Taylor Ibarrondo Memorial Scholarship

Growing up, I always wanted to fit in and be accepted by others. In my mind, conforming to societal expectations and norms would bring me happiness and validation. As I got older, I realized that seeking outside acceptance would ultimately leave me feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from my true self. It was only when I embraced my unique point of view and individuality that I found true happiness. Our values and beliefs are shaped by our personal experiences, To uncover our core principles. My core values are authenticity and compassion, as they have shaped my life choices and the interactions I have with others. During my high school career, I had a life-changing experience. During the end of my Junior year and the beginning of my senior year, I found myself surrounded by a diverse group of individuals who celebrated their unique qualities and perspectives. As a result of their courage and authenticity, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery, seeking to understand my own life's purpose. The first value that emerged was authenticity. I realized the importance of being true to myself and living in alignment with my beliefs and principles. I embraced the idea that my worth was not determined by others' opinions, but by my ability to stay true to who I was. This newfound self allowed me to express my thoughts and feelings honestly, without the fear of judgment. I began to prioritize self-care, by taking away the cell phone and the media to focus on my personal growth. And pursuing my passions, of giving back to my community and working at a food drive in Atlanta Ga, which brought me a deep sense of fulfillment. Compassion also emerged as a core value during this self-reflection period. I recognized the impact of empathy and kindness on fostering meaningful connections and creating a positive ripple effect in the world. I began to actively listen to others, seeking to understand their experiences and perspectives. By extending compassion and support to those around me, I witnessed the transformative power of empathy. I realized the importance of being a source of positivity in others' lives. Applying these core values in my daily life has had a profound impact on my relationships, academic pursuits, and overall well-being. In my relationships, authenticity has fostered deeper connections, as I show up as my genuine self and encourage others to do the same for themselves. Compassion has enabled me to support and uplift those around me, creating a nurturing and inclusive environment. Continuous growth has driven me to seek knowledge, explore new opportunities, and embrace change. Through a personal journey of self-reflection and exploration, I have discovered and embraced my core values of authenticity and compassion. These values have become the guiding principles by which I live my life, shaping my choices, actions, and interactions with others. By staying true to myself and extending compassion to those around me. I have found purpose and fulfillment. I encourage others to embark on their journey of self-discovery, for within that exploration lies the potential to uncover their core values and live a more authentic and meaningful life.

Core values are the guiding principles that shape our beliefs, attitudes, and actions. For me, trust, honesty, commitment, and humanitarianism are the core values that guide my personal and professional life. In this essay, I will explain why these values are important to me and how I apply them to my civic engagement work, academic studies, and relationships. Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, whether it is a personal or professional one. Without trust, there can be no meaningful communication, cooperation, or collaboration. Trust requires honesty, transparency, and accountability, and it is earned over time through consistent actions and words. I believe that trust is essential for building strong communities, promoting social justice, and fostering mutual respect and understanding. In my civic engagement work, I apply the value of trust by being reliable, transparent, and accountable. I strive to keep my commitments and follow through on my promises, and I am open and honest about my intentions, goals, and limitations. By building trust with my colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, I can work more effectively towards our common goals and make a positive impact on our community. Honesty is another core value that I hold dear. Honesty is about being truthful, sincere, and authentic, even when it is difficult or unpopular. Honesty requires courage, integrity, and empathy, and it is the cornerstone of personal and professional ethics. I believe that honesty is essential for building meaningful relationships, fostering mutual trust and respect, and promoting social justice and human rights. In my academic studies, I apply the value of honesty by conducting thorough research, citing my sources accurately, and presenting my ideas and arguments clearly and objectively. I also apply the value of honesty in my relationships by being truthful and authentic, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient. By being honest with myself and others, I can build trust, credibility, and integrity, and promote ethical behavior and values. Commitment is the third core value that I cherish. Commitment is about being dedicated, determined, and perseverant in the pursuit of one's goals and aspirations. Commitment requires focus, resilience, and discipline, and it is the driving force behind personal and professional growth and development. I believe that commitment is essential for achieving meaningful success, making a positive impact on society, and fulfilling one's potential. In my civic engagement work, I apply the value of commitment by being dedicated and perseverant in my efforts to promote social justice, human rights, and environmental sustainability. I am willing to put in the time, effort, and resources needed to achieve our goals, and I am not deterred by setbacks, challenges, or obstacles. By being committed to our shared vision and mission, I can inspire others to join our cause and make a lasting difference in our community. Finally, humanitarianism is the fourth core value that defines my identity and purpose. Humanitarianism requires compassion, respect, and dignity, and it is the driving force behind social justice and human rights activism. I believe that humanitarianism is essential for creating a more just, equitable, and compassionate world, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential. In my relationships, I apply the value of humanitarianism by showing compassion, empathy, and respect to others, especially those who are struggling or marginalized. I listen to their stories, learn from their experiences, and support them in their journey toward healing and empowerment. In my academic studies, I apply the value of humanitarianism by learning about the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to inequality and injustice, and by exploring ways to address these issues through policy, and advocacy.

