One volunteering event I organized during my time in Key Club was a local library storytime for young children. Each month, I chose several books and a craft, all based on a theme like "snow" or "spring". Other Key Club members would join me to read to the children and help them put together a small craft that they could take home. Reading and art have always been huge parts of my life, so getting to share this with local children while giving them and their families a great time was incredibly special. Another event through Key Club I organized was a collection for the Women's Agape Shelter in Lebanon, PA that supports women and children in need, both in the local community and housed in their shelter. Their organization stood out to me on the list of different organizations that our club has collected for in the past. The support they give to women and children is so incredibly important and is not possible without help from those who are able to give it. While I forget the amount of items that we collected, we filled up my car with cleaning products, feminine supplies, kitchen products, tissues, and much more. This collection that I organized ended up being one of the most successful in our club that year. Through Key Club, I also planned and organized a senior dinner dance for the senior citizens in my district. Between August and March, I planned the decorations, collected all the materials either through club funds or club members, and assembled the decorations with the help of other Key Club members. The decorations covered the walls of our cafeteria, pillars, check-in area, tables, and stage for the musicians. We created an Under-the-Sea atmosphere with a blue and white balloon arch, DIY underwater creatures like jellyfish, fish cutouts, fishnets, seashells, seaglass, and more. It was amazing to see the looks on the attendee's faces and see how much they enjoyed the night. A group of Key Club members including me decorated the cafeteria, served the dinner, danced with the guests, and cleaned up. We were joined by a group of local musicians who played throughout the evening, as well as members of our district administration. It was wonderful to be able to provide a fun, carefree evening for older members of our local community and connect with them through dinner and dancing. Everyone had such an amazing time, including both the guests and the Key Club volunteers. Throughout all of these leadership experiences, as well as other events that I have volunteered at run by other members, I have learned how important community service is. Everyone needs some sort of support in their lives, whether it comes in the form of food and item donations, cards and craft kits for children in the hospital, thank-you cards and baked goods for local teachers and bus drivers, a fun night for senior citizens, activities and games run by high schoolers for elementary school kids, and volunteers at a local event. Throughout my three years in Key Club, I watched how my service directly and indirectly helped so many individuals in my local community. By taking leadership roles, I was able to increase my impact and inspire others in my school to do the same. Moving forward, I strive to use this same passion to help more people around me.

I've always felt different than everyone else. Perhaps it was my undiagnosed autism and ADHD that set me apart from others. My way of communicating has always been different, meaning being understood in relationships and conversations was rare. Or perhaps it was my preference for solitude and fictional worlds over most others my age. I spent most of my childhood either alone, with a book in hand, or both. Or maybe it's that my deeply held beliefs didn't quite match those around me. In my conservative country town, I was (and still am) someone who believes that love is love, family is more than blood, someone is more than what they look like or how they dress, and that everyone is worthy of love, happiness, respect, and the support they need. Whatever the reason, I've always felt like I didn't fit in. It took me years of trying to fit in before I realized that no matter what I did, I was still different. Trying to be like everyone else was draining my energy and leaving me unhappy and still different. So I gave up on trying to be like everyone else, which was a long, complex process that I'm still working on to this day. I had to learn how much of myself was "me" and how much was me trying to be someone else. I stopped forcing myself to participate in "stereotypical" things just because I was "supposed to". I stopped going to school dances because they genuinely made me uncomfortable, even senior prom. I stopped listening to artists just because they were popular; instead, I listened to music that made me feel safe and seen. I started to rewatch comfort tv shows instead of starting a new, popular show that wasn't interesting to me. All of these things helped me to find what I truly enjoyed, not just what I forced myself to like. I started making decisions based on me and not what I felt I was supposed to do. I enrolled in a small college close to home so I can commute to my classes. I cut my hair into a really short bixie that I had wanted to for over a year and have been dyeing it with temporary dye because I like the color. I started wearing close based on what I liked and what was comfortable, not how others would see me. At this point in my life, I've finally started to accept my differences instead of hide them. I listen to Breaking Benjamin and Sara Kays, not just Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo. I read psychological thrillers and historical novels, not just romantasy. I spend my time painting and doing puzzles, not just hanging out with my friends. All of these things and more are the little differences that make me who I am.

