Growing up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing more complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste cleanup crisis. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy grew organically. I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager since my high school graduation and now work in a custodial position at Washington State University. This summer, I was thrilled to be accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer. Being a first-generation college student has only amplified my ambitions to succeed as I will now have the choice and ability to work a field that inspires me. This program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I am excited to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and aid those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials.

Growing up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Throughout elementary school, I was able to learn about the effects of improper nuclear waste disposal and the dangers associated with the nuclear site that had always been so close to my family and loved ones for generations. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste cleanup crisis. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy as well as the math and science behind it grew organically. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager and now a custodial position at Washington State University. Additionally, I have taken a few prerequisite courses through WSU. This summer, I was thrilled to have been accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program with an anticipated graduation date of 2029. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer, a position I have coveted for a long time due to its integration of subjects I am deeply passionate about. This degree program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I have always had a desire to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials. Whether these dangers are immediate safety risks or long-term environmental effects associated with long-term storage of radioactive materials, I intend to be proactive in mitigating the risks and helping to improve safety processes. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and career opportunities for the betterment of my community and those which are directly impacted by nuclear energy sites and cleanup efforts. I grew up hearing about the dangers of the Hanford site and witnessed the fear surrounding the subpar cleanup attempts. It wasn't uncommon to hear others expressing their fears that nuclear waste would eventually leak into the Columbia River and contaminate the water supply. However slim the chances of said scenario occurring appear to be, it is my goal to help with the current efforts and improve our containment systems so that our future generations are not burdened with the same fears.

Growing up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is only a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Throughout elementary school, I was able to learn about the effects of improper nuclear waste disposal and the dangers associated with the nuclear site that had always been so close to my family and loved ones for generations. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste cleanup crisis. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy as well as the math and science behind it grew organically. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager and now a custodial position at Washington State University. Additionally, I have taken a few prerequisite courses through WSU. This summer, I was thrilled to have been accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program with an anticipated graduation date of 2029. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer, a position I have coveted for a long time due to its integration of two subjects I am deeply passionate in; Chemistry and Mathematics. This degree program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I have always had a desire to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials. Whether these dangers are immediate safety risks or long-term environmental effects associated with long-term storage of radioactive materials, I intend to be proactive in mitigating the risks and helping to improve our current safety processes. I was incredibly fortunate to be enrolled in that calculus class a few short years ago and certainly used and will continue to rely on the mathematic principals and compounding knowledge I gained in that course for several years to come, if not throughout my entire career. Calculus continues to be important in STEM because it represents the culmination of various years of study and ties together nearly all math education up until the end of high school. It also ties into many STEM subjects including engineering physics, advanced chemistry courses, and many more. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and career opportunities for the betterment of my community and those which are directly impacted by nuclear energy sites and cleanup efforts. I grew up hearing about the dangers of the Hanford site and witnessed the fear surrounding the subpar cleanup attempts. It wasn't uncommon to hear others expressing their fears that nuclear waste would eventually leak into the Columbia River and contaminate the water supply. However slim the chances of said scenario occurring appear to be, it is my goal to help with the current efforts and improve our containment systems.

Growing up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is only a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Throughout elementary school, I was able to learn about the effects of improper nuclear waste disposal and the dangers associated with the nuclear site that had always been so close to my family and loved ones for generations. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste cleanup crisis. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy as well as the math and science behind it grew organically. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager and now a custodial position at Washington State University. Additionally, I have taken a few prerequisite courses through WSU. This summer, I was thrilled to have been accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program with an anticipated graduation date of 2029. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer, a position I have coveted for a long time due to its integration of two subjects I am deeply passionate in; Chemistry and Mathematics. This degree program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I have always had a desire to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials. Whether these dangers are immediate safety risks or long-term environmental effects associated with long-term storage of radioactive materials, I intend to be proactive in mitigating the risks and helping to improve our current safety processes.

