After a long and hard struggle to find what I wanted to major in for college, I eventually stumbled upon a major I had never heard of before; graphic design. But suddenly, it all made sense. This is the major I have been chosen for my entire life. Even in kindergarten, I've always had a sense for detail and art, such as the assignment I was given around Halloween time when I was five years old, asking me to draw what I was going to dress up for Halloween. Since I was going to be Rapunzel, naturally, I drew her. But behind the princess, I also drew her tower...and each individual stone in it. I still remember my father saying, "That's some impressive detail. You're really good." His words stuck with me to continue to work in the arts. I've been in different classes for the fine arts: drawing, choir, and theater. But this year, I'm taking a digital design class, which will teach me the fundamentals of graphic design and photography. I have also been writing many drafts for books the last few years, which is one of my passions. Through my major and hobbies, I hope to create designs for companies, corporations, small businesses, and volunteer work. I also plan on continuing my writing career to create stories for the world to see, and enjoy. But most of all, I wish that through my work, I can inspire other young creatives to keep pushing at what they love, and succeed as I hope to.

The universe is an incomprehensibly large space. Larger than I can ever imagine. At times as a child, and even now as a teenager, I try to wonder what it would be like if none of it existed, and was greeted with a crushing emptiness. Yet at the same time, trying to imagine how expansive it actually is gave me an overwhelming feeling of smallness. Planets, stars, and the cosmos as a whole have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. When my family and I used to live more out in the country, we were able to lay down on a blanket in the grass in the summer, and look up at the stars, trying to count them all. I always wanted to see them for myself, and even for a while had a dream of becoming an astronaut, but I have never had the math skills to be a scientist or astronomer. Still, my obsession with the universe persists. I have a lamp in the shape of a moon in my room, as long as a star projector, and many books on the stars and how to look at them. I used to watch the show How the Universe Works everyday as a way to relax to the sound of Mike Rowe's deep voice. And throughout this constant fascination with the universe that we live in, I find myself pondering questions about its origins and how it truly works. After all, we only know about everything we can see in the universe- a measly 5%. But what about the other 95%? How can we know so little about something as vast as our cosmic home? I believe it is important for us to understand concepts as complex as black holes, dark matter, and quasars because it is the very fuel that will drive the continuation of our existence as a species. We have no idea if there are other worlds with intelligent life, though I would like to think so. But if there is a chance there is, then we must get out there and find them. The understanding of the nature of our universe can advance technologies that will give us the chance to explore those worlds. As of yet, it would be extremely difficult to propel a shuttle with humans on it out of our solar system, or even to the far reaches of it. And even then, the fastest we know we could go is lightspeed. And we still do not even know how moving at the speed of light would affect a human being. Of course, even if we feasibly could travel at lightspeed, it would still take us over 4 years traveling at that speed to reach the nearest solar system. And there are still millions of solar systems in our galaxy, and millions of galaxies in our universe. It seems impossible to explore all the planets in our universe, which is likely true. But still, I think of these possibilities, the idea that there is still so much more out there for us to discover, and yet we haven't jumped on it yet. Human beings are inherently curious. There's no fighting it. As Neil deGrasse Tyson said once, "Human beings are the only species on Earth that sleeps on its back. If you ask a beetle, or a dog, or a horse what it sees as it drifts off to sleep, it's the ground. But what does a human see? The stars. And that's what sets us apart." After hearing that quote, I contemplated it for so long. Indeed, we are the only species to sleep on its back, the only species whose head is eternally turned to the stars. It's almost as if we were meant to wonder.

I'm a fan of Wicked for many reasons. First and foremost, I'm a theater kid. You don't go very long being a theater kid without knowing Wicked, that's for sure. Being one of the most well-known and popular musicals of all time, it was only a matter of time before I became a fan myself. Second, the singing! Another reason I love this musical so much is the power behind the voices. When I first got into the musical, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth's voices blew me away, giving me goosebumps with each song. And who can forget the powerful ending of "Defying Gravity," with some of the most powerful high notes in Broadway history? Third, I think it truly is the message. It reveals the truth about how people who may be seen as evil are good, and those who are seen as good may not be. The mistreatment of animals, government oppression, and the power of prejudice all play key roles in the story, and it leaves you wondering about our roles in society as a whole. Finally, I think the song "Defying Gravity" itself is such a powerful message, one that speaks on how everyone deserves a chance to fly, to be free, and to choose who they want to be.

