I’m the type of person who’s always willing to help my community, and volunteering is a prominent part of my life. Whether it’s stocking a tiny food pantry for kids in need, helping military veterans, setting up a creative writing event for elementary students, or participating in park cleanups, I try to help wherever I can. As I’ve been raised with the mindset of “leave the place better than you found it,” I’m constantly looking for ways to do my part. For most of my life, I barely knew anything about climate change except that it existed. This was until I joined my school’s People for the Ethical Treatment of the Environment (PETE) Club. I gained the opportunity not only to participate in activities like our school’s garden or seasonal thrift shop but also to spend time learning about food literacy and other sustainable practices. The president even introduced me to a community farm in Petersburg, where we volunteer on a weekly basis. I enjoy these opportunities to learn. However, my decision to take AP Environmental Science was the most impactful. You don’t realize how much we take life for granted until you hear about the thousands of people and creatures harmed (whether they know it or not) or displaced by urbanization and industrialization practices. From that lesson, I decided to continue learning about the environment and settled on earning my environmental engineering degree. My hope is that the knowledge I gain as an environmental engineer will allow me an intimate glimpse into the various problems affecting communities around the globe. As a result, in the coming years, I will attempt to present and implement my solutions by becoming a government official. This scholarship would help me pursue my dream of receiving a higher education and give me the time needed to focus on my studies. Environmental engineering touches on many different issues, so I am very eager to go to college and find out where my skills will be most beneficial. With so many opportunities waiting for me, I want the peace of mind that allows me to take advantage of them to the best of my ability.

As tough of a question as it is, I'd have to choose my middle school English teacher, Ms. Robinson.        I am a literary arts major at my school. Even if that's not my goal in college, it still played a significant role in helping me become who I am. Simply put, I'm too quiet. Rarely ever will you hear me over a crowd, so I write to express the emotions everyone ignored. Ms. Robinson was the first person to see that. She liked the stories I wrote for class assignments and looked at my poems when I applied to my current school. Ms. Robinson was the only person who saw this side of me, so she was the only one who could genuinely encourage it.        I love her like an aunt. I knew I would miss her when I transferred schools, and she would miss me just as much. She encouraged me to leave because she knew it would give me the opportunity to grow as I needed with the tools I needed. With this, I knew that by the end of my four years, I had to ensure that I could look Ms. Robinson in the eyes and tell her I made the right decision. Turns out I didn't have to wait four years. Just last year, I won two contests in fiction and poetry, with several of my pieces getting accepted into other literary magazines. I came back to see her at my old school one day, and she almost cried when I told her the news.          As she hugged me, I felt rejuvenated. That's the only way to describe it. High school was a challenging experience, but knowing I made her proud gave me a new burst of energy. Whether in my literary arts endeavors, dual enrollment courses, or community service, I am confident that I can do whatever I set my mind to. I may still be quiet, but I've found a way to be heard through my actions.         People know me now from the play I wrote, the contests I've won, my community service, and my presidency in my school's National English Honor Society. All that barely scratches the surface of everything that's happened. I've done a lot and will continue doing a lot with my life. All the new opportunities at Virginia Tech, each and every one is another opportunity to show the world what I'm capable of. I'll become the person middle school me would envy (Ms. Robinson already says she brags about me to her students). All the while, Ms. Robinson will continue cheering me on from my mom's Facebook page.