Growing up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is only a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Throughout elementary school, I was able to learn about the effects of improper nuclear waste disposal and the dangers associated with the nuclear site that had always been so close to my family and loved ones for generations. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste crisis which ultimately had the power to decimate entire ecosystems. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy and the science behind it grew organically. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager and now a custodial position at Washington State University. Additionally, I have taken a few prerequisite courses through WSU. This summer, I was thrilled to have been accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program with an anticipated graduation date of 2029. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer. This degree program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I have long since had a desire to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials. Additionally, this degree program would teach me the skills to analyze and improve current safety measures put in place to mitigate the risks associated with various chemical interactions. Whether these dangers are immediate safety risks or long-term environmental effects associated with long-term storage of radioactive materials, I intend to be proactive in mitigating the risks and helping to improve our current safety processes. As it stands, we have no way of containing the radioactive waste material forever as every current containment option is predicted to fail before the material has been calculated to decay completely. Although this likely won't be an issue even in the next few decades, it is important that we optimize our methods and procedures so that the problem does not become exponentially worse for future generations or our ecosystem. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and career opportunities for the betterment of my community and those who are directly impacted by nuclear energy sites and cleanup efforts. I grew up hearing about the dangers of the Hanford site and witnessed the fear surrounding the subpar cleanup attempts. It wasn't uncommon to hear others expressing their fears that nuclear waste would eventually leak into the Columbia River and contaminate the water supply. However slim the chances of said scenario occurring appear to be, it is my goal to help with the current efforts and improve our containment systems so that our future generations are not burdened with the fears of containment failures as well as risks to their health and wellbeing.

Growing up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is only a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Throughout elementary school, I was able to learn about the effects of improper nuclear waste disposal and the dangers associated with the nuclear site that had always been so close to my family and loved ones for generations. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste crisis which ultimately had the power to decimate entire ecosystems. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy and the science behind it grew organically. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager and now a custodial position at Washington State University. Additionally, I have taken a few prerequisite courses through WSU. This summer, I was thrilled to have been accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program with an anticipated graduation date of 2029. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer. This degree program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I have long since had a desire to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials. Additionally, this degree program would teach me the skills to analyze and improve current safety measures put in place to mitigate the risks associated with various chemical interactions. Whether these dangers are immediate safety risks or long-term environmental effects associated with long-term storage of radioactive materials, I intend to be proactive in mitigating the risks and helping to improve our current safety processes. As it stands, we have no way of containing the radioactive waste material forever as every current containment option is predicted to fail before the material has been calculated to decay completely. Although this likely won't be an issue even in the next few decades, it is important that we optimize our methods and procedures so that the problem does not become exponentially worse for future generations or our ecosystem. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and career opportunities for the betterment of my community and those who are directly impacted by nuclear energy sites and cleanup efforts. I grew up hearing about the dangers of the Hanford site and witnessed the fear surrounding the subpar cleanup attempts. It wasn't uncommon to hear others expressing their fears that nuclear waste would eventually leak into the Columbia River and contaminate the water supply. However slim the chances of said scenario occurring appear to be, it is my goal to help with the current efforts and improve our containment systems so that our future generations are not burdened with the fears of containment failures as well as risks to their health and wellbeing.

Having grown up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area with a predominantly Mexican and Hispanic community, I am proud to be a first-generation college student and excited to receive a bachelor's degree in a field that inspires me. This has been an especially important journey to me since my grandparents crossed the Mexican border to secure a better life for themselves and their future generations (myself included), and I am proud to honor their legacy of hard work and dedication. All my life, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is only a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Throughout elementary school, I was able to learn about the effects of improper nuclear waste disposal and the dangers associated with the nuclear site that had always been so close to my family and loved ones. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste crisis which ultimately had the power to decimate entire ecosystems. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy and the science behind it grew organically. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager and now a custodial position at Washington State University. Additionally, I have taken a few prerequisite courses through WSU. This summer, I was thrilled to have been accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer. This degree program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I have long since had a desire to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials. As it stands, we have no way of containing the radioactive waste material forever as every current containment option is predicted to fail before the material has been calculated to decay completely. Although this likely won't be an issue even in the next few decades, it is important that we optimize our methods and procedures so that the problem does not become exponentially worse for future generations or our ecosystem. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and career opportunities for the betterment of my community and those who are directly impacted by nuclear energy sites and cleanup efforts. I grew up hearing about the dangers of the Hanford site and witnessed the fear surrounding the subpar cleanup attempts. It was not uncommon to hear others expressing their fears that nuclear waste would eventually leak into the Columbia River and contaminate the water supply. However slim the chances of said scenario occurring appear to be, it is my goal to help with the current efforts and improve our containment systems so that our future generations are not burdened with the same fears and risks to their health and wellbeing.

