To me, high moral character is an unwavering commitment to integrity through service and the courage to advocate for those whose voices are often silenced, which I believe to be an act of selflessness. I believe it is a practice of active listening and ethical responsibility. My character is rooted in the belief that true leadership requires personal accountability to the community. I represent these values through my work with the Massachusetts Association of Student Representation and the District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Board. In these roles, I transitioned from a student observer to a proactive advocate, translating the needs of marginalized constituents into actionable policy. My moral character was strengthened as I navigated the complexities of legislative change, ensuring that equity remained the central focus rather than a standalone goal. By choosing to confront structural inequities and investigate the ethics of societal desensitization in my research, I demonstrate a commitment to justice that extends beyond the classroom. In my future endeavors in public health, this foundation of character will be my compass. Success to me is not professional achievement but the ability to create more equitable health systems for women and children in developing regions. By maintaining a focus on policy-driven ethics and community-informed advocacy, I will ensure that my career serves as an opportunity for systemic change that can be sustainable. My character ensures that as I grow in influence, my dedication to the dignity and well-being of others remains my primary motivation. What I hope to gain from college are tools necessary to continue to drive my passion for advocacy through informed leadership. While I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, I’m conscious of how much I still have to learn. With a deeper understanding of public health on both a global and community scale, I aim to influence public health on a deeper, systematic level. I'm really interested in system-level change and directly improving communities. As a solution-oriented person, I want tangible concepts I can apply to systematic change for the greater good. It's vital to me that I learn the skills and tools necessary to travel to third-world countries and aid them. Access to healthcare is a prevalent topic right now, and I've grown passionate about it, having been raised around healthcare workers. While I've learned a lot from people in my own life, I know I'll greatly benefit from the classroom learning this major will provide me.

My academic journey can be defined by a focus on policy, ethics, and public health. My goal is to make a meaningful impact by transitioning from a student advocate to a professional knowledgeable in public health policy, working to address systemic healthcare disparities. Through leadership, research, and civic engagement, I have developed the skills and perspective necessary to pursue this work. My commitment to change began with my position as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Massachusetts Association of Student Representatives (MASR). In this role, I learned about the legislative process at the State House and helped translate constituent needs into actionable policy priorities. As I met with legislators at the Massachusetts State House and worked with students across districts, I started to understand the broader effects of representation. Policy determines whose voices are heard and prioritized. Advocating for the student vote bill required me to translate student concerns into actionable legislative language. Discussing the intricacies of the student vote bill taught me how to articulate the needs of all the different types of constituents I was representing, and most importantly showed me that meaningful change stems from listening to what the community wants. Serving on the District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Board furthered my understanding of social systems and their impact on communities. Listening to diverse perspectives pushed me to confront structural inequities that create unfair outcomes for minority populations. There, I explored how public safety intersects with social justice, particularly for minority voices often left unheard. Listening to community leaders and legal advocates revealed how structural inequities create large disparities within communities. Advocating for voices often silenced, I was exposed to ideas that equity (such as health equity) is not a standalone goal, but a product of informed law and constituents. I began to make the connection that public health is not simply medicine or research, but a framework to address the root causes of inequality. These conversations shaped my understanding that health equity requires informed policy and research to create sustainable change. Currently, in my AP Research course, I am investigating the ethics of spectatorship and the desensitization in true crime media consumption. This project examines how media narratives influence public perception and policy discussions. This project allowed me to develop stronger research skills while also exploring how the media can shape societal responses to injustice. It reaffirmed my knowledge that advocacy is the most effective way to public health change, beginning with research and collaboration. I am specifically interested in global health and hope to contribute to initiatives that improve healthcare in low resource settings and ensure that access to quality care is not determined by geography or socioeconomic status. I am passionate about not only studying systems of health equity, but equally focusing on reforming the systems that reinforce them. What I hope to gain from college are tools necessary to continue to drive my passion for advocacy through informed leadership. While I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, I’m conscious of how much I still have to learn. With a deeper understanding of public health on both a global and community scale, I aim to influence public health on a deeper, systematic level. As a solution oriented person, I want tangible concepts I can apply to systematic change for the greater good. It's vital to me I learn the skills and tools necessary to travel to third-world countries and aid them. Access to healthcare is a prevalent topic right now, and I've grown passionate about it having been raised around healthcare workers. While I've learned a lot from people in my own life, I know I'll greatly benefit from the classroom learning this major will provide me. Ultimately, pursuing a degree in Public Health will allow me to combine my interests in policy, research, and advocacy to help address these issues. By maintaining a focus on policy-driven ethics and community-informed advocacy, I will ensure that my career serves as an opportunity for systemic change that can be sustainable. The Dream Big, Aim Higher Scholarship would help support my continued education and provide the financial support necessary for me to pursue opportunities that will allow me to make a meaningful impact in the field of public health. Winning this scholarship would help to alleviate the financial burden of my undergraduate education and allow me to focus on my studies and advocacy work. More importantly, it would serve as encouragement from my community to return the investment by dedicating my career to improving the lives of others through equitable policy.

