as people's insurance companies are maintaining their clients best interests as their top priority, people are able to live out their lives without wondering when the next shoe will drop. Insurance and insurance agencies have a positive impact on our lives by protecting us from situations that are out of our control and also making routine expenses much more affordable. Money is a huge aspect of our life and insurance is able to reduce the burden that many may struggle with when it comes to payments and expenses. With insurance, many people do not have to worry about dental or vision expenses as those are consistent payments. Additionally, when people have insurance and they do come across an unexpected situation, it puts less pressure on them about the money aspect of things but instead on making sure they are safe and their loved ones are safe. Although there are many positive impacts that insurance has on us, there are also some downsides of insurance agencies and plans. Insurance can be very expensive and instead of easing the strain that money has on someone or their family, they may be wondering if they can pay their insurance bill each month. Insurance agencies can also be very picky on what they will and will not cover. This adds more anxiety about unexpected situations because what if a life saving treatment is not covered by the insurance they are on? These are important things to think about when choosing an insurance plan and it is also why it is essential that insurance agencies are not after money, but instead aiming to ensure the well-being of their clients. Insurance and insurance agencies are essential in guaranteeing the safety and health of people everywhere but there are always changes that can be made in order to fully help people from the unfortunate parts of life.

This year, I have become the Secretary of the National Honor Society. Even though I was inducted last year, this year, I have been able to step into larger leadership role than I have ever done in the past. Last year, I was able to learn from the previous officers about the importance of leadership, organization, and community. I was not only able to notice all of their strengths and what they did right, but I was also able to observe their weaknesses and what I wanted to improve when I had the chance to be an officer. When I came into my position as Secretary at the beginning of this school year, I really wanted to focus on a better way to keep the group organized so that everyone could be on the same page. Because of this, I create a shared calendar and would take detailed notes during the meetings to send out to the rest of the members so that everyone knew when and where events were taking place. Because of this, we were able to accurately plan for events and have a better turn out. Because of the new officers, there were many new events that us members were involved in because of various new ideas from both old and new members. Because of this, I have had many opportunities to help out my community. For example, I was able to aid in a Secret Santa event that was held by my local downtown organization. For this event, I helped kids wrap their gifts that they chose for their parents and ensure that their receipt was accurate at checkout. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to try to start up the tutoring program again. I have been able to create a sign up sheet so that members of NHS are able to put their name on the sheet and go into office hours and help students who need it. These are just a couple of opportunities that I have been able to use in order to become more involved in my community this year. I plan to use these skills that I have gained throughout this year to be involved in my community when I move to college. I have realized the importance of giving back to your community and helping others and I have the skillset to do so. I have learned how to be organized and be a leader, which are essential in leading others to benefit the community as much as I can.

I have attended Saint Peter's School since I was in daycare and now I am graduating this May to attend Ohio Dominican University's 3+2 Bioengineering Program with the University of Dayton. My goals in life are to find the cure for type 1 diabetes as I was diagnosed this past April and it has forever changed my life. I want to make a huge impact on type 1 diabetics around the world so that others do not have to go through the same situation that I went through ten months ago. Since I have been attending Saint Peter's for my entire life, I have a very deep connection with it. As a requirement for graduation, students must engage in multiple service projects throughout the school year. The program was originally hour-based but since last year and a new program director, the requirements have been altered. Nonetheless, I have engaged in many service projects since I was in junior high. I have volunteered at my local humane society, babysat for families in the community for free, tutored high schoolers in their studies, volunteered in my school's and local college's Trunk-or-Treat, donated to my local homeless shelter, and volunteered every year at my school's annual Christmas Classic. I have found a lot of joy out of helping others around me, when I am able to see the smile on people's faces when I can help them out, it is a great feeling. As I get ready to enter into college, money is always a huge hurdle in life, and I am trying to work to get over that hurdle now. Since I am in the top of my class, I am receiving the highest merit scholarship my college has to offer. However, this still leads me with quite a bit of money to deal with each year. And, with me entering into a graduate program in three years, I will not be able to receive those merit scholarships from Ohio Dominican University as I move to the University of Dayton. That is why it is essential that I find scholarships like this to help make my college career less financially stressful, so that I can focus solely on my goals and aspirations. I am not sure if you have ever heard of the term "Karen" but I would describe myself as being the 18-year old version of a Karen when it comes to the harming of children on social media platforms. Whenever I see that someone is being bullied or mocked online, I will report the video or account. Although the social media platform may sometimes deem the account or video as safe, I believe that it is much better to report something and have it come back as not breaking the guidelines than to have scrolled past it and said that your report wouldn't have done anything to help the situation. It is better to be safe than sorry, and although this method is not always fool-proof, it could potentially help a child who is being bullied. As for in-person bullying, I am an 18-year old Karen and if I see kids picking on another kid, I would march over and scold them for their behavior. Nothing scares children more than a big kid, and I would hate for a child to continue to be bullied because no one around them had the heart to stand up for them. Everyone deserves a safe space to grow and connect with others, and it would be a great disservice to my community stand by and allow bullying to take place.

