Storytelling has always been an essential part of my life, shaping how I understand the world and envision my future. Growing up in City Heights, a neighborhood rich with culture and diversity, I found inspiration everywhere I looked. The vibrant murals, the mix of immigrant and refugee communities, and the unique stories of the people around me fueled my passion for writing. These experiences have shaped both who I am and my chosen career path: creative writing and screenwriting. Through storytelling, I hope to shine a light on the voices of underrepresented communities, especially those like my own. One of my earliest projects, As the Day Ends, reflects this passion. The story follows a dance team trapped in school during a Saturday practice as aliens invade. The protagonist, Dahlia “Day” Cruz-Morales, is a kind, intelligent, and strong girl who makes sacrifices to protect her peers, even when they doubt her. The idea came from a simple question: What if aliens attacked during a dance practice? Set in a school like mine in Southeast San Diego, the story grew into a 3000-word short story, where I explored themes of self-doubt and personal growth. Day’s best friend, Ella, is based on a past mentor I had. Over time, our relationship became one-sided, and I used this character to express feelings I never could in real life. My journey as a writer has not been without its challenges. In middle school, I struggled with self-doubt, particularly when it came to my abilities as a writer. I often questioned whether my work was good enough and whether I could make a difference with my stories. However, I found solace in writing, using it as an outlet to express my emotions and explore the world around me. By overcoming these feelings of insecurity and learning to trust in my voice, I developed a deeper passion for writing and a desire to use my craft to make a positive impact on the world. As I move forward, I plan to use my education in creative writing to develop stories that raise awareness about social issues and empower others to find their voices. I want to create narratives that reflect the experiences of marginalized communities, providing a platform for those whose stories often go untold. In doing so, I hope to inspire others to recognize the power of storytelling and use it to bring about positive change in their own lives and communities.

In my community, I noticed a concerning lack of awareness surrounding water safety, especially among young children and their parents. As a lifeguard for the City of San Diego, my primary responsibility was to surveil the pool facility and respond to emergencies. However, I quickly realized that many individuals, especially in my neighborhood, were not familiar with basic water safety practices. The lack of knowledge about swimming techniques and safety measures posed a potential risk, particularly for young children. Motivated by my desire to help and educate my community, I decided to take action. I recognized that I could make a difference by sharing my knowledge and promoting water safety. I approached my manager and requested to enroll in a Water Safety Instructor class. Within three days, I earned my certification, ready to take on a new challenge. Once the summer began, I assisted my coworkers with swimming lessons, focusing on helping timid and inexperienced children feel comfortable in the water. I also served as a translator for Spanish-speaking families, ensuring they received clear instructions. After only two weeks, I was entrusted with teaching my own class—Adult Swim. Every Tuesday, I taught a group of adults survival swimming techniques, including various floats and strokes, all in Spanish to accommodate the language barrier. The impact of my work became apparent when one of my adult students approached me on the last day of class, offering chocolates as a gesture of appreciation for teaching her how to swim. This moment confirmed the importance of my efforts and reinforced my commitment to water safety education. In the future, I would expand my efforts by organizing community outreach programs that focus on educating families about water safety and offering free swimming lessons. By partnering with local schools and community centers, I hope to reach more people and continue making a positive impact on my community’s well-being.

Storytelling has always been a guiding force in my life. It’s not just a form of expression but a way for me to make sense of the world, helping me navigate my own experiences and envision the future I want. Growing up in City Heights, a neighborhood full of diverse cultures, I was surrounded by stories at every corner. The murals, the mix of immigrant and refugee communities, and the strength of the people around me inspired me to write. These experiences have shaped my academic and professional goals, motivating me to pursue a career in creative writing and screenwriting, where I can give voice to those often unheard. One of my earliest writing projects, As the Day Ends, reflects this passion. The story revolves around a dance team trapped in school during a Saturday practice as aliens invade the town. The protagonist, Dahlia “Day” Cruz-Morales, is a compassionate and resilient girl who makes sacrifices to save her peers, even when they doubt her. The idea was born from the question: What if aliens attacked during a dance practice? Set in a school like mine in Southeast San Diego, the story grew into a 3000-word short story, allowing me to dive deeper into character development. One of the characters, Day’s best friend Ella, was inspired by a real-life mentor I once had. Over time, our relationship became strained, and I used this story to express my feelings, something I never could in real life. Through this process, I realized the power of storytelling to communicate emotions, struggles, and growth. My writing has helped me better understand myself and those around me, fostering empathy and a desire to give back. As I move toward my academic goals, I aim to continue developing my writing skills in college and focus on telling stories that reflect the experiences of marginalized communities, much like the one I come from. Giving back to my community has always been important to me, especially through my involvement in the arts. I’ve led efforts to organize and improve my school’s costume vault for the theater department, and I’ve supported my peers in Musical Production, helping them with choreography and performance. These experiences have taught me the value of collaboration and mentorship, inspiring me to continue serving my community. As I pursue a career in writing, my goal is to use my education to create stories that raise awareness about social issues and foster understanding. I want to work with local schools and organizations to provide platforms for young people to share their voices, empowering them to make a difference.