Growing up in Pasco Washington and the Tri-Cities area, I have been surrounded and deeply impacted by the Hanford Nuclear Site, which is only a mere 30 minutes from my family home. Throughout elementary school, I was able to learn about the effects of improper nuclear waste disposal and the dangers associated with the nuclear site that had always been so close to my family and loved ones for generations. Whilst I had always been aware of the dangers of nuclear waste in my city and in the surrounding areas, or at least the basics, it was always more of an afterthought until my high school Calculus instructor started introducing complex mathematical equations and real-world scenarios. The math evolved from basic integrals to nuclear half-life problems that were suddenly all too real, and the very same instructor made it clear to us that we would be the ones to eventually solve the nuclear waste crisis which ultimately had the power to decimate entire ecosystems. With several of my parents' closest friends being employees at Hanford and my younger sister's recent hiring there, my fascination with nuclear energy and the science behind it grew organically. Since my high school graduation in 2021, I have been working full time in the food service industry as a shift manager and now a custodial position at Washington State University. Additionally, I have taken a few prerequisite courses through WSU. This summer, I was thrilled to have been accepted into the University of Idaho’s chemical engineering degree program with an anticipated graduation date of 2029. With this degree, I intend to work in the nuclear waste cleanup industry and apply for a position at the Hanford Nuclear site as a Chemical Engineer. This degree program is a tremendous learning opportunity and will allow myself and others to collaborate and optimize a safe storage method for radioactive materials. I have long since had a desire to contribute to the safety measures put in place for my hometown and those affected by any previous mismanagement of hazardous materials. Additionally, this degree program would teach me the skills to analyze and improve current safety measures put in place to mitigate the risks associated with various chemical interactions. Whether these dangers are immediate safety risks or long-term environmental effects associated with long-term storage of radioactive materials, I intend to be proactive in mitigating the risks and helping to improve our current safety processes. As it stands, we have no way of containing the radioactive waste material forever as every current containment option is predicted to fail before the material has been calculated to decay completely. Although this likely won't be an issue even in the next few decades, it is important that we optimize our methods and procedures so that the problem does not become exponentially worse for future generations or our ecosystem. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and career opportunities for the betterment of my community and those who are directly impacted by nuclear energy sites and cleanup efforts. I grew up hearing about the dangers of the Hanford site and witnessed the fear surrounding the subpar cleanup attempts. It wasn't uncommon to hear others expressing their fears that nuclear waste would eventually leak into the Columbia River and contaminate the water supply. However slim the chances of said scenario occurring appear to be, it is my goal to help with the current efforts and improve our containment systems so that our future generations are not burdened with the fears of containment failures as well as risks to their health and wellbeing.

My higher education decisions and career aspirations have largely been impacted by my prominent desires to care for my family and contribute to society. Being a first-generation college student has only amplified this goal as I will be the first in my family to graduate from college, which exponentially increases my earning potential and allows me to be a productive member of my community and the workforce, something I have always sought and pursued. I am currently a Junior studying Chemical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics and have completed the majority of my course work through Washington State University after attending Columbia Basin College for my associates degree. I have decided to transfer universities for the 2026-2027 academic year and have been accepted and enrolled at the University of Idaho, starting Fall 2026. Since my high school graduation in 2021 and presently, I have been working full time and taking on a second job when time allows for it as I am solely responsible for paying for my university and housing while my parents care for my siblings. Having grown up with parents who did not pursue a higher education and instead joined the workforce at an early age, I am grateful that both of my parents have always made the importance of education clear to me and made themselves available to support me in my academic journey when I've needed it. With their support and encouragement, I was fortunate to discover my passion for science and math fairly early and had always taken the more advanced STEM courses in preparation for college. I was not sure which college major would suit me the most before I took a calculus class in my sophomore year of high school. My teacher then was passionate about instilling problem solving skills in us that would be applicable in real life and frequently referenced the Hanford Nuclear Site waste cleanup issues since my hometown surrounded the site. Over time, I became enamored with the idea of helping the waste cleanup efforts and the necessity to make the cleanup jobs safer for my community became clear to me. That is ultimately why I decided on Chemical Engineering as a major and career path, it was the perfect culmination of scientific inquiry I had always enjoyed and the necessary problem-solving skills that would allow me to be useful and genuinely contribute at the Hanford Site.