"Consider how quickly all things are dissolved and resolved: the bodies and substances themselves, into the matter and substance of the world: and their memories into the general age and time of the world. Consider the nature of all worldly sensible things; of those especially, which either ensnare by pleasure, or for their irksomeness are dreadful, or for their outward lustre and show are in great esteem and request, how vile and contemptible, how base and corruptible, how destitute of all true life and being they are." - from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2680/pg2680-images.html There are many individuals, including Marcus Aurelius, who believe that our lives are virtually meaningless in the grand scheme of things. We may be the center of our own universes, each reveling in our own worries, thoughts, and dreams. In fact, we rarely stop to consider that everyone we meet has a whole life of their own: their own thoughts, feelings, and world around them. We go about our days, thinking about what we have to do, our emotions, the people around us, not realizing that everyone else is doing the same. We don't realize that the "world" that Aurelius discusses, the universe as a whole is larger than we could ever imagine. Our lives pass in the blink of an eye, a mere blip in the existence of everything. We are born, grow up with our families, make friends, find love, work for years, buy a home, retire, and die, all within what feels like a moment to the universe. "Consider how quickly all things are dissolved and resolved: the bodies and substances themselves, into the matter and substance of the world: and their memories into the general age and time of the world." Marcus Aurelius' words highlight how easy we disappear into the fabric of the universe. Despite how meaningful we feel our lives are, what do our lives actually mean? We are complex beings, filled with individual thoughts, voices, and dreams. We survive famine, war, heartbreak, abuse, and struggle. We create joy, happiness, and hope in the darkest of situations. And yet our bodies, the forms that sustained us for all of our years, decompose into the earth just days after we die. Everything we own, everything that we value, will eventually disappear "into the... substance of the world...". Our memories, the moments we hold so deeply in our hearts, are lost in the web of all of those who have and will walk the earth. In our nothingness, we become part of everything; we are not simply nothing, we are everything as well. Our memories join the catalog of all those who have come before us and all those who will come after us. Our bodies become part of the earth: part of the very fabric that makes up our world. Our possessions become part of the history of everything: a doll that belonged to a young girl, a 6 month ultrasound of a mom who thought she would never get pregnant, the graduation certificate of a military veteran who finished high school at 45. Our existences become one; in the end, we are all the same. "Consider the nature of all worldly sensible things; of those especially, which either ensnare by pleasure, or for their irksomeness are dreadful, or for their outward lustre and show are in great esteem and request, how vile and contemptible, how base and corruptible, how destitute of all true life and being they are." This paradox of being both nothing and everything is reflected throughout our lives, shown by this quote by Marcus Aurelius. Our possessions, the things that we have spend years collecting and bring us so much meaning and happiness, are "destitute of all true life", devoid of any real meaning. Our relationships with others are the things that get us up in the morning. The love of our family helps us find ourselves as we grow up. The love of our friends helps us through the darkest, most difficult moments of our lives. The love of our partner gives us someone to lean on throughout the good, the bad, and every moment in between. These relationships are beautiful, complex, and give meaning to an otherwise meaningless life. However, these relationships can allow others to manipulate and corrupt our lives, cause us annoyance and weariness in daily life, and lead to unamicable splits that cause contempt between individuals. In this corruptibility, irksomeness, and contemptibility, our relationships become devoid of life and destitute, as Aurelius has written. Every aspect of our lives can be examined in many ways, though it always comes back to this one question: Are we everything or nothing? Do we exist as more than just ourselves or is our existence only meaningful to us? Do we join the fabric of the universe or are we lost in the web of others? Marcus Aurelius' words mimic this very question. Are we simply nothing or are we simply everything?

I have always felt emotions stronger than most. Happiness seems brighter, sadness seems all-consuming, and every sensory experience feels more intense. Perhaps this is why I’ve always felt such strong empathy for others, especially those I can personally relate to. I’ve found myself unable to move forward in my life without helping the people I can. When I joined Key Club in high school, I soon fell in love with helping people in the local community. I volunteered at elementary school events in the area, did face painting at a local youth baseball’s opening day, participated in collections for organizations like Agape Family Shelter, Lebanon County Christian Ministries, Caitlin Smiles, and Adopt a Family, created handmade cards for Catlin Smiles and local teachers, volunteered at local library storytimes, and much more. After my first year in Key Club, I took leadership over a storytime for children at a local library. The storytime took place on a monthly basis and included a craft and several short books, all read by Key Club members. I planned the craft and books around a theme each month and led the other members in helping the young children during the storytime, continuing this for two years. I loved being able to share my love of reading with the kids and helping them with an easy craft that they enjoyed. In addition to this storytime, I planned the decorations for a dinner dance for senior citizens in our district. This involved several months of planning and creating the decorations for the dance, all themed ‘Under the Sea’. While it was hard work to prepare the decorations for the dance in the spring, it was more than worth it to see the enjoyment of all the guests during the dance. I had so much fun interacting with the guests, serving them dinner, dancing with them, and watching them have fun with each other. Everyone, including both the guests and the assisting Key Club members, had an amazing time at the event. Outside of Key Club, I’ve volunteered and currently work at my school district’s elementary schools. Due to my experience with undiagnosed autism and ADHD, I have a passion for helping young children like me. I volunteered in a first-grade classroom for over a year, helping the teacher manage the class, pulling individual students out for sensory breaks or small group work, and leading the class in activities. A lot of the students in the classroom were neurodivergent, which helped me to assist the kids when I would come into the classroom. From there, I got a job as an assistant substitute in the district, allowing me to substitute as a personal care assistant, building assistant, building secretary, and instructional assistant. This job allows me to work with students who struggle, like me, to thrive in the typical school environment. I’ve worked in autistic support classrooms, with individual students in regular classrooms, and in special education classrooms. I’ve worked with so many incredible students who go through so much every day just to exist in the environment that they do. Moving forward, I aim to earn my master’s degree in psychology to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children. Because of my experience being neurodivergent myself, I can support neurodivergent individuals in ways that nobody else can. I understand these children’s daily struggles and can help them and their families find ways to support themselves in a neurotypical world.

