Education has always been the thing that has slowly given me direction, even when I didn’t fully realize it at the time. When I first started high school, I mostly thought of school as something I just had to get through while balancing everything else in my life, especially soccer. But over time, I have started to understand that what I am learning in class is not just about how to do well on my assignments or how to get good grades, it's actually teaching me important life lessons. The more challenging my classes have become, the more I realize that I am capable of handling responsibility, managing my time, and pushing through stress when things get overwhelming. Taking classes like AP World History, AP Biology, AP United States History, and AP English Literature have helped me build discipline and confidence in my abilities. Each year of school that has gone by has made me increasingly more aware that education is not just something I am doing right now, it is more than that. It is positively shaping the person I will become. One of the biggest challenges I have faced in my education was learning how to balance academics with soccer, especially during my junior year. That year was probably the most stressful for me because I was taking three AP classes while also practicing soccer every day and playing games on the weekends, and sometimes even the weekdays, which caused me to miss classes quite often. There were many days where I would get home late, already physically exhausted, and still have hours of homework waiting for me. I remember a lot of nights where I would stay up late trying to finish assignments or study for tests and it started to feel like I was always behind on something. At one point, I earned a B in AP Biology which really affected me because I had always pushed myself to get A’s in school. Instead of letting it discourage me though, I realized that I needed to change how I approached my time and responsibilities. That moment became a turning point for me because it forced me to take school more seriously. I was not just going to work harder, but work smarter. After that experience, I started making real changes in how I managed my time and approached my education. I began using small pockets of time during the school day, like lunch or study halls to get ahead on assignments instead of waiting until I got home. I also started planning my weeks more carefully so I wouldn’t fall behind when soccer got busy. Slowly, I noticed that I was becoming more organized and less stressed, even though my schedule was still full. At the same time, I was taking precalculus, which ended up being one of the classes that helped shape my academic direction the most. I found myself actually enjoying the problem-solving aspect of math and feeling satisfied when I could work through difficult problems and arrive at the correct answer. That class showed me that I liked structured thinking and analytical work which eventually helped me decide to pursue accounting as my major. Education started to feel less like something I had to manage and more like something that was actively helping me understand what I was good at and what I wanted to do. As I continued through high school I began to see education as the foundation for everything I want to achieve in the future. As a senior in high school, my goal is to attend college and major in accounting so I can build a stable and reliable career. I want to be in a position where I can support myself financially and eventually give back to the community who have supported me throughout my life. I also want to use my education to create a future where I am not just working to get by but working toward something meaningful and consistent. I know that majoring in accounting will give me the knowledge to understand financial systems, organization, and responsibility in a real-world setting, which are all skills I want to build my career on. Education is the tool that I need that will allow me to open doors that may not be available to me otherwise. In the long term, I hope to use my education not just for personal success, but to eventually help others around me. Whether that means supporting my family, helping people understand their finances, or simply being in a position where I can give back in some way to my community, I want my education to lead to something bigger than just a job. I have learned through my own experiences that challenges are not just obstacles, they are opportunities to grow and change your direction. Education has helped me understand that every difficult class, every late night studying, and every moment of doubt has actually been building me into someone more prepared for the future. I still have a lot to learn, but I now have a clear sense of direction, and I know that continuing my education is the key to reaching the goals I have set for myself.

Life gives a lot of challenges, but sometimes those challenges end up shaping your direction more than you expect. One experience that really changed my perspective was balancing school and soccer during my junior year. At the time, it just felt overwhelming, but looking back, it pushed me to grow in ways that directly influenced my goals and my decision to pursue accounting. During that year, I was taking three AP classes while also practicing soccer every day and playing games throughout the week. Most days, I wouldn’t get home until the evening, already exhausted, and still had hours of homework ahead of me. There were a lot of nights where I stayed up late just trying to keep up, and it started to affect my performance in school. When I earned a B in AP Biology, it was a turning point for me. I had always held myself to a high standard, so instead of ignoring it, I realized I needed to make a change. That moment forced me to take responsibility for my time and develop better habits. A chain reaction happened off that one decision. I started using my time more efficiently by studying during lunch, taking advantage of free time in class, and planning ahead so I wouldn’t fall behind. As I became more organized, I noticed that I was not only improving in my classes, but I was also less stressed and more confident in my ability to handle everything. Around the same time, I was taking precalculus, which challenged me in a different way. I actually enjoyed working through complex problems and finding efficient solutions and I realized I liked structured, analytical work. That realization connected with the discipline I had already developed, pushed me toward choosing accounting as my major. Overall, that experience showed me that challenges can lead to growth if you choose to act on them. What started as feeling overwhelmed turned into learning discipline, time management, and confidence in my abilities. Those skills didn’t just help me get through that year, they shaped how I approach my goals now. They also helped me recognize what I enjoy and what I’m good at, which is a big reason why I’m pursuing accounting. That chain reaction, starting from one difficult moment, ended up giving me a cleaner direction for my future.