Growing up, mental health was taboo and only spoken about in hushed conversations. People didn't talk about depression and anxiety as if they were normal things. They didn't talk about them at all. When I was going through a rough patch during late middle school and early high school, I was afraid to tell my parents how I was feeling. I was scared they wouldn't understand. Heck, "suicide" was such a taboo thing to talk about, I soon realized it was considered a sin in the Catholic faith. So there was no way I was going to tell them I thought I had depression. Especially after making a joke to a friend that the school flagged, they reacted angrily. After another instance which ended up with me having to call my mother, I realized all these "jokes" were my way of crying for help. I was depressed. I had anxiety. I was shutting myself off from my friends, and my family, things were not bringing me the same joy as before, and I was simply numb to most things at this point. When my mother came over to see the situation, she was all smiles and happy to the people in charge of our religion group, while I went to go wait in the car, but it all slipped the moment she got in the driver's seat. "Do you need to talk to somebody?" My mom asks. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. She knew! She knew what I was going through, and I would finally get some help. I would finally be able to talk to someone, and not feel so alone anymore! "...yes," I whispered, still crying after the entire ordeal that had happened over the evening. I was finally going to get help. But that help never came. I waited patiently. I waited two years. I was afraid to ask because I kept thinking if I did, my mother wouldn't understand. I waited. Finally, I asked whatever happened to the therapy she was going to get me. I only got a lame excuse. "There was too much of a waiting list," she said, "And it didn't work for your brother, anyway. I'm not wasting any more money on them." "...oh." After that, I helped myself out of the hole I was in. I found new friends, new hobbies, and people that supported me. I no longer wanted to end my life every waking day. I didn't feel like a burden or want to sleep for an entire week. I was happier. Unfortunately, there are relapses. And life happens. People come, and people go. It's hard to stay happy forever. While depression isn't as big of an issue for me anymore, my anxiety has only grown. I'm afraid to ask for things, afraid to put myself out there, afraid of most things. I'm afraid of getting into relationships. After only having bad experiences with dating, and my mental health problems, I put a lot of space between people I date, usually about two years between each. I'm afraid of being in a big space with loud noises everywhere, which is why I intend to study graphic design in college, so I can work in a quieter space, by myself, and work in peace. It doesn't entirely dictate my career choice, but it is a part of it. Finally, I think I will always have issues with mental health, but hope to get some therapy someday. I hope to become a mother that is loving and supportive and to keep my children from experiencing the same issues I did. And if they are ever in need of help, if they need therapy, or even someone to talk to, I'll be there. No one deserves to suffer alone. And no one deserves to suffer in silence.

Coming from a background where money was tight but never gone, I learned from a young age not to ask for too much, always to be polite and to the pressures of finding a good career for when I was older. I bounced around a few ideas for a long time, weighing the amount of money it makes and how much I would have to pay for education. For a year, I thought about studying psychology and becoming a therapist, wanting to explore the complexities of the human mind and help people, before my mother talked me out of it when she told me how much schooling I would need and how little it would end up paying in the end. Another career I considered was going to a trade school for cosmetology. The schooling would not cost as much, but it would not be something I enjoyed in the long run. Ultimately, I found a career path that was right for me: graphic design. Graphic design is an amazing way for me to unwind, create, and tell a story. With the power to create at my fingertips and a million ideas buzzing in my head, it's the perfect outlet for me to unwind and an amazing career I'll do well at. Something I am passionate about in life is the ability to tell a story. I am an actor, singer, writer, artist, and creator, using just about any form of the arts to tell a story and give it to the world. I was born to create, always paying attention to detail and wanting to create a story for others to enjoy. My plan is to go to a public or private college and learn more about graphic design so I can graduate with a bachelor's degree in it. Because money is tight with my family, and I am the first one to go to college out of my siblings, the future is a scary thing to think about. I am favoring public schools at the moment due to their more affordable prices, but bigger class sizes scare me. I need to learn in a more tight-knit environment, so I can understand and have better relationships with my professors. This scholarship, although small in the grand scheme of things, would help me to afford college more easily, even if it is just paying for books. I want to go to college to learn, to understand who I am and what I will do in the future, and to set myself up for a great career. All in all, I believe this scholarship would aid in my educational journey, and set me up for success.

