From the time I was in middle school, I became an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my community, such as geriatrics and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I volunteered my time at assisted living facilities and nursing homes, and became heavily involved in clubs at my school, including Best Buddies. Additionally, I have participated in camps for young children with disabilities, and have shadowed one-on-one sessions with Occupational Therapists. I was raised in a very supportive household and was lucky enough to have a great childhood. My parents taught me how to give back to my community and to those in need. Once I was older, I went out on my own to help improve the lives of others around me. My passion is to allow all underrepresented communities of people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice and encouraging independence so that they can continue to fully contribute to society. I feel this can be done best with Occupational Therapy and I am very excited and energized to pursue an education in this field. I believe that in order for a community to grow, we need to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion into our day to day lives. I believe that working with diverse populations helps me grow as a person and allows me to broaden my perspectives. Working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the geriatrics community has solidified my interest in pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy. I feel my passion, as well as my academic excellence, positions me well to participate in this very competitive field. I have no doubt that I was made to take part in this healthcare profession.

I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my Philadelphia community, such as geriatrics and those with special needs. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. I use most of my free time to volunteer and advocate for those who are silenced by society because they are ‘different’’ or ‘old’. One of my main goals is to bring the respect deserved to those living in assisted living facilities. My passion for advocating for individuals with special needs and those who represent the geriatrics community began when I was in sixth grade at 12 years old. I went on a church mission trip in 2016 to an assisted living facility and met a man named Joe. Joe was in his 90s and was sitting in the corner of the room. He was friendly and we began a brief conversation. Unfortunately, I had to follow my group but I could tell he wanted to continue our conversation. The neglected facility smelled of human waste, the elevator alarms were screeching, and residents were yelling out for help from each room down the narrow hallways. It was really sad to see such a happy man living in conditions like these. After I left, I couldn't help but to think of Mr Joe. My parents called the facility and were able to get his name and told us that we could come back at any time. After this day, my life was changed forever. I visited Mr. Joe for three consecutive years; each weekend spending time listening to stories about his life in Philadelphia, his time serving in the army and the struggles that came with life. He lost his children at young ages, his wife and all family members except a nephew. After his wife passed away, people came to his house and asked him to sign a paper which took away his house and his car. My family was asked to be on his emergency contact list. Sadly, Mr. Joe passed away in December 2019 at the age of 96. He left such an impact on my life and I will forever be thankful that I got the chance to form a relationship with him. My time learning from Mr. Joe sparked a passion deep within me. I found my new found love for geriatrics and spending time in assisted living facilities and senior centers; learning about the differences between state-funded facilities and those that are privately run, understanding the great need for people to pursue careers in geriatrics medicine, and trying to find ways to be an advocate for these dynamic seniors. I have successfully encouraged several of my friends to take an interest in learning more about this underserved community and continue to advocate for their rights. I have since taken a paid position at an assisted living facility to learn more about how assisted living facilities are run, and the differences between independent living and personal/nursing care. My experience has strengthened my interest in pursuing an education in health sciences and Occupational Therapy, specializing in geriatrics medicine. In addition to my paid position, I am volunteering for a special needs camp led by Occupational Therapists to better understand how these skills can be brought to the geriatrics community. My focus is on earning both a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in an accelerated 3+3 Doctor of OT program in the Philadelphia region so that I can continue to restore honor, respect and dignity to this underserved community in my own backyard.

Change is inevitable. It's hard not to change your perspective on certain aspects of your life after experiencing it first hand. For me, this learning came in a very unusual and unexpected way; through an 93-year-old man living in a state-funded nursing home. I met Mr. Joe when I was in the 6th grade through a church organization. In my three years of visiting Mr. Joe I had learned so much about his early life in Philadelphia, his time serving in the army in World War II and the struggles that came with life. After his wife passed away, people came to his house and asked him to sign a paper which took away his house and his car. Eventually he was taken to the nursing home where he had been for over 10 years in a room that he shared with another resident prior to his death. The neglected facility smelled of human waste, the elevator alarms were screeching, and residents were yelling out for help from each room down the narrow hallways. It was really sad to see such a happy man living in conditions like these. My experience visiting Mr. Joe in the nursing home had a lasting impact on my life. I learned how quickly someone can go from living independently to being told when he can eat, shower and have visitors. I also learned that there are stark differences in the level of care provided to residents in state-run vs privately-held facilities. My experience has significantly impacted me to the point that I have made it my life's mission to seek a career in geriatric medicine to make an impact on this very important subset of our population.