Neurodivergent individuals, especially those with autism and ADHD, have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide as compared to neurotypical individuals. When I was in seventh grade, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. It wasn't until about a year ago that I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and more recently that I diagnosed myself with ADHD as well. My entire school experience has been incredibly difficult. I struggled to connect with others, form friendships, overcome sensory issues, and focus in the loud environment of the classroom. Understanding myself better after my autism diagnosis, I believe a large part of my anxiety was due to being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world. Changes in my routine, social events, and talking to others were huge stressors, which stemmed from differences in my communication. Even though my anxiety was incredibly debilitating, I have been recently able to settle into a routine that works for me. Even though my neurodivergence and mental health struggles have been difficult for me, they have also been difficult for members of my family. My mother spends a lot of energy helping me advocate for myself, cope with overstimulation, and scheduling family events around me. In addition to this, my grandmother also helps to make sure I am comfortable in our interactions and events. For this I am incredibly grateful, as I understand the thought and love that goes into these accommodations. In this experience, I have learned how to explain my experiences to my neurotypical family members so it makes sense to them and I am understood. My family has also learned to not read into our conversations, as I do not imply meanings in my speech like other people do. Moving forward with my life, I want to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children like me. Because of my unique experience, I can understand and help these children in a way that nobody else can. I also want to help their families better understand and support them as well. I know first hand the communication struggles between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals and can help bridge this gap for a closer relationship. By providing these young children with the support that they need, I can help prevent and work through mental health struggles that they may face in their life. With early support in life, they will hopefully experience less anxiety, depression, and lower rates of suicide. All I want to do is give these children the support that I didn't get until much older.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. This all accumulated last year, when my school district of 11 years denied my IEP simply because my struggles didn't affect my grades. Since then, I have fought every day to learn how to manage my struggles as well as I can. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues have made each day throughout high school a struggle. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. I advocate for accommodations during my school day, say "no" to social situations that make me uncomfortable, and prioritize my sensory needs over the expectations of other people. I have learned how to help support myself, and I want to do the same for other children like me. Starting in the fall of 2026, I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College as a part of their Psychology program. I am aiming to achieve a master's degree in Psychology so that I can become a Licensed Therapist for neurodivergent children. Because of my experience as an individual with autism and ADHD in school, I can relate to these children in a way that neurotypical individuals cannot. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey. I also want to be able to support the families of neurodivergent children like my family. Being neurodivergent with neurotypical family members, I can see the struggle that they have to communicate and accommodate me. My mom spends endless energy helping me advocate for myself and manage daily life. My grandmother also works very hard to help accommodate my needs during family events. I want to be able to help families like mine adapt to support both neurodivergent and neurotypical needs. While my high school journey had been difficult and unbearable at times, it has taught me how to embrace and accept my differences instead of hiding them. My experience has shown me my passion for helping others navigate their own journeys of being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. I struggled in all my classes to overcome the overstimulation and burnout that followed me everywhere. Even when I was diagnosed and started to advocate for myself, school did not get much easier. My school district of 12 years denied my IEP simply because my struggle did not affect my grades. I have had teachers criticize my differences in communication, stimming, working through worksheets differently, walking through hallways before the bell rings, and sensory needs. Moving forward with my life, I want to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children like me. Starting in the fall of 2026, I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College as a part of their Psychology program to achieve a master's degree. Because of my struggles of being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world, I can understand and help these children in a way that nobody else can. I can provide them with validation, support, and tools to navigate challenges in their lives. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey and be the support that I didn't receive until later in my life. As a licensed therapist, I want to support children who are "different" than what is considered "normal" or "typical". Children with autism and ADHD (as well as other neurodivergent conditions), whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, are more likely to experience difficulties with friendships, familial tensions, anxiety, depression, and a feeling of being out of place in the world. I understand these feelings and can help these children learn to understand and accept their differences instead of pushing them to mask their true selves. I can help them advocate for changes in their environment in order to accommodate them, not change them. My entire life has been about fitting into the mold that society says that I should fit into. Moving forward, I want to present myself as I am, not as others think I should be and help others do the same.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. This all accumulated last year, when my school district of 11 years denied my IEP simply because my struggles didn't affect my grades. Since then, I have fought every day to learn how to manage my struggles as well as I can. I’m currently in my senior year of high school, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 20 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. I advocate for accommodations during my school day, say "no" to social situations that make me uncomfortable, and prioritize my sensory needs over the expectations of other people. I have learned how to help support myself, and I want to do the same for other children like me. Starting in the fall of 2026, I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College as a part of their Psychology program. I am aiming to achieve a master's degree in Psychology so that I can become a Licensed Therapist for neurodivergent children. Because of my experience as an individual with autism and ADHD in school, I can relate to these children in a way that neurotypical individuals cannot. