Band has been far more than an extracurricular activity for me; it has been the foundation on which my character, leadership style, and long‑term goals have been built. When I first joined band, I never imagined how deeply it would influence the way I carry myself, interact with others, and approach challenges. Over the years, the football field, the practice room, and the performance stage became the places where I learned who I am and who I want to become. My leadership journey began when I became a section leader. At first, I thought the role was simply about helping others play their parts correctly. I quickly learned it was much more than that. Being a section leader meant showing up early, staying patient when someone struggled, and setting a standard that others could rely on. It taught me accountability — not just for my own performance, but for the success of the people around me. When I stepped into the role of woodwind captain, the responsibility grew. I had to balance the needs of multiple sections, communicate clearly, and keep rehearsals productive while still maintaining the sense of community that makes band meaningful. This role pushed me to become a better listener and a more adaptable leader. I learned how to motivate others, how to mediate conflicts, and how to bring out the best in a diverse group of musicians. Becoming drum major was the moment everything came full circle in my senior year. Standing on the podium, I realized that leadership is not about authority — it is about trust. Conducting the band taught me how to stay calm under pressure, make quick decisions, and guide others with confidence even when the situation felt overwhelming. It was in this role that I truly understood what it means to lead by example. Some of the most defining moments of my musical journey came from the performance itself, and my most memorable performance was with my saxophone quintet, which also advanced to state. Competing at Solo & Ensemble and qualifying for state taught me how to handle nerves and perform with confidence. Preparing a quintet ensemble forced me to rely on myself, to trust the hours of practice I had put in, and to embrace vulnerability on stage. That experience showed me the power of collaboration at its highest level. Every player mattered. Every voice contributed something unique. We learned to listen, adjust, and trust each other completely. When we performed at state, it felt like the culmination of shared dedication, and it remains one of the proudest moments of my musical career. Looking ahead, I know that band will continue to shape my goals. The discipline, resilience, and leadership skills I developed will guide me in college and beyond. I plan to stay involved in music, whether through a college ensemble or a community group, because band has always grounded me and pushed me to grow. The lessons I’ve learned — teamwork, communication, perseverance — will continue to influence the way I approach every challenge and opportunity in my future.

My name is Alyson Sales, I am an 18-year old who's going to pursue a degree in political science in the Fall of 2026. I want to become a lawyer to be close with politics and help those who don't have a voice. Ever since I was little I was always fascinated on how the world has developed and why our world is the way it is right now. I grew up in a Hispanic household where I learned how to have a voice and stand up for myself. In my four years in high school, I always talked about our society, injustice, inequality, belief systems, and the misunderstanding of social structures. These topics are in my essays and my assignments. Overall, I want to make a meaningful difference in the world by studying lessons through history and political science. I want to learn why this field succeeds, struggles, or changes. I want to become a lawyer who can stand up for my clients, and give a voice to those who don't have one. I want to make a difference in the justice system by helping build a society where fairness is not an ideal but a lived reality. My commitment comes from recognizing how deeply the justice system affects individuals, families, and entire communities. Too often, people encounter a system for rehabilitation. I believe that by combining education, advocacy, and community engagement, I can contribute to a future where justice is more humane, equitable, and effective. What I have learned in history is that it teaches that progress is never guaranteed. Patterns of conflict, inequality, and social transformation repeat when societies fail to learn from their past. By studying historical movements for justice and the consequences of political decisions, I hope to contribute to solutions that avoid repeating old mistakes. History also highlights the power of ordinary people who challenged injustice, reminding me that meaningful change often begins with individuals willing to act. Political science offers insight into how power operates, how policies are created, how institutions function, and how citizens influence change. By studying governance systems and public policy, I hope to advocate for fairer, more inclusive decision-making. Whether addressing voting access, education equity, or community development, political science provides the tools to understand problems at their structural roots rather than just their symptoms. My long-term goal is to work in a field where these disciplines intersect, such as public policy, community planning, helping society come together, and give justice to those who deserve it. By grounding my work in the lessons of the past and the lived experiences of diverse communities, I hope to build systems that are more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable. The world becomes better when we understand it more deeply, and I am committed to using that understanding to create a positive change.

Hello Herich family, I am so sorry for your loss, I am sure he was an amazing person to be around with. Me and Ryan share the same interest of understanding this world and understanding the forces that shaped the world especially in the political side. My name is Alyson Sales, I am an 18-year old who's going to pursue a degree in political science in the Fall of 2026. I want to become a lawyer to be close with politics and help those who don't have a voice. Ever since I was little I was always fascinated on how the world has developed and why our world is the way it is right now. I grew up in a Hispanic household where I learned how to have a voice and stand up for myself. In my four years in high school, I always talked about our society, injustice, inequality, belief systems, and the misunderstanding of social structures. These topics are in my essays and my assignments. Overall, I want to make a meaningful difference in the world by studying lessons through history and political science. I want to learn why this field succeeds, struggles, or changes. History teaches that progress is never guaranteed. Patterns of conflict, inequality, and social transformation repeat when societies fail to learn from their past. By studying historical movements for justice and the consequences of political decisions, I hope to contribute to solutions that avoid repeating old mistakes. History also highlights the power of ordinary people who challenged injustice, reminding me that meaningful change often begins with individuals willing to act. Political science offers insight into how power operates, how policies are created, how institutions function, and how citizens influence change. By studying governance systems and public policy, I hope to advocate for fairer, more inclusive decision-making. Whether addressing voting access, education equity, or community development, political science provides the tools to understand problems at their structural roots rather than just their symptoms. My long-term goal is to work in a field where these disciplines intersect, such as public policy, community planning, helping society come together, and give justice to those who deserve it. By grounding my work in the lessons of the past and the lived experiences of diverse communities, I hope to build systems that are more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable. The world becomes better when we understand it more deeply, and I am committed to using that understanding to create a positive change.

There are many reasons why I love math. I love math because ever since I was little I was always good at math, and I am a visual learner so math has always been my greatest strength. These past few years, I noticed that my brain would process faster when I am learning math. Another reason why I love math is that when I'm done before anybody else, I can help others who are struggling to understand the math questions. Math brings people together and creates new friendships because everybody is different. Some people don't process as fast as the people who love math, so that's why math lovers are always there for those who need help. When I am taking notes I always color coordinate my steps, so I can know what's next and follow them, and do the math problem correctly. I love learning a new topic and taking notes on it because its numbers and formulas unite together and at the end, everything makes sense. Math is like solving puzzles and figuring out patterns, math also makes someone think more in-depth about the problem, which helps us with the real world! That is why I love math; it always has a lesson about reality, and if we think about math, it is everywhere we go! Loving math teaches us so many lessons, for example, math improves our problem-solving skills. It teaches how to approach a problem and break it down, so we can find solutions to solve the problem and make it make sense. Math is just like humans, we create friendships and family, and math is numbers that unite and have their formula. In conclusion, math is not only about numbers and formulas, it's about how it helps us in real life, giving us new skills like problem-solving, and creating new relationships! I love math because it brings us challenges that we can accomplish and learn something new every day.