As much as I have tried to deny it, God has blessed me with the gift of a pen. Ever since I can remember I had my nose in a book, engulfing myself in whatever fantasy world I was reading about at the time. I even remember my very first "book series" , colorful pieces of construction paper crudely stapled together, and my stick figure protagonist Mr. Mouse shared his journeys through every holiday and season. As much as I explored other careers, and tried to convince myself that I was meant for another path, God consistently redirected me back to the world of literature. Specifically, my senior year of high school, when my AP English Literature teacher, whom I respected dearly and truly helped cultivate my love for classic literature, had his very own experience with God that pushed the boundaries of his faith more then I had ever seen. He would review my poetry and we would pray together between classes, and I truly believe that he helped me to pursue literary goals while staying focused on my faith. I absolutely love all forms of creative writing, but my real focus is poetry. The symbolism, metaphors, and imagery truly allow me to showcase my creative flair, and I want to write poetry books that contain short simple verses from the Bible, so all people can read them and remember that not only are the poems based in real life, but also contain advice for any type of emotional ailment from God's word. My goal is to be an English professor, and I hope that I can connect with the next generation of young Christian students that want to explore the world of creative writing, and use their gifts to worship God. Creative writing helped me through some of the darkest times of my life, and writing my poems helped me to connect with God. I would search through the Bible and find my favorite verses, and work them into a poem. I have 4 books full of poems inspired by the Bible, and I pray that I can explore the path of faithful English and help guide others who are in need of God to Him through my writing. I pray that I can channel the sprit of Stahl and grow closer to God by worshipping Him through the gift He gave me, and help others explore Him to.

ADHD presents in self in people in an abundance of ways. For me, it was the hyper-fixations on random topics, the "gifted" over achieving intelligence, and the week long procrastination but final hour rebounds. However, my brother experienced the more negative symptoms. Along with his stutter and his dyslexia, his inabilities to focus, communicate effectively and register information made his academic career a living nightmare. He was bullied in school, and became a recluse. It was really hard on the both us, my brother losing his confidence, and me losing my brother. But in my sophomore year of high school, when my brother was getting ready to take his ASVAB for the military, we found a system: I would stay up and help him with his studies. True, it's not a fancy complex compromise, but it offered much more mental clarity than anticipated. My brother's slow paced habits and daily work towards his studies taught me to take my time with my own studies, rather then procrastinate and rush through everything during the very last second. I used my hyper-fixation knowledge to teach him study and test taking skills that allowed him to develop more confidence in his intellect. It not only taught me how to manage my ADHD symptoms in a way that benefited me and my lifestyle, but also taught me leadership, patience, and teaching skills. Some of my best memories of my brother were spent on my bedroom floor at midnight, the brown carpet turning off-white as it was littered with study papers, the vivid blue glow of the computer screen informing us that we still had five out of forty-five questions. The bags under our eyes in the morning but enjoying a breakfast together, quizzing my brother about terminology in between bites of Captain Crunch. He really broke out his shell, and left his wallflower tendencies behind to flourish as a very successful helicopter operator and fuel mechanic in the United States Navy. I am proud of what I taught him, but I will never forget the lessons he taught me. The long nights of frustration, eye strain, and seeing algebraic equations in my dreams were absolutely worth learning how to teach those who struggle understand, how to get creative in helping others, and how to take pride in the hard work that goes into reaching a goal. I have learned to use my ADHD skills to my advantage: I use my hyper fixation tendencies to learn everything about my school topics, so that my studying in much more enjoyable and not seen as a chore. I have learned better time management skills, and block off portions of my day to dedicate time to my studies. Though I, my brother, and millions of people around the world have struggled with ADHD, I refuse to let it control my life, and want to shift from struggling with ADHD to thriving with ADHD.

I am the type of person who has always bit off more than I could chew, who wanted to use my deep-rooted ambition to take on as much as possible at once. But when I found out I had developed a rare neurological condition that affects how I am able to stay conscious or use my joints and spine properly, I had to force myself to slow down. I understand on a truly personal level what it's like to not be in control of your body, to be scared and confused and to feel utterly alone. But I will never forget the doctors, nurses, and medical technicians who were there with me at every appointment, the ones who treated me extra special when I was admitted to the ER. I tried college, but everything fell apart: the people were only focused on partying and not on a career, I had to use a lot of my college fund on medical bills, and I didn't feel like college would be able to fulfill me in a career that could truly help others. College made me more depressed then I had ever been, and my neurological flare-ups became worse with the academic induced stress. But when I came home, I realized that all those difficult months were signs that college wasn’t meant for me, and to explore a trades career. I learned that even though the path I anticipated to work had failed that didn't mean I had failed as a person. I was simply on the wrong path, and had to be redirected. After much consideration, I want to pursue a career in cardiology imaging and vascular echocardiography at a 2 year trade school. I’m passionate about connecting to people in a meaningful way, and want to use my education to help as many people as I can who are just as confused and worried and scared as I was. I believe that there is something so incredibly profound about the technology developed by woman is used to help others, to see the hidden problems inside a person's heart that would not have been so easily caught, or see the flickers of a baby's first few heartbeats, or be able to diagnose a disease that could alter the course of a patient's life forever. It's not about images on a screen, but about the stories, the lives, the moments that matter. I want to be a part of a patient's journey to heal, and to comfort, clarify and care about those who seek it from me. I want to unveil the truths inside the hearts of as many people as I can.

I remember the local medical center that first diagnosed my neurological condition. For my technician, it was a normal Thursday afternoon, but for me, it was a life changing event that would forever alter the course of my future. My entire life revolved around that singular moment. The kindness and gentle nature of that tech who watched me go pale, and absolute terror flood from my eyes in the form of uncontrollable tears. It was that moment that I decided that I wanted a career in healthcare that allowed me to be that sturdy foundation, the calm and collected rock for someone else who was in a similar position as me. So, during high school, I started interning at the same medical center that diagnosed me, and my aunt who worked there taught me everything I now know about healthcare. I am passionate about helping those in my community, because they all sacrificed so much to help me. I work in the care giving department, helping elderly patients by cleaning their rooms, cooking for them, bringing them flowers, and I hire local high school kids fix their computers, do yard work, or put on small theater performances for entertainment. I want to pursue a career in cardiology imaging and vascular echocardiography. I am passionate about connecting to people in a meaningful way, and want to use my education to help as many people as I can who are just as confused and worried and scared as I was. I believe that there is something so incredibly profound about the technology developed by woman is used to help others, to see the hidden problems inside a person's heart that would not have been so easily caught, or see the flickers of a baby's first few heartbeats, or be able to diagnose a disease that could alter the course of a patients life forever. It's not about images on a screen, but about the stories, the lives, the moments that matter. I want to be a part of a patients journey to heal, and to comfort clarify and care about those who seek it form me. I want to unveil the truths inside the hearts of as many people as I can. I want to be able to have anyone who is in need of someone to rely on when the world seems like it's crumbling around them, and know that I can be someone that they know will do everything in my power to help them.

I am the type of person who has always bit off more then I could chew, who wanted to use my deep-rooted ambition to take on as much as possible at once. But when I found out I had developed a rare neurological condition that affects how I am able to stay conscious or use my joints and spine properly, I had to force myself to slow down. I understand on a truly personal level what it's like to not be in control of your body, to be scared and confused and to feel utterly alone. During my diagnosis I was the most depressed I had ever been, never knowing if I would ever see an end to the tests and trials and specialists, and my ADHD had forced me into a corner of hyper fixation on if i would ever overcome my condition, but cut off any motivation to try and fight off the flareups, believing that it was futile.. But I had my friends and family who stood by my side and refused to leave no matter how bad my mentality got, and I will never forget the doctors, nurses, and medical technicians who were there with me at every appointment, the ones who treated me extra special when I was admitted to the ER. I have dreams of being that type of person for someone else who faces similar challenges as me. A lot of the finances I saved in high school went towards paying off medical bills trying to control my symptoms. I had missed many school days to go to the ER, and spent many hours undergoing painful tests and having a hundred vials of blood drawn. But I have refused to allow my condition to prevent me from pursuing the goals that have been embedded deep inside me. I work three jobs to try and pay for my schooling, but any financial aid is very valuable. I am passionate about pursuing STEM because more women need to enter the fields. I want to pursue a career in cardiology imaging and vascular echocardiography. I passionate about connecting to people in a meaningful way, and want to use my education to help as many people as I can who are just as confused and worried and scared as I was. I believe that there is something so incredibly profound about the technology developed by woman is used to help others, to see the hidden problems inside a person's heart that would not have been so easily caught, or see the flickers of a baby's first few heartbeats, or be able to diagnose a disease that could alter the course of a patients life forever. It's not about images on a screen, but about the stories, the lives, the moments that matter. I want to be a part of a patients journey to heal, and to comfort clarify and care about those who seek it form me. I want to unveil the truths inside the hearts of as many people as I can.