I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my Philadelphia community, such as geriatrics and those with special needs. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. I use most of my free time to volunteer and advocate for those who are silenced by society. One of my main goals is to bring the respect deserved to those living in assisted living facilities. I found my new found love for geriatrics and spending time in assisted living facilities and senior centers; learning about the differences between state-funded facilities and those that are privately run, and understanding the great need for people to pursue careers in geriatrics medicine. Many of those in the geriatrics community held widely successful careers, raised families and were great contributors to society but were cast away later in life simply because of their age. I have successfully encouraged several of my friends to take an interest in learning more about this underserved community and continue to advocate for their rights. I have since taken a paid position at an assisted living facility to learn more about how assisted living facilities are run, and the differences between independent living and personal/nursing care. My experience has strengthened my interest in pursuing an education in health sciences and Occupational Therapy, specializing in geriatrics medicine. In addition to my paid position, I am volunteering for a special needs camp led by Occupational Therapists to better understand how these skills can be brought to the geriatrics community. My focus is on entering a entry level accelerated 3+3 OTD program in the Philadelphia region so that I can continue to restore honor, respect and dignity to this underserved community in my own backyard.

The COVID pandemic has created a challenge for many in my peer group, and I am no exception. The isolation of conducting school remotely, and the loss of activities and socialization from my peer group proved to be difficult and took a toll on my mental health. To help myself, I found and employed a number of strategies to help better myself. I discovered that eating right, exercising regularly and getting adequate sleep are vital to maintaining a healthy body and mind. I also find music, meditation and journaling to be a soothing activity which helps to eliminate or alleviate stress. Time spent with my family and loved ones also sets my mind at ease. I also find time spent in nature to be soothing. Taking long walks and listening to babbling brooks and nesting birds, gives me a sense of comfort. Taking in long breaths of fresh air awakens my mind, body and spirit. When I find a tactic to be helpful, I quickly share with others. Whether it is an encouraging word, or a humorous video, I enjoy sending it to family and friends. It truly feels good to do good.

I have always enjoyed sitting down and reading a book. I have read many great books in my life, but only one has put such a lasting impact on my life. "Between Two Kingdoms'' by Suleika Jaouad was both a heartbreaking and heartwarming true story. She chronicled her life during her journey with cancer, through diagnosis to remission. Suleika was diagnosed with leukemia and was given a low percentage of survival. Her story takes the reader through the highs and lows of her fight with aggressive cancer. Her stories were both inspiring and devastating. She did not want her illness to define who she was as a person, and felt as though everything was stripped away from her unwillingly. She decided to go on a road trip and stay with some of the people who had previously written her letters of encouragement throughout her treatment. Throughout her trip, she was able to find herself again and rediscover the person who was locked deep inside of her. Her experiences led her to discover who she truly was, what brought her joy, and how she was able to take control again, despite her illness. This book showed me how to live life to the fullest extent and to cherish every moment that is given to you. Suleika showed me how to persevere when things get hard even when she was in the face of death. I have recommended this book time and time again and my biggest hope is that she will get the recognition she deserves.

1.) This is a tough question. Short answer: I don't. Long answer: I don't want it but I need it and my mother is making me apply for these. 2.) Career goals? I couldn't tell you any goals I have besides finishing every episode in every season of Grey's Anatomy for the rest of my life. Oh I almost forgot, I want to be insanely wealthy. 3.) I never overcome obstacles because my life is perfect and I am beautiful and awesome and amazing and funny and overall just always right so I never have to "overcome obstacles".

I have encountered many people who have given me great advice. My mom, dad, teachers, counselors, and even pinterest quotes keep me motivated on how to stay successful in life. Although these were all great pieces of advice, they all seemed cliché and didn't necessarily resonate with me personally. In my sophomore year of high school I took AP psychology and we learned all about the different neurologists and founders of psychology. When we learned about Sigmund Freud, I had done my own research and found something he had said that whole heartedly moved me. He had said, "Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.", and this quote will forever live within me. I have struggled with anxiety for quite some time now and I had a problem where I couldn't express the emotions I was feeling. I physically was unable to talk about the way I was feeling which left me no hope in ever getting better. When I read this quote, it all came into perspective that I needed to change the way I was coping or I would never move past this. I knew this feeling where these emotions aren't just buried dead and will never come back to surface but instead they come back to haunt you. It took a long time of practice but I have grown exponentially in two years where I can express the way I am feeling and I can get the help I need. Although Sigmund Freud didn't give this advice personally to me, it has still helped me grow as a person giving me the realization that I can help myself if I can put in the time and effort.

