I believe I am the ideal candidate for this scholarship as I have been in love with the sciences from a young age. I patiently sat through my mother's science classes as she finished her degree, drawing Bohr models on the floor and eagerly looking through textbooks to stare at pictures. That was only nurtured as I grew up, with frequent trips to museums, science centers, and local points of interest that were environmentally significant. I was in love with learning, and I still am to this day. I believe I offer a somewhat unique opportunity for this scholarship as I am a nontraditional student. I worked in a production focused industry for four and a half years, and honed my work ethic into a fine tuned instrument. Now, I have returned to school, and got my Associate's of Science in General Science from Bucks County Community College in Spring of 2025, summa cum laude with a 4.0 and multiple President's List awards. I am also a member of PTK, showing my effort not only in academics but in student life. For example, I also ran the BCCC Drama Club (which essentially functioned as our college's GSA) for two semesters, and managed to direct two plays while maintaining my 4.0. I feel that because I don't just focus on STEM work, I can offer unique viewpoints and ideas to the scientific world when I join them. Additionally, as a bisexual, genderqueer individual, I can pave the way for more of my fellow community members by using the privileges I DO have to elevate those who may be passed over, such as BIPOC women or folks with disabilities. I'm drawn to oceanic health because my particular major is Marine Biology at the University of Maine at Machias. They're a research focused satellite campus, which aligns with my long term goals. My ideal goal is to work for NOAA, with a focus on conservation research. I would also like to work as an aquarist at an aquarium, focusing on repopulation efforts for endangered species. My specific field of interest outside of those is in deep sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, and the endemic populations that live in those fields. Because they are close to rich mineral deposits, I believe it is our job to study them and ensure tat no harm comes to these delicate yet extreme habitats when governments and corporations put forward ideas of deep-sea mining. This scholarship would help me to achieve my goals by ensuring that I can graduate college debt-free, and go into the research space and scientific work force financially stable. I am currently paying out of pocket for my education, so every bit helps.