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey. I also want to be able to support the families of neurodivergent children like my family. Being neurodivergent with neurotypical family members, I can see the struggle that they have to communicate and accommodate me. My mom spends endless energy helping me advocate for myself and manage daily life. My grandmother also works very hard to help accommodate my needs during family events. I want to be able to help families like mine adapt to support both neurodivergent and neurotypical needs.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. I struggled in all my classes to overcome the overstimulation and burnout that followed me everywhere. Even when I was diagnosed and started to advocate for myself, school did not get much easier. My school district of 12 years denied my IEP simply because my struggle did not affect my grades. I have had teachers criticize my differences in communication, stimming, working through worksheets differently, walking through hallways before the bell rings, and sensory needs. I’m currently in my senior year, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 35 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. My difficult experience in school has taught me my limits, strengths, sensory triggers, and sensory needs. This helps me better advocate for myself in future education, at home, and in my relationships. I have learned how to say "no" to social event that make me uncomfortable and I know will overstimulate me. Even still, I work each day to understand more about myself and what I need. It's a difficult process, especially in such an overstimulating and stressful environment like school, however I am trying my best to work through my difficulties and adapt my environment to me. Moving forward with my life, I want to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children like me. Starting in the fall of 2026, I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College as a part of their Psychology program to achieve a master's degree. Because of my unique experience, I can understand and help these children in a way that nobody else can. I can provide them with validation, support, and tools to navigate challenges in their lives. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey, as well as their families. One of the main things I want to do as a licensed therapist is support children who are "different" than what is considered "normal" or "typical". Children with autism and ADHD (as well as other neurodivergent conditions), whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, are more likely to experience difficulties with friendships, familial tensions, anxiety, depression, and a feeling of being out of place in the world. I understand these feelings and can help these children learn to understand and accept their differences instead of pushing them to mask their true selves. I can help them advocate for changes in their environment in order to accommodate them, not change them. Another thing I want to focus on as a licensed therapist is support these children's families. As a neurodivergent individual with neurotypical family members, I know that my neurodivergence affects my family members as well. My mother spends a great deal of energy and time helping me advocate for myself in school and personal life. Her, as well as my grandmother, work to make sure I am comfortable during family gatherings and vacations. They make sure I have food I am comfortable with, a date and time that allows me to stay in my window of tolerance, and (for the most part) a location that works for me. I also know that individuals in my family have learned to ignore my tone of voice when I am overstimulated and any "implied" meanings in my speech that I never implied. Our differences in communication have also made explaining experiences incredibly difficult. I, for one, must overexplain my experiences with analogies and in different ways to get my family members to understand something as simple as me not liking hugs. And this communication barrier operates in both directions. My mother has to remind me over and over that she is not mad at me when I misread her facial expressions. These struggles affect both the neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals in my family, which is why I want to support the families of neurodivergent children as well. I just want to give the children and their families the support that I didn't get until much later in my life.

My whole life I’ve had this unconscious realization that this world is too much for me. Or rather, I’m too much for the world. Each day leading up to my autism diagnosis I’ve pondered one question over and over: what is wrong with me? Now I realize that I’m not broken; I’m exactly who I’m meant to be. When I was first diagnosed, I wasn’t really sure what it meant to be autistic. I had been previously diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which I felt was the explanation for how I was. But after hours of research, my life started to click into place. It started with little sentences. Autistic experiences I related to. Then I started noticing myself doing little things in my life that made me stop and wonder how I never noticed before. Like certain textures being unbearable to wear. Or how I would laugh only when others laughed in a group. Or how my nails were always raw with the irresistible itch to pick at them. Of course, I knew that I did these things, but they have been a part of me so long I didn’t even bat an eye. I had thought that the stress I felt in social situations was due to anxiety, not autism. These little realizations led me to the discovery that I had no idea who I actually was. I was me, of course, but who was I? Autistic masking forced on by societal expectations led me to the conclusion that my way of communicating, my way of being me, is wrong. Each time I was laughed at, told to smile, or reminded to look at someone when they are talking to me chipped at my inner child until I was no longer me. I pretended so much that I even fooled myself. Slowly though, I taught myself to unmask; I taught myself to not fit in. Each thing that I was taught was wrong, I did. I avoided eye contact that made me uncomfortable. I allowed myself to feel joy in my intense obsession with Taylor Swift. I said “no” to parties I didn’t want to attend. That’s not to say that my unmasking has been without challenges. I've stressed over how other's will perceive me over and over. I’ve had family members misinterpret me more times than I can count. I’ve had my school district of 11 years deny my IEP because my struggle does not affect my grades. I’ve had so many friendships die over the past few years that I can’t keep track any more. With all this struggle and chaos in my life, there is one person in my life I can count on 100% of the time: me. Even though I have an amazing support system in place with my therapist, family, and friends, I am the one who does all the heavy lifting. No, my life still isn’t perfect. There are moments where I feel so exhausted I can barely stumble through my day. There are times when I give into the urge to mask my true self. There are still days when I cry over and over, “Why can’t I just be normal?”