Leadership positions provide upper hand leverage to many students and young adults who wish to impact the amelioration of social conduct. Throughout my high school years, it was evident that I wanted to manage and coordinate with brilliant young minds who wish to see change concerning the reconstruction of overlooked norms by advocating effective solutions for neglected and unvoiced communities in our city. The New Urban Arts Youth Leadership Program opened a door of opportunities to work me up to this personal goal; real change. This program not only welcomes driven young teens in regards to accepting participants, but it also enables the independent person you truly are by sparking the inner brilliance of one's individuality, thus creating real leaders. NUA facilitates collaborating risk-taking and self-directed learning. I can vouch to say each member of NUA is passionate about self-advocating while doing their part through proactively taking action, all from turning single ideas into a reality. Working part-time as a minimal accountant while contributing clientele service at the Market Basket corporation has unleashed the embedded management skills that I proudly provide the company. Working this job has exposed me to real-life scenarios that have trained my brain to develop critical thinking skills and on-demand decision making. Partial work history includes building quick response and dynamic service skills to build relationships with patrons to improve customer retention rates. This position demonstrates working coherently within tight deadlines and a fast-paced atmosphere. It has also taught me to maintain records by implementing effective filing systems that boost efficiency and organization. Solely I have adapted to an occupied lifestyle all while staying on top of my classes and prioritizing every other involvement that I willingly partake in, but I knew as an active teenager there were more to offer than strictly academics; opportunities to earn experience and benefit personally were awaiting me. Therefore, I feel confident in joining programs that benefit the greater good. Becoming a part of a community provides a sense of self-reassurance and allows me to push myself to far limits in understanding it is possible to take part in organizations while performing conscientiously in further life responsibilities. I wish to take this rigorously built foundation and further structure it in the beginnings of my adulthood. I am willing to put my best foot forward to defy the present world's challenges while collaboratively sharing knowledge and expertise with others to reach a common goal; real change.

The sentence would be 'Now, I ask the world of nothing. I have become unfixed energy in eternal progression.' Acceptance is the weapon chosen in battle to fight the war in my mind and all its false illusions. With all odds against me, I have completely mastered the art of self-control. This fight with mental health has been a struggle but a well understood one. I have learned so much about myself while diving deep into the works of this world. I have turned my tragedy into an opportunity to evolve my unadorned self to my most complex form. Just a young girl when the earth began fading. Now, I am fully conscious of my advanced apprehension of reality. In my purest, most vulnerable state, this is me speaking on a matter I would have never believed interpretable. This is it; the metamorphosis of the insane to the greatest. You must move forward. Everything moves forward in life; that is the universal law. I no longer question, dwell, nor regret. This is it; this is all; this is the end of my suffering and the beginning of my eternal peace.

I am a firm believer in challenging oneself in any circumstance; it is vital to feel as if one has a purpose of serving in their given environment. Maximizing self-potential is a personal belief that I carry with integrity. All my life attending the Islamic School of Rhode Island, I was trained to utilize my brain in complex academic procedures; this built a firm foundation in my critical thinking skills and problem-solving strategies. Throughout my academic period attending my first year of high school at Village Green Virtual, I felt that this program did not meet the expectations that I hold myself accountable for. Being a tenacious person, I knew this would not be a setback in my academic journey. I was aware if I wanted to change, I had to put in the effort to make a difference. I began researching schools in Providence. One that particularly stuck out to me was Classical High School. What resonated with me most was the mission statement; their purpose is “To promote and enhance the learning process of each student.” This quite accurately represented my scholastic groundwork that was so laboriously constructed. An application and a few teacher recommendations later, I was accepted, and I must say that I am genuinely pleased with the results from my experience here at Classical. Doors of opportunities have been opened for me to excel mentally and physically. This transition ultimately worked out for the benefit of the greater good, and for that, I am grateful.

Leadership positions provide upper hand leverage to many students and young adults who wish to impact the amelioration of social conduct. Throughout my high school years, it was evident that I wanted to manage and coordinate with brilliant young minds who wish to see change concerning the reconstruction of overlooked norms by advocating effective solutions for neglected and unvoiced communities in our city. The New Urban Arts Youth Leadership Program opened a door of opportunities to work me up to this personal goal; real change. This program not only welcomes driven young teens in regards to accepting participants, but it also enables the independent person you truly are by sparking the inner brilliance of one's individuality, thus creating real leaders. NUA facilitates collaborating risk-taking and self-directed learning. I can vouch to say each member of NUA is passionate about self-advocating while doing their part through proactively taking action, all from turning single ideas into a reality. Solely I have adapted to an occupied lifestyle all while staying on top of my classes and prioritizing every other involvement that I willingly partake in, but I knew as an active teenager there were more to offer than strictly academics; opportunities to earn experience and benefit personally were awaiting me. Therefore, I feel confident in joining programs that benefit the greater good. Becoming a part of a community provides a sense of self-reassurance and allows me to push myself to far limits in understanding it is possible to take part in organizations while performing conscientiously in further life responsibilities.

"Oppressed," a word I recognize all too well in the headlines growing up, somehow this diminishing and distinct choice of collective letters persistently followed with who I am, a Muslim woman. It has been a reoccurring theme in my adolescent years that the public portrays Muslim women as oppressed, yet somehow I never understood why. Throughout my life, I have had a support system behind every goal and aspiration of mine. Being the first woman on my team, my mother has taught me that no matter the circumstance, I should aim for the highest level of performance in any and everything I do; she said it serves life's purpose. I always knew I was never like the kids growing up; it was almost like they had it easier, which only made me realize I needed to work harder to get where I needed to be. I am unapologetically the only Muslim woman on the school track team, in my work department, and the youngest Muslim woman to graduate from my senior class. Being different is an inescapable title that follows me through life, but I hold myself to prove that "oppressed" most certainly is not. I subject myself accountable to debunk the false narrative that has taunted me for far too long. That is the motive I highly value; ambition to make a change. I take action every time I see an open opportunity to excel in my work ethic, academic performance, and overall life by trying with all my might to achieve success, even if that means I have to try and try again. Leadership positions provide upper hand leverage to many students and young adults who wish to ameliorate social conduct. Throughout my high school years, it was evident that I wanted to manage and coordinate with brilliant young minds who wish to see change concerning the reconstruction of overlooked norms by advocating effective solutions for neglected and unvoiced communities in our city. The New Urban Arts Youth Leadership Program opened a door of opportunities to work me up to this personal goal; real change. This program not only welcomes driven young teens in regards to accepting participants, but it also enables the independent person you truly are by sparking the inner brilliance of one's individuality, thus creating real leaders. NUA facilitates collaborating risk-taking and self-directed learning. I can vouch to say each member of NUA is passionate about self-advocating while doing their part through proactively taking action, all from turning single ideas into a reality. The New Urban Arts Program teaches women to self-advocate and develops leadership skills; this effective discipline transparently resonates with my most reverent life motives. The opportunity to build confidence, develop strategies for self-advocacy, and maximize utmost potential in the real world appeals much more to me than a program; it is an empowering movement I proudly partake in. Knowing it is possible to adhere to my identity while being a leader to voice each Muslim woman who has ever stood silent due to the misleading stigma the world is far too comfortable with is I, Soondus Ali's fuel of motivation to keep tunnel-visioned on continuing to execute such a goal.