Math is beautiful and elegant in its simplicity and abstraction, and it can stimulate curiosity and creativity. Learning math can be challenging but it also can be highly rewarding and enriching, and that is why I enjoy studying it. Most students contemplate why math matters, and if we will even need to use it in real-life situations. The reality is, Math is present in everything we do, it is the building block for everything in our daily lives, it's in sports, art, money, computers, buildings, and on and on. Without math, everything in our daily lives would be gone, and I think that is why I hold math so dear, besides the fact that it is very fun. I could not possibly imagine what our world would look like without math. Math is essentially its own language, it requires me to approach problems with a clear and analytical mind, breaking them down into smaller more manageable parts, and applying a variety of tools and techniques to solve them. Essentially it challenges me to think abstractly and logically. It requires me to be persistent, patient, and focused and to continually strive to improve in the subject. It also requires me to be able to explain complex ideas in simple concise terms, which in turn helps me in other subjects, not just math. Math is essential for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, math provides a way to understand and describe the world around us. From the patterns in nature to the principles of physics, math helps us make sense of the universe. In addition, math is used in a wide range of fields including science, engineering, finance, and technology. Without math, it would be impossible to build bridges, design computer algorithms, or even calculate interest rates. Math provides the foundation for many important scientific and technological advancements. More so, studying math helps me to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills are valuable not only in math-related careers but also in many other areas of life, such as business, law, and medicine. Math also teaches me to think logically and systematically, which is essential for making sound decisions.In summary, math is important to me because it helps me and others understand the world, it supports important fields like science and technology and helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in many areas of life.

My education has always been the most precious thing to me. Growing up, my community was never the best, there was always violence and it made me feel unsafe. Although my community didn't make me feel the best, I never thought that something truly terrible could happen to me at the place where I'm supposed to feel the safest, which was school. On the third day of school August 13, 2021, someone came into my school, the place that was my second home, and fired a gun multiple times. What I thought was going to be another day at school turned out to be the scariest day of my life and the last day of one of my friend's life. As I sat down one month later at my friend's funeral, I cried. Realizing that change needed a voice. My community was broken and going to school every day was a constant reminder of what happened. A week later I started the first Student council at my school. I walked to the principles office and sat down with her, telling her all my ideas to make our school better. And that was how the first-ever student council was born. In the coming months, we advocated against gun violence, raised money, and made every school dance and activity possible. Those long hours working after school were all worth it in the end, to see the happiness we brought back. We hadn't seen happiness in a while. During this period I realized what my passion was, which was helping people. Months passed and the new school year had finally come. Finally, it was a fresh start again. Very quickly I joined so many things and had one goal in mind the whole time. I wanted to be someone worth remembering and I wanted to leave something behind that would outlive me. I kept doing student council where I got to do things for my community every day. I joined BLISS which stands for "bettering lives in small steps", where I got to go to many different places to help and better people's lives. Whether it was reading to first graders or cleaning up lakes. I also joined MESA, which is a club that focuses on students who want a STEM-based career. I soon was recognized for my care and admiration for the environment and was nominated as my school's environmental activist leader. I joined some sports like Cross country and track and field. And even became a Dual credit student earning a Pre-med degree at a college as well as going to high school. I am currently taking nine high school classes and three college classes with a 4.0 at both schools. I got an interview with the NMASBHC which is an advocacy group that advocates for school-based health centers for every student and school in my state, I then was promoted to be the student-state representative. I obtained that interview from my favorite club of them all which is called PAUSE, it is a peer-helping group that supports mental health awareness and student needs, and it has changed my school immensely. That is my story of how one event changed my whole life and began my journey of self-discovery. I am Amiriss Lopez and I am a first-generation Hispanic, bilingual student at Albuquerque high school reaching towards the goal of going to my favorite universities such as Yale, Brown, and Columbia. I am a survivor and a passionate woman.

Hello, my name is Amiriss Lopez and I am a high school student currently attending Albuquerque High School. Some facts about me are that I am fluent in both English and Spanish and I am working to get my bilingual seal my Senior year. Another fun fact about me is that I am a dual credit student working to get my Pre-med associate's degree. I have a passion for a career in the STEM field and hope to get into one of the top colleges I picked such as Yale, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania. I have nine classes at my high school as well as three classes at my college. With a 4.0 at both schools. Clubs and sports I participate in at school are Cross Country, Track and field, BLISS, MESA, Student senate, environmental group, and PAUSE. A way I have impacted my community was in 202. In 2021 there was a school shooting at my middle school and it broke my community greatly. After that tragedy, I knew I wanted to do something that will bring our community back together and work towards making my school a safer and better place. I started the first ever Student council at my middle school where we advocated against gun violence, supported students, and raised money to buy things our school can enjoy. Our impact affected many people, and those long hours we took raising money were worth it to bring joy and happiness back onto people's faces which we hadn't seen in so long after the tragedy. Soon after I entered High school I was chosen to be A environmental activist leader because of the passion I showed for the environment. Since then I have bettered my community and brought guest speakers from large organizations across New Mexico and spread environmental awareness throughout my school. My work has made a big impact so far and I plan to Continue. Another way I have made an impact on students' lives is by being a part of the NMASBHC youth group. I obtained a position there by being nominated by my teacher and doing many interviews. In that youth group, we advocate for every student in New Mexico to have a school-based health center which is a combination of primary care, mental health care, substance abuse counseling, case management, dental health, nutrition education, health education, and health promotion. With no cost for that students because we believe it is in every student's right to have all the necessary health care they need at no cost. In that group I am the student state representative, I have advocated and spent so much time in bettering students' lives, and my work is far from finished. I still have many ideas and goals for this wonderful group. The last way I plan to better my community is by going to a meeting on February 1, 2023, with legislators across New Mexico, advocating for SBHC, Anxiety and stress management rooms at my high school, and advocating against gun violence. I plan to meet the Governor and I am currently making preparations to get ready to speak in front of such big people, with my passion and experience, I plan to stand in front of all of those important people and advocate for every student in New Mexico to the best of my ability. I want truly the best for my community and every student across New Mexico. I have big ambitions and many ideas planned to better my community still. My work is all for students like Jared Ethan who show Ambition and Kindness.