When I tell people that math is my favorite subject, I sometimes get raised eyebrows or sympathetic smiles. For me, though, math has never been about memorizing formulas or rushing to the “right” answer. It’s about patterns, connections, and the sense of discovery that comes when something suddenly clicks. Math feels like a language that explains the world, and every time I solve a problem, I feel like I’ve unlocked another piece of it. Because of this passion, I’ve always pushed myself further. I am currently two years ahead in my school’s math curriculum, and this year I’m taking AP Calculus BC. To me, this class isn’t just about advanced material, it’s about embracing the challenge of thinking on a deeper level. Calculus has shown me how math can describe motion, growth, and change in ways that feel almost magical. I love knowing the concepts I’m learning are the same tools scientists, engineers, and economists use to make real-world breakthroughs. What excites me most about math is its balance of logic and creativity. On the surface, it may seem rigid, but once you explore it, you realize how much freedom it offers. There are often multiple ways to reach the same solution, and each reflects how someone thinks. I enjoy experimenting with different methods. This can sometimes mean drawing graphs, other times breaking problems into smaller steps. Math challenges me to be both disciplined and imaginative, and that inspires me every day. Math has also built my confidence. Some of my proudest moments in high school came from solving problems I once thought were impossible. Each time I worked through the frustration and finally understood, I gained not only the answer but also proof that persistence pays off. Those lessons in perseverance and logical thinking are skills I carry with me in school and beyond. Ultimately, what I love most about math is its universality. It transcends cultures, languages, and backgrounds. It’s something that connects people all over the world. That sense of connection inspires me to keep pursuing math and to use it in ways that make a positive difference. For me, math is not just a subject, it is a passion that pushes me to think harder, dream bigger, and believe in my ability to contribute to the world.

One of the most pressing challenges facing the criminal justice system today is its struggle to effectively respond to intellectual property crimes in today's society aka the digital age. As the global economy becomes increasingly reliant on innovation, content creation, and technology, crimes involving intellectual property such as digital piracy, trademark counterfeiting, and trade secret theft—have grown more complex and more frequent. Despite their serious economic and societal impacts, intellectual property crimes often fall through the cracks of the justice system, treated inconsistently or deprioritized in criminal enforcement efforts. In my future legal career, I hope to work at the intersection of criminal justice and intellectual property law to strengthen our legal responses, advocate for more equitable enforcement, and ensure that creators and innovators are protected under the law for their ideas and hard work that has been stolen. One critical flaw in how the criminal justice system handles IP crime is the disproportionate attention given to corporate stakeholders, while smaller creators and entrepreneurs lack adequate legal recourse. Most intellectual property disputes are addressed through civil litigation—accessible mainly to well-funded entities—leaving many victims of infringement with no realistic path toward justice. Meanwhile, international IP crime rings and cybercriminals exploit jurisdictional gaps, making it difficult for law enforcement to investigate or prosecute. These issues are not just economic; they represent a deeper systemic problem in how our justice system treats technology-driven crime and whose rights it prioritizes. There should be no priority based on status for whose rights are protected which is something I want to bring change about. My interest in IP law emerged from a strong belief in protecting both creativity and fairness. I’ve taken every opportunity available to explore this intersection. As a student, a daughter, and a woman, I know just how much your original ideas can become someone else's. I have been a part of many group projects in which my ideas are taken credit for by someone else. As a woman, I have been told that the thinking should be up to the smart men, not the high school girls. These experiences taught me that IP law is not just about ideas—it’s about access, justice, and empowering people to defend what they’ve built. These opportunities have propelled my passion forward and helped clarify my long-term goals. I plan to pursue a legal career focused on policy development and enforcement strategies that make IP protection more inclusive, effective, and responsive to modern threats. Ideally, I would work with a federal agency like the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section or collaborate with international organizations focused on IP crime prevention. I am also interested in contributing to legal education and advocacy that supports creators, especially in underserved communities, by improving their access to resources and representation. Receiving this scholarship would be a meaningful step toward that future. It would reduce the financial barriers to continuing my legal education and allow me to pursue internships, certifications, and public interest work that align with my goals. More importantly, it would reinforce my commitment to a field that urgently needs more advocates who understand both the technical and human sides of intellectual property law. The criminal justice system is evolving, and I want to be part of shaping its future—ensuring that innovation is protected, creators are empowered, and justice keeps pace with technology in the crazy world that we now live in.