Flow of Water- Current, Wave, Ripple, Stream (All these words have double meanings. Whoever is playing may think "Current" is referring to the present, and might be confused. "Wave" could be an action as well as a part of water. "Ripple" might be confused with the ripple chip, and "stream" may be thought to go with the TV show category) TV Show- Season, Finale, Show, Arc (Again, most of these words have double meanings. "Season" might be mixed up with the natural seasons in our world. "Show" can be a verb as well as a noun, and most people don't understand what the word "arc" is used for when referring to a TV show) Small Things- Minute, Compact, Toy, Minor ("Minute" might be thought of as the measurement of time, a "compact" is also an accoutrement women use, "toy" might refer to what children play with, and "minor" might refer to a child itself) Where People Come Together- Ball, Fair, Park, Bar ("Ball" can be mixed up with another kind of ball, "fair" may refer to the shade of a person's skin, or if something is fair or not, "park" might refer to what a car does, and "bar" is not only a place but an object) Season Wave Compact Show Toy Ball Ripple Arc Park Bar Current Stream Minute Minor Fair Finale

For as long as I can remember, I've had trouble focusing. I was a good student, sure, but I could never listen well. Instructions would go in one ear and out the other, sarcasm flew right over my head, and I would forget all the time. Coupled with these struggles, I'd have problems with textures, was unable to read body language, and would hyperfocus and hyper fixate on topics that seemed irrelevant. I never had the words to describe how I was. Labels were simply slapped on my forehead like a product in the store; "Weird", "Sensitive", "Stiff." I could never understand what was wrong with me, and my parents never took me to the doctor, the school counselor never looked at me, and I was never diagnosed. I'm not sure if it was due to me doing well in school, my lack of meltdowns, or other signs that are exhibited in other people with autism, but I was never tested, and never diagnosed. My entire life, autism was seen as something taboo, along with ADHD. If you thought someone was acting weird, I'd hear my mother say in a hushed voice, "I think they're autistic," or, "I think they have ADHD." Another reason why I was not tested, was because of that fear surrounding these neurodiverse conditions. I didn't want to be the "weird kid" who had to go down to the office at lunch and take medication, or seen as anything other than me. So, once again, my condition was overlooked. I have yet to be tested or diagnosed with either of these conditions, but exhibit strong signs of them. My struggles with focusing, following instructions, and remembering simple tasks point to ADHD, while my hyper fixations, inability to read sarcasm or body language, and hyper empathy are symptoms of autism. I have also taken the official autism test online (though it's not a replacement for a concrete diagnosis from a doctor) and scored where most autistic people lie. Thankfully, I have learned that autism and ADHD aren't as taboo as they seemed when I was younger. People talk openly about these things now, and I no longer feel like I need to change myself to "fit in" and not be associated with those who are different. After all, neurodiversity isn't a curse, but a blessing. Because of my suspected ADHD, I have learned how to improve my problem solving skills, creativity, and spontaneity in conversations and my work. I plan on majoring in graphic design, and these skills I have gained from ADHD has helped a lot with that. My suspected autism has given my hyper empathy, and the skills the understand people who come from vastly different backgrounds and personalities than my own. I have hyper focused on details over the years, so although I have trouble reading sarcasm, I notice little things about a person, which keeps me in the loop during conversations. My hyper fixations have helped open the door to a multitude of books, movies, and TV shows, which has helped me enjoy so many different stories. Although I've never been diagnosed, I show signs of autism and ADHD, but that doesn't weigh me down. It lifts me up. I know that despite these learning disabilities, I am smart. I am creative, I am caring, and I am me. Neurodiversity isn't something that should be whispered about behind closed doors, and we should see more people with it succeed in this world. And I think if we accepted those that were different more freely, we'd be a better world in the end.

I have been writing for as long as I can remember. From little stories I would write and illustrate myself, creative writing assignments in school, to my first four books. The power writing gives me is a great one, especially when creating my own worlds within my stories. I have always been a big fan of fantasy, and have made independent countries, cultures, and traditions in two separate book series I am working on. One of my favorite things about writing is the way I can take myself out of the patterns and monotony of the real world, and indulge myself in a fantasy of my own creation. No longer do I think about what a classmate said during school today, when I can envelop myself in the niceties between two characters that sprang from my head. Another thing that I love about writing is how therapeutic it is. After a stressful day at school or work, I look forward to sitting behind my computer and typing out pages upon pages of a scenario of my own creation. For some time, I struggled with depression and anxiety, and my writing in actuality relieved that. I could take myself out of that dark place in my mind, and apply my nervous energy and free time to my works, creating something I could love. Writing has even saved my life, keeping me grounded and able to stay on this worth. Whenever I would have dark thoughts about my place in this world, and questioning if I should stay in it, I would think about what I was working on, and think about how if I was no longer here, it would never be finished. So, I stayed. Throughout high school, I have started three different projects I have been working on, and have been typing them out furiously whenever I have a chance. There was an instance before I started high school where I lost an entire draft and was forced to start over, but it only made my writing better, as I was able to rewrite some scenes that did not make any sense, polish some paragraphs, and overall make the draft longer and more easy to read. Although I do not plan on majoring in creative writing, I plan to continue writing in college, finishing some of the drafts and projects I have started over the years. In the future, I hope to publish my works, and become an inspiration to young writers like myself.

