My name is Ahmyla Palencia, and I am a senior at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainesville, Florida. I have always been passionate about leadership, creativity, and helping others. At school, I serve as Secretary of the National Honor Society and Vice President of Key Club. These roles have allowed me to organize service projects, support my peers, and contribute to my community in meaningful ways. Outside of leadership, I play guitar in school performances like R’evolution, where I collaborate with other students to create music that brings people together and inspires confidence. I also work at Sonic, which has taught me responsibility, time management, and how to handle challenges in a fast-paced environment while staying positive. Community involvement has always been important to me. I participate in tutoring programs to help younger students succeed and volunteer at my church’s media team, creating videos that connect and inspire people in my community. These experiences have taught me patience, communication, and the value of contributing to something larger than myself. Music, service, and leadership have helped me develop skills I carry into every part of my life, including teamwork, problem-solving, and staying calm under pressure. After high school, I plan to study political science in college, with the goal of becoming a corporate lawyer. I want to combine my interest in law and advocacy with my desire to create meaningful change for others. My experiences in leadership and service have shown me how important it is to lift others while working toward your own goals. They have also helped me understand the impact of mentorship and encouragement, and how supporting someone else can help them reach their potential. If I could start my own charity, its mission would be to empower young people from underrepresented communities to reach their full potential. The organization would serve students and teens who face challenges such as financial hardship, lack of access to educational resources, or limited opportunities for mentorship. Volunteers would provide tutoring, mentoring, and guidance for college and career preparation. They would also organize workshops in leadership, communication, and personal development to help students build confidence, discover their passions, and develop skills to succeed. The charity would aim to create a safe and supportive environment where young people can learn, grow, and feel encouraged to achieve their goals. Starting this charity would allow me to give back in a way that directly impacts the lives of others while also fostering a sense of community and empowerment. I believe that with the right support, young people can overcome challenges and accomplish extraordinary things. Through service, mentorship, and leadership, I hope to create opportunities that inspire growth and make a lasting difference in the lives of those I serve. I want to help others realize that even small steps toward improvement can lead to meaningful change and open doors they never thought were possible.

I never knew Ryan T. Herich, but from what I have read about him, I think we would have gotten along. He loved political discussions and understanding how the world works, and that is something I have always been drawn to as well. That curiosity is what led me to notice something early on. People’s lives are often shaped by things they cannot control. I saw it in school, in money, and in the opportunities people had access to. At first, it just felt unfair. But over time, I realized these situations were not random. They were connected to policies, history, and decisions that were made long before us. That realization is what pushed me toward studying political science. I come from a single-mother household where I learned responsibility early. Balancing school, leadership roles, work, and family life has not been easy, but it has made me more aware of how real these struggles are. I know what it feels like to work hard and still feel limited by things completely outside your control. That perspective is what motivates me. I do not just want to learn about these systems. I want to be part of changing them. For me, history is not just about the past. It is about patterns. When I learn about civil rights movements, I see how change actually happens. I see people organizing, pushing back, and refusing to accept the way things are. When I look at political structures, I see how laws can either protect people or make their lives harder. Those lessons still apply today, which is why understanding them matters. I am especially interested in how marginalized communities are affected by these rules. A lot of the time, the people most impacted by decisions are not the ones making them. That is something I want to change. By understanding how these inequalities developed, I want to help create areas that are more fair and actually work for everyone. I plan to go into corporate law so I can work within powerful spaces while also holding them accountable. Geography and culture matter too. Where someone grows up can shape their entire future, from education to opportunity. Culture shapes how people see the world, which influences the choices they make and the policies they support. If we ignore those factors, we miss the bigger picture. But if we understand them, we can create solutions that actually help people. What drives me is not wanting to wait to make a difference. I am already stepping into leadership roles and pushing myself because I know I want to be in spaces where decisions are made. I know change takes time, but it also takes people who are willing to speak up and challenge what already exists. The world does not just need people who understand history. It needs people who use it to do something better. That is what I plan to do.