I am currently a second-year student at Washington State University studying for a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduating with this degree, I plan to return to my hometown in the Tri-cities and acquire a position at the Hanford Nuclear Site. Helping with the hazardous waste cleanup at the Hanford site and improving the quality of life of the nearby residents has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. I can still vividly recall the first time I was informed about the issue of nuclear waste cleanup. Siting amongst my fifth-grade classmates, our teacher presented a slide show on the World War 2 efforts which resulted in the Hanford Nuclear Site. This same presentation concluded with the fact that nuclear waste cleanup has been an ongoing issue in our area since that time, posing a threat to the nearby residents and even wildlife populations. The shock and fear that I felt upon hearing this has stuck with me over the years. Later on, in my high school calculus class, our instructor taught us how to solve increasingly complex equations to prepare us for future courses and the real world which he knew would rely on these problem-solving abilities. He also frequently informed the class that our community was counting on people to come together and solve the issues at Hanford, similar to the problems we studied and would continue to study as we furthered our education. Since taking that class, it has become a personal goal of mine to be a part of the cleanup efforts so that we can continue to help people who rely on nuclear energy without harming the nearby occupants and wildlife. Making the surrounding area safer for the workers at Hanford is also a priority for me because I have several family members and colleagues who have also chosen to act on this issue and are actively employed at the Hanford Site. All hazardous nuclear issues we’ve had as a country are man-made, and although they are not purposeful or intentional, I belief it is our duty to contain the issue and ensure that those who come after us are not impacted by our mistakes or left to deal with the fallout as we have been. It is imperative that we as a nation come together in the cleanup efforts, especially moving forward since so many people are affected and reliant on the site.

My relationship with reading began much the same as so many others. Reading was something forced upon me in elementary school, beginning as early as the first grade when we were ushered into the library in small groups and told to select a book from a small section closed off for our ‘reading level.’ Like so many others, I was not overly fond of the task of reading and stuck to it only for assignments or when necessary. Books are definitely an essential to everyday life and used in practically every subject in school. Although I could acknowledge that this was true very early on, I wouldn’t find joy in it though until several years later. To this day, I can still fondly recall the day when my fourth-grade English teacher allowed each of us to pick from a selection of fantasy books and novels with which we would be writing formal book reports. My pick was titled The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, I ended up reading the whole thing in just a few hours. This was one of the earliest books I can recall absolutely adoring and it definitely instigated my love of reading, especially for genres that weren’t necessarily scholarly in nature. Up until this point, I thought reading to be an isolated task associated solely with learning about something in particular or attempting to comprehend an author’s intentions. After reading the book though, something clicked in me, and I began to enjoy an even wider array of texts and novels from increasingly diverse authors. Now it was not purely for ‘knowledge’ but for the experience of the story and the journey in which I could immerse myself and begin to think critically. Nowadays, I continue to read a range of genres and styles, and it has become one of my favorite pastimes. Reading is a way for me to escape reality, enjoy diverse world building, and character development that will occasionally move me to tears. I enjoy even rereading texts for the emotions they invoke and thoughtfulness which stems from the stories I read. I feel fortunate that authors are talented enough to even create such moving pieces of literature and I will continue to enjoy reading as long as I am able. Reading has had such a significant impact on my daily life and is something I’ve found I cannot go without. The joy and fascination I find in reading is something I strive to achieve in everything I do now, and I am currently working to apply this passion I have for reading in my studies as well. Like with books, I have grown to love my area of study and am working diligently to one day be able to contribute to the material as authors do, rather than stand idle in this seemingly infinite loop studying the subject matter and research conducted by others. It has been a joy so far and I look forward to continuing with my progress in school and I intend to someday make a difference and impact others in my field of study as various authors and texts have impacted me.