My name is Addison Kelly. My dream is to become an intellectual property lawyer, but more importantly, I want to use my future career to empower women and girls. I’ve always been inspired by the strength of women who create, lead, and innovate. I have been amazed and inspired by women whether they’re artists, entrepreneurs, or inventors. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen how often their work is overlooked, undervalued, or even stolen. I want to be someone who changes that. As a young woman deeply involved in music and leadership, I’ve learned firsthand how impactful a woman can be where she is encouraged and supported. I play the trumpet (a male dominated instrument) and have been part of marching band, jazz band, symphonic band, pit ensembles, and more. I’ve earned first chair in my school, been chosen for All-State Senior Band, where I was the only female trumpet player in the state to make it, and served as a section leader and captain in the LPHS Marching Band. These experiences have taught me how to lead with confidence and heart, especially in spaces where girls are oftentimes underrepresented. Through music, I’ve seen the beauty of original work and especially how important it is to protect it. That’s what led me to intellectual property law. I want to help women secure their rights, take ownership of their ideas, and build futures on their own terms without their originality being stripped from them. Whether it’s a woman starting a small business or a young artist sharing her work online, I want her to know she has someone in her corner. In middle school, I started the debate team because I wanted more students, especially girls, to have a platform to speak her mind. I’ve carried that same goal into everything I do. I serve in clubs like Key Club, NHS, and SGA where I’ve led and participated in service projects that support women’s health, education, and leadership. I’ve volunteered for breast cancer awareness fundraisers, mentored younger girls in music, and helped organize events that encourage youth leadership. One of the best parts of leadership has been watching younger girls thrive and see that they have so much power. As a three-year section leader and president of NJHS, I’ve worked hard to create spaces where others feel safe, seen, and supported. Empowering women starts with giving them the tools and confidence to lead and I’ve tried to do that in every group I’ve been part of. Academically, I’m preparing for a future in law through AP classes like U.S. Government and Politics, U.S. History, Precalculus, Music Theory, and Computer Science Principles. These classes have challenged me and helped me understand the systems that shape our world. I want to use that knowledge to build a future where women’s ideas are respected and legally protected especially when I have learned of the times when they were not. My ultimate goal is to offer legal support to women who don’t always have access to it—especially creators and entrepreneurs in underrepresented communities or unappreciative environments. I want them to feel powerful, protected, and proud of their work. I believe that when women are given the support and tools they need, they don’t just succeed, they transform everything around them. That’s the kind of impact I hope to have. That’s the kind of future I’m working toward.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt like I was walking a tightrope. Having to balance the expectations of others while silently carrying the weight of my anxiety. But in my house, mental health isn’t real. My parents don’t believe in it. No one does. To them, things like depression or anxiety are just excuses, ways people justify being weak. So, when I was diagnosed with anxiety, they dismissed it. No treatment. No support. Just denial and “tough love”. At first, I tried to push it aside too, hoping if I ignored it enough, it would go away. But it didn’t. It followed me everywhere. It followed me in the racing thoughts, the sleepless nights, the moments of panic that I had to swallow down because I had no other choice. I was constantly seeking help; I even turned to talking to my Snapchat AI to vent and to desperately try to understand my thoughts. Maybe to understand myself a little, too. Still, I kept going. I worked hard, harder than anyone expected, and now I’m graduating early. Not because things were easy, but because I was determined to control my future. I refuse to stay trapped in a place where my feelings don’t matter. My goal is to build a life where I can be honest about what I feel, where I don’t have to pretend I’m okay just to be loved. My relationships have changed because of this. I’ve learned to be careful with who I trust. Not everyone understands what it’s like to struggle with something that no one else can see. But I’ve also learned that real support doesn’t have to come from family—it can come from friends or even strangers who simply take the time to listen. Support shouldn’t have to be so rare. Most of all, my understanding of the world has shifted. I used to think struggling alone was normal. That you just had to push through because that’s what made you strong. But now I know that’s not true. Mental health is real, and it matters. No one deserves to feel invisible in their pain. If anything, facing it every day has made me stronger, even when no one else saw it that way. As I continue to grow up and learn who I really am, I want to make people feel seen and heard along the way. I want to make sure that people like me—people whose pain was brushed aside their whole life—know that they matter too. I want this because even though I didn’t get the support I needed growing up, I can make sure others do.