I want to change the world. It can sound naive, considering I am just one eighteen-year-old girl, but I believe that with enough passion and drive, I can be the change that I wish to see in my community. Inspiration, for me, is the idea of living in a more inclusive world. I am motivated by the idea of what the world could become. For almost a year, I've been dedicating myself to breaking stigmas about teen mental health. It is a passion of mine. The teen suicide rate is too high. One loss to suicide is too much. This is why I believe in the power of using my voice. My core values consist of two ideas: empathy and passion. Empathy and passion bleed into all the work that I do. In June of 2020, I began a teen mental health blog. On my blog, Blossoming Youth, I write weekly articles about teen mental health issues that deserve more attention. I also interview teens from across the world who want to share their stories about their experience with mental health. My goal is to remind gen-z that they are never alone in the struggles that they face, whether mental or not. I believe that when we give a platform to everyday people who struggle, we break the stigmas surrounding mental health and teach that it is normal (and okay) to struggle. This is extremely important to me because of a lesson that I learned. I lost a friend to suicide in 2020, and it was a turning point for me. Her loss made me realize that empathy, passion, and compassion can save lives if we only dare to be the change that we wish to see in the world. As I continue to grow and develop through adulthood, I don't plan to stop my journey towards change. I believe that we can make our society more inclusive towards those who struggle with mental health. My blog is only the beginning. I want to continue my studies until I can earn my certification in Music Therapy and bring the practice to my community. There is limited access to Music Therapy in urban communities such as mine where the majority of the population are people of color. This is how I want to help my community. I'd like to make Music Therapy affordable and accessible. I am only one person, but I can spark the flame of change within my community and make mental health a bigger priority to others. I believe in being the change that I wish to see in the world, and I do not intend to stop. Empathy and passion allow me to spread compassion in hopes that we can someday see a better world.

Whenever I try to pinpoint why I do what I do the way I do it, it always comes down to one phrase: It is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all. This is why I always want to do everything at once: every club, every activity, every class. I have a few things that stop me from doing so: 1. Time is limited and the only thing you truly have in this world 2. Kindness is free 3. It is better to leave something improved when you finish encountering it 4. No matter what you do, you cannot do everything (this one is from personal experience) These all influence how I interact with people and the world. Why I choose to believe I'm lucky and focus on the good things that happen rather than the bad. Why I choose to do the few activities I can. And why I choose to put 110% into everything I do. I chose to participate in my school's Relay for Life organization not only because I thought it would be fun, or it would make my teacher happy, but because it is the right thing to do to put more out into the world than you are taking from it. I chose to start a Red Cross Club, not only because I wanted to get some volunteer hours, but because I wanted to share my passion for the cause with others. I chose to become a DECA officer not only because it would look good on my resume, but because I always wanted to help those in the club that were struggling with funds, transport, and the content. I chose to join my high school's STEM program, not only because it would give me more advantages over others, but because one day I know I can and have use(d) the skills I learned in the program to help others. And I choose to double major in Business Administration and Environmental Science because I want to make the world a better place in the only currency people understand to be valuable now: money. Because if you are sustainable and profitable to a cause at the same time, as long as people buy, they are supporting that cause. I can't say I have many deep relationships, but I always try to be polite and treat others as I would want to be treated in every situation. So, I have many friends and I hope to have more. I could continue to talk about why these values influence the many things I do, but that list would be much longer then this essay would allow. So let me say that when I chose to do TSA, Environmental Club, Rho Kappa, Young Authors' Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and the many other clubs I did, on top of my sales lead job in the mall. It stems from my passion and zealous for life, as well as my hope for the future.

Undeniably, The core values: self-respect, honestly, integrity, and flexibility helped me rebuild how I saw myself. Growing up as the oldest daughter in a first generation family came with its challenges. For me, everything was a first. From my experiences down to things as simple as what clothes I wore, everything was a new experience. These experiences had in turn affected my core values. This was not an occurrence only for me, but for my family as well. I had no one older than me with the experience that I to turn too (aside from my parents) and look up too. A thing that naturally comes with first time experiences were mistakes. This is important to me because, growing up, I've dealt with battles time and time again with my self-imagine and self-esteem. These same core values helped me rebuild how I saw myself. For instance, looking back at it, the amount of time I've spent subconsciously comparing myself to others, nitpicking at every little flaw I had, shunning the person I saw in the mirror, and failing to realize that I did not need fixing was such a prevalent part of my life. The negative thoughts and views I had about myself made its way into my everyday life, so not only did I perceive myself to not be worth it, that's how I carried myself too and thinking back at the disregard I had for my own life will always be a painful memory. It was a negative mindset that took over my life. Even till now, there are moments where I needed to remind myself that I am indeed worth it. I matter just as much as anyone else, and that I love myself. Not only that, but also accepting myself. additionally, I used to think that once I loved myself, that everything would be good. My self-esteem would rise significantly, and there would be nothing else to worry about, but I was wrong. You could find yourself beautiful and still hate and be disappointed in yourself, and that was exactly what I faced. I realized that I was just loving and accepting one part of myself, when it could be every part of me. Accepting every part of me, my flaws and my strengths, was something I needed to work on. Learning not to be so hard on myself and that I was indeed human, that I wouldn't be perfect. Furthermore, Despite the hardships I may have faced along the way, really incorporating these values into my life has really helped me. Have self-respect and not letting anyone or myself treat me terribly. Being honest with myself and others, as well as being flexible. If something doesn't work out, I make accommodations and move on. that was my Journey in self-love and this was thanks to constantly reminding myself that I am worth it, and sticking to my core values. And In fact, that journey never ended, having to stay at home had resulted in my surrounding myself with supporting friends online who helped me change my views and mindset. Even till today I am still undergoing my personal growth and progressing through my goal of reaching 100% self-love and the change in mindset had been one of the most refreshing changes I brought to myself that I would never regret.