In the future, I'd like to use my degree in Chemical Engineering to assist with Pharmaceutical Development as well as the creation of new vaccines. Entering Pharma as an engineer opens up so many doors and opportunities to assist people in need all over the world. The medications that are created and distributed can improve people's quality of life, and the vaccines allow us to prevent the general population from ever needing some of these lifesaving medications. Curing and preventing illness and suffering has always been the goal, and I'd like to be a play a part in this outcome. Growing up, I've had my fair share of trips to the hospital and prescription medications so help alleviate symptoms of pain. In addition, I've been forced to witness my mom endure agony and suffering as a result of an incurable condition called Neurofibromatosis. Being forced to sit back while my mom was being tormented by her condition might as well have been torture. As a kid, i could never quite grasp the severity of her illness nor could I understand her reasons for hiding it from me and my siblings for so long. Now though, ive learned that she has always done her best to keep us away from the suffering she endured, even if that meant she would have to do it alone. After a few years though, through rounds of chemo and what seemed like a million surgeries to remove tumors, im glad to have found out and been allowed the opportunity to support and care for her, just like she had been doing for us all those years. Having been surrounded by pain and suffering for most of my childhood, the desire and passion to help alleviate my mom's suffering and the painful symptoms her and others are forced to endure has only grown. I decided on a Chemical Engineering degree and career so that I could be as helpful as possible to the people I love the most and so that I could share the results of my hard work with the world. Chemical Engineering allows me to assist directly in finding solutions to creating new and better medications as well as vaccines. I hope to contribute, collaborate, and share my ideas to help improve the medications available to us today. The desire to make a meaningful contribution to the field of medicine has inspired me and served as a motivator all these years as i move forward with my studies, and will continue to do the same long after im finished. Thank you.

The harm and neglect of helpless animals has always prompted me to take action in my community and work to make lasting change. As a long-time volunteer and foster for Mike's Chance, a non-profit Canine Rescue, I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take in and rehabilitate various dogs and small animals with the intent of finding them loving and responsible forever homes. Many of the animals I've fostered have come from hoarding cases or have been victims of animal cruelty. In these distressing situations, these animals are left helpless and miserable while being confined to crowded areas or tiny steel cages covered in fecal matter and urine. These animals are hardly ever fed or interacted with positively and have never felt the tender and loving touch of a family member caressing them gently and holding them close. In spite of their gruesome backgrounds and the situations to which they are victims, it has been my pleasure to give these dogs the love and care they deserve until permanent families have been chosen. I have made it my mission to ensure that these dogs and small animals in my care have access to clean food and water at all times, as well as my undivided attention and care. A typical day with me and the animals I've fostered has included a restful and undisturbed sleep, food and water available at all times, and constant love and attention from my family and I. These animals are brought along for many walks through the park and hikes along mountain trails in an effort to enrich their lives and show them the joy of life. From whimpering pups who seek isolation and fear the very sight of a human, these dogs begin to live their lives and transcend their backgrounds of abuse which may forever haunt them. These animals begin to show excitement at the chance to be surrounded by loving people who have shown them nothing but love and adoration. They begin to look forward to their daily walks and the simple routine of a tasty bone offered nightly before cuddles. The transformation these dogs show is truly heartwarming, and I will continue to love and dote on these animals for as long as humanly possible. While these animals aren't necessarily a priority to some, they are to me and continue to represent the heart and soul of my community. I believe we are defined by the love we share with others, even if they happen to be pups on the side of the highway or elderly dogs dumped at the shelter. I will continue to devote my life to helping others and won't shy in my efforts to share their stories with the world.

NF's song titled 'Just Like You' shares the message that no one is alone in their suffering or hardships. This song is an important part of my life and helps me feel less secluded when I enter stages of depression or when things negatively affect me. When I receive the onslaught of almost overwhelming news from my mom about my siblings' lives and the horrible things that happen at home, this song puts me at ease. I am content to listen to it on repeat, even when I feel numb and can't stop the constant overflow of tears. NF's music helps me think through situations, especially because of the relatable lyrics. Although I typically listen to this song to escape the horrors in my own life, I do appreciate the uplifting vibes and tone of the song which make it easy to listen to in any situation. I first discovered the song on the radio and was pleasantly surprised at the message and sincere lyrics the song portrays. In any case, I will continue listening to this song and I look forwards to any future releases by NF.

