It’s no secret: businesses generate tons of trash. 1.06% total waste per capita in packaging waste alone, to be precise. From single-use food plastics to bubble mailers, and to clothing tags, every part of the supply chain produces waste, most of which isn’t recycled. Cardboard and plastic overflow in landfills, where they generate greenhouse gas emissions and break down into harmful chemicals and microplastics. These chemicals and plastics invariably make it into the food chain, where we inadvertently consume them, too. In the last two decades, we are seeing higher incidences of heart attacks, metabolic diseases, and infertility, likely due to microplastics and climate change. Additionally, this waste strangles wildlife and can even permanently change the ecosystem, like greenhouse gas emissions causing coral bleaching. Entire ecosystems are collapsing just from carbon emissions alone. Countless of businesses worldwide are all contributing to this problem by producing and burning the waste. I believe sustainable practices are important because this waste clearly effects the environment and mankind alike. Right now, it looks grim, but there are solutions to prevent and solve these problems. The first solution is to move towards zero waste. One part of this is to minimize the production of products, which means creating multipurpose, long-lasting goods with fewer transportation and storage requirements. Analyzing sales and inventory auditing will ensure that only the minimum amount of product is carried at any given time. The next step is to minimize packaging, which means using the smallest containers as possible and going paperless when applicable. Soy and algae-based inks should be used instead of the petroleum-based ones. 100% recycled Kraft boxes should be mandatory. Non-recyclable tapes and glues should be eliminated, and when appropriate, compostable bioplastic packaging should be used instead. The infrastructure to recycle and compost the packaging waste should be implemented, especially for customers returning purchases. Of course, whatever returned products and supplies should be reused when possible. A second solution is implementing renewable energy and appropriately timing heating and energy costs. This means wind, solar, geothermal, electric, and more. Ideally, buildings should maximize natural lighting, such as skylights, and warm ambient temperatures to reduce energy consumption. To supplement energy costs, wind and solar should be available. Companies serious about using renewable energy should invest in long-lasting, recyclable lead-acid batteries. At night, geothermal, wind, and hydroelectric will compensate for the lack of daytime energy. Large companies should invest in using algae oil to meet their transportation and heating needs. Finally, any company properties like offices, warehouses, and parking lots should be converted into environmentally friendly areas. For building materials, concrete production generates 7% to 8% of carbon emissions. Furthermore, concrete creates an urban heat island, which raises the temperature and incentivizes cities to use air conditioning that increases emissions. All new repairs and buildings should not use concrete when feasible. Instead, Hempcrete should be used because it is carbon negative. Additional eco-friendly materials like straw, recycled timber, reclaimed steel, and mycelium are available. When possible, natural cooling should happen. Companies should audit their energy consumption during specific hours to heat or cool their buildings appropriately. To minimize energy consumption, employees can attend work remotely. If this is not feasible, then parking lots with chargers for electric vehicles should be available. To minimize gasoline usage, employees should be given electric company cars. Combined, all these strategies will help reduce—or even eliminate—carbon emissions.

“Miners during the Californian gold rush weren’t the ones who struck it rich. It was the shovel sellers.” Twelve years ago, my personal finance teacher in high school said this. It was an allegory to highlight how there are many people out there who will give you seemingly sound financial advice, but it’s self-serving. It was also a warning that many scammers get rich by preying on those with a get-rich-quick mindset. Anything that sounds too good to be true usually is, but especially with money. He emphasized a skeptical mindset, because there are many people looking out for their own financial interests instead of yours. This was a piece of advice that paid me in dividends over the years. Because of this, I was able to avoid many bad deals and outright scams. I knew several people who should’ve received this vital advice. The most memorable instances this advice served me was when one of my friends tried a new “side hustle”. He listened to an “influencer” who claimed that people could rake in a ton of money through cryptocurrency mining. I was interested too, but I held off because it sounded suspicious. He purchased an expensive course and thousands of dollars in computer equipment to start his new venture. It turned out this “influencer” ran a pump-and-dump scheme, which means he was artificially inflating the cryptocurrency’s price and sell it off before the crash. Sure enough, it crashed, and my friend lost thousands. He sold off his equipment and got some of his money back, but not enough to cover the losses. There are many financial traps in this world, but especially scams. No one is immune, but by keeping this allegory to heart, you can remain financially better off, even if you’re low income.

