My love for all things flora emerged in one of the most unlikely events: the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. While secluded in my home all day, I itched for something to occupy my newfound time. The solution to my boredom was a flower garden, inspired by my house plant collection. One planter box, a couple of bags of soil, and a few packets of seeds later, I had unintentionally sowed my greatest passion. The following year, one small planter on my porch was no longer sufficient for my deep love of delicate petals, lush foliage, and vibrant colors. By late summer, my yard was covered in a blanket of flowers, and I was hooked. Over the course of the next school year, I facilitated the creation of a Grow-a-Long program at my school that taught students how to grow plants from seeds. This allowed students to learn more about ecology and to connect with each other. The project was the gateway to knowing that serving my community and helping others through science and community involvement was what truly fulfilled my passions. Throughout my project, I have had the chance to connect with other people my age and foster their interests in native restoration and ecology. I created a sense of community at my school and connections with community members. I have been able to develop my leadership skills and gained valuable volunteer experience that I can apply throughout my life. I know this volunteer opportunity has helped many of my peers learn about the importance of native species, and I hope they will use this opportunity to educate others. My overall career goal is to research and develop new varieties of produce and flowers. I want to breed plants that can adapt to changing climates and ultimately decrease food insecurity. My career path will allow me to touch the lives of everyone around the nation through food and increase their quality of life. I hope my future work will help pave the way for what the world of agriculture could be, and how we can change the way we produce food. Making a meaningful contribution to society is what I desire most, and a college education will make this dream a reality. This scholarship will not only assist me in achieving my academic goals, but it also serves as a source of motivation for me to work even harder and make the most of my educational experience. During college, I will be able to focus on my studies and fully immerse myself in the college experience. I won’t have to worry if I will be able to afford the next semester or work for hours on end to finance my education. This scholarship will not only lighten my financial load, but will also give me the confidence and encouragement to continue to pursue my academic dreams. Because of your generosity, I won’t have to take out student loans. I’ve seen what debt can do to people, through my parents and other people’s experiences. By graduating debt free, I will be able to use my degree to find a job that I want, rather than one I have to settle for because of the pay. With no loans, I won’t have to worry about my credit score when I buy a home, car, or other future investments. This scholarship will grant me the freedom to live my life to the fullest and to live my truth.

Over the pandemic, I picked up gardening as a hobby and grew a variety of flowers at home. When I went back to school the following year, I was excited to attend Environmental Club meetings and share my new interest with my peers. However, I noticed I was the only person my age interested in ecology. I immediately saw an issue and disconnect within my community. The location of our school puts us in close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. In school, we learn about Bay health and watersheds, so students already have a baseline idea of the importance of helping the environment. Yet, little are students educated on ways to improve the health of the Bay and surrounding ecosystems. I’ve also noticed that the forests around our community are filled with invasive species, such as English ivy and vinca vine. There is so much natural beauty in Maryland, but rarely do you ever see our native flowers and vegetation. To solve both of these issues, I created the Grow Along, whose purpose was to allow other teenagers to explore ecology and botany with guidance and assistance, as well as educate them on the importance of native plants. My goal was to empower my peers with the skills and knowledge that they could change the status quo around native plants, landscaping, and Bay health. My execution plan was simple: students could sign up for the Grow Along, the Environmental Club would put together grow-kits, and I would post informational videos online to help students grow their own native flowers and learn about their benefits. To launch my idea, I first organized and proposed the project to my fellow Environmental Club members. With their approval, I moved on to researching native plants that our peers would grow at home, as well as the easiest growing methods. I also created a budget, video schedule, multiple advertisements, spreadsheets to collect students’ information, and a collection system to gather and reuse plastic containers. Finally, we assembled the grow-kits and distributed them. Every week, I updated the club’s Instagram page with instructions and reminders so students could follow along at home. Throughout my project, I have had the chance to connect with other people my age and foster their interests in gardening and ecology. I created a sense of community at my school and connections with community members, such as our town’s community association. Throughout this journey, I’ve developed a deep love for our native species and how they benefit everyone. I realized how everything is connected and has evolved together to create a working community where balance is key. In the future, I hope to continue advocating for native plant species. I want to push for native landscaping and for more stores to carry native species instead of invasives or exotics. I know the Grow Along has helped many of my peers learn about the importance of native species, and I hope they will use this opportunity to educate others.