Nature is one of the most beautiful things available to all living creatures. Nature involves both biotic and abiotic organisms that fill our Earth with beauty and diversity. Most times nature is overlooked whether it be living in urban environments, constantly looking down at your phone, or just the underappreciation for what is laying out directly in front of you. By paying attention to the beauty in nature, it allows me to slow down and appreciate the small things in life. It feels as though time is going through slow motion and I am able to take in a deep breath of air and notice my surroundings. I love sitting outside, watching sunsets creep behind the hills, listen to birds come out in the mornings, hear the sounds of crashing waves on the beaches, and smell the scent of fresh rain on the grounds of forests. Nature releases dopamine, adrenaline, and serotonin to the mind and body. I make sure to live life by appreciating nature instead of burying my face into my phone and missing what is in front of me. Gratitude is a huge part of my life now and I am so unbelievably thankful that I see the world in a beautiful way. I want others to appreciate it the same way which is why I am also an activist for climate change, keeping our community clean, and conserving natural resources. I use social media as a platform to show the beauty of our Earth and how it is extremely important that we act now to save it from the negative effects that are caused by humans.

I have struggled with anxiety for quite some time now. It has affected my time going to school, work, and overall my day to day life. After the pandemic, my anxiety worsened like many others. Therapy did not seem to help and I tried many different efforts to help myself through this time without being on medication which was a personal choice I made. One thing that does improve my mental health is volunteering. It relieves stress and anxiety when I can volunteer my time with acts of service and donating goods to organizations that work with those in need of assistance around my community. I started volunteering and donating at a very young age. Working with organizations that serve people with diverse backgrounds allows me to see life in a different perspective by seeing all walks of life. My volunteer efforts have helped many people who are in need of assistance, including those who are underrepresented, and those who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. There is a big stigma attached to those who live in poverty and volunteering has helped broaden my perspective on how you can help provide that extra support needed in order to get people back on their feet again. I have met some incredible, hard working people during this experience and I was very fortunate to come in contact with those who would tell me about their lives and how different it is from mine. This has become my passion and it has not only helped those around me but it has helped me grow exponentially as who I am as a person. It has improved my mental health and I will continue to push forward through hard times by volunteering.

No matter what background, status, or income level, we all have the ability to express generosity. Many people may believe that generosity is giving away money to various organizations but in reality, generosity is not a materialistic idea. You can be generous by giving your time to help your community, spreading kind words to those around you, or assisting someone in need at the grocery store. You don't need to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to be considered generous. Many people do not have that ability to donate some of their income due to certain circumstances but that does not make someone selfish. Everyone has the ability to help those around them no matter how much money you have. Generosity is what makes this world go round. Without people who express generosity, kindness, and compassion, there is great hurting in the world from selfishness. Many of those around us silently struggle whether it be mentally, financially, emotionally or physically and the slightest bit of generosity from a few kind words can drastically improve someone's day. It is very important to think about others in your day to day lives because it creates a healthier mindset in which you are willing to not only improve your day, but others around you as well.

I have always made it a priority in my life to both excel in school and to pursue a healthy lifestyle. By having the balance between these two goals, it has shaped me into the person I am today. In my life, it has always been important to do well in school. I push myself to achieve straight A's, taking rigorous courses, while also taking care of my mind and body. This has always seemed like a lot to juggle all at the same time, but I have learned many different strategies that have helped me stay well rounded in academics and other areas of my life as well. When it comes to studying, I make sure to take the time to really focus. This means putting away all distractions, especially my phone. I make sure to make learning fun for myself. I use colorful pens and I try to work outside as much as possible when the weather is nice. By being outside it improves my mood exponentially and helps keep my focused to complete any work that needs to be done. I also make sure to take breaks in between study sessions. I am not a robot so I can't sit through hours upon hours of studying the materials layed out in front of me. I always make sure to make a healthy meal that will give me the nutrients needed to keep me focused. Having a healthy amount of sleep also helps give me the energy to complete my studies the next day. Overall, you need a good balance between academics and having the knowledge on how you can help fuel your mind and body while you work towards success.