I am the type of person who has always bit off more then I could chew, who wanted to use my deep-rooted ambition to take on as much as possible at once. But when I found out I had developed a rare neurological condition that affects how I am able to stay conscious or use my joints and spine properly, I had to force myself to slow down. I understand on a truly personal level what it's like to not be in control of your body, to be scared and confused and to feel utterly alone. During my diagnosis I was the most depressed I had ever been, never knowing if I would ever see an end to the tests and trials and specialists, and my ADHD had forced me into a corner of hyper fixation on my condition, but no motivation to try and fight off the flareups. But I had my friends and family who stood by my side and refused to leave no matter how bad my mentality got. I am passionate about pursuing STEM because more women need to enter the fields. I want to pursue a career in cardiology imaging and vascular echocardiography. I want to connect to people in a meaningful way, and want to use my education to help as many people as I can who are just as confused and worried and scared as I was.Those who have debilitating conditions will be able to turn to me when they are at their lowest, and know that there's someone in this world that will not leave them no matter how hard it will get I believe that there is something so incredibly profound about the technology developed by woman is used to help others, to see the hidden problems inside a person's heart that would not have been so easily caught, or see the flickers of a baby's first few heartbeats, or be able to diagnose a disease that could alter the course of a patient's life forever. It's not about images on a screen, but about the stories, the lives, the moments that matter. I want to be a part of a patient's journey to heal, and to comfort, clarify and care about those who seek it from me. I want to unveil the truths inside the hearts of as many people as I can.

I grew up in a family that valued shared experiences over things that could be bought. I remember watching a man propose to his wife in Rome, Italy while exploring the forum ruins outside the Colosseum and having my breath stolen in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, gazing in awe at the paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, praying that one day I have enough talent that can last hundreds of years after my death. Or exploring a cave in rural Iceland, descending into icy depths and staring at the bones of a 5,000-year-old sheep, feeling so small and insignificant compared to this vast and beautiful natural wonder. Basking in golden waterfalls at sunset in Hawai'i. Swimming with dolphins and snorkeling into vivid rainbow reefs in the Bahamas. I have traveled and learned what it takes to truly stay worldly, to learn bits and pieces of new languages that connect a tourist with a countries locals. I have expanded my palette and tried foods I never thought existed, and still have spices from all over that I add to my home cooked food, to bring a little bit if that country back to my plate. I have learned about religions, traditions, etiquette, and daily practices from different countries that I still use in my own life. I like to think of people as stained glass mosaics; each piece is a habit or belief crafted by the person through personal experience and developments. I hold a little piece of everywhere I have been: I make my morning tea the same way the Gray Kitten Cafe in Iceland made for me. I practice the same chopstick rules at Asian restaurants that I learned in China. I listen to the same songs that a bus driver in New York had played, and though it was faint, I could hear him singing along with me. I still use Spanish words in my daily language after the month I spent in Spain, exploring churches and doing charity work in local communities. I will be forever thankful for the lessons that countries I have traveled to have taught me, and I hope that more travel and more learning from others all over the world is in my future

I remember sitting outside the hospital on the cold concrete curb, fiddling with an oak leaf and staring blankly into the parking lot. Suddenly, a single ant crosses my vision, tramping to its comrades and filing down their ant hill in uniform. Their marches thunder in my head, assembling their ranks to advance into the world. Facing their foes with valor, the soldiers race into the battlefield, the clanging of weapons and cries of pain. Soon bodies are littered across the land, the grass awash in crimson, miniature corpses holding their swords in cold dead grasps. My uncle's own battle was similar, yet his blood became infested with chemo, and every day his weapon was his will to survive. His soldiers in his immune system fought as his cancerous enemies invaded his organs, his thyroid, and his mind. It was hard to disconnect him from the fun-loving uncle who would throw me into the pool, or shove my birthday cake in my face, or teach me to hunt for the very first time into this thin, hyper-aged, balding man before me, who looked almost cyborg-ish with the tubes and IVs and monitors surrounding him. Just a few years after my grandma passed from heart failure, this was the second major death in my family. I never processed grief well; I would sit in silence and comfort my mother - who felt grief like one feels the sun on their skin during a summer in Phoenix- until I was alone in my room, staring at the ceiling, my phones fluorescent light temporarily blinding me before informing me that it was nearly 2:30 AM, and all at once I would feel everything. The choking, lung-crushing, heart-tearing emptiness that those you love leave upon their deaths. I silently let my tears rush down my face like a river hurriedly chasing its destination. I would only do this once, for I only needed a few spare hours of unaccompanied silence to truly feel the weight of my sadness. I have often been told that I am heartless, and cold, and callous, but in reality I have been forced to be strong in any given disaster so that my family may fall on me for stability. It is not that I don’t feel, it’s that I am capable of choosing when to feel and how much I can take. I feel the sadness, I just don’t show it. The mask I’ve crafted is perfectly capable of protecting me from the prejudices of my life by my peers. I hear them sometimes, both my uncle and my grandma. I hear my shrieking laughter echoing anytime I am near a pool, remembering how my uncle used to toss my around and we would splash in the water on cool summer days. I hear my grandmas approving whispers when I open her old recipe book to make birthday cakes for my family, remembering all the meticulous tricks she taught me in her kitchen when I was young. Though these deaths have been hard on me, they have taught me that the memories hold much more value than the grief. The past smiles and laughs and holidays spent together mean so much more than wallowing in the sadness of what could have bene if they lived a little longer. Death has made me optimistic, and hopeful, and willing to live everyday like it's my last. That way, when it's my time, my life simply won't flash before my eyes, but play out like a movie, showcasing all my adventures and heartbreaks. Everything that made my life worth living. When it's my time, I hope Death will be proud to take me.

I am the type of person who has always bit off more then I could chew, who wnated to use my deep-rooted ambition to take on as much as possible at once. But when I found out I had developed a rare neurological condition that affects how I am able to stay conscious or use my joints and spine properly, I had to force myself to slow down. I understand on a truly personal level what it's like to not be in control of your body, to be scared and confused and to feel utterly alone. But I will never forget the doctors, nurses, and medical technicians who were there with me at every appointment, the ones who treated me extra special when I was admitted to the ER. I have dreams of being that type of person for someone else who faces similar challenges as me. A lot of the finances I saved in high school went towards paying off medical bills trying to control my symptoms. I had missed many school days to go to the ER, and spent many hours undergoing painful tests and having a hundred vials of blood drawn. But I have refused to allow my condition to prevent me from pursuing the goals that have been embedded deep inside me. I work three jobs to try and pay for my schooling, but any financial aid is very valuable. I am passionate about pursuing STEM because more women need to enter the fields. I want to pursue a career in cardiology imaging and vascular echocardiography. I passionate about connecting to people in a meaningful way, and want to use my education to help as many people as I can who are just as confused and worried and scared as I was. I believe that there is something so incredibly profound about the technology developed by woman is used to help others, to see the hidden problems inside a person's heart that would not have been so easily caught, or see the flickers of a baby's first few heartbeats, or be able to diagnose a disease that could alter the course of a patients life forever. It's not about images on a screen, but about the stories, the lives, the moments that matter. I want to be a part of a patients journey to heal, and to comfort clarify and care about those who seek it form me. I want to unveil the truths inside the hearts of as many people as I can.

Some of my best memories come from summer weekends, climbing 14 miles to the top of Thunder Mountain, the dragon-shaped summit that resides above sleepy Silver Lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in Northern California. A speck upon the side of a towering boulder, I’m clawing at the cracks within the rocks, digging my fingers into mere inches of support. My feet slipping on the shale, my legs pushing me towards the top. I reach the peak, out of breath, sore, sweaty, and sunburnt, but at peace with my expedition. I look across the valleys, forests, and lakes beneath me, and the blue sky above is crystal clear. I stand between the heavens and the earth like Atlas holding the world upon his shoulders. At this moment, I am on top of the world, touching the stars, swimming in clouds. My serenity is cut short by my sister Anna shrieking after she dropped her avocado half down the 10,000-foot cliffside. She’s not actually my sister, but our years on the high school cross-country team together made us inseparable. For the last 5 years, we have hosted this annual camping trip on my family's property in Pipi Valley Campground. We have a few constant events that take place; one is racing- and I mean Usian Bolt-type running- through the trees to Potholes, a secret backpacking spot that has small waterfalls and swimming holes that weave between the thick granite rocks and look out over the entire valley, to try and catch the few 15 minutes of sunset, where the world shifts from cool toned blues and greens to explosive oranges and pinks, setting the valley on fire and turning the river to gold. Our very own road to El Dorado, overflowing with glittering stones and rustling leaves. But Anna is in college now, across the country in Georgia. She still comes home once or twice a year, and we get to hunt for hidden treasure in the California sunsets and vast rocky landscapes I am grateful to call my home. Anna was my first healthy female friendship, one that was so low maintenance that we see each other only once a year, and it's like no time has passed, and nothing has changed. Our friendship means more to me then anything in the world, because I know that even though she will be by my side no matter what, she will also always have my best interest at heart, will tell me when I am making a bad choice, and protect me when she feels it's necessary. She may be across the country, nut she will always be my home.