A global issue that is close to my heart is the chronic illness of type 1 diabetes. In April of 2024, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after being life flighted to a hospital one hour away from my local hospital and ER. I was having trouble breathing and standing after believing this condition was the result of food poisoning and that it would all blow over soon. It didn't, it got worse over the next two days. It would be later discovered that I was in DKA, or diabetic ketoacidosis, which is the result of white blood cells attacking pancreatic cells that are responsible for producing insulin. This then leads to a build up of acid in the blood stream and very high blood sugar levels. This could lead to coma or death if left untreated. I was discharged from the hospital after staying for three days, in which professionals came to my room and taught my family and I about diabetes. No one in my family has type 1 diabetes so we were all learning together. I learned that type 1 diabetes is hereditary and I would have received the gene from my fathers side since he is adopted and we do not know his medical or family history. It has now been ten months since I was diagnosed and it has altered my life completely. Not only have I had to learn how to manage my health and staying on top of my blood sugar levels, I have also the path that I want to follow in life. I am from Ohio and as a senior in high school, I needed to make a huge decision on where I want to go later this year. I have been wanting to go to Ohio Dominican University since my sophomore year and major in prosthetics in order to help people with disabilities to live more comfortable lives. However, since going through this traumatic experience, I want to focus on working with the pancreas in the hopes of creating a more sustainable artificial pancreas and eventually, find the cure for type 1 diabetes. Later this year, I will attend the 3+2 Bioengineering Program with Ohio Dominican University and the University of Dayton where I will work towards my masters degree and have the chance to work alongside mentors and professionals in the field to gain hands-on experience that will allow me to gather the necessary knowledge to tackle this goal. I am confident that with the opportunities that I will come across throughout my college career, I will be able to be placed on a research team of bioengineers where I will be able to aid in the research and development of a cure for type 1 diabetes. My whole world was turned upside down when I received this diagnosis, and my aim is to ensure that others will not have to go through the same situation. Everyone deserves a chance at a long, healthy life, and I hope to give type 1 diabetics around the world that chance.

In April of my junior year, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was having trouble breathing and standing so I was driven to the ER. Once there, intravenous medications and fluids were started in both arms, multiple tests were run, and it was determined after a few hours that I was in diabetic ketoacidosis. If this remained untreated, it could have led to coma or death. At this point the medical team established that I may have type 1 diabetes, and my blood sugar was reading at four-times the preferred limit. My A1C was 17, meaning my average blood sugar over the prior three months was over 400, where ideally it should be around 100 with an A1C between 5 and 7. In order to get the help I needed, I was flown by helicopter to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus: the scariest event I have ever experienced. It was difficult to rest due to the constant beeping from machines and nurses checking my vitals every hour. Once I was feeling better, my family and I received three days of training and education to handle this complicated chronic illness. I had been discharged from the hospital with a huge binder full of information and a lot of large grocery bags full of my new prescriptions. Since being discharged from the hospital, it feels like I have been on a never-ending roller coaster. Everyday is a new challenge: keep your blood sugar levels in range, increase your time in range, do not go low, do not go high, count all your carbs correctly. It can be quite draining, but it has gotten much easier since I was diagnosed. I now have an insulin pump that connects through bluetooth to my continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on my arm, so I don’t have to prick my finger or give myself insulin shots anymore. My goals in life have completely changed since being diagnosed. I plan to major in bioengineering with a long-term goal of studying the pancreas and type 1 diabetes. I have been accepted to the 3+2 Bioengineering Program and I am confident that with the support from professors and mentors at Ohio Dominican University and the University of Dayton I will be able to have a major influence on those living with type 1 diabetes. I want to make connections throughout college, complete internships to gain experience, and eventually be on a research team that is actively working towards reversing type 1 diabetes. Since I was diagnosed, I have been following the news on any advances that have been made in this area. There have been multiple clinical trials in which participants receive an infusion of stem cells that are meant to act as islets. I have learned that islets are attacked by white blood cells in the body when someone has type 1 diabetes. Islets are responsible for producing insulin within the pancreas and when they are attacked, they are no longer able to produce insulin, which is necessary for maintaining stable blood sugar levels. In one study, a man had seen very positive results when he was able to eat without having his blood sugar spike. This was a groundbreaking discovery and I want to be a part of revelations like this. Throughout my college career, I will be able to gain access to more information and resources so that I am able to obtain more knowledge about the topic. I will aid in the research and development of a cure for type 1 diabetes. With the help of the professors, opportunities for internships, and the resources I will be provided by entering into this program, I aim to work closely with professionals in the field and gain hands-on experience so I may use my talents fully and help make a significant impact. I am confident that I will be able to make such a large impact because I have been given an amazing opportunity. I am a very smart and hardworking individual that has been born with a complicated chronic illness. To me, this is a recipe for success. I am excited for what the future holds and I hope that you are a part of the history that I will make.