If I had to pick one scientific discovery, my favorite is polymerization. In layman's terms, polymerization is a chemical reaction that takes small molecules and combines them to form a large chain or network. This relatively simple chemical concept is one major reason why the modern world--and all of its conveniences--exists. From lifesaving pharmaceuticals, to plastics used in all kinds of consumer goods, to textiles, to the automotive industry, there is no part of today's world that hasn't been affected by polymerization. In fact, without it, humanity would've excessively strained or even exhausted many natural resources, like wool and natural rubber, respectively. While the modern world is contributing to climate change, pollution, and other negative environmental effects, I believe that polymerization can help us reverse them. Biodegradable polymers not only have a huge potential to help us transition away from using petroleum and its derivatives, but also prevent carbon production, or even sequester it. Furthermore, biodegradable polymers could prevent the formation microplastics that would eventually harm or kill aquatic wildlife. Biodegradable polymers could also be sourced from agricultural or manufacturing waste, which would normally be burned or disposed of in environmentally harmful ways. I have been keeping a close eye on this research, because I plan to start a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that will help fund more of these important scientific discoveries.

Growing up, I heard frequent stories about my family’s businesses. My grandfather was a founder of a lumberyard. My great-grandfather was a jewelry maker. My uncles were self-employed home contractors and repairmen. One of my cousins ran a computer repair shop. Despite not obtaining degrees, they were all successful enough to take vacations and buy secondary properties. They all worked long, stressful weeks. Eventually, their lack of education caught up to them. After several years, financial and managerial disorganization forced their businesses to close. However, their successes and failures didn’t deter me from wanting to become a business owner. The thought of being my own boss and reaping its rewards excited me, so when I was 16, I started a fashion blog. It was my first failure. Its technical aspects overwhelmed me, and it never turned a profit, so I closed it. Despite that, I kept going. Shortly after, I started selling paintings. I sold some, but I ran into a snag for expansion: I didn’t have a workshop, and my margins were too low to support that cost of expansion. So, I suspended that. I took a years-long hiatus from being self-employed and worked retail jobs so I could go to college and raise enough money for future ventures. I knew that to maximize my success, I needed an accounting degree. Accounting is necessary for business, and by gaining these fundamental skills, I would be able to grow the company and prevent the financial mistakes that my family members made. In January 2020, I officially launched my candle business, with the intent of taking accounting classes in the summer. However, Covid-19 disrupted the global supply chain, and it screeched my new business to a halt. That setback didn’t daunt me. I still enrolled in my local community college and took two full semesters online. Later, I transferred to a different college, and I’m going from there. I am a first-generation student, and I am the first female business owner in my family. After I graduate, I plan to be a nonprofit founder—the first one in my entire family. I want to start a 501 (c)(3) to solve the plastic waste crisis and fund research over sustainable, compostable plastics and packaging alternatives. I realized that the plastic waste crisis was getting worse during the lockdowns, when consumers were forced to shop from home. Online shopping alone generates a ton of plastic waste, and there are few long-term solutions for disposing or recycling it. I will fund much of the nonprofit from my candle business and from other ventures after I pay off my college education. Obtaining an accounting degree will also enable me to launch and run my nonprofit organization efficiently. Winning $500 may not seem much to the average college student, but it’s significant to me. It’s $500 closer to my goals. Currently, the slim profits from my candle business are funding my education. I won’t have to worry so much about low profit months or expanding my business. It will also be one step closer to starting my nonprofit organization. Between my business and being a full-time student, I’m already working long, stressful weeks, but when I graduate and being more able to complete my goals, it will all be worth it.

These days, it is difficult to remain optimistic. In November 2021, my own father passed away from Covid. Inflation has hit a 40-year high. Gas prices remain at record levels, and it will stay that way for some time. Recession, and possibly stagflation, looms on the horizon. There's war in Ukraine, and concerns that China will annex Taiwan. There are shortages everywhere, which is becoming our "new normal". Despite all this, I've remained optimistic. I know that I'm not a helpless victim; I can adapt. Struggling is an opportunity to grow. My favorite quote is: "There can be no enlightenment without suffering", which I fully believe is true. I've reflected that by continuing college, getting my finances in order, and helping friends, family, and neighbors. Lately, I've been helping by giving out free food and consoling domestic abuse victims while I help my elderly mother in daily living. When I focus on other people, it's easier to see that we're all struggling in the same world, and that my problems aren't as big anymore. Having the power to change one's life for the better is encouraging, because that means if you can do it for one person, you can do it for others and yourself. When more people adopt this same mindset, then that makes the world better, one kindness at a time.