I am the type of person who has always bit off more then I could chew, who wnated to use my deep-rooted ambition to take on as much as possible at once. But when I found out I had developed a rare neurological condition that affects how I am able to stay conscious or use my joints and spine properly, I had to force myself to slow down. I understand on a truly personal level what it's like to not be in control of your body, to be scared and confused and to feel utterly alone. But I will never forget the doctors, nurses, and medical technicians who were there with me at every appointment, the ones who treated me extra special when I was admitted to the ER. I have dreams of being that type of person for someone else who faces similar challenges as me. A lot of the finances I saved in high school went towards paying off medical bills trying to control my symptoms. I had missed many school days to go to the ER, and spent many hours undergoing painful tests and having a hundred vials of blood drawn. But I have refused to allow my condition to prevent me from pursuing the goals that have been embedded deep inside me. I work three jobs to try and pay for my schooling, but any financial aid is very valuable. I am passionate about pursuing STEM because more women need to enter the fields. I want to pursue a career in cardiology imaging and vascular echocardiography. I passionate about connecting to people in a meaningful way, and want to use my education to help as many people as I can who are just as confused and worried and scared as I was. I believe that there is something so incredibly profound about the technology developed by woman is used to help others, to see the hidden problems inside a person's heart that would not have been so easily caught, or see the flickers of a baby's first few heartbeats, or be able to diagnose a disease that could alter the course of a patients life forever. It's not about images on a screen, but about the stories, the lives, the moments that matter. I want to be a part of a patients journey to heal, and to comfort clarify and care about those who seek it form me. I want to unveil the truths inside the hearts of as many people as I can.

I have faced medical adversity, in developing a rare neurological condition that affects how I am able to stay conscious or use my joints and spine properly. I understand on a truly personal level what it's like to not be in control of your body, to be scared and confused and to feel utterly alone. But I will never forget the doctors, nurses, and medical technicians who were there with me at every appointment, the ones who treated me extra special when I was admitted to the ER. I have dreams of being that type of person for someone else who faces similar challenges as me. A lot of the finances I saved in high school went towards paying off medical bills trying to control my symptoms. I had missed many school days to go to the ER, and spent many hours undergoing painful tests and having a hundred vials of blood drawn. But I have refused to allow my condition to prevent me from pursuing the goals that have been embedded deep inside me. I work three jobs to try and pay for my schooling, but any financial aid is very valuable. I am passionate about pursuing STEM because more women need to enter the fields. I want to pursue a career in cardiology imaging and vascular echocardiography. I passionate about connecting to people in a meaningful way. I believe that there is something so incredibly profound about the technology developed by woman is used to help others, to see the hidden problems inside a person's heart that would not have been so easily caught, or see the flickers of a baby's first few heartbeats, or be able to diagnose a disease that could alter the course of a patients life forever. It's not about images on a screen, but about the stories, the lives, the moments that matter. I want to be a part of a patients journey to heal, and to comfort clarify and care about those who seek it form me. I want to unveil the truths inside the hearts of as many people as I can.

When asked " how would you change the world", most people would say that they want to end world hunger, solve world peace, or find the cure to cancer. The big ticket items, the Nobel peace prize winning ideas that result in forever cemented fame and fortune. But for me, I believe that positive impact can be achieved if every person does a little bit better day by day. Whether that's improving their health, reducing environmental impact, or simply speaking kindly to a stranger. I truly believe that the most effective way to make a genuine and long lasting positive effect on the world is to have as many people as possible take little steps together to make a big impact. If more people decided to spend 30 minutes a day exercising, then the whole countries health would significantly improve. If more people grew their own produce, watched how much garbage they produced, and turned to sustainable energy, then the overall health of our nation's environment would be much healthier and better protected. If people were kinder to one another, smiled more often, bullied less, and tried to just be better human beings to one another, we would a much more understanding society. The world does not need more insanely rich people making crazy inventions to fix a tiny problem, all while making millions of dollars more. The world doesn't need more Nobel peace prize winners or more celebrities. The world needs a larger population of people who care about the world and everyone and everything in it just a little bit more. So for me, I don't plan on discovering the cure to incurable diseases, or ending world hunger or bringing back an extinct animals species ( although that would be super cool). My goal is to make a positive impact on someone else and myself every single day. Every day, I try to eat foods that help keep my body health, workout to keep my body strong, and speak kinds words to myself to help reinforce my self love. Every day, I want to tell my family and friends I love them, help bring a smile to my patients face when I tell them good news that relieves their stress, or help keep them calm and relaxed during testings, and smile at and compliment a stranger every day. Being a generally positive person and radiating kindness for others to embrace is the very best way to make a positive impact, because every day the impact is growing stronger.

My own mental health tends to cause me lots of problems. I have severe ADHD, and the lack of focus and hyper-fixations on unimportant topics tends to lead me astray. I get lost, bite off more than I can chew with school and work, and get extremely stressed. But it has also taught me how to thrive off of the pressure. How to mitigate a full time school schedule and two jobs. The waves are really hard to handle, some days it locks me down in a prison of depression, and others it energizes me to complete monumental tasks. However, I truly am thankful that learning how to handle my mental health, the depression, the highs, and everything in between helped me in all aspects of my life. The hyper fixations on random topics have transitioned into hyper-focus on my future plans with my school, ensuring bullet proof schedules back by hours of research. The waves of energy help me to have a high social battery with my friends, and expend my energy in healthy useful ways. I have learned what helps and what doesn't also: having a good diet, spending as much time as possible outside, hanging out with my close friends, and working on hobbies like sports, art, and reading help prevent the highs and lows, and keep at a central point.

Much like Mr. Griggs, my father has always supported my adventurous spirit. He is a mountain man to his core, and much of my youth was characterized by his teachings about camping and mechanical engineering. I remember late nights around a campfire, and my dad would tell me what plants and animals inhabited our environment, or when he would make me crawl underneath our big grey truck to reach the last tightly wound bolt that he couldn't. He always taught me that there was never a problem I couldn't crack, a puzzle I couldn't solve, or a new trail I couldn't explore. As I got older, I spent even more time outside, either hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, or jumping off a rock cliff, with my mom begging me to come down in the distance. Also, all the time I spent holding the flashlight for my dad's meticulous work on his car and dirtbikes led to my own interest in cars, and if I am not lost in the woods I can be found deep in the engine of one of our cars, covered in grease, mostly trying to make room in the engine bay to put a turbo, against my father's advice. His neverending love and support have allowed me to pursue a degree in biology and aerospace studies at the Honors College at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He instilled his work ethic and love for nature in me, and my ultimate goal is to become a SERE ( survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) specialist in the United States Air Force, and become the 6th woman to ever graduate from SERE training and become a training officer. I want to be able to teach future airmen to love and respect nature and its gifts, as well as gain the knowledge to use what it offers to their advantage. After my career in the military, I want to join the United States Forest Service, and dedicate my life to preserving national parks, educating the public on sustainable botany and zero-waste living, and even starting my own company of green energy plants. I don't just want to be a woman in STEM; I want to leave a legacy that impacts the world for good, where future generations will be able to experience and love nature just like my dad had taught me to. I want our earth to stay as clean and green for as long as possible because we only have one home, and we need to do everything we can to care for it.

Many students will write about how the sports that they have played their whole lives teach them dedication and hard work, which is entirely true. But for me, I was deeply inspired by the game of golf, and the most valuable lesson it taught me was joy. I had been diagnosed with two autoimmune disorders that severely affected my quality of life, and my ability to complete everyday tasks. I'm very physically active, and I love working out, but my conditions made me so exhausted and sick all the time, to the point where I was dropping so much weight and muscle that I could hardly go downstairs without tripping. I went into my senior year of high school unsure if I would be able to ever play a sport again. But a dear friend of mine convinced me to try out golf. I told her I had never played before, and didn't know if I would be a good addition to the team. I am highly competitive and get very frustrated when I lose in sports. But I was walking into a game with zero understanding and zero experience. At practices, I watched and learned proper techniques, but the looming fear of losing control of my health was always in the back of my mind. The fear of my hands seizing up, and watching my arms turn to motionless stone limbs frightened me beyond belief, but I tried my best to put all that worry into every drive. As the season progressed, and my golf game got better, I realized that I didn't need to be competitive to enjoy a sport. I got to travel with the most amazing team of girls, who never failed to make me laugh and smile, and see the most beautiful golf courses surrounded by beautiful houses, and then sit down at burgers shops and other rinky-dink restaurants and enjoy the best food of my life. Even though golf is a frustrating game, I never regretted a moment, and never felt anything but joy on the greens. I learned discipline, humility, hard work, patience, and cooperation. All the lessons I learned from playing the most amazing sport of my life, I have been able to apply to my senior year of academics. I was able to graduate with honors, and I will be continuing my golf career at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. I am so thankful for the lessons golf has taught me, and the opportunity it gave me to find joy when life seems bleak, uncertain, and scary, because in the end, when life was dragging me down, I was able to find a ray of joy in a wonderful sport filled with amazing people.