Throughout my high school career, I have been taking advanced level classes. I had taken Algebra I in 8th grade and after taking geometry in 9th grade, I was placed in Algebra 2 Honors, then Precalculus and I am now taking AP Calculus AB. In each of these classes I have gotten an A+ and I am top of my class. In addition to these rigorous math classes, I have also taken many science classes. My sophomore year of high school I took Biology Honors, and then Chemistry Honors and AP Biology, and I am now taking Anatomy And Physiology Honors and AP Environmental Science, with which I have received an A+ in each of these classes. These classes have shaped my career aspirations and what I want to do with the rest of my life. I was accepted into Ohio Dominican University 3+2 Bioengineering Program with the University of Dayton, where I will receive my masters in 2030. I have always enjoyed biology and after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April of 2024, I plan to use my degree to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. As a young woman, I know that there will be many challenges that I will face along this journey but with the help of those around me, I am very confident that I will be able to make it out on top. I have a passion for finding a cure because it has flipped my world upside down and I want to be able to help those who have been living with this chronic illness their whole life, along with those who are just being diagnosed. I am a very smart individual that has been born with a complicated chronic illness. This is a recipe for success. These classes that I have taken throughout my high school career have allowed me to become a better leader. I have always been known to be very quiet and reserved but over the years I have grown to be much more confident in my abilities. I know that I am knowledgeable about certain topics and I know that I am not for others. I think that being self aware is a huge part of being a good leader. This allows you to ask for help and build a more efficient team because you are transparent and thus, those around you can help you grow as you can help them. My college career will require me to be a better leader along with being able to work with in a team. My goals will not be discovered by myself alone, and I will need the help of others to get me to where I want to be. I am confident that the leadership skills that I have learned throughout my high school career will grow even more when I enter into college and will ultimately allow me to reach my goals.

My cousin came out as bisexual in 2019. I had not yet started questioning my sexuality until about a year and a half later. From 2020 to around 2023 I had been confused about my sexuality and I had been trying to find the box that I fit in. In the summer of 2024, I had found the right label for myself after lots of deep thoughts and exploration. I had came out as bisexual. After a long journey of finding myself, I was so happy to finally put a name to the feelings that I was feeling. I wasn't very confident sharing this revelation to my extended family (including my cousin) because I was awkward about it and I didn't really know how to go about it. About a year later, my extended family had come to visit and a few of my cousins were taking a tour of my new house. I had a pride flag hanging in my room and I didn't think about it until they walked in and some of them pointed it out and I said something along the lines of, "Yeah, I'm bi." And my cousin who had come out a few years earlier told me, "That's great dude, you're one of us!" It had felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I knew that I didn't need to worry about their opinions on the matter because they are very open about that stuff but as someone apart of the LGBTQIA+ community, you are naturally scared of the reaction that you will get. This small action from my cousins made me feel so seen and loved. I am so grateful that I am blessed with a family that will love me no matter what and will support me throughout my life, as some people are not as fortunate. Since coming out, I have learned of the terrible acts that are made towards queer people and the policies that are made against them each day. With a new president coming into office, the fight for queer people is on. This experience of mine as shaped me to who I am today and I will forever be an advocate for queer people everywhere. It feels like the government does not want to protect those from the LGBTQIA+ community so it is up to us to stand up against the discrimination. This can be done by showing up to rallies and signing petitions. It would be a great dishonor to all of the great leaders that had come before us if we do not fight against the oppression that is being put onto the queer community. Remain educated and use all the opportunities available to you; your voice is a lot more powerful than you think.