. And there are still days that I spiral over the tiniest little thing. But I continue on. I continue to fight the people who believe autism is a disease. I still watch Gilmore Girls even though I’ve seen every episode at least three times. I still listen to the same song on repeat for days. I am still not planning to go to prom, no matter how many heads this turns. But the main thing is, I keep going. I aim every day to accept and prioritize my needs over other people's expectations. It's not a perfect journey, but it's mine. It doesn’t matter to me anymore that I am different than anybody else I know, because I’ve finally accepted that I was never broken to begin with. My journey will not be like anyone else’s because I am not like anyone else. Before my diagnosis, before I learned about myself, I would have fought this with all my might. Instead, this simple truth gives me pride, because there is no one else that I would rather be.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. This all accumulated last year, when my school district of 11 years denied my IEP simply because my struggles didn't affect my grades. Since then, I have fought every day to learn how to manage my struggles as well as I can. I’m currently in my senior year of high school, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 40 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. I advocate for accommodations during my school day, say "no" to social situations that make me uncomfortable, and prioritize my sensory needs over the expectations of other people. I have learned how to help support myself, and I want to do the same for other children like me. My dream in life is to become a Licensed Therapist for neurodivergent children and help support them through their school and personal journeys. When I was in middle school, my maternal grandmother was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer due the the BRCA2 gene mutation. She only had to undergo radiation, though I attended online school for a year during the COVID-19 pandemic due to her compromised immune system. Since then, she has been cancer free and relatively healthy. In the past year, however, my aunt was found to carry the BRCA2 gene mutation as well. She has been set up for a number of surgeries to reduce her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer like my grandmother. She has recently gotten a double mastectomy and is soon going to get a hysterectomy. This puts a lot of strain on my family, especially my mother, who does not have the mutation. In addition to my maternal side of the family, my paternal grandmother has also been affected by cancer. She was diagnosed within the past couple years with Stage 4 appendix cancer. Her appendix had burst, spreading the cancer throughout. She has had numerous surgeries to remove as much of the cancerous cells as possible, though it has spread too far to remove entirely. She has undergone 2 rounds of chemotherapy, as well as radiation, and is currently considering experimental drug treatments. This has been incredibly difficult on my father especially, as it is hard for him to accept the fatality of her situation. He has been trying his best to support his mom in any way he can, which takes lots of energy and time from him. His job is already stressful, and this adds on to his responsibilities and stressors. Seeing my mom and dad struggle with the effects of cancer on family members has been an eye-opening experience. They are both so strong, even in the face of great struggle.

From a young age, I have had this unconscious realization that I am different from everyone else around me. Over time, I've learned to understand that my differences give me strengths that other people don't have. I have autism and ADHD, leading to countless struggles in school. The loud classrooms, crowded hallways, and bright lights made overstimulation the norm. In addition to this, my differences in communication made friendships incredibly rare and fast ending. Despite this, I have learned to accept myself and my differences. One of the things that helps me cope with my overwhelming life is reading. I love being able to escape into another world and not worry about anything else around me. Similarly, I also love listening to music. It allows me to disassociate from the world around me and simply absorb the lyrics and music. In addition to music and books, I enjoy painting, especially nature scenes. Throughout high school, I have been a part of concert band, marching band, Key Club, and NHS. Both National Honors Society and Key Club have allowed me to volunteer in my local community. For two years, I led a children's storytime at a local library with crafts and books. Last year, I planned and orchestrated a dinner dance for senior citizens in my district. In addition to this, I have been volunteering in a first grade classroom this year, helping out the teacher with individual students, setting up activities, and maintaining order in the classroom. These were in addition to the all the other events I volunteered at locally throughout my high school years. If I could start my own charity, my mission would be to support hungry families in my local community. I have recently learned about a 'Free Little Pantry' in my area, in which individuals in need can take whatever they need supplied by others in the community who can afford to give extra supplies in the pantry. These supplies can be toothbrushes, nonperishable food, paper products, and more. It's a great way to anonymously support people in our community. For my charity, I would start up more free little pantries in communities around me, building a social media presence to increase awareness. I want people in need to be able to know about where they can get help. I also want people who are able to donate to know about where they can donate and how they can help. Many people who donate money to organizations like to see where their money is going towards, and this is something in which you can see an immediate change. Volunteers would help build these pantries, as well as shop with donated money and stock the pantries with the supplies.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. I’m currently in my senior year, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 40 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. I’ve always thought about what it would be like to not have to force myself through every class, every conversation, to be in loud environments and not feel overstimulated. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. In my future education, I hope that I can figure out accommodations that work for both me and the college. In high school, my school district of 11 years denied my IEP simply because my struggles didn't affect my grades. However, I am optimistic that my college experience will be much different. My difficult experience in school has taught me my limits, strengths, sensory triggers, and sensory needs. Starting in the fall of 2026, I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College as a part of their Psychology program. I am aiming to achieve a master's degree in Psychology so that I can become a Licensed Therapist for neurodivergent children. This semester I am taking an Understanding Neurodiversity class at LVC's Psychology department and am absolutely loving the class. It further confirmed my interest in neurodivergent children. Because of my experience as an individual with autism and ADHD in school, I can relate to these children in a way that neurotypical individuals cannot. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey, as well as their families. Being neurodivergent with neurotypical family members, I can see the struggle that they have to communicate and accommodate me. I want to be able to help families like mine adapt to support both neurodivergent and neurotypical needs.