The world can be a horrifying place. Every single day devastating crimes are committed with an astounding disregard for the lives they affect and the consequences which follow. Having witnessed so many acts of violence and hate against my loved ones and members of my community, I feel compelled to pursue higher education and a certification in pediatric nursing. With a degree in the medical field and a greater knowledge of the vast world around me, I hope to improve the lives of others and make a difference in the community. Although there are several occupations which work to change lives for the better, the field of nursing has always inspired me and filled me with hope. Throughout the COVID Pandemic, nurses have always been on the front lines working even when the battle seemed pointless. Their efforts in the face of hopelessness and pressure from the public will continue to motivate me while I complete my studies. Less than a year after moving to Pullman for college, news broke out that four young students were murdered in their sleep with a killer still at large. As the investigation continues and fear plagues the city, I am constantly reminded of my goals and passion for saving lives. This tragic incident continues to open my eyes to the blessings in my own life through the opportunities I've been given and the wonderful people I've had the pleasure of knowing and connecting with. My current occupation in customer service has allowed me to understand others on a more emotional level. Even in these times of mourning and great sorrow I am overjoyed to be a part of this welcoming and unified community. I'd like nothing more than to contribute my education and knowledge to help the people here and I will continue working tirelessly to do so. It's been a difficult decision but I've finally decided to pursue a certification in pediatric nursing. In this field, I hope to help the most vulnerable patients on their road to recovery and a healthy life. I know from experience that the journey we call life isn't an easy one, however, I hope to give all young patients a fighting chance so that they too may develop their passions and interests in our extraordinary world. Every life saved, regardless of age, political agenda, or gender identity, gives me hope and encourages me to dive further into the field of science and medicine. It is my biggest hope that I might one day inspire someone else to save lives and I won't cease my efforts until I've made this dream a reality.

Maintaining a growth mindset has allowed me to move forward and accomplish goals, despite having a somewhat toxic family background. I have maintained this mindset by continuing to cultivate a love and passion for science and music, both of which I've incorporated into my long term education goals. As a teenager, I can distinctly recall the angry shouts which eventually led to my parent's divorce. I suppose the news shouldn't have been surprising, but with all the fond memories I still clung to from childhood, it was. Several years later, it was particularly saddening to discover that my older brother had succumbed to a life of crime and a torturous battle against addiction. While I can't confirm the reasoning behind his reckless decisions, I always had an inkling that his generally hateful demeanor and opinions began to form sometime amidst my family's quarrels. Nonetheless, I was able to discover a passion for music and Clarinet performance as I entered high school. After devoting myself to the activity, I managed to audition into my schools top band by sophomore year. Around the same time, I developed a natural interest in the science and mathematics classes at my high school. The grades I earned as a result of my curiosity allowed me to take several college level classes. I found, through exploration of my passions and talents, that I had altered my once negative mindset simply by doing what I loved. This discovery continues to allow to me succeed, despite the challenges life presents me with. I look forward to the blessings and difficulties that are sure to be presented in the future and in college as my next step.

I am proud of the way I was able to overcome the depressive thoughts which had previously plagued my heart and mind. While being a teenager is certainly never easy, my middle school years quickly became overwhelming as my parents began the long and grueling battle of divorce. To add to that, my older brother had succumbed to drug addiction and a life of crime. My childhood had been anything but difficult. I can easily recall moments of joy as well as laughter regarding the little things. And yet, arguments between my parents and explosive shouting that rings in my memories had made certain that the divorce was imminent. To this day, I cannot attest to the reasoning behind my brother's rash decisions, however, I suspect that his negativity and anger towards life had stemmed somewhere in my parent's quarrels. My brother's self-destructive tendencies and inclinations towards addictive substances have certainly wounded my family. My four siblings and I had spent years in states of helplessness. I can recall the stress I felt, even during a school day, when I'd been informed of his crimes. Living with these family issues awakened a sense of determination in me as I entered high school. My primary physician's help with my depression allowed me to earn exceptional grades early on and I was able to become the role model I wanted to be for my younger siblings. In school, I also became a dedicated member of various music classes, later making it into the top auditioned band due to my musical ability. Overall, I am proud of who I've become and the choices I made to better myself. I will continue to work on improving myself so that I can achieve my personal and career goals and face challenges in my life head-on.