My goal is to educate others on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities and the geriatrics community cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the elderly, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. Best Buddies, Special Olympics, and the geriatrics community has brought me to the career of Occupational Therapy. My hopes in the future are to continue working with these groups of individuals and help them succeed in their day to day lives. I am applying for accelerated 3+3 OTD programs with a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences. I am ambitious, hard working, and driven which will help me succeed in this rigorous program. Spending time with these individuals helps grow my passion stronger and stronger each day. By working as an Occupational Therapist, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and still continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

If I were awarded the 1,000 dollars, I would use it all for college expenses. I am applying this fall to schools for Occupational Therapy programs that offer a Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy as well as a bachelors degree in Health Sciences. My hope is to get into an accelerated 3+3 program of only 6 years instead of 7-8 years to reduce the costs of my education. I will continue my rigourous schooling throughout the summers and the school year but I am willing to commit to this education if it reduces the amount I would normally have to pay. I will primarily use this money for textbooks needed for my courses as well as using some for the costs of living on campus. I am very financially conscious so I would not spend the money on items that are not needed. I am very excited to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy and Health Sciences and this scholarship would help reduce the stress of paying for my education. My passion is to help the geriatrics community and those with special needs to give them a voice and allow them to live freely in their daily lives. If I can go to college to work with these individuals, then my dream would come true.

I believe that math is critical in the education system. It provides an outlet for students to test their capabilities. By starting math at a young age, a passion can be ignited which engages students to participate in STEM programs that allow them to express their creativity. Many professions need math such as engineering, the medical field, technology, mechanics, entrepreneurship, and many more. Math has always been my favorite subject in school because it creates a challenge that allows me to grow in my education. It helps problem solving, creativity, using prior knowledge, and critical thinking. These skills are all important to a person's day to day life in order for them to succeed. Math can teach you a lot about yourself and can help you realize your own capabilities. I will forever be grateful that I had the opportunity to have an education in algebra, geometry, calculus, and many other skills learned from my teachers and classmates.

The COVID pandemic has created a challenge for many in my peer group, and I am no exception. The isolation of conducting school remotely, and the loss of activities and socialization from my peer group proved to be difficult and took a toll on my mental health. To help myself, I found and employed a number of strategies to help better myself. I discovered that eating right, exercising regularly and getting adequate sleep are vital to maintaining a healthy body and mind. I also find music, meditation and journaling to be a soothing activity which helps to eliminate or alleviate stress. I have struggled with anxiety for quite some time now. It has affected my time going to school, work, and overall my day to day life. After the pandemic, my anxiety worsened like many others. Therapy did not seem to help and I tried many different efforts to help myself through this time without being on medication which was a personal choice I made. One thing that does improve my mental health is volunteering. It relieves stress and anxiety when I can volunteer my time with acts of service and donating goods to organizations that work with those in need of assistance around my community. I started volunteering and donating at a very young age. Working with organizations that serve people with diverse backgrounds allows me to see life in a different perspective by seeing all walks of life. My volunteer efforts have helped many people who are in need of assistance, including those who are underrepresented, and those who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. One of my favorite ways to help my community is by participating in Best Buddies. My main goal is to provide inclusion for those with special needs and encourage friendships inside of my school. I have been involved with Best Buddies for six years and this is currently my third year being chosen to be a peer buddy. Best Buddies has helped me find my passion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I will continue to advocate for inclusion for all abilities. I have made the best relationships with my buddies and I stay in contact with all of them to this day. Our families have become very close and I would consider them family myself. These are friendships that you cannot find anywhere else and I could not be more grateful to be involved and find my passion through this organization. Another one of my favorite ways to volunteer is by working with Community Youth and Women Alliances (CYWA). This past summer, I had rediscovered the organization from past volunteer days with my church and I decided to return. My volunteer efforts include taking donated food from Wegmans, Giant, Walmart, Wawa and more and making boxes of goods to be distributed to families in need. There were people who would bike a long distance to get this food, and I also helped people walk back to their houses and carry the heavy boxes for them. There is a big stigma attached to those who live in poverty and by volunteering at CYWA, that helped broaden my perspective on how you can help provide that extra support needed in order to get people back on their feet again. I have met some incredible, hard working people during this experience and I was very fortunate to come in contact with those who would tell me about their lives and how different it is from mine. CYWA also houses women and children who are struggling with drug abuse or cannot afford housing. They help these women get back on their feet by providing therapies and job outlets. I am involved with so many other organizations throughout my community and I believe that by staying involved really makes a difference. By having extra time on my hands, I choose to use it to help others improve their daily lives. By seeing the impact I could make on others, it improves my outlook on life itself. It brings me hope that there still is good in the world and has pushed me to continue helping others by pursuing an education in Occupational Therapy. This has become my passion and it has not only helped those around me but it has helped me grow exponentially as who I am as a person. It has improved my mental health and I will continue to push forward through hard times by volunteering.