Sabrina Carpenter first appeared in my Spotify playlist in her song 'Too Young'. To me, her voice was one that I understood more than other older artists. It wasn't until years later that I was introduced to some of her other songs on 'emails i can't send', such as 'because i liked a boy'. Her voice was young, fresh, and brutally honest in a way that drew me in. Even now, as an adult, she is unapologetically herself in everyway. When I attended Sabrina's 'Short n' Sweet' tour last October, I was greeted with a funny, bold, and personable young woman. Her vocals, lyrics, and comments to the fans were genuine and strong, inspiring me with her strength. Even though I had listened to the songs many times before, I was taken aback by the sudden connection I felt with the other women in the arena. We were different, from all walks of life, but somehow we were all the same. We stood, shouting, saying, "I am here!" And what does Sabrina do? She shouts along with us. Sabrina Carpenter is a woman who is not afraid to take up the most space in the room, even with her short stature. She fills the room with her sharp, bubbly personality in a way that empowers other women to do the same. Sabrina inspires me to stand up and be myself, regardless of what anyone else thinks. She has spent her career ignoring critics who question her lyrics and how she dresses, just to move on and create success with those same lyrics. Her bravery and boldness is something that I work to embody in my future life and career.

Before I entered the movie theater to see 'Wicked' last fall, I had only heard a select few songs from the soundtrack and was only mildly interested. However, I exited the theater feeling seen and expressed in a way that I have never been before. Growing up autistic in a non-autistic world, I have always felt unconsciously different than everybody else. It was as if there was a barrier between me and everyone else, causing me to be separated from them. The few friendships I did have were filled with miscommunications, misunderstandings, and ended soon after they started. In 'Wicked', Elphaba was the one separated from society. From a young age, she was alone due to her differences, just like me. As she grew up, the people around her were disrespectful, distant, and at times flat-out rude. The image that people built up of her was based off of assumptions and statements from authority figures, specifically her teachers and the wizard. This is incredibly similar to the statements made by the US government about autism. Both Donald Trump and RFK Jr. have presented autism as a disease that must be prevented or cured at all costs. Their statements alienate autism and individuals with autism, just like the wizard alienated Elphaba and made her out to be "the Wicked Witch". It was heartbreaking watching the people of Oz believe the lies about Elphaba, knowing that many people believe the lies and stereotypes told about autism. Autism does not ruin families, make children suffer, or drain the economy. Despite this, many people still believe what these authority figures are saying, just like the townspeople of Oz did. Watching Elphaba's story of being alone, I felt understood and not so alone in my world. Even though Elphaba was pushed from society, she found a way to step into herself, hence the song 'Defying Gravity'. Listening to the empowering lyrics and incredible vocals sung by Cynthia Erivo, I felt there was power in being different, power in being me. Even watching Cynthia find confidence in her life outside of 'Wicked' inspired me to be who I am. I am a person who feels things more deeply than other people. I am a person who enjoys spending time alone. I am a person who connects to simple things in meaningful ways. Each day I strive to accept who I am, not who I should be, an ideal embodied in 'Defying Gravity' and 'Wicked' itself.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. This all accumulated last year, when my school district of 11 years denied my IEP simply because my struggles didn't affect my grades. Since then, I have fought every day to learn how to manage my struggles as well as I can. I’m currently in my senior year of high school, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 40 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. I advocate for accommodations during my school day, say "no" to social situations that make me uncomfortable, and prioritize my sensory needs over the expectations of other people. I have learned how to help support myself, and I want to do the same for other children like me. Starting in the fall of 2026, I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College as a part of their Psychology program. I am aiming to achieve a master's degree in Psychology so that I can become a Licensed Therapist for neurodivergent children. Because of my experience as an individual with autism and ADHD in school, I can relate to these children in a way that neurotypical individuals cannot. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey. I also want to be able to support the families of neurodivergent children like my family. Being neurodivergent with neurotypical family members, I can see the struggle that they have to communicate and accommodate me. My mom spends endless energy helping me advocate for myself and manage daily life. My grandmother also works very hard to help accommodate my needs during family events. I want to be able to help families like mine adapt to support both neurodivergent and neurotypical needs.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. I’m currently in my senior year, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 40 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. However, each day I strive to accept and accommodate my neurodivergent and mental health needs. Due to my experiences, I can understand the effect of mental health disorders and neurodiversity on a young child and how to help. For the the past 2 years, I have volunteered in a first grade classroom. Many of these children have anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, and more. I have been able to assist the teacher in supporting individual students, leading activities, and explaining tasks to those who don't understand. This has been such an eye opening experience as to the prevalence of mental health disorders and neurodivergent conditions in schools. In addition to my volunteering, I also do many things to support my AuDHD cousin who struggles with anxiety. On family events, I help her prioritize her sensory needs, communicate her fears, and work through anxiety. More recently, I have been planning an exercise event once a week for us to do, as physical activity is incredibly important for managing ADHD and anxiety. We have gone indoor swimming, as well as practiced field hockey at a local field. While together, we talk about struggles and mood boosters in school and at home. I believe that talking through experiences with somebody who understands helps her feel less alone in her life. Moving forward with my life, I want to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children like me who will face mental health struggles due to their neurodiversity. Because of my unique experience, I can understand and help these children in a way that nobody else can. I also want to help their families better understand and support them as well. I know first hand the communication struggles between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals and can help bridge this gap for a closer relationship. By providing these young children with the support that they need, I can help prevent and work through mental health struggles that they may face in their life. With early support in life, they will hopefully experience less anxiety, depression, and lower rates of suicide. All I want to do is give these children the support that I didn't get until much older.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. I’m currently in my senior year, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 40 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. I’ve always thought about what it would be like to not have to force myself through every class, every conversation, to be in loud environments and not feel overstimulated. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. In my future education, I aim to earn a master's degree in Psychology to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children. Because of my experience as an individual with autism and ADHD in school, I can relate to these children in a way that neurotypical individuals cannot. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey, as well as their families. Being neurodivergent with neurotypical family members, I can see the struggle that they have to communicate and accommodate me. I want to be able to help families like mine adapt to support both neurodivergent and neurotypical needs. Even though I have the drive and passion to achieve my dream of helping neurodivergent children, I still need funding for my education. I've worked my best through high school for my 4.7 GPA and several AP and college credits. I've done my absolute best to lower the cost of my higher education as much as possible, though it is still incredibly expensive. Due to my autism and ADHD, it would be incredibly difficult for me to manage both a job and a full-time class schedule. So, I am applying for this scholarship to help me pay for my education without sending me into autistic burnout. I would be so incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship, as it would bring me one step closer to helping neurodivergent children like me.

