My father taught me to bury my feelings and obey his will. However, by educating myself, I gained the courage to defy him. I knew who I was long before I gave voice to my identity. I realized I was a lesbian in 2017, but I would not utter a word of it until 2020. Ever since then, I have worked to solidify my stance as a woman, as a Jew, and as Queer. While my father was alive, he sought to drive me away from my religion and my family as he, having been adopted, remained bitter about his conversion. Bury, obey. In an attempt to pacify him, I, too, attempted to turn against my faith, just as I had with my sexuality. My identity became his to mold; I lost sight of myself. Bury, obey. After years of enduring his psychological abuse and shielding my sister from the man who forced me into hiding, I took action. I researched Pennsylvania state law. I contacted lawyers. I threatened to file for full custody with my mother in court should he not change his behavior. He committed suicide two months later. I buried my father three days after I turned thirteen. I had stopped obeying and had begun to develop my own self-worth. He was unwilling to change; I was no longer willing to accept that. That day, I learned the power of knowledge. My autonomy in directing my education had empowered me to stand up to my father–a strength he could not suppress. As I blew out the candles on my birthday cake, I was embraced as a woman in the eyes of my culture, and so, too, did I embrace every aspect of who that woman truly is. From that moment on, I made a promise to myself to be the person I am, not the individual my father wanted me to be. I have since dedicated my life to effecting real change and using my education to embolden my identity further. Advocating for myself and others is a lifelong commitment I want to nourish at Wesleyan by continuing to use my education to inspire growth and amelioration. My childhood taught me the importance of nurturing a climate of compassion and acceptance. Knowing how it feels to lose yourself, I seek to make each community to which I belong a place where no one feels they need to bury who they truly are or obey the constraints of society–an effort I have worked to achieve during my time at Sarah Lawrence and hope to continue at Wesleyan with the aid of scholarship.

My relationship with my younger sister, Dakota, has made me the individual I am today. Dakota was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of two, and ever since that moment, her life, my life, and that of my family were irrevocably altered. I have since learned the importance of inclusivity, accessibility, and advocacy while garnering strength from her love and warmth. Witnessing the countless injustices my sister has suffered within our community and the lack of accessible services for people with special needs inspired the founding of Autism ALLways. Autism ALLways is a fundraiser I started that helps individuals with Autism afford necessary therapies and services. Since 2017, I have raised over $24,000 for this cause, introducing me to the realm of advocacy and the passion that drives me to initiate change in the world. Upon attending Sarah Lawrence College, I have sought to utilize my voice to amplify the needs of others. This passion led me to work at the Office of Student Philanthropy and become the Chair of the institution’s Students for Students Scholarship Fund (SSSF). My dedication to these organizations prompted my promotion to Supervisor at my place of work and election onto our Student Senate’s Executive Board of five members. Although the school's academic structure ultimately does not match my desire for a more rigorous curriculum, hence my transfer to Wesleyan, I strive to improve the conditions of any community to which I belong. My time in these positions has allowed me to create a more cohesive campus for my fellow students by planning events to unify our student body and fundraising for scholarships to improve access to higher education environments. Throughout my Junior and Senior years of high school, I served as an International Thespian Officer (ITO) for the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA). As Chair of the ITO board for the 2022-23 school year, I managed thespians from across the globe at the International Thespian Festival and represented the student voice in the EdTA. I have spent two years working with EdTA staff to nurture strong student leaders, advocate for the arts, fundraise for accessibility, and create the best experience possible for all students. My time with this organization has fostered a passion for leadership and bringing people together internationally while teaching the importance of language and communication. I have worked tirelessly with this organization towards equal access to arts education and with legislators to ensure such a future. Thus, I aim to lead my collegiate community and commit this energy to a lifelong pursuit of serving others in the political realm via international law. I plan to utilize my education to become a legal advocate for a global nonprofit, combining my interests in advocacy and law. Wesleyan’s commitment to a more co-curricular environment aligns directly with my ideals. Here, I hope to devote time to the Jewett Center for Community Partnerships. I want to further my philanthropic endeavors and work toward accessing, launching, and activating possibilities. I seek to build the foundation for a future committed to principles of service to others while affording myself an education that supports my ambitions–a journey that begins at Wesleyan and can only be achieved through the aid of scholarship.