The meaning of life is to live life freely. You are given one chance at life here on Earth and many people have that taken away from them too soon. Live life to the fullest because every second matters. Life was not made so you can dwell on the past or worry about the future. Tomorrow is not promised for anyone and that is why it is so important to put yourself out there and experience the beauty in life. I take this to heart because I sometimes find myself in anxious spirals where I end up lying in bed in the dark. I have to remind myself that there is more to life than what I experience living with anxiety. I push myself to go outside each day and truly take in the little things in life. I like to listen to the birds sing, smell the sweet scent of burning firewood, and take in deep breaths as gusts of wind whip by. I currently work in a hospital and I see both the beginning and end of life through many different forms. No one is guaranteed the next day and that is why I practice living life to the fullest and making sure to be kind to everyone around me. Life is not perfect but you can improve your life by having a more positive attitude and living freely. Today was brought to you as a gift; don't take it for granted.

I grew up in a Philadelphia suburb to two hard working parents--first generation college graduates--who always instilled in me and my sister the value of gratitude and giving back. This has led me to live a life of empathy and striving for equity and inclusion for all. From the time I can remember, I have volunteered in fundraisers and food drives. Additionally, I was introduced early on to volunteering with the geriatrics and special needs communities. These groups of incredible people have taught me so much and have furthered my interest in pursuing an education, and ultimately a career, in helping these communities of people as an Occupational Therapist. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their lives that further my own knowledge. I have learned about World War II, the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. Currently, I am the president of our chapter in my high school. I have learned an incredible amount from the parents who have sacrificed so much in the name of their children. They have shown me to appreciate each and every day with gratitude, and to celebrate even the smallest wins. I am so grateful to have grown up with supportive parents who instilled these values in me. It truly makes me thankful for everything I have and creates a great need for me to want to give back to those who have less.

I grew up in a Philadelphia suburb to two hard working parents--first generation college graduates--who always instilled in me and my sister the value of gratitude and giving back. This has led me to live a life of empathy and striving for equity and inclusion for all. From the time I can remember, I have volunteered in fundraisers and food drives. Additionally, I was introduced early on to volunteering with the geriatrics and special needs communities. These groups of incredible people have taught me so much and have furthered my interest in pursuing an education, and ultimately a career, in helping these communities of people as an Occupational Therapist. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their lives that further my own knowledge. I have learned about World War II, the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. Currently, I am the president of our chapter in my high school and educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy and I will continue to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see.

I grew up in a Philadelphia suburb to two hard working parents who always instilled in me and my sister the value of gratitude and giving back. This has led me to live a life of empathy and striving for equity and inclusion for all. From the time I can remember, I have volunteered in fundraisers and food drives. Additionally, I was introduced early on to volunteering with the geriatrics and special needs communities. These groups of incredible people have taught me so much and have furthered my interest in pursuing an education, and ultimately a career, in helping these communities of people as an Occupational Therapist. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their lives that further my own knowledge. I have learned about World War II, the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. Currently, I am the president of our chapter in my high school and educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I have found my passion which has led to my interest in Occupational Therapy. I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see.

I grew up in a Philadelphia suburb to two hard working parents--first generation college graduates--who always instilled in me and my sister the value of gratitude and giving back. This has led me to live a life of empathy and striving for equity and inclusion for all. From the time I can remember, I have volunteered in fundraisers and food drives. Additionally, I was introduced early on to volunteering with the geriatrics and special needs communities. These groups of incredible people have taught me so much and have furthered my interest in pursing an education, and ultimately a career, in helping these communities of people as an Occupational Therapist. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their lives that further my own knowledge. I have learned about World War II, the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. Currently, I am the president of our chapter in my high school and educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see.

My motivation stems from my passion. My passion for helping those in the geriatrics community and those with disabilities forms the drive that keeps pushing me towards my end goal of helping these people long term by becoming an Occupational Therapist. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. I have taken jobs at an assisted living facility and a hospital to stay close to where I grow best. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their past lives that further my own knowledge. I hear about how some fought World War II, the experience of the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with Special Olympics and Best Buddies. Currently, I am the president of our chapter in my high school and educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have met incredible people of all abilities who have shown me hard work and kindness in the face of adversity. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see.