I first became a fan of Sabrina Carpenter when I watched her play Maya Hart on Girl Meets World. I was around the same age as her character, and I connected with Maya’s humor, creativity, and the way she learned to believe in herself even when she felt misunderstood. Seeing that character grow helped me feel less alone during middle school, when I was still figuring out who I was and where I fit in. What started as liking a TV character turned into admiring Sabrina Carpenter herself and the person she has become. As I grew older, I continued following Sabrina’s career and saw how she transitioned from acting into music while staying authentic. Her songs feel honest and relatable, especially about confidence, growing up, and learning from mistakes. As a high school student dealing with academic pressure, friendships, and planning for the future, her music has been something I turn to when I need motivation or reassurance. She shows that it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. Another reason I admire Sabrina is the way she uses her platform to support others and be an ally. She speaks up about kindness, inclusivity, and creating spaces where people feel accepted for who they are. Seeing someone I looked up to as a kid continue to grow into a person who supports equality and encourages positivity has influenced how I treat people in my own life. It reminds me that being successful isn’t just about talent — it’s also about empathy and standing up for others. Watching her career has also taught me the importance of growth. She didn’t stay in one role or one version of herself; she kept evolving, trying new things, and improving. That inspires me to step outside my comfort zone, whether it’s participating more in class, trying new activities, or working toward goals that feel challenging. Her journey shows me that change is not something to fear but something that helps you become stronger. Being a fan of Sabrina Carpenter means more to me than just enjoying her music or shows. From Maya Hart in Girl Meets World to the artist and ally she is today, she has influenced how I see confidence, creativity, and kindness. Her career has encouraged me to believe in my own growth and to support others along the way, which is why I am proud to apply for the Superfan Scholarship.

When I became the school committee representative and an active member of the Massachusetts Association of Student Representatives (MASR), I expected to learn more about student government. What I did not expect was discovering how policy drastically shapes people’s everyday lives. Through this opportunity, I found I am really interested in pursuing a career in public health, where advocacy and equity can improve communities as a whole. As Director of Legislative Affairs within MASR, I led policy efforts aimed at expanding voting privileges for student representatives. As I met with legislators at the Massachusetts State House and worked with students across districts, I started to understand the broader effects of representation. Policy determines whose voices are heard and prioritized. Advocating for the student vote bill required me to translate student concerns into actionable legislative language. Discussing the intricacies of the student vote bill taught me how to articulate the needs of all the different types of constituents I was representing, and most importantly showed me that meaningful change stems from listening to what the community wants. My involvement with the Youth Advisory Board through my District Attorney’s office deepened this understanding. There, I explored how public safety intersects with social justice, particularly for minority voices often left unheard. Listening to community leaders and legal advocates revealed how structural inequities create large disparities within communities. I began to make the connection that public health is not simply medicine or research, but a framework to address the root causes of inequality. These advocacy roles have given me a better understanding of how policy affects a community's well-being. These experiences solidified my decision to major in public health and solidified my desire to advocate for women and children, populations who are often marginalized and whose voices frequently go unheard in healthcare policy. I am interested in preventing illness through examining environmental, social and policy-driven aspects. After graduating from college, I plan to work in health policy and advocacy concentrating on expanding access to care in third-world countries. Ultimately, I hope to gain skills necessary to design equitable health systems. I realized that advocacy is the most effective way to public health change, beginning with research and collaboration. I am particularly interested in global health and hope to contribute to initiatives that improve healthcare in low resource settings and ensure that access to quality care is not determined by geography or socioeconomic status. I do not believe that health equity is just a standalone goal, but rather a product of informed citizens. I am passionate about not only studying systems of health equity, but equally focusing on reforming the systems that reinforce them. What I hope to gain from college are tools necessary to continue to drive my passion for advocacy through informed leadership. While I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, I’m conscious of how much I still have to learn. With a deeper understanding of public health on both a global and community scale, I aim to influence public health on a deeper, systematic level.I'm really interested in system-level change and directly improving communities. As a solution oriented person, I want tangible concepts I can apply to systematic change for the greater good. It's vital to me I learn the skills and tools necessary to travel to third-world countries and aid them. Access to healthcare is a prevalent topic right now, and I've grown passionate about it having been raised around healthcare workers. While I've learned a lot from people in my own life, I know I'll greatly benefit from the classroom learning this major will provide me.