My first experience with community service came when I became a manager for the boys' tennis team during my sophomore and junior years of high school. The school had just brought tennis back after the pandemic, and most of the students, including the boys, didn’t know how to play. My coach, Ms. Meza, had taught the girls on the team how to play in the fall, and when the boys' season rolled around in the spring, she asked us to help. As a manager, my responsibilities included setting up the equipment and assisting with practice. I also helped Ms. Meza teach the boys the basics of tennis—demonstrating drills, showing them proper techniques, and serving the balls during exercises. Sometimes, I even played against them before their games to help them prepare. This experience not only gave me a chance to share what I had learned, but it also taught me how to be a better teacher and how to help my peers grow and develop new skills. In addition to my role as a tennis manager, I’ve been involved in our school’s theater department, Musical Production, since ninth grade. Every year, we encountered the same problem: the costume vault was a total mess. Costumes were thrown together with no organization, props were scattered in boxes, and the wigs were so tangled they were almost unusable. This slowed down our productions and made everything more stressful. My friend and I knew something had to change. At the start of our senior year, we decided to take on the challenge of organizing the costume vault. After our annual Open House show, we tackled the mess head-on. We started by sorting through the costumes, organizing the clean ones by season, while my friend took the torn pieces home to fix. We also cleaned the storage boxes and shelves to make everything more accessible. When we got to the wig bins, I realized that just brushing through them wouldn’t be enough. The wigs needed full makeovers. I started with one of the worst wigs, a poofy blond bob, and soaked it in a fabric softener bath. Then, with my friend’s help, we carefully detangled it and discovered it was actually a mid-length wig with curtain bangs and waves. I trimmed and curled it, and when I was done, it looked completely transformed. Though I won’t personally get to use these wigs on stage or easily grab a costume, I’m glad that future students won’t have to struggle the way we did. This experience taught me the importance of leadership through service, showing how taking the initiative to improve something for others can make a big difference. By organizing the vault, I’ve helped make things smoother for the next generation of students, and I’m proud to have been part of that change.

My main goal is to double major in creative writing or screenwriting and history. I've always loved storytelling, and as I've grown older, I've realized that I must understand how creativity and history can blend together in my life. I've been studying screenwriting and playwriting in high school, and it has been an amazing part of my life. I have a large list of writing ideas that I'm always adding to, and I adore bringing them to life. History is also something that I'm really interested in—seeing how the past affects the present is something that I'd adore exploring through my writing. I think it's so important not just to tell stories, but to see how we can learn from the past. That’s why I want to study both subjects. In order to make this a possibility, I've applied to CSUS and UCs because they're less expensive for California natives and have great education. UCLA is my dream school—it has amazing programs in creative writing and history, and I know it's the kind of school where I can really challenge myself and grow. While it would be cheaper as a California native, UCLA is still rather expensive, so I need to be financially savvy. One of the biggest parts of my plan is securing financial support. I’ve applied to many scholarships, including the Gates Scholarship, where I’m currently a semi-finalist. This scholarship would cover tuition and living expenses, which would be a huge help in reducing the financial burden. I’m also researching other scholarships and financial aid options to make sure I’m covering all my bases. My family is well off, but college is still a huge expense, and I want to do everything I can to minimize the amount of student loans that I'll need to acquire. Besides scholarships, I will also work part-time while in school. I know working, going to school, and having extracurricular activities will be tough, but I've had experience being able to multitask by time management throughout high school. I've managed AP courses, leadership roles, and extracurricular activities, and I know I can apply that same work ethic to college. I'll look for campus jobs with flexible hours, so I can still focus on my studies but also earn some extra money to help pay for things. I'll also be budgeting wisely once I'm in college. I'm living in low-cost campus dorms and meal plans to minimize costs. I'll buy second-hand textbooks and other ways of saving money without compromising what I require. I'm happy to be frugal with money and learn how to stretch my budget without compromising being able to focus on school and make the most of all that college has to offer. By winning scholarships, part-time working, and monitoring my budget closely, I know that I can make my education affordable without piling up too much debt. I'm dedicated to keeping it low while still being able to invest fully in my studies and creative pursuits. With some effort and planning, I know I can make it all happen.