My top three Billie Eilish songs are: Happier Than Ever, The Greatest and What Was I Made For? The song Happier Than Ever really resonates with me because I had heard of Billie Eilish before this album had come out but I hadn't really listened to her music up until then. I knew she was popular and a lot of people really loved her and her music but none of her music had really stood out to me until this song. When I first listened to this song, I could hear the pain and rage in her voice and I absolutely loved the emotion that she had poured into the song. It was like she was telling me her pain and the sorrow that she had endured. I still listen to this song every once in a while and every time I hear it again, it's like I am in the studio with her crying about the pain and the hurt and wrongdoings that has been committed against her. My next top song is The Greatest from her most recent album. Once again, I can hear her pain in her music. Over and over again she is crying out about how amazing she acts for nothing and for no one to notice or appreciate her. Her lyric that says "doing what's right, without a reward" is a very sad and relatable statement. Although she does everything right she is still not seen or appreciated in the way that she should be. Which is so heartbreaking and I can hear this sorrow when she sings. My final favorite song by Billie Eilish is What Was I Made For? from the Barbie Movie. I loved this movie on its own but when she started singing, I loved it even more. Her words and message in this song is just what the movie was about and it really resonated with me about the feeling of being lost as a woman in this society and wondering what your place is. In all of her music, not just this specific song, she pours her heart and soul into the lyrics and music that it feels like she is singing to you and you are there with her through her pain and yours. Billie Eilish has had a tremendous impact on me and I am excited to see what else she has lined up for her listeners.

In April of my junior year, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I had been feeling ill for 24 hours when my mom contacted a nurse from Akron Children’s Hospital and she advised that because I was having trouble breathing and standing. She said, “as long as you leave now, I will not call an ambulance.” Once there, IVs were started in both arms, multiple tests were run, and it was determined after a few hours that I was in diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a condition where acids accumulate in the bloodstream due to long-term high blood sugar, and if left untreated, can lead to coma or death. The medical team established that I may have type 1 diabetes, and my blood sugar was four-times the preferred limit. My A1C was 17, meaning my average blood sugar over the prior three months was over 400, and it should be around 100 with an A1C preferred to be between 5-7. I was flown by helicopter to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus: the scariest event I have ever experienced. Neither of my parents were able to fly with me, and my biggest fear was that I was never going to see my parents again. What if I crashed or my vitals took a turn for the worst? Thankfully, I made it to Columbus safely while my mom sped down the highway to meet me there, arriving an hour ahead of me. After struggling to get a good night’s rest due to the constant beeping from machines and nurses checking my vitals every hour, my dad and brother made it to Columbus. My family and I received three days of education so that we could handle this complicated chronic illness. Having no family history of diabetes, this was all new information to all of us. I was discharged from the hospital with a huge binder full of information and a lot of brown bags full of my new prescriptions. It hit me as we left the hospital that I would need to refill these for the rest of my life in order to survive. Since being discharged from the hospital, it feels like I have been on a never-ending roller coaster. Everyday is a new challenge: keep your blood sugar levels in range, increase your time in range, don’t go low, don’t go high, count all your carbs correctly. It can be quite draining, but, it has gotten much easier since I was diagnosed. I have gotten an insulin pump that connects to my continuous glucose monitor so that I don’t have to prick my finger or give myself insulin shots. In addition to learning what impacts my blood sugar, I have also had to educate others around me. Although at times this can be exhausting, I love when people ask me questions because I admire their willingness to learn. I am still learning the nuances of living with type 1 diabetes, trying to determine everything that impacts blood sugar: menstruation, exercise, temperature, illness, sleep, stress, and of course, food and drink. It is a complicated chronic illness and everyday I have the opportunity to learn something new. My goals in life have completely changed since being diagnosed. I am going to college for bioengineering and I would love to focus on studying the pancreas and type 1 diabetes. I have been accepted to the 3+2 Bioengineering Program with Ohio Dominican University and the University of Dayton and I hope to work on a more sustainable artificial pancreas and maybe even a cure for type 1 diabetes!

Math makes sense. I have always loved math since my eighth grade year when I took Algebra I. Since then, I have been taking advanced math classes and I am now taking AP Calculus AB. Throughout the years, I have learned many various rules, properties, and theorems. And although it takes time to learn these concepts, I have always loved the process of learning, practicing, and then helping others. There are rules to math, and sometimes exceptions, but there is always some sort of solution (even if it is no solution). There is always an answer and there are steps that are always taken in order to reach the answer. I love rules and guidelines so by solving math problems, there is not as much chaos that I have to deal with. I am able to focus on going thorough the motions and working to find the answer or answers. I must admit, I sometimes have to make a lot of mistakes and ask an absurd amount of questions in order to fully understand complex concepts but I think this is just a fun step into learning! Once I have interrogated my teacher to the point of making their head spin, I love the little click in my brain when I finally understand it all. I then love going through practice problems and quizzing myself to really test to see if I know what I am doing. When I go through this without making a bunch of mistakes, my ego grows a little bit. I'm not too proud of it but I can't help myself! I then take this superiority complex to my classmates and since I am able to relate to them more than my teacher is able, I can break down the concepts into ways that they are able to understand. This allows me to further understand what I am doing while also helping others. I absolutely love going through this process and because of it, I have always found math as a safe space to find organization and peace.