I speak my mind freely by advocating for those who are currently underrepresented such as those with disabilities and the geriatrics community. I am a white, young, straight, female which gives me a better chance to have my voice heard for those who are silenced. In today's society, many people just observe the damages being done to those who are not given the chance to be listened to. My main goal is to give these people a voice and let them be heard for their struggles. I also want to make sure that I educate others about these issues so that they can find ways they can help in their own communities as well. There needs to be many changes made to transform into equity, acceptance of diversity, and inclusion of all people. I use my voice to speak out against these inequalities and use my time to serve those in my community. I donate a lot of my personal time to volunteer and help those who are experiencing homelessness, drug abuse, poverty, the geriatrics community, domestic violence's, lack of education, those suffering with mental health, and so much more. By working within these environments, I am able to see the diverse backgrounds of each individual and how it helps me grow as a person by broadening my perspectives. Diversity is what creates a strong community and we need to learn to accept those around us in order to achieve this goal. I will continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented until they have been given the voice they deserve.

I pride myself as an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my community, namely the geriatrics community and those with special needs. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. My time working with these individuals has allowed me the chance to share my passions with my peers by educating them about the needs of people in these communities. This has led to me successfully encouraging many of my peers to take part in various activities, and even take leadership positions in some of the clubs at my school that serve these communities. I was able to experience my peers find their own passions as well by participating in the clubs and activities I introduced them to. Mentoring and educating others has helped me further my mission to cast an even wider net of peers who will continue to advocate for these deserving, yet often overlooked, groups of people. My hope is that my mentorship to my peers will create champions for those in the geriatrics and special needs communities to further encourage honor and respect.

Confidence is self assurance knowing that you have strong beliefs in yourself and your capabilities. You have a sense of pride in the person you are becoming and refuse to cower under the pressures and opinions of others. It may seem easy to pursue, but it needs a lot of practice. For me, middle school was the place that wrecked any sense of confidence I owned. I realized the impact of social norms and pressures that came along with puberty and forming relationships with other teens. This brought down my confidence and the way I looked at myself. It has taken a long time to figure out exactly who I am and to realize my own capabilities. I started to learn how to hold my head high and stand tall within my beliefs. I have become a strong advocate in my community for those who are underrepresented such as those with special needs and geriatrics. By becoming a leader, I needed to face my anxieties that society created and realize that I can have an impact on those around me. I am now fully confident in the person I am and have used my voice and actions to better improve the lives of others. Confidence has helped change my life dramatically by helping myself realize what I have to offer. I have grown exponentially as a person and I know that there is still more left to work on in order to reach my highest potential.

I make sure to live my life through selflessness. I believe that in order to achieve a greater community, there needs to be acts of selflessness. In my own community, I embody selflessness by volunteering my time with acts of service and donating goods to organizations that work with those in need of assistance around my community. I pride myself as an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my community, namely the geriatrics community and those with special needs. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. Working with many different organizations that serve people with diverse backgrounds allows me to see life in a different perspective by seeing all walks of life. One of my favorite ways to help my community is by participating in Best Buddies. Best Buddies has helped me find my passion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I will continue to advocate for inclusion for all abilities. Additionally, I am actively engaged with working in assisted living facilities. I am always so excited to go in and talk to all of the residents. I love all of the stories they tell me, and the advice they give as well. My favorite part is serving in the personal care where residents who have had strokes, have dementia or Alzheimer's, or those who are blind or deaf reside. There is a large stigma around the mental capabilities for those who are in the geriatrics community. My greatest joy is knowing that I can give them a voice to share their stories once again and to make sure that they are treated with the respect they deserve.

I pride myself as an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my community, namely the geriatrics community and those with special needs. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. I make sure to live my life through treating others with empathy. I believe that in order to achieve a greater community, there needs to be acts of selflessness. In my own community, I embody empathy by volunteering my time with acts of service. Working with organizations that serve people with diverse backgrounds allows me to see life in a different perspective by seeing all walks of life. One of my favorite ways to help my community is by participating in Best Buddies. Best Buddies has helped me find my passion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I will continue to advocate for inclusion for all abilities. Additionally, I am actively engaged with working in assisted living facilities. I am always so excited to go in and talk to all of the residents. I love all of the stories they tell me, and the advice they give as well. My favorite part is serving in the personal care where residents who have had strokes, have dementia or Alzheimer's, or those who are blind or deaf reside. I like to sit down with the ones who are feeling lost and confused and assure them that they are safe. These people were extraordinary people in their time. Some were famous actors, dancers, singers, doctors and the greatest lawyers and politicians, but they are oftentimes underrepresented. My greatest joy is knowing that I can give them a voice to share their stories once again and to make sure that they are treated with the respect they deserve.