I made my entire lifestyle to be more climate friendly. Driving causes significant emissions, so I made sure to walk wherever I can. When that isn't feasible, I take public transportation and make my trips as efficient as possible. I minimize my own consumption. This means preventing impulse purchases, especially when shopping online. Whatever I order, I ensure it's not too much or too heavy. The only things I return are college textbooks I rented. Whenever I need to deliver something, I walk to the post office most of the time. At the grocery store, I skip buying snacks and TV dinners, which often means more plastics. I minimize buying single-use utensils and bottled water. Whatever plastics I do get, I make sure to recycle. I often walk around my entire neighborhood pick up plastics to recycle properly. I recycle most cardboard and paper packaging, but I compost the rest, especially if it's home compost certified. I emphasize eating fruits and vegetables. When I eat meat, it's 2-3 times a week and it's mostly chicken. I supplement the rest of my protein requirements with eggs and protein shakes. Fruit and vegetable scraps go into the compost. I have a small garden that I don't treat with pesticides. I rarely mow the grass, and I let it grow a few more inches before cutting it. I personally promote a "reduce, recycle, and reuse" philosophy. While there's always room for improvement, I know that by reducing my consumption I'm making an impact. I am only one person, but if more people take a similar lifestyle, we can all make a huge difference.

Missing four permanent teeth while having temporal mandibular joint disorder (TMJD) limits my diet. Eating even a bagel is too much because any decent pressure with chewing goes directly to my jaw joints. That means more aching jaw joints, more hours-long headaches, and an increase in ear ringing. So, I have a soft diet. Not that having a soft diet is inherently a bad thing. I don't miss steaks, hard candies, or bagels because I make delicious, healthy smoothies. But sometimes, not being able to eat healthy hard foods like whole nuts poses challenges. Store-bought juices are loaded with sugars (and sometimes even fats), so I often blend my own. I get my several servings of fruits and veggies daily, all in a convenient and healthy smoothie. I love my superfoods, because I know I can get my nutrition in an easier way and rely less on supplements. My favorite category of superfoods are berries. I love the taste of most berries, so if I had to pick my favorite kind, it would be blueberries. (Strawberries are a close second, though.) I think berries are the ultimate superfood due to its flexibility and nutritional value. I can get a decent amount of fiber, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, vitamin K, and other nutrients that would normally be found in nuts. While not perfect, berries are a good substitute for nuts, in my opinion. Where I live, sometimes it’s difficult to get good fruits and vegetables that are tasty but also shelf-stable, but I’ve found that berries fit the bill. In my colder climate, I can grow them well. Every year I have a small harvest of raspberries and strawberries from my garden. I put minimally processed berry jams and preserves on sandwiches; I sprinkle berries on oatmeal and salads; I have them as a desert; I snack on them if I want; and I put them in juices and smoothies, which is my favorite. So far, my favorite smoothie involves avocadoes, blueberries, and bananas, though I’m always on the lookout for more creative and even more antioxidant-rich recipes. I especially like using berries in smoothies to combine them with greens, particularly spinach and kale. Sometimes the taste of spinach or kale is off-putting in larger amounts, so I combine them with berries in smoothies, for an extra nutritional and antioxidant boost and for a sweeter taste. Since I’ve added more berries into my diet, my overall eating has been much healthier. Berries go with lots more fruits and vegetables, so it has been easier in incorporating other leafy greens that I don’t like so much. I’ve also been experimenting with other fruits like pineapple and lingonberry. Without question, my love of berries cascaded into a healthier diet and lifestyle. Since starting college, I noticed I’ve been feeling healthier, too. I wake up less often, and my focus is better. I’m not eating so much white bread and other sugary foods. Most notably, I have one or two TMJD-induced headaches per month, compared to a few times per week. “You are what you eat” is true, but also you are your habits.

I will be completing my accounting bachelor's degree, so that I can be a CEO and founder of businesses and at least one nonprofit organization. Currently, I am the founder of a small but growing home goods/candle business. My margins are decent now, and I am reinvesting the profits into expanding the business. The remaining profits will help fund my education, and eventually into my nonprofit organization. My nonprofit organization will fund research to solve the plastic waste crisis. Throughout the years, it became increasingly obvious even in my area that plastic waste is getting out of control. Almost every bird nest I see is wrapped in plastic; there are shopping bags stuck in trees; and water bottles are floating in the lakes and rivers. Opossums are getting trapped in soda carriers. Yet, other states and countries have it significantly worse, where there are giant piles of plastic outside of cities and trash piling on islands. Scientists have found microplastics in wildlife and even in the human body. There are no safe, climate-friendly ways to dispose most of the plastics. Even recycling is limited. It's clear that research into creating environmentally friendly plastic and plastic alternatives is severely underfunded, and I intend to change that. I'm completing my degree as fast as I can. I am taking summer classes, and I intend to graduate in Spring 2025, so I can launch my nonprofit as soon as possible. If we don't protect our environment now, future generations will be in peril. If we wait too long, they will be left with the extensive cleanup, as well as irreversible climate change. By launching this nonprofit, I intend to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

