Ask anyone who knows me; I am an avid reader and have been for all of my life. From starting off by reading some of my favorite children's books including "Pinkalicious" and "Fancy Nancy", to now finding my all-time favorite books like "Clouds" and "The Fault in Our Stars", reading has had a significant impact on my life. When I was younger, I read anything and everything that I could get my hands on, but as I have grown, my life experiences have greatly impacted not only what I read but also my passions in life. From becoming a childhood cancer survivor and experiencing mental health struggles to growing very close with my family, my life experiences have impacted every part of my life, even my reading habits. At twelve years old, I received the earth-shattering news that I had Papillary Thyroid Cancer, and from that moment on, my whole world changed. Cancer is never easy, but it is especially difficult when you are experiencing it as a child. I was forced to mature at a much faster rate than my peers, and I turned to my family during this time because I felt that they were the only people who truly understood all that I was going through. After learning this history about me, it makes sense that the memoir "Clouds" by Laura Sobiech was one of the books that I turned to and still love. "Clouds" tells the story of Zach Sobiech who was also a childhood cancer fighter, but unfortunately, he did not make it as I did. Laura Sobiech - Zach's mother - tells the story of his fight, their family, and Zach's music. I think that the reason I love this book so much and continue to read it over and over again is because of how much I feel I can learn from it to help me through my own never-ending cancer journey. Laura talks all about Zach's time in the hospital and sick at home, and she gives tips and tricks that worked well for him while managing symptoms and his own well-being. She also speaks about how their family worked together, not against each other, to get through this very trying time. This type of relationship is very near and dear to my heart because I have this relationship at home with my mom, brother, and sister. Another book that I read as I was dealing with cancer was John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars". This book is about Hazel, a thyroid cancer patient fighting terminal cancer just when she meets fellow cancer patient Augustus whom she falls in love with. Despite this book's tragic ending, I love reading this book over and over again. It helps me remember that I am not alone; there are other teenagers all over the world who are also fighting cancer or who are cancer survivors. In connection with this, I felt a need to give back to all of the children and teens fighting cancer and diseases in the U.S. Because of this, I started my own nonprofit Abby's Blankets of Strength, where I handmake fleece tie blankets for sick kids and teens in children's hospitals or at home. This nonprofit has grown so much larger than I thought it would be, and I am so proud of it. I look forward to continuing it in the future as I go through college.

Ask anyone who knows me; I am an avid reader and have been for all of my life. From starting off by reading some of my favorite children's books including "Pinkalicious" and "Fancy Nancy", to now finding my all-time favorite books like "Clouds" and "The Fault in Our Stars", reading has had a significant impact on my life. When I was younger, I read anything and everything that I could get my hands on, but as I have grown, my life experiences have greatly impacted not only what I read but also my passions in life. From becoming a childhood cancer survivor and experiencing mental health struggles to growing very close with my family, my life experiences have impacted every part of my life, even my reading habits. At twelve years old, I received the earth-shattering news that I had Papillary Thyroid Cancer, and from that moment on, my whole world changed. Cancer is never easy, but it is especially difficult when you are experiencing it as a child. I was forced to mature at a much faster rate than my peers, and I turned to my family during this time because I felt that they were the only people who truly understood all that I was going through. After learning this history about me, it makes sense that the memoir "Clouds" by Laura Sobiech was one of the books that I turned to and still love. "Clouds" tells the story of Zach Sobiech who was also a childhood cancer fighter, but unfortunately, he did not make it as I did. Laura Sobiech - Zach's mother - tells the story of his fight, their family, and Zach's music. I think that the reason I love this book so much and continue to read it over and over again is because of how much I feel I can learn from it to help me through my own never-ending cancer journey. Laura talks all about Zach's time in the hospital and sick at home, and she gives tips and tricks that worked well for him while managing symptoms and his own well-being. She also speaks about how their family worked together, not against each other, to get through this very trying time. This type of relationship is very near and dear to my heart because I have this relationship at home with my mom, brother, and sister. Another book that I read as I was dealing with cancer was John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars". This book is about Hazel, a thyroid cancer patient fighting terminal cancer just when she meets fellow cancer patient Augustus whom she falls in love with. Despite this book's tragic ending, I love reading this book over and over again. It helps me remember that I am not alone; there are other teenagers all over the world who are also fighting cancer or who are cancer survivors. In connection with this, I felt a need to give back to all of the children and teens fighting cancer and diseases in the U.S. Because of this, I started my own nonprofit Abby's Blankets of Strength, where I handmake fleece tie blankets for sick kids and teens in children's hospitals or at home. This nonprofit has grown so much larger than I thought it would be, and I am so proud of it. I look forward to continuing it in the future as I go through college.