The COVID pandemic has created a challenge for many in my peer group, and I am no exception. The isolation of conducting school remotely, and the loss of activities and socialization from my peer group proved to be difficult and took a toll on my mental health. To help myself, I found and employed a number of strategies to help better myself. I discovered that eating right, exercising regularly and getting adequate sleep are vital to maintaining a healthy body and mind. I also find music, meditation and journaling to be a soothing activity which helps to eliminate or alleviate stress. Time spent with my family and loved ones also sets my mind at ease. I also find time spent in nature to be soothing. Taking long walks and listening to babbling brooks and nesting birds, sets my mind at ease. Taking in long breaths of fresh air awakens my mind, body and spirit. When I find a tactic to be helpful, I quickly share with others. Whether it is an encouraging word, or a humorous video, I enjoy sending it to family and friends. It truly feels good to do good.

I pride myself as an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my community, namely the geriatrics community and those with special needs. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. My time working with these individuals has allowed me the chance to share my passions with my peers by educating them about the needs of people in these communities. This has led to me successfully encouraging several peers to take part in various activities, and even take a leadership role in some of the clubs at my school that serve these communities. Mentoring and educating others has helped me further my mission to cast an even wider net of peers who will continue to advocate for these deserving, yet often overlooked, groups of people. My hope is that my mentorship to my peers will create champions for those in the geriatrics and special needs communities to further encourage honor and respect.

I have struggled with anxiety for quite some time now. It has affected my time going to school, work, and overall my day to day life. After the pandemic, my anxiety worsened like many others. Therapy did not seem to help and I tried many different efforts to help myself through this time without being on medication which was a personal choice I made. One thing that does improve my mental health is volunteering. It relieves stress and anxiety when I can volunteer my time with acts of service and donating goods to organizations that work with those in need of assistance around my community. I started volunteering and donating at a very young age. Working with organizations that serve people with diverse backgrounds allows me to see life in a different perspective by seeing all walks of life. My volunteer efforts have helped many people who are in need of assistance, including those who are underrepresented, and those who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. One of my favorite ways to help my community is by participating in Best Buddies. My main goal is to provide inclusion for those with special needs and encourage friendships inside of my school. I have been involved with Best Buddies for six years and this is currently my third year being chosen to be a peer buddy. Best Buddies has helped me find my passion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I will continue to advocate for inclusion for all abilities. I have made the best relationships with my buddies and I stay in contact with all of them to this day. Our families have become very close and I would consider them family myself. These are friendships that you cannot find anywhere else and I could not be more grateful to be involved and find my passion through this organization. Another one of my favorite ways to volunteer is by working with Community Youth and Women Alliances (CYWA). This past summer, I had rediscovered the organization from past volunteer days with my church and I decided to return. My volunteer efforts include taking donated food from Wegmans, Giant, Walmart, Wawa and more and making boxes of goods to be distributed to families in need. There were people who would bike a long distance to get this food, and I also helped people walk back to their houses and carry the heavy boxes for them. There is a big stigma attached to those who live in poverty and by volunteering at CYWA, that helped broaden my perspective on how you can help provide that extra support needed in order to get people back on their feet again. I have met some incredible, hard working people during this experience and I was very fortunate to come in contact with those who would tell me about their lives and how different it is from mine. CYWA also houses women and children who are struggling with drug abuse or cannot afford housing. They help these women get back on their feet by providing therapies and job outlets. I am involved with so many other organizations throughout my community and I believe that by staying involved really makes a difference. By having extra time on my hands, I choose to use it to help others improve their daily lives. This has become my passion and it has not only helped those around me but it has helped me grow exponentially as who I am as a person. It has improved my mental health and I will continue to push forward through hard times by volunteering.

There are many of things that bring me joy. Some may include spending time with the people I love, such as my family and friends, going outside and enjoying the warm weather, or curling up on the couch reading my favorite books. Joy is the emotion in which you are happy. I used to struggle a lot with finding my own happiness, especially once covid happened; it was very difficult to find the positives in the world around me when it felt like everything was falling apart right in front of my eyes. I had went to therapy and learned how to find the joy I once had. The best thing I took out from therapy was finding the little things and living life with gratitude. Now I can look at everything around me and realize how many things make me happy. I see little things like the orange haze on the sides of buildings as a sunset casts off in the horizon, smell the soft scents like coffee from nearby shops, and hear the laughter of young children as they walk hand in hand with their parents on the cobblestone streets eating ice cream. I like to capture these moments and recognize that there is so much to be thankful for even when there are things in life that become obstacles. I listen closer, see things deeper, and just overall take in life with deep breaths. You only get one chance at life and I have dedicated my life to living it to the fullest by using gratitude and thankfulness. I feel at ease now that I have a different perspective. I enjoy sharing these moments on social media with my family and friends. I am now thankful to say that I am truly happy.