My mental and physical wellness are important to me because they impact everything—how I think, how I perform, and how I interact with others. When I feel good physically, I have more energy, and when I’m mentally strong, I’m more confident, creative, and capable. But maintaining that balance as a student isn’t easy. Between academics, extracurriculars, and personal struggles, there are constant challenges that make it difficult to prioritize my health. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is my self-image and relationship with food. In 8th and 9th grade, I struggled with an eating disorder, going through cycles of over-exercising and restricting, only to fall into periods of overeating. It was exhausting, both physically and mentally. I’ve come a long way since then, but it’s something I still have to be mindful of. As a dancer and athlete, I push my body a lot, but I’ve learned that taking care of myself doesn’t just mean working hard—it also means resting, fueling my body properly, and not letting old habits creep back in. Another challenge is balancing school, leadership roles, and my passions without burning out. I’ve always been a straight-A student, and I take pride in that, but it also comes with pressure. AP classes, college applications, and maintaining my responsibilities in Musical Production and tennis can be overwhelming. There have been times when I’ve sacrificed sleep or put my well-being second because I felt like I had to keep up. Learning time management has helped, but the mental load of constantly juggling everything can still be exhausting. Despite these challenges, I’ve found ways to prioritize my well-being. Writing is a huge outlet for me—it lets me channel my thoughts and emotions into something creative and meaningful. Whether it’s screenwriting, playwriting, or just jotting down ideas, it helps me process things in a way that’s both productive and personal. Dance and tennis have also taught me the importance of movement—not just as a physical activity, but as a way to relieve stress and connect with others. I also remind myself that mental wellness isn’t just about pushing through; it’s about knowing when to step back. I used to struggle with speaking up or asking for help, but over the years, I’ve become more confident in voicing my thoughts and setting boundaries when I need to. Being a leader in Musical Production and tennis has shown me that taking care of myself doesn’t make me weak—it makes me better at supporting others. At the end of the day, my mental and physical wellness aren’t just about me; they affect how I show up for my family, my friends, and my goals. I want to continue growing, creating, and making an impact, and I know I can’t do that if I’m running on empty. So even when it’s hard, I remind myself why it matters—because I matter.

Storytelling has always been an integral part of my life. It was the way I navigated the world around me, allowing me to both interpret information and, more specifically mentalize, how I wanted my life to be. I’ve been writing the same story since the 10th grade, a story about a timid girl who is forced to become a leader due to unforeseen circumstances. Living in City Heights, a neighborhood known for its blend of cultures, there was a story at every corner. I look at my neighborhood and I see all the incredible murals, the mashup of cultures fueled by the many immigrant and refugee groups, and all the stories coming from people who've lived lives most people wouldn't even be able to imagine. Listening to all their experiences, both good and bad, ignited my desire to write and shine a light on the stories that inspired and made me grow as a person. My first ever writing project happened to be a screenplay titled, “As the Day Ends”, about a dance team trapped in a school, located in Southeast San Diego, during a Saturday dance practice as aliens invaded the town. This Sci-Fi centers around my protagonist Dahlia “Day” Cruz-Morales, a kind, strong, intelligent girl who makes constant sacrifices to save the dance troupe, even if her peers doubt her abilities. The inspiration was formed from the question: What if aliens invaded the world during a Saturday dance practice? Blind, slimy monsters with a mosquito-like thirst for blood. I imagined how my classmates and I would act in this situation, trying to be realistic. Believing I wouldn’t be seen as very useful, I wondered what I would contribute to the group. That’s when the idea came to me: What if the aliens weren’t interested in my blood type? It eventually expanded into a short story. This allowed me to dive deeper into other components, including the many side characters, who my real-life classmates inspired. One of the most important characters was Day’s best friend Ella. Their relationship resembled one I had with an old friend who I used to see as a mentor. As the years went on, our relationship became one-sided and I felt I was in her shadow. I used this to finally express how I felt about her and how she treated me, something I wish I had done in real life. This project has always been a way to express how I truly feel about life and my love for my family and community. As both an inspiring author, writer, and world builder, I am empowered to think that I was able to create such likable and realistic characters that were both appealing and courageous. I plan to pursue higher education, majoring in creative writing or film, to get guidance from professionals and continue to develop my voice. I want to work on film projects and publish novels independently and aim to create a portfolio that reflects my creative vision, highlighting the beauty of communities like mine. As they say, life mirrors art so too has my experience in my writing mirrored how I wish and want to step out into my next steps as I make a transition into college and pursue my passion for creative writing as a profession.