Mental health has been an open topic in my family since I was a young girl. I have had many of my own family and friends deal with the heartbreaking and life-taking effects of all sorts of mental illnesses. I watched my dad battle PTSD, coming home from 4-day shifts at the firehouse, trying his best to smile at me and my brother, but we both knew that he was haunted by the tragedies and horrors that he had to see almost daily. Drunk driving accidents where whole families were killed, and wellness checks on depressed teens that didn't go so well. His eyes were hollow at night, and we knew that the scenes played in his mind like twisted films. I watched my best friend almost lose her mother to bipolar mania. She would call me late at night, and we would get ice cream and sit by the lake near our houses as she cried and screamed about how she wished her mother would take control of her mania. It broke my heart watching the friend who I loved dearly suffer like this, knowing I could do very little to nothing to help. I have had experience with bipolar depression as well. There were days when the world was too much for me, where my bones felt like they were made of cement, and just turning my head to check my alarm clock took all the energy I had. I was pale and sleep-deprived and felt like my existence had no meaning or value to anyone around me. Then some days, I took on the world and more. I would tear apart my room looking for one specific thing. I would spend hundreds of dollars online shopping. I would start a homework assignment, then jump to another one, then another and another. It almost felt productive, but at the end of every high, the overwhelming regret crushed me. The rollercoaster made me sick of myself: too much sleep, not enough. Binge eating, starving for days. I tried to go to therapy but felt belittled when a shrink would tell me what I already knew about myself, and not give me the tools to help myself stop. But now, I know why I feel the things I feel, and I know how to control them. I see it like this: imagine life as a heart monitor (bear with me here). On a heart monitor, a healthy heartbeat goes up and down. If it's in the middle all the time, that means that you're dead. Now that may be a little dramatic, but the concept is transactional to mental health: it's okay, healthy even, to feel the highs and lows of life. That's what makes us human. If we stay in the middle ground all our lives, we will have no purpose. The highs teach us what life feels like at its best when we are at our happiest and have everything we could ever want at the moment. We reach for the sky and bask in the sun. However, too much sun can turn a paradise into a desert. It's rain that deepens our roots. The dark, gloomy lows are what bring us the most growth. The sadness teaches us how to feel our emotions, a reminder that we can break and fall apart and still find a way out. Humans are fragile, but also resilient. I see now that my mental health follows the high and low pattern, and I have learned to not immerse myself in one side of the spectrum, but allow myself to take what they give me. I take the highs when I go out with my friends on road trips, when we're driving down the interstate, spending too much money on Starbucks, and exploring the world around us. I take the lows when I wake up in the morning and feel too overwhelmed to go to school. I get up, make a cup of tea with my dad, and collect myself before going to school at lunchtime. I have been able to learn how to be a functional person in a world full of both awe and negativity, yet I won't let any high nor low stop me from living my life to the fullest.

I have never played golf, until this year. In a spontaneous moment, I decided to join my high school´s golf team. At the first match, with only about a week's worth of practice, I was now competing alongside some of the best female golfers I had ever seen. I mean, they would birdie every hole and shoot 6-10 below par. It was the most frightening thing of my life. I jumped into a sport that I knew absolutely nothing about. And when most people learn hard work, patience, and good sportsmanship from their sports… but I learned a simple lesson that a lot of people take for granted: joy. I know that may not sound terribly like the golf most people know, but what I mean is I learned that it is ok to join a sport or pick up a new hobby, and not be good. I am deeply competitive, athletically and academically. I had played softball my entire life, but a devastating injury left me incapable of playing. But I itched for a sport. I craved that feeling of competition. So, a good friend of mine offered up golf. I went to the first practice terrified and anxious. But my team, consisting of some of the very best female high school golfers in the state of California, approached me with kindness, and took time out of their weekends and practice days to teach me, and make me feel confident in my game. I would get frustrated if my scores weren't where I wanted them to be, simply because in my other sports I knew what I was capable of. But as the season progressed, and I gained more confidence in my golf skills, I simply stopped caring about what score I put down. I knew that at that moment in time, I would never be as good as some of the girls I had played against. But I was ok with that. What I learned to love was the soft smell of the fresh-cut greens. The crisp mornings at the driving range, warming up my shoulders and stretching with my team. Being unbelievably proud of myself for every scorecard I turned in, without ever really looking at the score. Getting burgers and driving home with my team, as we laughed about the crazy things we had seen or who did the best. The endless support from my team, patience from my coach, and the hospitality of the golf clubs who hosted us taught me that I belonged out there, regardless if I was the best or worst golfer in the group. I played every match with a smile on my face, I wouldn't have it any other way. And I can proudly say that I was on the golf team that not only won our League Section match, but also competed at the State Masters Tournament, among the best golfers in the state. Golf was the most positive experience of my life, and it truly raised my self-confidence as well as my optimism. As I continue my education at the Honors College at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff Arizona, I plan to take golf, and all the joy it brings, with me. I plan to join the NAU Club Golf team, a coed group of college kids who just meet up to play. I want to carry that smile to new greens, improve my game, and enjoy the sport that I have unexpectedly fallen deeply in love with for the rest of my life.

I was 9 years old when I performed my first eye exam. The patient was my father, and I utilized my limited expertise in the field of optometry by using a magnifying glass to make his eye bigger, then proceeded to shine a flashlight directly in his eye. I may have not been the best eye doctor then, but now, with two years of shadowing under my belt, and an optometric technician certificate on the way, I am more confident than ever in my future as an eye care specialist. Optometry is a unique field, a lost art if you ask me. Nobody really stops to think about their eyes. They worry about cholesterol and brain health, but often truly neglect the organs that allow us to experience our world in awe. Optometry is also one of the very few medical fields that can have a private practice. In my time interning at my local eye care facility, I have been able to observe how the doctors have deeply connected with members of our community. It is not at all like a big hospital, where they see hundreds of patients a day, and care very little about their health issues. Private optometrists have proven that they care so deeply about their patients, that they can remember the smallest details of their lives from a checkup or exam from a year ago. These doctors are collaborative, understanding, and patient. They have shown me what kind of person and healthcare professional I want to be in my own future. They have taught me a compassion I couldn´t find anywhere else. This scholarship wouldn´t just mean I could afford a 1/4 of my first semester´s tuition, but it would mean that I could afford the first steps to my dreams. I am ambitious and I take hard work head-on. I´m not afraid of challenges, but I´m also not afraid to ask for help too. I love to research and explore, and I want my college life to be filled with my cramming my brain with every fact and ounce of knowledge humanely possible. Ultimately, I want to become an optometrist and own my own practice, complete with vision rehabilitation and therapy, and on sight optical lab, and a surgery center, and become a primary care facility to help my community for years to come, and I hope the review board for this scholarship can help make this dream of mine a reality.

I remember a year ago, when I was too weak to move. My limbs became cold, and my skin turned gray. My head would pound and it was almost impossible to stay awake. Walking made me nauseous, and eating made it worse. Yet there was no name for what I was experiencing. After MRI´s, ultrasounds, and blood tests, I was still left with nothing. I was left in a blank state, not knowing my next move. My health has always been a priority. I am an athlete, and I have a very clean diet. I work out every day, and I hike and ride horses. But it wasn't enough. My body broke down, and soon I felt like an emptied husk of sickness and pain. That may have been a year ago, but this is a challenge I am yet to overcome. Through many rounds of antibiotic treatments, and tests, and interviews with specialists, I have still come up short. This challenge is still a huge factor in my daily lifestyle. I now wake up in the mornings, take my medication, and look at myself in the mirror. Will my skin break out into painful rashes? How long do I have before I can't move my hands? Will I be able to eat enough today? I ask these questions to myself everyday, and most of the time, the answers sadden me. I have been taught a valuable lesson. In my struggles, through the rapid weight loss and brain fog, the pale skin and sickly breath, that perseverance is key. I preserve through my monthly blood tests and tri monthly MRI´s. I persevere through the hard days, where my body is almost dying but inside, my soul is still alive. I do what I can to persevere with a condition with no name and no cure. College will be similar. It will be hard, and new, and scary. I will be diving headfirst into dark waters and forced to learn to swim. I know my condition will not cease. I still bear the scars on my skin, and how my touch is frozen before I feel anything under my fingertips. But I know I can persevere. I can manage my time and keep my head above the water. With each gasping breath I can learn and grow. Soon the tide won't pull me under, but I will be able to walk upon it.