There are many of things that make me happy. Some may include spending time with the people I love, such as my family and friends, going outside and enjoying the warm weather, or curling up on the couch reading my favorite books. I used to struggle a lot with finding my own happiness, especially once covid happened; it was very difficult to find the positives in the world around me when it felt like everything was falling apart right in front of my eyes. I had went to therapy and learned how to find the joy I once had. The best thing I took out from therapy was finding the little things and living life with gratitude. Now I can look at everything around me and realize how many things make me happy. I see little things like the orange haze on the sides of buildings as a sunset casts off in the horizon, smell the soft scents like coffee from nearby shops, and hear the laughter of young children as they walk hand in hand with their parents on the cobblestone streets eating ice cream. I like to capture these moments and recognize that there is so much to be thankful for even when there are things in life that become obstacles. I listen closer, see things deeper, and just overall take in life with deep breaths. You only get one chance at life and I have dedicated my life to living it to the fullest by using gratitude and thankfulness. I feel at ease now that I have a different perspective. I enjoy sharing these moments on social media with my family and friends. I am now thankful to say that I am truly happy.

I make sure to live my life through selflessness. I believe that in order to achieve a greater community, there needs to be acts of selflessness. In my own community, I embody selflessness by volunteering my time with acts of service and donating goods to organizations that work with those in need of assistance around my community. I started volunteering and donating at a very young age. Working with organizations that serve people with diverse backgrounds allows me to see life in a different perspective by seeing all walks of life. My volunteer efforts have helped many people who are in need of assistance, including those who are underrepresented, and those who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. One of my favorite ways to help my community is by participating in Best Buddies. My main goal is to provide inclusion for those with special needs and encourage friendships inside of my school. I have been involved with Best Buddies for six years and this is currently my third year being chosen to be a peer buddy. Best Buddies has helped me find my passion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I will continue to advocate for inclusion for all abilities. I have made the best relationships with my buddies and I stay in contact with all of them to this day. Our families have become very close and I would consider them family myself. These are friendships that you cannot find anywhere else and I could not be more grateful to be involved and find my passion through this organization. Another one of my favorite ways to volunteer is by working with Community Youth and Women Alliances (CYWA). This past summer, I had rediscovered the organization from past volunteer days with my church and I decided to return. My volunteer efforts include taking donated food from Wegmans, Giant, Walmart, Wawa and more and making boxes of goods to be distributed to families in need. There were people who would bike a long distance to get this food, and I also helped people walk back to their houses and carry the heavy boxes for them. There is a big stigma attached to those who live in poverty and by volunteering at CYWA, that helped broaden my perspective on how you can help provide that extra support needed in order to get people back on their feet again. I have met some incredible, hard working people during this experience and I was very fortunate to come in contact with those who would tell me about their lives and how different it is from mine. CYWA also houses women and children who are struggling with drug abuse or cannot afford housing. They help these women get back on their feet by providing therapies and job outlets. I am involved with so many other organizations throughout my community and I believe that by staying involved really makes a difference. By having extra time on my hands, I choose to use it to help others improve their daily lives. This has become my passion and it has not only helped those around me but it has helped me grow exponentially as who I am as a person.

Improving the lives of elderly in my community has been a passion of mine since I was in the 6th grade. It all started when I went on a church mission trip in 2016 to an assisted living facility and met a man named Joe. I formed a bond with Mr. Joe and would visit him weekly for three consecutive years. He had lost all of his family members and my family was used as his emergency contact list. Sadly, Mr. Joe passed away in December 2019 at the age of 96 and I felt a big piece of me was missing, which led to me seeking an opportunity to work in an assisted living facility in 2021 as a food server. To me, it doesn't feel like I am going to work everyday. I am always so excited to go in and talk to all of the residents. I love all of the stories they tell me, and the advice they give as well. My favorite part is serving in the personal care center where residents who have had strokes, have dementia or Alzheimer's, or those who are blind or deaf reside. I like to sit down with the ones who are feeling lost and confused and assure them that they are safe. These people were extraordinary people in their time. Some were famous actors, dancers, singers, doctors and the greatest lawyers and politicians, but they are oftentimes underrepresented. My greatest joy is knowing that I can give them a voice to share their stories once again and to make sure that they are treated with the respect they deserve.