After a long and hard struggle to find what I wanted to major in for college, I eventually stumbled upon a major I had never heard of before; graphic design. But suddenly, it all made sense. This is the major I have been chosen for my entire life. Even in kindergarten, I've always had a sense for detail and art, such as the assignment I was given around Halloween time when I was five years old, asking me to draw what I was going to dress up for Halloween. Since I was going to be Rapunzel, naturally, I drew her. But behind the princess, I also drew her tower...and each individual stone in it. I still remember my father saying, "That's some impressive detail. You're really good." His words stuck with me to continue to work in the arts. I've been in different classes for the fine arts: drawing, choir, and theater. But this year, I'm taking a digital design class, which will teach me the fundamentals of graphic design and photography. I have also been writing many drafts for books the last few years, which is one of my passions. Through my major and hobbies, I hope to create designs for companies, corporations, small businesses, and volunteer work. I also plan on continuing my writing career to create stories for the world to see, and enjoy. But most of all, I wish that through my work, I can inspire other young creatives to keep pushing at what they love, and succeed as I hope to.

In March of 2023, after a long battle with prostate cancer, my grandfather finally slipped into sleep for the last time. I'd like to say I was there, but living an hour away and being forbidden from going, I was not. But I knew the moment my dad's phone rang. We were sitting there, my aunt and cousin having been visiting for the weekend, having just finished dinner. It was just my dad and I left sitting at the table, but I didn't mind. Sometimes we just sat and talked, or let the dogs sit on our laps. But then his phone rang, and I heard my father say, "Yeah, hun." I knew it was my mom calling. The daughter of my grandpa and one of the few people at the Hospice center looking after him. As my father stood and began pacing the front room, I felt myself look at my lap. I knew what was happening. I always get this sixth sense right as someone has died. And we all knew Grandaddy was going to go here pretty soon, it was just that he had stayed a lot longer than we thought. After my dad hung up, he called my siblings into the dining room with us. I could feel my heart begin to break. So I was right. My dad started to say, "Fifteen minutes ago, Grandaddy passed away-" but I was already running out of the room, tears in my eyes. Even though I knew it was coming, I still wasn't ready. These past few years, I had gotten increasingly closer with my grandfather. I wrote him letters to tell him things I could only speak to on paper, interviewed him for a school project on his life, and how I thought of him as a hero. I gained so much knowledge of his life, and spent so much time with him, because I knew I didn't have much left. I could remember when he first started going through chemo, the hair loss, the heat flashes, and his constant pain and fatigue. He wasn't the strong grandfather I knew anymore who could carry me on my shoulders and make me feel tall. But he kept fighting. And ultimately, I think that added another ten years to his life. But because of his cancer, because of his battle, because of his fight, I grew to learn an important lesson, the lesson written on cards given out at his funeral; be kind.

Video games have positively impacted my life in many ways. They have taught me hand-eye coordination, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Tekken has taught me the value of patterns and memorization, as well as quick thinking during a match. Call of Duty has given me skills in accuracy and respect for the military, especially what they go through each day. They have also exposed me to a multitude of different worlds, from the not-so far away future in games like Call of Duty, or the distant galaxy in Halo. I have seen characters like Leon Kennedy fight monsters and zombies alike, his bravery inspiring me to be brave, as well. I have watched Ethan Winters go through hell and back to save his daughter, sacrificing himself in the end, and proving that selflessness is one of the greatest virtues, as well as warmed my heart to see how far the love of a father can go. Video games can be funny, too, and I have often laughed at the Lego versions of movies such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Marvel, with their slapstick easing the frustration of not being able to solve a puzzle. These games have also helped me grow closer to my family. Whether it's playing a round of Call of Duty multiplayer with my brother or father, or helping on of my younger sisters out on a certain level, video games bring us together. Sure, we may have our fights about who actually won the round, but we're always excited to play the next day. Finally, video games have given me the inspiration to keep my creativity going. I value the hard work that goes into each frame of animation, every background that has been hand painted or digitized by a person behind a computer. I appreciate every story that each video game has, from the simple to the complicated. I want to be like the writers who have given me characters I love, and cry whenever they are killed off. I wish to be as talented as the graphic designers who design the different pages and loading screens, the modelers for every person, entity, or animal. I want to have my own work to go as far as these video games, and be loved by other people. But most of all, I want to inspire more young people in my future, so they can see how much creativity can shine, and that even they can accomplish something as big as a video game, too.