Storytelling has always been an integral part of my life. It was the way I navigated the world around me, allowing me to both interpret information and, more specifically mentalize, how I wanted my life to be. Storytelling, however, comes in many forms. Throughout my life, I’ve explored storytelling through different mediums, whether it be writing, dancing, or acting. My passion for the arts started when I was young through my community. Living in City Heights, there was a beautiful blend of cultures at every corner. Every weekend, my mom and I would walk to our local park, where they put on music and dance acts like baile folklórico, mariachi music, and jazz. There was a story everywhere, fueled by the many immigrant and refugee groups who had lived lives most people couldn’t even imagine. Listening to their experiences, both good and bad, ignited my desire to showcase their stories through the arts. In my freshman year, I joined my school’s theater class, Musical Production. This wasn’t an ordinary theater program—it focused on creating and performing original musicals. We analyzed scripts and screenplays to understand the writing process, collaborated on show ideas, and learned from professional actors and choreographers to develop our acting, singing, and dancing skills. I not only performed on stage but also became involved in scriptwriting and the process of putting on musicals. I was so involved that I helped write the script for The Last Princess Standing, a musical about delinquent girls placed in a survival show. My job was to develop the lead characters’ origin stories, and I had a fun time researching and coming up with silly ways teenagers get in trouble. Outside school, I worked on my own projects. My first-ever writing project was a screenplay titled As the Day Ends, about a dance team trapped in a Southeast San Diego school during a Saturday practice as aliens invaded the town. It centers on Dahlia “Day” Cruz-Morales, a kind, strong, intelligent girl who constantly sacrifices to save the dance troupe, even when her peers doubt her abilities. The inspiration came from a simple question: What if aliens invaded during a Saturday MP practice? Blind, slimy monsters with a mosquito-like thirst for blood. Believing I wouldn’t be very useful, I wondered what I would contribute to the group. Then the idea struck—what if the aliens weren’t interested in my blood type? The story eventually expanded into a short story, allowing me to dive deeper into the side characters, many of whom were inspired by my real-life classmates. One of the most important characters was Day’s best friend, Ella. Their relationship mirrored one I had with an old friend I once saw as a mentor. Over the years, our friendship became one-sided, and I felt stuck in her shadow. Writing the story gave me a way to express feelings I never got to share in real life. The arts have always been my way of expressing how I truly feel about life, my family, and my community. As they say, life mirrors art, and my experiences in writing and performing have reflected how I wish to step into my next chapter, pursuing my passion for storytelling.

Storytelling has always been an integral part of my life. It was how I navigated the world around me, allowing me to interpret information and, more specifically, imagine how I wanted my life to be. I’ve been writing the same story since the 10th grade, a story about a timid girl who is forced to become a leader due to unforeseen circumstances. Living in City Heights, a neighborhood known for its blend of cultures, there was a story at every corner. I look at my neighborhood and I see all the incredible murals, the mashup of cultures fueled by the many immigrant and refugee groups, and all the stories coming from people who've lived lives most people wouldn't even be able to imagine. Listening to all their experiences, both good and bad, ignited my desire to write and shine a light on the stories that inspired and made me grow as a person. My first ever writing project happened to be a screenplay titled, “As the Day Ends”, about a dance team trapped in a school, located in Southeast San Diego, during a Saturday dance practice as aliens invaded the town. This Sci-Fi centers around my protagonist Dahlia “Day” Cruz-Morales, a kind, strong, intelligent girl who makes constant sacrifices to save the dance troupe, even if her peers doubt her abilities. The inspiration was formed from the question: What if aliens invaded the world during a Saturday dance practice? Blind, slimy monsters with a mosquito-like thirst for blood. I imagined how my classmates and I would act in this situation, trying to be realistic. Believing I wouldn’t be seen as very useful, I wondered what I would contribute to the group. That’s when the idea came to me: What if the aliens weren’t interested in my blood type? It eventually expanded into a short story. This allowed me to dive deeper into other components, including the many side characters, who my real-life classmates inspired. One of the most important characters was Day’s best friend Ella. Their relationship resembled one I had with an old friend who I used to see as a mentor. As the years went on, our relationship became one-sided and I felt I was in her shadow. I used this to finally express how I felt about her and how she treated me, something I wish I had done in real life. This project has always been a way to express how I truly feel about life and my love for my family and community. As both an inspiring author, writer, and world builder, I am empowered to think that I was able to create such likable and realistic characters that were both appealing and courageous. I plan to pursue higher education, majoring in creative writing or film, to get guidance from professionals and continue to develop my voice. I want to work on film projects and publish novels independently and aim to create a portfolio that reflects my creative vision, highlighting the beauty of communities like mine. As they say, life mirrors art so too has my experience in my writing mirrored how I wish and want to step out into my next steps as I make a transition into college and pursue my passion for creative writing.