My love for all things flora emerged in one of the most unlikely events: the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. While secluded in my home all day, I itched for something to occupy my newfound time. The solution to my boredom was a flower garden, inspired by my house plant collection. One planter box, a couple of bags of soil, and a few packets of seeds later, I had unintentionally sowed my greatest passion. The following year, one small planter on my porch was no longer sufficient for my deep love of delicate petals, lush foliage, and vibrant colors. By late summer, my yard was covered in a blanket of flowers, and I was hooked. The next school year, I became heavily involved with my school’s Environmental Club, which had just been reinstated by a friend. At first, I was reluctant to join, but it was the best decision I ever made. Through the Environmental Club, I was able to connect with my peers and build leadership skills, eventually becoming the president. I was able to share my passion for flowers with others by facilitating the creation of a Grow-a-Long program that taught students how to grow plants from seeds. This allowed students to learn more about ecology and to connect. The project was the gateway to knowing that serving my community and helping others through community involvement was what truly fulfilled my passions. The Environmental Club has grown exponentially since my sophomore year, going from about four people to over 20 members. We have shown our community that we are committed to making a difference by organizing volunteer events, such as trash pick-ups, clearing invasive plants, planting natives, and engaging students in making the Earth a better place. As for my education, I plan to major in Plant Sciences at Howard Community College (HCC), and then transfer to the University of Maryland, College Park. I am majoring in Plant Sciences because I am passionate about the environment and leaving an impact on the world, and I also enjoy plants in general. I want to become a plant breeder so I can create new hybrids that serve different purposes, such as disease resistance or crop yield, that can improve people’s lives by giving them greater access to food. Additionally, plant breeding has applications to native conservation by restoring plants that have been brought to the brink of extinction, like the American Chestnut. Plant Science offers many different career opportunities, so I won’t be limited by my degree. I want to be remembered as a compassionate, enthusiastic, and passionate person. My interest in ecology has grown from a hobby in my backyard to a passion that I want to share with the world. The Environmental Club has impacted my life in immeasurable ways and created the person I am today. I value all the opportunities I was given to make a difference in my community, and I will continue my work in years to come. I know that I have the power to make a difference in my community and the world.

The Humble Dandelion The humble dandelion With it’s small yellow blooms Sways in the breeze Dancing to nature’s tune The dandelion’s generosity Is eternal Feeding my family Feeding yours Feeding the starving mouths Of bees Butterflies And birds Vilified is the mighty dandelion Scorned and shunned Charged with a crime It does not deserve “Nuisance!” One calls it “Pest!” Says another But the determined dandelion Keeps on going Growing with no signs of slowing Carried far and wide By the gentle waves Of a warm spring breath

I've never had to pay a bill, rent, loan, or file taxes. I'm too young to own land or a house. My part-time job bussing at a restaurant for the summer barely paid minimum wage, so how have I managed to save over ten thousand dollars? No, the answer isn't having a wealthy family member pass and I inherited some of their money, it's actually saving. A long time ago, my great grandfather would take me to a candy store every weekend and give me a dollar. He said I could either spend it now, or save it. Of course, as children do, I would immediately spend it on small pieces of candy. However, I wasn't satisfied with a simple chocolate bar; I wanted the king bar. I managed to save up enough money over multiple weekends and finally got my candy, but then I was left broke. That's when my great grandfather said, "If you don't have enough money to but it twice, you don't have enough money to buy it at all". This single piece of advice has helped me save thousands of dollars. He also taught me how to rationalize purchases and wait before making expensive decisions. Opening a savings account instead of a checking account has made sure I save every penny. All my money is tucked away where I can't touch it, so there's no temptation to spend it. The only spending money I have is in cash, which deters the appeal of online shopping. Everyone always says the best thing to do is to save your money, and the people who listen find out it's true. All the money I save goes towards my future life, goals, family, and education. I wouldn't be where I am today without these pieces of advice.

Everyday I used to bring my sandwich to school in a plastic baggie, and everyday I would throw it away. That’s about 180 plastic bags a year. I did this all throughout middle school. The amount of waste I was creating impacted the environment very negatively, as plastic takes a long time to break down. One simple change I made was to switch to a reusable beeswax wrap. I used scrap fabric and melted beeswax onto it to create my new sandwich bag and minimize my personal waste. This one small swap has decreased the amount of plastic I throw away daily. In my home, I’ve tried to make changes as well. I ask my parents to buy less items wrapped in plastic when they go grocery shopping and I help find cheaper, plastic free alternatives. We use powder detergents for laundry and dishes that come in cardboard boxes instead of plastic bottles. I make sure we use up every product or repurpose it in our house before throwing it away. For example, I reuse plastic milk jugs and fruit containers as seed starter containers for my garden. Clothing waste and fast fashion are big environmental issues right now. When my family really needs or wants clothes, we go to the thrift store or try to mend damaged clothes. Hand-me-downs are also common in my household. I find the zero-waste movement to be a little problematic. It can be very performative and prioritize aesthetics over actually producing less waste. Living a less wasteful lifestyle doesn’t have to be perfect. The planet needs millions of people doing “zero-waste” imperfectly than a few people doing it perfectly. One insignificant change can dramatically impact the environment, and if we all commit to making small changes, our planet will thank us.