Before I entered the movie theater to see 'Wicked' last fall, I had only heard a select few songs from the soundtrack and was only mildly interested. However, I exited the theater feeling seen and expressed in a way that I have never been before. Growing up autistic in a non-autistic world, I have always felt unconsciously different than everybody else. It was as if there was a barrier between me and everyone else, causing me to be separated from them. The few friendships I did have were filled with miscommunications, misunderstandings, and ended soon after they started. In 'Wicked', Elphaba was the one separated from society. From a young age, she was alone due to her differences, just like me. As she grew up, the people around her were disrespectful, distant, and at times flat-out rude. The image that people built up of her was based off of assumptions and statements from authority figures, specifically her teachers and the wizard. This is incredibly similar to the statements made by the US government about autism. Both Donald Trump and RFK Jr. have presented autism as a disease that must be prevented or cured at all costs. Their statements alienate autism and individuals with autism, just like the wizard alienated Elphaba and made her out to be "the Wicked Witch". Watching her story of being alone, I felt understood and not so alone in my world. Even though Elphaba was pushed from society, she found a way to step into herself, hence the song 'Defying Gravity'. Listening to the empowering lyrics and incredible vocals, I felt there was power in being different, power in being me. Each day I strive to accept who I am, not who I should be, an ideal embodied in 'Defying Gravity' and 'Wicked' itself.

As an individual with growing up with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I can understand the effect of mental health disorders and neurodiversity on a young child and how to help. For the the past 2 years, I have volunteered in a first grade classroom. Many of these children have anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, and more. I have been able to assist the teacher in supporting individual students, leading activities, and explaining tasks to those who don't understand. This has been such an eye opening experience as to the prevalence of mental health disorders and neurodivergent conditions in schools. In addition to my volunteering, I also do many things to support my AuDHD cousin who struggles with anxiety. On family events, I help her prioritize her sensory needs, communicate her fears, and work through anxiety. More recently, I have been planning an exercise event once a week for us to do, as physical activity is incredibly important for managing ADHD and anxiety. We have gone indoor swimming, as well as practiced field hockey at a local field. While together, we talk about struggles and mood boosters in school and at home. I believe that talking through experiences with somebody who understands helps her feel less alone in her life. Moving forward with my life, I want to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children like me who will face mental health struggles due to their neurodiversity. Because of my unique experience, I can understand and help these children in a way that nobody else can. I also want to help their families better understand and support them as well. I know first hand the communication struggles between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals and can help bridge this gap for a closer relationship. By providing these young children with the support that they need, I can help prevent and work through mental health struggles that they may face in their life. With early support in life, they will hopefully experience less anxiety, depression, and lower rates of suicide. All I want to do is give these children the support that I didn't get until much older.

Neurodivergent individuals, especially those with autism and ADHD, have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide as compared to neurotypical individuals. When I was in seventh grade, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. It wasn't until about a year ago that I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and more recently that I diagnosed myself with ADHD as well. My entire school experience has been incredibly difficult. I struggled to connect with others, form friendships, overcome sensory issues, and focus in the loud environment of the classroom. Understanding myself better after my autism diagnosis, I believe a large part of my anxiety was due to being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world. Changes in my routine, social events, and talking to others were huge stressors, which stemmed from differences in my communication. Even though my anxiety was incredibly debilitating, I have been recently able to settle into a routine that works for me. My difficult experience in school has taught me my limits, strengths, sensory triggers, and sensory needs. This helps me better advocate for myself in school, at home, and in my relationships. I have learned how to say "no" to social event that make me uncomfortable and I know will overstimulate me. Even still, I work each day to understand more about myself and what I need. It's a difficult process, especially in such an overstimulating and stressful environment like school, however I am trying my best to work through my difficulties and adapt my environment to me. Moving forward with my life, I want to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children like me. Without the correct support, these children have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. Because of my unique experience, I can understand and help these children in a way that nobody else can. I can provide them with validation, support, and tools to navigate challenges in their lives. I will also be able to share the strategies that worked for me, as well as help them accept their neurodiversity. By providing these young children with the support that they need, I can help prevent and work through mental health struggles that they may face in their life. With early support in life, they will hopefully experience less anxiety, depression, and lower rates of suicide. All I want to do is give these children the support that I didn't get until much older.