Discipline and self-control have been the most important factors to me in my passion for living a healthy lifestyle. Personally, discipline has meant watching my diet and sleep schedule, two areas which have been particularly challenging for me. I began setting my goals for a disciplined life upon realizing that I weighed a wopping 255 pounds. At 18, this horrified me. I had always been the chubby kid in class, even at home amongst my siblings, yet for the first time I was disgusted with myself and my choices. To an extent, my weight also contributed to my poorer sleep habits. Activities such as walking the dog and even daily chores like cleaning became exhausting to me. As I began to pay attention to these things, I knew that I had to change. Hours and hours of scrolling through Reddit pages, blogs and self-help books led me to my path of a more disciplined diet and alarm system. I certainly haven't been perfect, but I have made progress. Where I used to set a single alarm to determine the time I would wake up, I now set ten. I also track my daily calories and choose healthier foods at the grocery store, a task that has helped me immensely. As of yesterday, I weighed in at approximately 235 pounds and can confidently say that my sleep schedule has improved. Again, it's not perfect, but I'm doing it. I am constantly amazed at my progress and will continue to work hard at improving both my mind and my body. I hope to share my story and success with others as well, so that they may have access to some of the knowledge and principles that helped me so much these last few months.

While I can't claim that my older brother is deceased at this time, I must admit that he has left me alone in this world and in my heart. His path of crime, incarceration and drugs has left me and my family with a deep sense of loss and feelings of helplessness. To both my discomfort and relief, I can only recall three instances wherein his compassion and love for me was obvious. On one dreary summer day, I remember the moment he handed me the second remote to his Play Station game console. There were so many buttons on the controller that I felt slightly overwhelmed with the task. Nevertheless, I had tried my best since it was the first time I was allowed to play. That moment had always been one of my fonder memories of him. It was the only time he showed me something he loved doing, even if it was out of pure boredom. Several years later, when our parents had finally settled on their divorce, he had been the one to comfort me after the three hours I spent muffling my sobs into a pillow. I remember feeling plagued by loneliness beforehand. It's funny the kinds of things kids make up in their heads. Later on, in one of his final acts of kindness towards me, he fended off a neighborhood bully who managed to kick me in the leg and knock me down. That had been the last of the neighborhood drama, and his days of protecting me as I would come to find out. In the years leading up to his incarceration, arguments were made and tears were shed, yet I still loved him. He made bad decisions and hung out in the wrong crowd, yet he was my role model. He often said hurtful things and even scared my younger siblings, but he was still my brother. When he left for prison, I remember coming to the realization that he wouldn't be home when I graduated high school. I remember the thought that I would leave for college before he was released to see me off. I was also horrified at the prospect of caring for my younger siblings without having had positive guidance myself. But I did it anyways. Entering high-school, I felt a sort of obligation to do well so that my siblings would have direction. I tried hard for them and for my mom. It was difficult to adjust after middle school, especially since my parent's divorce affected my schoolwork negatively, but it wasn't impossible. My freshman and sophomore year, I managed to earn the best grades of my high-school transcript. I like to credit the motivation I had towards succeeding to my brother, even if his influence had never been for the better. In seeing the consequences of his choices, I was fortunate enough to find discipline in myself and set achievable goals. Where his actions were sometimes hurtful, I decided that I would pursue an education and career in medicine, a field of work most known for helping others. Working towards this career goal certainly hasn't been easy, however, I am determined to keep working for it to prove to myself that anything is possible. Even with an absent and drug addicted brother who showed me loss to an extent that's hard to imagine, I have managed to accomplish so much and have come so far. I look forward to the challenges and successes my future brings, and I can't wait to approach college as the next step on my journey towards a better tomorrow.

In my own battle with depression and anxiety, I was riddled with fear that another person would find out and react negatively. As a young student, I remained reclused and fell behind in ny studies. During this time, I knew nothing of depression and how it would change my mental state for the worse. I also had no knowledge of where to seek help or who I could turn to for advice. Creating an open club or group where individuals who struggle with mental health can share their experiences and day to day problems would be extremely beneficial. Most people live with their mental health issues and disorders completely undiagnosed . This was true for me as well at a young age. I believe that groups like these would encourage people to seek help, especially as others may have sought the advice of a medical professional in the past. It can be less scary to see a doctor in knowing that a friend needed help for the same issues. Having an open group would allow for individuals of a more diverse mental health range and age. This would mean that people are more likely to encounter another with their particular issue or disorder. Speaking to someone else who struggles with the same things in daily life can be especially comforting. It is important to note the awareness that such a group would bring to the community. Regular community members of all ages and backgrounds coming together to describe their experiences and hardships would undoubtedly initiate a sense of belonging and change.