The movie that has had the biggest impact on me is The Iron Giant, which might be an unexpected answer, but it shaped how I see myself more than any stereotypical “deep” movie could. Its core message is simple but powerful: you are who you choose to be. The Iron Giant is built to be a weapon, and everyone around him either fears him or expects him to act like one. But instead of accepting that role, he decides to be something different, a hero. That idea stuck with me because, in a strange way, I’ve done the opposite. No one labeled me as a “weapon,” but I labeled myself that way through the expectations I put on myself. I’ve always felt like I had to be perfect, like anything less meant I wasn’t enough. Throughout high school, I’ve held myself to an almost unattainable standard—straight As, 4s on AP exams​​—but it never felt like enough. Comparing myself to other high achievers, I convinced myself that I’m just average. This hit hard when I got my first B in AP Biology. It wasn’t from lack of effort. The class was genuinely hard, tests were weighted heavily, and I was balancing soccer and other AP classes. I was burnt out, but I still brought my grade up to an A- the next semester. Still, when my dad saw that B, it felt like everything I had done right didn’t matter. The other As on the report card might as well have been invisible. He questioned me like something was wrong, and that hurt more than the grade itself. It made me feel like I wasn’t allowed to slip up even once, like being anything less than perfect meant I failed. That is where The Iron Giant started to mean more. Hogarth helps the Giant realize he is not defined by his construction, he can choose his identity. This inspired me to see that I had internalized others expectations and, worse, believed them myself. The Giant had others labeling him, but I was also labeling myself before I ever gave myself a chance to be anything else. I’ve been the one deciding that one mistake defines me, that one B cancels out years of hard work. But just like the Giant chose to be more than what it seemed he was built for, I’m learning I can choose how I respond to setbacks instead of letting them define me. I didn’t let that B stop me, I improved my grade, passed the AP exam with a 4, and kept going. That experience, no matter how insignificant it may seem, showed me that success isn’t about never messing up; it’s about what you do after. Even when things aren’t going your way, you still get to decide who you are. I also see how this pressure affects how people treat me. My friends expect me to be the “put together”, the one who gives advice and always knows what to do. I’ve taken on that role to the point that I just deal with my struggles alone. I don’t really open up, and I’ve become my own therapist. Outwardly, I might seem strong, but that adds pressure to never break. Watching The Iron Giant made me realize that strength isn’t about always holding it together or meeting impossible expectations. It’s about recognizing when those expectations aren’t realistic and letting yourself grow beyond them. At the end of the day, I’m not defined by a grade, a mistake, or other people’s expectations. I get to decide who I am, just like he did.

Growing up in Oregon the community that shaped me the most was the soccer environment I was part of for over eleven years. I played for both club and school teams, and through that experience I was exposed to two very different communities: Pelada Football Academy and Eugene Metro Football Club. Pelada, where I started, was more relaxed and focused on enjoying the game, while Metro was highly competitive and serious. There was a clear divide between the two, not just in skill level but in culture. Metro players were often seen as more elite and established, while Pelada players were more like underdogs compared to them. Even parents and players tended to stay within their own groups. Growing up in Pelada, I valued the friendships, teamwork, and love for the sport that defined that community, even if it didn’t push me as hard competitively. It was a place where I felt comfortable, supported, and able to grow at my own pace, which made me truly enjoy being part of a team. As I got older, I realized I wanted to improve, which led me to switch to Metro during high school. The transition challenged me in new ways. I found myself surrounded by players who had trained at a higher level for years, and I began comparing myself to them. While this pushed me to work harder, it also showed me the importance of confidence and resilience. I had to adjust quickly to a more intense environment where expectations were higher and mistakes felt more noticeable and looked down upon. Despite becoming a team captain both in club and on my high school team, I faced setbacks, including not making varsity my junior year. One moment that stands out was losing in the finals of a tournament after being placed in an unfamiliar position. Although I felt disappointed, that experience taught me to move forward, learn from failure, and continue improving. Being part of these different soccer communities shaped my mindset and my goals for the future. I learned discipline, leadership, and how to work with people from different backgrounds and skill levels. I also developed a strong internal drive to succeed, even with setbacks, whether on the field or in the classroom. This competitive mindset now carries over into my academic goals, where I strive to perform at my best and pursue a degree in accounting. Although I no longer play soccer, the lessons I gained from that community continue to influence how I approach challenges and opportunities. These experiences have positioned me to work hard, stay focused, and build a successful future.