Neurodivergent individuals, especially those with autism and ADHD, have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide as compared to neurotypical individuals. When I was in seventh grade, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. It wasn't until about a year ago that I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and more recently that I diagnosed myself with ADHD as well. My entire school experience has been incredibly difficult. I struggled to connect with others, form friendships, overcome sensory issues, and focus in the loud environment of the classroom. Understanding myself better after my autism diagnosis, I believe a large part of my anxiety was due to being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world. Changes in my routine, social events, and talking to others were huge stressors, which stemmed from differences in my communication. Even though my anxiety was incredibly debilitating, I have been recently able to settle into a routine that works for me. Even though my neurodivergence and mental health struggles have been difficult for me, they have also been difficult for members of my family. My mother spends a lot of energy helping me advocate for myself, cope with overstimulation, and scheduling family events around me. In addition to this, my grandmother also helps to make sure I am comfortable in our interactions and events. For this I am incredibly grateful, as I understand the thought and love that goes into these accommodations. In this experience, I have learned how to explain my experiences to my neurotypical family members so it makes sense to them and I am understood. My family has also learned to not read into our conversations, as I do not imply meanings in my speech like other people do. Moving forward with my life, I want to become a licensed therapist for neurodivergent children like me. Because of my unique experience, I can understand and help these children in a way that nobody else can. I also want to help their families better understand and support them as well. I know first hand the communication struggles between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals and can help bridge this gap for a closer relationship. By providing these young children with the support that they need, I can help prevent and work through mental health struggles that they may face in their life. With early support in life, they will hopefully experience less anxiety, depression, and lower rates of suicide. All I want to do is give these children the support that I didn't get until much older.

My life has never been easy, especially in school. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD individual, school was not a fun place to be. My differences in communication made it impossible for me to make and keep friends. All the time, I felt like there was something wrong with me that everyone could see. I wasn’t bullied, though I was ignored by most of my classmates. The few friendships that I did have crumbled within a year. I’m currently in my senior year, on progress to graduate in January. Even now, I still struggle to get up every morning, even though I have less than 40 days left of high school. The constant chatter of my classmates, crowded hallways, bright lights, squeaky floors, loud alarms, and so many more sensory issues make each day a struggle. I’ve always thought about what it would be like to not have to force myself through every class, every conversation, to be in loud environments and not feel overstimulated. My whole life I have wished to be normal and that everything wouldn't be so hard. However, my autism is a part of me, and I work to accept this fact every day. In my future education, I hope that I can figure out accommodations that work for both me and the college. In high school, my school district of 11 years denied my IEP simply because my struggles didn't affect my grades. However, I am optimistic that my college experience will be much different. My difficult experience in school has taught me my limits, strengths, sensory triggers, and sensory needs. Starting in the fall of 2026, I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College as a part of their Psychology program. I am aiming to achieve a master's degree in Psychology so that I can become a Licensed Therapist for neurodivergent children. This semester I am taking an Understanding Neurodiversity class at LVC's Psychology department and am absolutely loving the class. It further confirmed my interest in neurodivergent children. Because of my experience as an individual with autism and ADHD in school, I can relate to these children in a way that neurotypical individuals cannot. I want to be able to support these neurodivergent children throughout their school and personal journey, as well as their families. Being neurodivergent with neurotypical family members, I can see the struggle that they have to communicate and accommodate me. I want to be able to help families like mine adapt to support both neurodivergent and neurotypical needs.

Taylor Swift's music, especially 'The Life of a Showgirl', reflects both the highs and the lows of her life. One of the repeating themes of her songs is the double standards in society and the music industry, shown in 'The Man', 'Mad Women', and more. In her new album, Taylor explores this concept in her song 'Father Figure'. Swift's success throughout her career has been constantly downplayed and demonized by the media while similar music artists have been praised for one key difference: they aren't a woman. Taylor has never been afraid to address these double standards in her music, and 'Father Figure' is no exception. In this song, Swift writes, "I'll be your father figure, I drink that brown liquor...I protect the family...". These lyrics challenge stereotypical gender roles in a family by posing Taylor as the father or the head of the family. Supporting the family with income, drinking "brown liquor" like whisky or bourbon, and paying the check at dinner are all stereotypes of the male father persona that Taylor embodies in her song. One such lyric reads, "I pay the check before it kisses the mahogany grain," referencing the idea of a rich businessman who pays simply because he can. Swift furthers this powerful metaphor by discussing a protege of Swift's who tried to overthrow her when he felt threatened by her power. In the beginning of the song, Taylor teaches her protege how to get success and guides him through life. However, he realizes that he will never rise above Swift and tries to take advantage of her. Taylor writes, "Mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card cancelled, I was your father figure, you pulled the wrong trigger, this empire belongs to me." This quote from the song shines a light on Swift's femininity and strength, challenging the idea that femininity equals weakness. On countless occasions, Taylor has been criticized for being "too feminine". However, when she showcases her power and success, she is criticized for being "too cold" or "a showoff". These lyrics by Taylor Swift prove that you can be both a woman and successful.