It is 2014, and I jump into my mom's car before school. As soon as the car starts, I can tell what is playing on the radio; it is one of Taylor Swift's iconic tracks from her hit pop album "1989". Was it the quick-to-be-classic "Shake It Off"? Or was it another upbeat power single "Bad Blood"? We know that no matter what song came on, it was never going out of style. There are so many terrific and beautifully well-written songs that choosing my absolute favorite and explaining why is quite the task. Taylor wrote every song with her own story in mind, and every listener also developed their own story and connection after the album is released. I thought long and hard about what song I should write when suddenly on June 2, 2023, I was out of the woods. I had always been a fan of Taylor Swift because she is a musical icon, but I had never declared myself a Swiftie until this summer. My family had the privilege of receiving no bad blood from Ticketmaster, and we got tickets and went to the Eras Tour in Chicago on June 2! My sister, who has been a Swiftie her entire life, began educating me on everything Taylor that I would need to know for the tour, one of those things being the setlist. "1989" was one of the eras I was most excited about, although I could not contain my excitement for any of them! On the big day, I felt like I was ready for it. I knew all the words to all the songs, so I was ready to scream them all at the top of my lungs with 64,999 other fans. I had the perfect outfit, decked out head to toe in glitter and Taylor references. I had planned ahead and decided exactly which merchandise I was going to go for when I got to the stadium and had been saving up for it for months. I was ready. I sang my heart out through all of the eras right up until one of the most anticipated moments of the night: surprise song time. The whole stadium of 65,000 people went silent as the lights went down, and Taylor emerged with a new outfit on, and a spotlight was shining just for her. The fans erupted once again as Taylor picked up her guitar and began to talk about her acoustic set. There was no way to shake off the next words that she said. It was never in my wildest dreams that she would perform a song from "1989" as her guitar surprise song for our concert, but I wish you would have known how amazing it felt to scream "I Wish You Would" live with Taylor Swift! Getting to share that moment with my sister, who had introduced me to this song a few months earlier, was a moment I will never forget, therefore, "I Wish You Would" by Taylor Swift is my favorite song from "1989". The Eras Tour experience is one that I will never forget, and getting to have this masterpiece of a song as our first surprise song made it even better. I hope that "I Wish You Would" knows that I'll never forget them as long as I live thanks to that one very special acoustic performance on June 2, 2023.

As I sit, munching on my latest snack from my Disney Parks Snack Subscription Box and writing this essay, I think, what is my favorite part of Disney? I have been watching Disney movies and TV shows ever since I can remember from the beautifully animated "Cinderella" to my favorite Playhouse Disney show to watch every single morning at my grandma's house - "Imagination Movers" - and to the musical masterpiece that is Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana". Or is my favorite part the parks because, after all, I have visited Disney World four times so far, and I plan to visit the other parks and Disney World many more times in the future. Or maybe the magnificent food that Disney has made like Dole Whip and the countless foods that taste many times better just because they are Mickey shaped. After thinking hard and long about what that one favorite thing about Disney is for me, I can say that my favorite thing about Disney is anything and everything about it. I love the Disney movies and TV shows that make it possible for my family, friends, and me to experience the magic of Disney no matter where we are. I love the parks where I can make so many unforgettable memories with my family trip after trip because each trip is never the same. I love the delectable snacks that I get to share and enjoy with my family and friends not only in the parks but also in my monthly snack subscription box. In all, I love everything about Disney and all of the amazing memories I have made from it. To me, Disney is more than just a company that makes phenomenal movies and TV shows as well as exhilarating rides and attractions in their parks. To me, Disney is an escape from reality. From the second the opening sequence of a Disney movie starts to the moment you step through the gates of a Disney park, reality drifts away and a whole new world opens up. In this world, you can be anything you want to be, do anything you want to do, and live truly in Hakuna Matata. All worries about sickness, work, school, disease, grief, and more dissolve away for that period of time and only happy thoughts exist. It is this escape from reality that makes Disney so perfect for making the best memories. It is this that makes me love every single thing about it.

If every person in the world had to read one book, that book would be "Clouds: A Memoir" by Laura Sobiech. This book details the life of Zach Sobiech, a teenage cancer fighter, from the time of his Osteosarcoma diagnosis to his death from the perspective of his mom, Laura. Laura also discusses the music that Zach made once he learned that his cancer was terminal which served as goodbyes to his loved ones and left a lasting legacy in this world. Lessons that Zach, his family, and his friends learned during this time are also shared to teach readers. "Clouds" is so much more than just a book; it's a true story, a teacher, a different perspective on life, and a mom telling the tragic story of her son that had to go much too soon. This book truly has something to offer for everyone, which makes it a must-read for all. It pertains to teenagers because they can see themselves in Zach. It pertains to parents because they feel the pain that Laura feels. It pertains to cancer patients because they relate to the struggles that Zach experiences. It pertains to those who are religious as Laura wrote a chapter about religion during Zach's cancer journey. It relates to so many different groups of people that anyone who reads it will appreciate it in some way. In all, "Clouds" is such an influential book that will impact all readers' lives. Between the heart-wrenching and empowering story that keeps readers engaged and on the edge of their seats to its ability to connect with people of so many backgrounds, it is a must-read for everyone. Above all, "Clouds" helps raise funds for the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund which supports research and awareness for Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that is seen in many children. Awareness is one of the biggest purposes of this book, so no matter what, people need to read this not only for themselves but for the kids fighting childhood cancer all across the world.