I remember a year ago, when I was too weak to move. My limbs became cold, and my skin turned gray. My head would pound and it was almost impossible to stay awake. Walking made me nauseous, and eating made it worse. Yet there was no name for what I was experiencing. After MRI´s, ultrasounds, and blood tests, I was still left with nothing. I was left in a blank state, not knowing my next move. My health has always been a priority. I am an athlete, and I have a very clean diet. I work out every day, and I hike and ride horses. But it wasn't enough. My body broke down, and soon I felt like an emptied husk of sickness and pain. That may have been a year ago, but this is a challenge I am yet to overcome. Through many rounds of antibiotic treatments, and tests, and interviews with specialists, I have still come up short. This challenge is still a huge factor in my daily lifestyle. I now wake up in the mornings, take my medication, and look at myself in the mirror. Will my skin break out into painful rashes? How long do I have before I can't move my hands? Will I be able to eat enough today? I ask these questions to myself everyday, and most of the time, the answers sadden me. I have been taught a valuable lesson. In my struggles, through the rapid weight loss and brain fog, the pale skin and sickly breath, that perseverance is key. I preserve through my monthly blood tests and tri monthly MRI´s. I persevere through the hard days, where my body is almost dying but inside, my soul is still alive. I do what I can to persevere with a condition with no name and no cure. College will be similar. It will be hard, and new, and scary. I will be diving headfirst into dark waters and forced to learn to swim. I know my condition will not cease. I still bear the scars on my skin, and when my touch is frozen before I feel anything under my fingertips. But I know I can persevere. I can manage my time and keep my head above the water. With each gasping breath I can learn and grow. Soon the tide won't pull me under, but I will be able to walk upon it.

This time last year, I was in and out of the hospital. This time last year, I was receiving ultrasounds, MRIs and blood tests. This time last year, I was the sickest of my entire life. I lost so much weight, could hardly eat and was to fatigued to even go to school. Yet the doctors could not understand what was happening. My blood tests were fine and I had now internal abnormalities, but I lost all feeling in my hands and feet, and I could feel my body shutting down on me. It was awful; not knowing what was happening to me or why. But even though I felt weak physically, I did all I could to stay strong mentally. I learned that in order to grow, I had to prioritize a positive mindset and work hard to keep going. At the time I was taking 4 AP classes, and I was missing a lot of school, but my teachers were able to work with me to try and help me catch up with the classes. I was then able to spend my summer focusing on my physical health, and day by day I got better through a cleaner diet and consistent exercise. Though I still don't know what has happened to me, I still can feel the panic when those awful feelings come back. When I lose mobility in my joints, and my fingers become cold and lifeless, I felt the fear come back. But instead of letting the fear and panic take over me, like it used to, I surround myself with my closest friends and utilize their support and my healthy habits to help make sure that I don't ever get as bad as I used to be. Through the whole experience, I learned that I wouldn't have been able to do it alone. My best friends were there for me every step of the way, asking me about my visits and wanting updates on my condition. My mom took so many days off of work to drive me to all my appointments, patiently waiting and spending a LOT of money for my sake. My dad helped me exercise, planned gentle workouts to get my strength back, and made sure that I was eating enough. I was terrified when I thought my body was giving up on me, but that was last year, and though this year I am still dealing with an unknown condition, I will not fear what will come to me, because I have learned what to do and who to turn to for help.

When I think of STEM, I think of the big picture. Where can STEM take me? What paths will STEM guide me down? I want STEM to be able to open up new ideas and discoveries in my life. My preferred major would be cell physiology or pathology. I want to use that knowledge to understand how human tissue develops and why it spawns diseases and mutations. Understanding how humans are simply made up can be super helpful in the field of medicine. Cell physiology can be utilized to learn how genetic mutations affect cell function, or how certain disease attack certain proteins or enzymes within the body. I want to use that knowledge of science to become a doctor myself. My ultimate goal is to be a specialized optometrist called a retina consultant. Retina consultants are primary care physicians for patients that have severe eye diseases like retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. They work with eye surgeons in creating care plans and perform lots of research to find the best ways to treat these devasating diseases. I am a bit squeamish so I don't think I would make a good eye surgeon, but I want to be the vital liaison between the patient and surgeon and help thousands of people restore their eyesight. I have interned at my local optometry office and I get to experience the intimate relationships that the doctors I shadow build with their patients, and I want to be that person that these people suffering from scary diseases turn to for help and guidance. But I do not want to work for a hospital or clinic, that disregards patients, doesn't provide one on one personalized care or tries to help those who have difficulty affording eye care. I want to start my own optometry business, complete with optical labs, general exams, vision therapy and rehabilitation, consultation and surgery. A one-stop shop for any time of eye care issue. I believe in this day and age, eye care will be the most important form of healthcare. The rise of technology and the constant blue light that enters our eyes will begin to take its toll on this generation's future eye health. And that's why I want to enter this field, so I can join the future of eye care that will be able to tackle the new strains and problems that will arise in eye care with the newest phone model or social media app.

My health journey began my sophomore year of high school during distance learning. I had been diagnosed with two autoimmune disorders that severely affected my daily function, as well as orthopedic issues with my spine and hips. I was unhappy, sick, and in pain almost every day. I was on multiple medications and went to physical therapy at least 3 times a week. It was mentally and physically draining, trying to keep up with my body and its ailments daily, hoping I would have just ten minutes of relief. Through my year-long recovery, I had to make multiple changes in my lifestyle. I started focusing more on veggies and proteins in my diet. I walked almost everyday at my high schools track. I couldn´t do any contact sports like I used to, so I took up golf and was able to keep in shape and be active playing golf. I do crossword puzzles, geography games, sudoku, and vocabulary games everyday to keep my mind sharp and well-rounded. I write poetry and paint to maintain my artistic side and fulfill my creative needs. I also started meditating to practice mindfulness. My injuries had put me in a very dark place and I tried almost everything to pull myself out. But I found out that the best thing for me was to simply sit down and focus on one thing at a time. I´m naturally a chaotic person, I tend to start things and hardly find time to finish them. But being able to just sit in silence and breathe and release all of the tension and stress from my mind really contributed to my healing process. I also made weekly and monthly goals; having one hike a week with my mom, driving my dogs around town, having one lunch date with all my friends, reading one book a month, dedicating an entire day every month purely to relaxation and self course. I have created a whole routine that I have found works into my schedule, which is just as chaotic as I can be. I deeply believe that having a healthy and sustainable routine is key to living a fulfilling life. Eating healthy, exercising daily, keeping your mind fresh, and doing things that you love everyday are what can turn a depressed and physically inept person to the very best version of themselves, and I believe everyone should get the opportunity to live that type of lifestyle.

I want to pursue computer science, specifically software engineering. Technology is indisputably the future of our society and one of the fastest growing fields in the employment sector. I want to be sure that I can enter a workforce where I will be the most successful and, as a woman, be a good representation of what I am capable of in a field of research and innovation. I chose computer science not only because I understand it´s concepts well, but allows for me the creative freedom to build my apps and games. Science is very important because it is how we discover everything that we know. We humans are naturally curious, and can spend many years learning and discovering new topics that fascinate us. True there is much to know about ecology and chemistry, but computer science is a man made section that still not very many people understand. I want to be part of the trailblazers that carve a path into this new world of unexplored research. I love computer science because it allows me to get a hands on understanding of how all of the new tools and gadgets we as a society have grown so accustomed to actually work. And when I enter college I would like to also obtain minors in education and business so when I enter the military as an officer with my bachelors degree, I can teach others to do what I do and possibly start my own software engineering business.

I want to pursue computer science, specifically software engineering. Technology is indisputably the future of our society and one of the fastest growing fields in the employment sector. I want to be sure that I can enter a workforce where I will be the most successful and, as a woman, be a good representation of what I am capable of in a field of research and innovation. Science is very important because it is how we discover everything that we know. We humans are naturally curious, and can spend many years learning and discovering new topics that fascinate us. True there is much to know about ecology and chemistry, but computer science is a man made section that still not very many people understand. I want to be part of the trailblazers that carve a path into this new world of unexplored research. I love computer science because it allows me to get a hands on understanding of how all of the new tools and gadgets we as a society have grown so accustomed to actually work. And when I enter college I would like to also obtain minors in education and business so when I enter the military as an officer with my bachelors degree, I can teach others to do what I do and possibly start my own software engineering business.

Healthy eating is very important because of the detrimental effects it has a person´s physical and mental health. If someone isn't getting enough vitamins and nutrients or drinking enough water, then their brains will not be able to function as properly as they need to and that student will have a really hard time staying awake, staying focused and staying motivated. In my own experience, I can recall that the times I had struggled with school and homework the most was when I was dehydrated, sleep deprived, and I hadn´t eaten that whole day. I had migraines, and I was moody and I could not focus on my tasks that were due. I thought that I would be able to just push through and get all my work done, but the harder I tried to focus and the longer I put of sustaining mu body, the weaker I would feel, the more tired I would be in the morning, and the more moody I would be at school the next day. But I have made sure that whenever I study I always keep a large water bottle on my desk and a bowl of fruit or pretzels to snack on throughout my studying. I want to make sure that I am developing healthy eating and studying habits so I can take care of myself and be very successful in college. As a future college student and adult, developing and practicing healthy habits and routines are vital towards success, and I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to make sure that my future self will be happy, healthy, and proud of her accomplishments. Success starts internally, and if the body is not receiving its necessary daily dose of key nutrients and vitamins to properly function, you cannot except it to perform at its best when you need it to.