"With the right education, you can achieve whatever you want." My mother, who dropped out of college to raise a family, said that to me more than a decade ago. While I never questioned her logic, with each passing semester I see more of her wisdom. To me, education is freedom. It's the freedom from living paycheck to paycheck; it's freedom from uncertain economic times. The Covid-19 pandemic forced many businesses to reduce their staff or close their doors entirely. Businesses that remained open had an overwhelmed workforce, many of whom had no choice but to be there. Workers had to balance the risk of putting food on the table or getting infected with Covid. For many without an education, this was harsh reality. I know because this was my reality. In November 2021, while working at my retail job, I unknowingly became infected with Covid. Shortly thereafter, my immediate family members fell ill. Three weeks later, my father passed away from Covid-induced sepsis. The doctors told me that my father could've got Covid "from anywhere" and that I shouldn't blame myself for spreading it. But I will always wonder if I could've prevented it somehow. Many of my other family members, who were college educated, were working from home. For the most part, they dodged Covid. They were able to isolate themselves for long periods of time. I worked in a busy grocery store, so that was impossible for me. Education comes with options. With those options, come security. If another pandemic happens, I have a cushion. Finishing my accounting degree means I have the option to work remotely. If I want to, I could even move into a more rural area and be a tax preparer there. Of course, I could tutor remotely. I could finish a master's degree and become a teacher or a researcher. I have several paths to take. I will choose security, not just for myself but also for future generations. Once I finish my degree, I will launch a nonprofit organization that funds research to solve the plastic waste problem. Currently, there are no long-term solutions that prevent plastics from being incinerated or dumped into the oceans. There are a few technologies still in its infancy, but they are expensive. Taking accounting is vital in running nonprofits, and with my education I can help donors and organizations see past the "costs" of funding very expensive scientific experiments. Two semesters into my degree, and I'm already reaping the benefits of education. I'm able to tutor and I already have part-time. I also started a home goods business, which I will use the profits into paying for my education and setting up enough funds for my nonprofit while I get it structured correctly. I have clear goals, and I will relentlessly pursue them. Education is the launchpad to my ambitions. Without education, my goals would merely be dreams, because I would not have the means to accomplish them. Indeed, I can achieve whatever I want. Thank you for this opportunity.

I watched almost all the blog posts and videos that promised “ninja tricks” and “brain hacks” to maximize my learning. "Organize your desk space. Use the pomodoro technique. Try spaced repetition. Use different colored highlighters (but not too many) and take coffee naps. Eat foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and sniff rosemary essential oil to boost your focus. But make sure you sniff clary sage essential oil at night to help you sleep." I could list even more. Studying about how to study became a job in of itself. It was like I had minored in learning productivity, but it was less fun. Truthfully, it was taking away my time to do my homework. Eventually, I discovered there are no real shortcuts to learning. In accounting, there are hardly any mnemonic devices. There are no clever strategies to learning the federal tax brackets or fast techniques how long-term assets are depreciated. (That is, unless you want to go to jail for financial fraud.) My strategy is threefold: sleep hygiene, taking notes on Excel, and reminders. While simple, all three are highly effective. Sleep hygiene is practicing routines, so that I will fall asleep consistently. Having good sleep is paramount to even better learning and work ethic. Excel is the best “notebook” there is. I can add notes, move columns, and conditionally highlight whatever journal entry I want. I also keep a separate Excel file as a backup calendar in case my automated reminders fail. I’m a big believer in backups: I keep a large whiteboard if my laptop dies. I list assignments by deadlines on my laptop and whiteboard, and I ensure I space out my homework, so I have plenty of time for sleep, work, and breaks.

1. I am an alien from the planet Zqlana’tu. (Good luck pronouncing that, feeble human.) I traveled 672,549 lightyears to your insignificant blue planet called Earth. I deserve the scholarship because I had to put up with my nagging spouse-mate and her Qu’orithian pet during the entire trip. You don’t know the agony of having a Qu’orithian allergy while your spouse-mate endlessly scolds you for missing the last wormhole. 2. World domination! My first step into conquering the Earth and bending all of humanity to my will is becoming an accountant, as a perfect disguise. I will then use my impeccable mind control powers to usurp the Financial Accounting Standards Board and implement the rule that all financial statements must be written in cat emojis. Don’t worry; essays will be next. 3. Once, I was shopping in a grocery store on Earth. There were a couple of employees arguing over who would win in a fight: Batman or Superman. That derailed my superior train of thought, and it was endlessly infuriating me, but I managed to restrain myself from annihilating their minds. With great determination, I approached them, and replied: “Wonder Woman.” They fell silent, and I walked away satisfied.