I love math because it teaches you how to problem solve in the real world, which is a very valuable life skill to have. Throughout my whole life, I have excelled in my math classes, and I began taking high-school-level math in eighth grade. As time went on and the content of my math classes got progressively more difficult, I began questioning the practical usage of some of the skills we were learning, particularly in my pre-calculus class this year. When was I going to have to use the Laws of Sines and Cosines in my future as a business owner? How were the Twelve Basic Functions and their graphs going to be a part of my everyday life? For being a student that has enjoyed my math classes for a long time due to the concrete answers the problems had, these questions puzzled me. One day in class, one of my fellow pre-calculus students asked our teacher, "When are we going to use this in real life?" This was the moment when our teacher explain that we may not need to use these concepts again in life, depending on our career paths, but math teaches you more than concepts, theorems, and equations. Math gives you the ability to solve problems even when they feel impossible to solve. It gives you a sense of critical thinking that can be used to solve problems in many different walks of life. It allows you to explore different ways of solving problems and to recognize that there is frequently more than one correct way to solve them. Math is more than just another subject in school; it teaches you life skills that you will use to solve problems throughout your entire life.

In the future, I plan on being the owner of my family business Merry for a Cause. Our business's main goal is to spread awareness for all causes and celebrate life's greatest moments. To me, this is not just a way for my family and me to make a living; it's a way to make a difference with what the world has handed to us. When I was twelve years old, I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. I went through a four-hour intensive surgery as my treatment and was left with many chronic health conditions, including a rare disease called Hypoparathyroidism. I take twenty pills a day just to survive. It was around Christmas time of my diagnosis year when Merry for a Cause came to be locally and on Etsy. I wanted a thyroid cancer Christmas ornament, but I could not find one anywhere. My mom and I decided to make one ourselves, but then I realized, if I could not find an ornament for my cause, how many other people could not as well? From that thought, Merry for a Cause blossomed with the goal to make sure everyone knows that no matter what they are going through, no one fights alone. After finishing high school and continuing my education in business, I will continue to make a difference in the world through our Merry for a Cause products. For example, I plan on donating to a specific cause each month correlating to whatever awareness month it is. Currently, we donate to Children's Miracle Network with each childhood cancer product sale, but I am greatly looking forward to expanding this effort in the future. Another way that I will positively impact the world through my future endeavors is by creating an inclusive environment in our future in-person location. Our store will support and show love to all people regardless of any health conditions they have, their gender, their sexual orientation, their race, or anything else. I want my community to be a more accepting place, and I am so excited that my business can accomplish this. When one community is more accepting, other communities will follow suit, and eventually, the whole world will be more accepting. In all, I greatly look forward to using my future in the business community to help better the world around me in a variety of ways. I am grateful to be able to spread our mission of making sure no one fights alone. Also, I look forward to raising money for causes near and dear to my heart. Lastly, I look forward to using my business to make the world a more accepting place.

When I was twelve years old, living the average life of a middle schooler, I received earth-shattering news that changed my life forever. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, which was a total shock to me because, before this, I had been a pretty healthy kid. After going through four major surgeries, one infusion, and countless appointments and lab draws, I was deemed cancer free, but my journey was far from over. I quickly realized that this medical nightmare would never really be over. I continue to take twenty pills a day just to stay alive and manage all of my cancer side effects. Since this diagnosis, I have been patiently waiting for my "new normal" to appear and for everything to return to the way it was before cancer wreaked havoc on my teenage years, but if cancer has taught me anything it's that normal is not a thing, and in order to live life to the fullest, you need to embrace the craziness that is given to you. I would not have gotten through cancer or found this mindset that I have today if it was not for the support of my family, especially my mom. My mom was there for me every step of the way, holding my hand and giving me the words of encouragement that I needed to survive each and every day. While many teenagers can not imagine the humiliation that comes with spending so much time with their mom, cancer brought me closer to my mom, and spending a day with her is a perfect day in my mind. In addition to my own cancer, three years after I was diagnosed, my grandpa - who I was so close with - was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. My family, including my mom, my brother, my sister, and I, were his primary caretakers, learning everything there was to know about his diagnosis, managing his side effects, and helping him process horrific news that we could not even process ourselves. Sadly, he passed away around eight months ago, and our lives have not been the same since then, but together, we have supported each other to get through these difficult days without him. While cancer may tear some families apart, it brought ours closer together. Cancer changed what I wanted to do in my future as well. About six months after I was diagnosed, my family and I came up with the idea to start a business focused on spreading awareness for all causes. This idea spawned after I was searching for an ornament that represented thyroid cancer, and I could not find one. I wondered, how many other people go looking for an awareness product for their cause and can not find one? How alone in life does that make them feel? We took this idea and made a full-blown LLC called Merry for a Cause, where our mission is to raise awareness for all causes while celebrating life's greatest moments. Now, as a high school junior, I can not wait to attend business school and work with this business, growing it into something even more amazing than it is right now. In all, cancer affected my life in so many ways - both good and bad - and I would not be near the same person today if I had not been diagnosed.

My future self will be a powerhouse female entrepreneur, running my dream business with my family and pursuing my goal of making sure no one facing adversity in life feels alone.