I have spent many hours among art museums, gazing at the beautifully colored canvas and the meticulous brushstrokes that can change the whole tone of a painting. i respect Van Gogh and Michelangelo, but no artist grasp my attention like that of Leonid Afremov, specifically his ballet dancer collection. The way he highlights contrasting colors by using warm colors to create the background and cool tones to create the dancer devises a harmonious balance of color. He perfectly fashions the dancers movements with every graceful gran jete and plie. As a past ballet dancer, I truly gravitate towards this specific collection. I relate his color palette to how when I used to dance, and when I would turn or leap, how the colors of the world would muddle and blend around me. I was the only constant among the flow of color and music. It brings me back to my ballet recitals, and the elegance and grace that he projects from his art perfectly showcases how ballerinas are in real life. Afremov's art speaks to me more then any other masterpiece could.

One personal finance lesson I learned that I find very important is to leave below your means. I have seen people waste their money buying fancy cars and designer clothes and huge mansions when they know quite well they can''t afford it, then spend the rest of their lives in debt to their need to look like they have it all. I make expenses charts to track how much money I earn and what Needs to be paid. I am fortunate enough to not have to pay bills like most people do which helps me save a lot of money. I only spend my money on gas consistently, but setting aside a set amount to pay for that one expense allows me to save my money that much more. Staying below my means and not online shopping every time I received a paycheck allowed me to save nearly $20,000 in 2 years ( I would work around 45 hours a week). Sure I may not be driving an Aston Martin or wearing Gucci perfume, but I am happy because when I really want to buy something or go out with my friends, I know I have plenty of money to fall back on!

I have had quite a few difficult months these past few years. I have tragically lost many friends, pets, and family members, and have just been really down on my luck with school and physical and mental health. Staying positive is a laborious task that requires tons of effort. It was in fact a challenge to master the art of waking up in a dystopia with an unnerving smile on one's face. That wasn't me, and could never be me. I wore my heart on my sleeve, and every person could tell my exact emotions just by looking at me. And when I got upset or sad or stressed, it was pretty damn difficult to get myself out of it. That's what depression does to you. But through it all, I was reminded of what the world had to offer me. I'm in love with traveling, and an avid gardener who loves to cook. One of the main things that keeps me positive is telling myself about the places I'll travel to and the food I will try in my future. When I get upset, I sit down and literally plan an entire vacation to a country, from which hotels and restaurants I will go to, to the cost and flights. I think about the lakes I haven't swam in, the cuisines I am yet to try, the mountains I am yet to climb... and para-glide off of. This world has so much to offer for me, and I stay optimistic so I can be there to enjoy it.

I recently attended a week-long youth program in the Sierra Nevada Mountains that was sponsored by my towns local Rotary International group. It was called the Rotary Youth Leadership Association. 85 high school students were stuck together on a small campground for 5 days, completely unbeknownst about what we would experience throughout our stay. If I am being honest, I did not expect to learn much from it. But as the program commenced, my eyes were opened to a whole new view on human interactions. I watched as students from different towns in Nevada, so-cal and nor-cal stood up in front of a room of strangers and one-by-one exposed themselves and shared their demons and struggles to the rest of us. And I watched as people would stand and hug each other and cheer each time someone had the courage to speak. All young kids, not knowing anyone in the room, embracing and crying with each other in our darkest hours. I made some of the greatest friends from that camp, and I had realized that too many people live their lives like I had the first day of camp: isolated, reserved, and even critical of others. But just taking a moment to listen to others share their stories, and try to imagine the joy and sadness and struggles that brought them to where they are now, and the things I have experienced to make me who I am. I learned to stay open, stay positive, and ultimately, stay kind.

My father is a fireman, and I go to work with him and cook and bake for the fireman during the days when the run calls. I wake up at 3:00 AM three times a week during the summer, and one day a week during the school year, and drive to the station with my dad. His station has a small garden that I built and a blackberry bush I planted, and every day I water the plants and check for produce. I make small breakfast burritos or sandwiches for the firemen who attend early morning calls and won't have a chance to sit and eat with the rest of the guys. Then I make quiche or french toast for the firemen who stay. I help clean the station too; I pull weeds in the yard, I do laundry, I vacuum, and I help put away files and papers. They really allow me to be creative when I cook or bake. One firemen also acts as my sous chef and helps me to create new recipes or add in ingredients. It truly is a family in those stations. They are always optimistic and laughing, even after the horrible things they see on calls. I have the upmost respect for first responders, and I love doing what little I can to make their job just a little easier.

I hope to be the person that others can come to when they need honest and unbiased advice. When my friends have exhausted every option they have and can't seem to find a way out or a positive outcome, I want them to turn to me to help them. I have lost many friends and family members who believed they had no way to escape their problems except to take their own lives. I never want a human being to feel like that as long as I live. I understand the feelings of utter hopelessness, how life makes no sense and probably never will. But i found a mentor, a dear teacher and friend of mine, who taught me about what the world had to offer me. He told me that though I felt hopeless and alone today, that wouldn't mean I would feel that way the next day, or even in the next hour. I tend to be a chaotic and stressed person. My mind operates at 200 miles per hour and I get anxious if I become overwhelmed. But when I get those feelings I always turn to him to help calm me down and see a rational solution. I want to be that sturdy and logical person for others who are like me. The impact I wish to make is to let all the people in my life know that I care, that I can help, and that I love them.

My efforts to protect our environment are nothing short of pure dedication. I am deeply connected with nature, and it has always been an influential part of my life. Hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains with my mom every weekend. My best friend and I take road trips to National parks and beaches. I have always been very close to the natural world, and feel partially responsible for the damage that has occurred on our Earth. In my attempts to play my part, I have weekly road cleanups in my neighborhood. Every time I go to a beach or lake or on a hike I bring a bag to collect trash that I see along the way. I am zealous about recycling and I make sure no plastic bottle or aluminum can enters my trash. I take all my food waste and either feed my chickens or add it to my compost pile. I shop sustainably and avoid fast fashion brands as much as possible. I use organic and sustainable makeup and skincare brands that are cruelty free. I shop only at local farmers markets and use my reusable mesh bags to store my loose produce. I harvest my own eggs, honey, and vegetables from my garden. Leaving no carbon footprint and living as zero waste as possible is a huge part of my daily life, and I hope more people partake in the lifestyle to help keep our planet green.

One change that I believe would be the most beneficial for the education systems and future scholars is the practice and preaching of completely unbiased knowledge. It is frightening to see that many schools are now implementing new courses and curriculum that satisfy their own personal opinions or beliefs onto young children who need basic education that will prepare them for high school, college, and the rest of their lives. Children do not need to learn about gender identity in the 2nd grade, they need to learn how to spell and read and do basic math. High school students do not need to learn about racial studies, they need to learn how to do taxes, how to cook, and how to buy and pay for a house or apartment. College is where students can take the next steps in their education and learn about what interests them, but forcing such debated topics onto students with a clearly biased curriculum is not going to benefit the advancement of society. attempting to brainwash the future doctor and lawyers and scientists in our country. Students should focus on cold hard logic, of practicing math the right way and proper English grammar rather then have others that are biased by assisted and protected around them. Society is losing sight on education actually is. It is understanding how to read and write properly, how to do everyday math, and understanding your nations history. Not learning about 72 different genders, or turning United States History into black or Hispanic history. We need to go back to our old ways of teaching, before the education system is lost forever

The most helpful piece of financial advice I have ever received was from a teacher whom I am very close with. He taught a financial education course at my school, and he said the best way to save money is to create an income chart. To track how much money is coming in through immediate and passive income. To figure out expenses and where the money needs to go. I am fortunate enough to have learned this trick at such a young age and have implemented it into all my financial decisions. i created a large spreadsheet that I use to track my weekly income, my expenses and what I invest in stocks and miscellaneous things. A huge part of being financially savvy is understanding where the money you earn comes from and exactly where it goes. I don't make a lot of money at the job I have, so being able to save as much as possible for college is very important to me. I have many other tricks to like limiting how much I eat out and online shopping, and depositing all my paychecks into my savings and using my credit card for small purchases to build good credit, but using an income and expenses chart is by far my favorite and most important tool to owning my finances. It has really helped me to physically see where my money goes and where my money needs to be.