Growing up as a child of a parent in the military has shaped who I am in ways I didn’t fully understand when I was younger. My dad serves in the Army, and when I was six and a half years old, he was deployed to Afghanistan for nearly a year. At that age, I didn’t completely understand what it felt like to miss him. I remember sitting at a desk in my mom’s dining room, waiting for Skype calls that would freeze or cut out because of a bad connection. Sometimes I would just stare at the screen, hoping his face would come back. There was always a sense of uncertainty and waiting that became part of my daily life, even if I didn’t fully realize it at the time. The moment he came home is still one of the clearest memories I have. I saw him standing in his uniform at my elementary school and instantly ran to him without thinking. After being gone for so long, it felt like everything was finally back to normal. I remember feeling proud walking around with him, introducing him to other kids, and just being able to hold his hand again. That experience made me realize how much I value the people close to me and how important it is not to take time with them for granted. It also gave me a strong sense of pride in my dad and in those who serve, something that has stayed with me as I’ve grown older. Even outside of his deployment, being part of a military family has influenced my everyday life. I’ve grown up constantly moving between my mom’s and dad’s houses each week, which has taught me a level of independence that not everyone develops at a young age. Managing schoolwork, packing what I need, and adjusting to different environments has forced me to stay organized and responsible. It hasn't always been easy, especially when I've had to carry everything I need back and forth, but It's made me more adaptable and self-reliant. Because of my dad’s influence and the structure that comes with a military background, I've also developed a strong sense of discipline and a “get it done” mindset that pushes me to stay focused and follow through on my responsibilities. Overall, my experience as the child of a parent in the military has taught me independence, discipline, and appreciation. I’ve learned to approach challenges with a level head, think logically, and push through situations even when they aren’t easy. It has also given me a deep respect for those who serve and the sacrifices that military families make. While I may not have fully understood everything as a child, I now recognize how much those experiences have prepared me for the future and motivated me to keep working toward my goals with determination and resilience.

One of my favorite memories involving my dad is the day he came home from his deployment in Afghanistan. It was near the end of my first grade year, sometime in late May of 2015. I was about seven years old, and even though I was really young, that moment is still very clear in my mind. I remember walking through the fifth grade hallway at my elementary school for some reason. I honestly don’t remember exactly why I was there, maybe I needed to go to the office for something, but I do remember how cool I felt walking through that hallway. The fifth graders were the oldest kids in the school, and when you’re little, the older kids always seem like the “top dogs.” As I walked toward the office, I could see the front desk area from down the hallway. Standing there was a man wearing an army combat uniform. The moment I saw his face, I immediately realized it was my dad. Without a second thought, I ran straight into the office and yelled “Dad!” I jumped into his arms and hugged him so tightly. He lifted me up and held me there. My mom was there too, recording the whole thing on her phone. My dad had brought a teddy bear for me. After being gone for almost a year, it felt like the best surprise ever. At one point I remember telling him that I had to go back to class, but the school ended up letting me stay with him until recess. When recess finally came around, I felt so proud and excited that my dad was there. I remember wanting to show him off to everyone. A bunch of kids gathered around us because they thought he looked really cool in his uniform. Some of them asked him questions, and others just wanted to hang out with us. My favorite part of that whole day was when we walked out to the track just beyond the playground. My mom was still nearby filming everything. I held my dad’s hand while we walked around the track, but at some point I would run off with the other kids and then come back again. At one point I even convinced him to run with us for a little bit. I remember feeling so full of energy and excitement just because he was finally back. My dad had been gone for a whole year, and at six or seven years old I didn’t fully understand the kind of danger he was in. I just knew that he was far away and that I missed him a lot. While he was deployed, he would send letters and we would talk on Skype whenever we could. I remember we’d often have bad connection and I would just stare at a frozen picture of him waiting for it to connect again, hoping it would connect again. Even now, every time I hear that old Skype ringtone, it instantly brings me back to that time in my life. I can picture myself sitting at the desk in my mom’s dining room with the warm overhead light on, waiting for my dad to answer the call or for the ringtone to stop and his face to appear on the screen. It’s strange how certain sounds can trigger memories so strongly. That whole period of time, and especially the day he came home, is something I will always remember. It reminds me not only of how much I missed him, but also of how proud I’ve always been of him.