Seeds are the beginning of life, as well as many metaphors. One small, seemingly insignificant seed can grow into a beautiful plant that can produce a multitude of gorgeous flowers. The seed implanted in me was an actual seed. From the first time I ever tilled soil and planted my first ever flower seeds, I knew that this was my passion. My art form combines science and the arts into a swirling mix of color and creativity. Plant breeding is needed now more than ever with our impending climate crisis. We need plants that will be able to withstand drought, heat, and poor soil. My dream is to create both flowers and vegetable plants that can combat environmental hardships to feed our people's eyes and mouths. Plant breeding requires patience, planning, and organization. Pictured below is the original dahlia plant for my special variety (dahlia tubers always produce the same flower). I grew it from a seed and noticed the unique colors and shape. The seeds from the original plant are the F1 variety, created from pollination. Next year, I will grow the seeds and wait months for them to flower, get rid of unwanted varieties, and then save the seeds again. Those seeds will be called F2. This process repeats until the desired variety is achieved with a high success rate. In the future, I hope that the plants I create will be used in home and commercial gardens for everyone to enjoy. I couldn't imagine a world without plants, so I'm making a world with them.

I've never had to pay a bill, rent, loan, or file taxes. I'm too young to own land or a house. My part-time job bussing at a restaurant for the summer barely paid minimum wage, so how have I managed to save over ten thousand dollars? No, the answer isn't having a wealthy family member pass and I inherited some of their money, it's actually saving. A long time ago, my great grandfather would take me to a candy store every weekend and give me a dollar. He said I could either spend it now, or save it. Of course, as children do, I would immediately spend it on small pieces of candy. However, I wasn't satisfied with a simple chocolate bar; I wanted the king bar. I managed to save up enough money over multiple weekends and finally got my candy, but then I was left broke. That's when my great grandfather said, "If you don't have enough money to but it twice, you don't have enough money to buy it at all". This single piece of advice has helped me save thousands of dollars. He also taught me how to rationalize purchases and wait before making expensive decisions. Opening a savings account instead of a checking account has made sure I save every penny. All my money is tucked away where I can't touch it, so there's no temptation to spend it. The only spending money I have is in cash, which deters the appeal of online shopping. Everyone always says the best thing to do is to save your money, and the people who listen find out it's true. All the money I save goes towards my future life, goals, family, and education. I wouldn't be where I am today without these pieces of advice.

Tiredness seeps into my eyes as I stare at my bright screen. I fill out tuition calculator after tuition calculator in search of the lowest price, but none give a different answer. Finding scholarships I’m eligible for is difficult, let alone winning one. My family makes too much money for financial aid, but not enough to support seven children to go through college. Is college worth a life-time of debt? Unfortunately, this situation is far too common in the United States, sans the copious siblings. Colleges are businesses, and like all businesses, they want to make money. Tuition alone can run your wallet dry, not to mention fees, room and board, meal plans, books, and so much more. Practically no one has 40 thousand dollars laying around to spend on an education. Underprivileged and unprepared students are discouraged by this pay-wall tenfold. Everyone has the right to a higher education to create their future. Free resources and less expensive college prices can end educational inequity. Many students don’t know the resources out there that can help them pay for an affordable college, either through scholarships from the school or private scholarships. Some colleges will give lower prices if you call and ask! Usually, students have to do their own research for this information, as school counselors are often busy and unhelpful. Free educational resources need to become more accessible so people can better themselves, their communities, and the world.

The biggest problem facing the world right now is generational hate. People aren't born with the instinct to hate a group of people; it is a learned behavior. Racism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, etc., are all rooted in hatred for another human. These behaviors are learned from those around us, especially family, and can persist throughout many lifetimes. As a gay, transgender man, I have experienced my fair share of hate. When I was just 12 years old, another student at my school stole and destroyed my phone because of who I am. I was constantly verbally harassed and made to feel inferior. Now, I have bigger problems to worry about than bullies at school. There are many bills proposed every year that try to stop transgender people from being who they are. Bills that prohibit transgender people from using the correct bathroom, playing sports, receiving healthcare, joining the military, and medically transitioning are just a few topics where transgender rights are infringed upon. The people who propose, make, and support these bills have been taught to hate transgender people from their parents and their community when they haven't even met a real life transgender person. One way that we can stop generational hate is to educate people properly. In the case of transgender people, there is a misconception that we are confused or weird, sometimes even scary. Media outlets are not sufficient and can spread false information. Schools can do their part in educating the youth by including transgender people in their curriculums. People in their communities can help educate their neighbors. Unlearning hateful behaviors is hard, but together, we can do it to create a safer world.