The biggest problem that is present in today's society is perspective. Whether too much or lack thereof, perspective is driving our world apart. Differences of opinions in religious beliefs, cultural values, politics, or personal choices turn an understanding perspective into a judgmental one. People cannot seem to get along with those who do not agree with them on every debated topic. But that is what makes our world so beautiful. The differences of views, or practices, of ways of thinking. The variety of people is what gives life it's unique value. Many people think that those who do not agree with them or have different perspectives are against them and wish misfortune upon them. But that is simply not the case. This world lacks understanding and respect, or the ability to have a civil conversation about debated topics. Nevertheless, debated topics means that people are passionate about what is happening to and around them, which is good. But when it gets to a point where people are looting, vandalizing, and committing heinous crimes for the sake of opinion is when we lose passion and enter insanity. A solution to this problem is for people to stay worldly. To travel, to learn languages, to try new foods. To understand where others come from. To respect religions and customs. To just try and be good people. Our world can heal from division through kindness and consideration. Many traditionalists will hold on to their ways with their lives, believing change is a threat to their very existence. But change is nature, and we cannot fight nature. We must change the ways we view the world and the people in it in order to advance and survive.

A practical solution to helping those who struggle with mental health issues is to simply listen to them when they vent or talk about their problems, and to not disregard the severity of their emotions or the issues they are dealing with. Though one persons personal problems may technically be more severe then someone else, that doesn´t not mean the other persons problems should be left ignored. Mental health issues are not meant to be pent up and left unattended, because they can deteriorate a persons health, mentally and physically, and cause some possibly extreme health issues. By taking the time to sit and listen to a person who is struggling with mental health issues like depression and anxiety when they finally open and share their struggles, you let them know that they are no longer alone, and that they shouldn´t feel like they need to take on their problems by themselves. Letting people know that you can sit and support them through their endeavors proves that you are a person they can trust and turn to when they are in a dark place. Because if you were struggling with personal issues, and you felt alone in your life, wouldn´t you want someone to sit down and listen to you, and try and help you without making you feel dumb or isolated or attention-seeking? Therefore, the easiest, cheapest, and most practical solution to helping and supporting those who struggle with mental health problems is to simply acknowledge their feelings and emotions and do you best to try and make sure they don´t feel alone.

My name is Peyton Clark, I am a junior in a rural high school, and I´ve had a passion for science and technology since I was young. From 1st to 8th grade I attended a STEM based school that focused on programming, architecture, and robotics. I built my first electronic game at 12, and programmed my first robot code at 10. I attended an all girls stem camp called Tech Trek at Fresno State University when I was 13, and have been asked to return to the camp as a counselor this summer. I have also been invited to UNC Chapel Hill to attend a medical education program through NYLF. I want to use STEAM to earn a degree in biomedical chemistry at the University of Memphis, and become an optometrist. With the skyrocketing use of technology in society´s everyday lives, its essential to maintain peoples eye care, so they can live and see the best versions of their lives. I want to help people maintain their eyesight, and be a reliable source of healthcare for my community. And, of course, pursue computer science and programming in my spare time. I truly believe that women are capable of greatness in male-dominated careers sectors, and I want to be a role model for the generations after me, to encourage them to pursue whatever type of career they want and inspire them to make their marks in the world. My mom pursued law, and she is the strongest and smartest women I know. She also supports me in my trials and journeys, and has helped me to discover that my womanhood can be used to my advantage. I want to explore all aspects of STEAM. I want to learn more about the arts and find my own personal creativity, and I want to use science and mathematics, to understand the world around me. I want to use technology to help advance medicine for the benefit of all the world, and I want to use engineering to build a better future for humanity. I want to combine all aspects of STEAM into my future. I believe that STEAM is a tool that should be utilized by all women, as it can truly open doors, pathways, and journeys for women that they never thought possible or available. I want to be part of the generation of women that prove to the world that we are smart enough, we are strong enough, and we are capable of anything we wish,

When my family or friends feel unloved, I bake for them. Baking has been a hobby of mine since I was 8 years old. I would steal random ingredients from my refrigerator, and concoct some odd smelling and strange colored bowls of sludge and mush. But when I actually learned how to bake properly, I would make cupcakes and send them to my dad's fire station. I always felt bad when I would see how tired my dad would get after a long four or five days of little rest and constant emergency calls, and I knew his colleagues felt the same. So I would bake for them, and in return I'd get pictures of these super tall and buff firemen eating little bright pink maraschino cherry cupcakes. My craft cheered them up, and since then I have always looked at food as love. I drafted new recipes, and even received lists of all the firemen's favorite cookies or flavor combinations. I became quite famous with them, and my talent soon found its way within my friend groups. I used to try out new recipes and have my friends taste them for their input. Soon they discovered my love of baking and my love of treating other people with kindness and a good brownie. So whenever a friend goes through a heartache, or my parents have a bad day at work, or my whole math class is about to take a test that they are certain they are going to fail, I bake. It may seem insignificant, and slightly unhealthy, but I can pour my heart and soul into my recipes, and watching the stress or anger or sadness slowly melt away from peoples faces as they savor and enjoy a treat of mine makes the whole process worthwhile.

Music, by far, is the easiest way for people to find the words to express their emotions that they themselves are unable to understand. Personally, the song "Good Thing" by Kehlani is super inspiring for me simply because it focuses on the idea of feminine independence. I'm a very independent woman, and that song helps me recognize the good things in my life. How my confidence in the small tasks I complete during the day or my daily habits make me a force to be reckoned with. How I don't need a significant other or peers to make myself feel validated. The verse "I book myself tables at all the best restaurants and eat alone" really speaks to me. The confidence to spoil yourself, and take yourself out to people watch or stay worldly. That is what I strive for in my life. To be completely content with my company. Another verse that says "I make myself up just to dance in the mirror when I'm at home" is another personal favorite, simply because it reiterates the idea that I can dress myself up and do my makeup to impress myself and feel confident and comfortable in my own skin. I never usually wear makeup outside of my home because I ride horses, work out, and play sports daily. But when I come home, I curl my hair and do my makeup and put on my favorite dresses and dance around to my favorite songs. Thanks to this very song, I have learned that "The best things in life are already mine" and " I already got a good thing with me".

When I think of joy, I think of my best friend. She never fails to make me laugh, and I know that she supports me in all me mistakes and journeys and endeavors. I seek joy in my life by fulfilling adventures with my bets friend. I found joy when we got chocolate covered marshmallows and walked along the beach at Santa Cruz in the middle of the night. I found joy when we had a prank gift exchange for Christmas. I found joy in our movie nights, our camping trips, our midnight drives, and our inside jokes. I´m a social person, but I have found many people in my life who were toxic and manipulative and dishonest. But my best friend is a person to good for this world. She has struggled a lot in her life, and moving on to college has allowed her to thrive. She always checks in on me, and sends me songs that remind her of me. My joy stems from adventures with my best friend, and I will always seek to make more memories with her.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn´t work hard. My favorite and lifelong softball coach told me that, when I was having the worst practice of my life. It was my third year as a pitcher, and at this one practice I couldn´t get a single ball into the catchers glove. I threw it into the sky, into the ground, left, right, and upside down. I was on the verge tears, and nearly on the verge of quitting. My coach came up to me and looked me in the eyes and said ¨Hard work beats talent when talent doesn´t work hard. You have the talent for this sport, but your hard work will make or break your success. You will have good days, bad days, great days, and the worst days of your life. But never, ever give up on the sport you love.¨ He silenced me, and on that day I realized that that terrible practice is what made my next game the best I could remember. I threw a no hitter game and we won 27-0. I lived for that quote, and never suppressed my work ethic. I have given hours, tears, laughter, blood, sweat, and my dreams to softball, and to think I would give up because I wasn´t perfect is preposterous. I would give the world that quote because those who recognize that passion and hard work beat those who are naturally gifted will always rise above.

Self-discovery is no easy feat, and I have struggled the last two and a half years practicing self love and reflecting on myself. I have tried many healthy outlets, like baking, workout out, knitting, and learning a new language. But although I thoroughly enjoy those hobbies, none of them fully satisfy the need to take care and love myself for as I am. Then I took a DNA and ancestry test, and discovered something about my family that became very important to me. My family descended from the region of Bavaria in Germany, and fled form their homeland to Switzerland to escape persecution form the Nazis. They practiced their religion and culture in secret, and half left to America to fulfill a free life. As I read through documents and memoirs and diary entries and records, I felt connected to something bigger then me. I felt like I could finally satisfy the longing of self-knowledge, of knowing who and what I was. My family and I got to have our first Oktoberfest celebration, and we celebrated our first Saint Lucia´s day. thanks to connecting with my roots and understanding my culture, and I finally feel that I can finally love myself for who I am and what my ancestors did so I can have the opportunity to live a full and free life.

My best skill is my competitiveness. I truly believe that my confidence and determination can go unmatched. I´ve always been competitive in my sports and school. I put in hours of work to improve my softball skills, and I take advanced classes to give me an edge when applying to college. But my determination usually comes to help others as well as myself. My dedication to my sport not only improves my mental health, but helps guarantee my teammates a valuable and devoted pitcher that they can rely on and look up to. My choice to pursue advanced academics not only satisfies my thirst for knowledge and help my chances of getting in to a good college, but makes my parents proud and allows me to help and teach younger peers that struggle academically. I´m working to improve this skill by remaining a confidence and independent women who is competitive in all aspects of her life, but not imitating or arrogant to my classmates or peers who look up to me or rely on me.

If I could have a legacy, I would want to remebered as a role model for young women. I wnat younger generatiosn to look at me, whether when I played softball, started my own cafe, or my practices as a future optometrist, I wnat them to feel inspired by my accomplishments,a nd dream to be like me. I remember when I was in the 8th grade and about to play a softball game. I remember warming up with my catcher and looking across the field. A little girl, all dressed up in a pink softball jersey and pigtails with bows, sparkly eye black painted on her cheeks. She watched me with wide eyes, and blushed shyly when I waved at her. I felt honored that she was intrigued by me, and I will never forget the look on her face when I threw the first pitch. Her eyes sparkled in awe, and I knew that in that moment I had changed her life. After the game I walked up to her and gave her the ball I had used, and had signed with ¨Play to inspire others like I inspired you¨. I want her to remember me, to play softball and become a pitcher and strike batters out, and get a scholarship and go to college and win a championship. I want girls to look at me and do what I do, to be prepared and passionate and successful. If my legacy could be anything, it would be to guide young women to live the fullest life possible.

When I was running cross country my sophomore year, the main school year during Covid, that is, I started to experience a lot of back and hip pain. I already knew I had scoliosis, and I had regularly gotten check-up x-rays every three months. But his pain felt different. I went to my doctor and he had told me that I had torn the tendon that held my hip in my socket. Basically, my hip was nearly free-floating in my pelvis. He told me to quit running, and to not play softball for the year or I would tear my hip all the way through and get a hip replacement. The injury nearly ended, my athletic career. I was horrified and broken. Sports, especially softball, was my life. It was my escape from reality, and p;lace to release my anger, and a place where I had made the most incredible memories of my childhood. I remember buying a hot pink Easton glove with my dad, and spending hours at a batting cage working on my hit and timing. I wasn´t ready to give up my sports. I went to physical therapy 4 times a week, and the chiropractor twice a week. I stretched twice a day, and wore a sacral belt and back brace. I stopped weightlifting and stopped running. I was frustrated and felt like my health and fitness was deteriorating. But with time and patience, I saw improvements. My hips stopped aching, and I became more balanced and flexible. And now, the winter of of junior year, my doctor has cleared me to play softball again. I had persevered through my injury and pain and frustration, and I reaped the reward of keeping my sports in my life!

My favorite way to help people is to take them for a drive. When people are going through problems or struggling to face the obstacles in their lives, their emotions and needs can get suppressed and forgotten about. For example, my best friend has a terrible relationship with her mom. They argue daily, and my best friend feels the need to save her mom from herself and feels useless because she doesn´t know how. She´s been home from college for Christmas break, and one night I was driving us around the same loop we always drive in our tiny town, watching the same stores and homes whiz by us. She was venting to me about her mom, and I was simply nodding and asking an occasional question. I turned on a playlist named ¨time to scream¨ and watched my best friend break down and cry and let out all her pent up anger and sadness. I just sat and drove and let her get everything off her chest, and silently felt devastated by her pain. I offered no advice, and said not a word, knowing she didn´t need anybody to tell her how to fix her problems. She simply needed to say them aloud and not let them consume her. We drove for about an hour, and when we got back to my house, she gave my a hug and thanked me. I did nothing but drive around our county, but I knew I couldn´t help her in a better way then to just let her help herself. That is the best way to help others, to allow them to help themsleves.

Finding things that make people can be a challenge, but its a challenge worth undertaking. I have taken quite a while to find what makes me happy, and I have finally settled on this: the natural world itself. Traveling, hiking, camping. Any time I can immerse myself in nature, I´m at my happiest. My bets memories come from nature and travel. When my mom and I explored Florence, Italy and took pictures of the old churches and buildings,. When my best friend and I hiked 11 miles and got to watch the sunset over a lake 6,000 feet up. When I hiked into a cave in Iceland and got to see stalagmites and icicles hanging from the ceiling. And simply practicing Taoism, doing yoga on my front lawn and meditating, feeling the breeze and the sun and grass all around me. I feel grounded, and relaxed. My life is quite stressful so being able to take time for myself never fails to make me happy. Nature was made to appreciated, and the world was meant to be traveled. I´ll always be happiest when I can enjoy and admire my surroundings.

The most inspiring book I have ever read was Anthem by Ayn Rand. The novel follows the life of a young man named Equality, living in a brainwashed communist dystopia. Equality feels different from his peers, and breaks strict rules to learn and follow his curiosity of the natural world. He falls in love, and escapes with his life from the wealthy scholars and government officials who rejected his ¨discovery¨ of the light bulb. He lives out the remainder of his life in a cabin the in the mountains with his lover. The novel inspires me particularly because it explores the theme of discovery, and the pursuit of knowledge. Every person should have the right and ability to pursue discovery, whether in the physical world or in themselves, to become better and more knowledgeable members of society. The freedom of curiosity could be taken away at any given moment, and I´ve taken it upon myself to discover more in my life. In my studies, my goals for my future, my art and creativity, and my spiritual wellness I have prioritized staying curious. Anthem is a remainder of what life would look like without the liberty to choose knowledge and how censorship can damage and hinder peoples creativity and potential. And that type of society is somewhere I would not want to live. Without exploration, where would we be?

Having the ability to expand your mindset to benefit yourself is one of the healthiest practices a person could do for themselves. Why should a person stop growing? Why should a person stop pursing knowledge, pursing adventure, and pursuing a good and memorable life? During my sophomore year, I had become stagnant. I had trouble keeping my goals in sight, and became overwhelmed, stressed, and allowed myself to be influenced by people with bad intentions. My growth was stunted; I had stopped pursing things that expanded my perspectives on life. But I started to meditate, and I began to pursue Taoism. I allowed myself to reconnect with reality. I let go of greed, of worry, of materialistic virtues. I wanted to live life simply, patiently, and compassionately, with a rekindled connection with nature and all living things around me. Maintaining a growth mindset is not an easy task, however. One must be open to criticism, to judgement, and to the things that push a person outside of their comfort zone. I learned that to keep myself in a position where I could grow into a successful, mature, and happy person I had to remain honest, kind, and true to myself. In honesty, I lost many friends, who had become accustomed to fake friends and sugar coated lies. But the friends who stuck by my side I was able to finally open up and expose my true identity; my love for reading and poetry, my ability to make the most delicious desserts, and my passion for pursuing Taoism and striving for a balanced life. I learned that keeping a growth mindset could make my life so much happier, and I believe every one in the world should have the same opportunity.

My motivation sprouts from my passion. I have lived my life passionately, filling every task I complete with intensity until it overflows in a cascade of devotion. In softball, I thrive under the pressure of throwing the perfect strike, and the agitation of batting aids me in perfecting my timing and hitting the winning run. My ambition in school is fulfilled through AP classes, artistic electives, and participating in my schools spirit club. I´m passionate about my friends, and going on adventures and making memories. I´m motivated by my goals to be a financially independent women, and attending the college of my dreams. I´m devoted to my culture, and preserving the traditions of my German roots. I´m in pursuit of knowledge, and also look for new books, essays, and articles to annotate and learn from. My motivation comes from my desires to live my life with passion, and the desire to become a wizened gray lady who recalls stories of the adventures, experiences and travels of my youth.

Most people I ask will tell me their favorite book is the Harry Potter series, or the Percy Jackson series. I have nothing against a good fantasy novel, but dystopian and psychological fiction provide captivating and a refreshing perspective on literature. I thoroughly enjoy George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, but Anthem by Ayn Rand continuously exceeds my expectations, no matter how many times I read it. I eagerly followed Equality as he discovered his ego, his passions, and his love. He pursued knowledge through incompetence, and discovery through concealment, and I felt I had connected with him. I had always loved to read as a kid, to the point where my parents would ground me from reading to make sure I saw the sun once in a while. I had a thirst to know, a desire to cram my brain with every possible fact, myth, and story I could find. My intelligence made me sharp, and I lost many friends because they were intimidated by me. I felt like something was wrong with me, that I was born into a society that didn´t fit my needs. But in unearthing Anthem in my freshmen English class, I believed I had found a treasure that provided a sense of belonging for my existence. Equality´s wish to become a scholar led me to pursue my own knowledge again, and his revelation of his ego led me to analyze my own psyche as well. Ayn Rand created a masterpiece that explored themes of philosophical views, identity and societal class, and freedom and confinement, which ironically guided me to recover my own identity, my own morals, and my own theory of freedom.