Questions, questions, questions. If you were to ask anyone who has had a class with me, or even lived with me, they would tell you that I am full of questions. Asking about the world around me has always been something I’ve done, even if it has gotten me in a situation or two. The world is full of things that can be studied, and it is always fascinating when you can explain and understand how something functions. When I question, I think of every scenario, and I path every outcome. Even though I question many things, I also like to participate in other things, such as drawing and writing. When I am not asking a million questions I am drawing up ideas, taking inspiration from the world around me, or I am writing stories that take place in a fantasy world with monsters or a world as realistic as our own. I am full to the brim with ideas and thoughts that I want to share with the world, and if given the chance, I will open a random page and start talking. I enjoy listening to what people have to say about my ideas, and constructive criticism is something I take very seriously. Although others may believe that questions can limit findings, I believe that we should embrace questions and strive to find the answers to anything that we are uncertain of. As I start my college career this fall, I strive to influence others to ask questions and wonder about our world. I will work to include my peers and friends in discussions that link to anything, for example, history or science. I love to hear others’ ideas and viewpoints when it comes to discussions, especially when it comes to science. The major I have chosen this year is Biology, something that I have been wanting to do since I was young, as I have been deeply interested in science since I was young. The idea of helping and teaching others is one of the things I enjoy about science. I plan to look more into science and use my past experiences along with studies others have completed to expand my reach and knowledge. With the help of the Robert F. Lawson Fund scholarship, I hope to use the funds to help pay for and further my career which will help me in making an impact on the next generation of children.

Imagine a sunny afternoon, beams of sun falling through a window, and your eyes land on a small girl sitting on a chair with a sketch pad open on her lap, as her pencil rapidly flies across the page. That small girl is me; I am Angelina Scotece and I am 18 years old. I enjoy drawing and sketching things I imagine in my head and things I see in the world around me. I love writing out my ideas, as well and if I am not with my sketchpad then I am on my computer typing up ideas about stories I have. I love to ask questions and solve problems. Everything around me makes me curious, and I love questioning how things work or what they are made of. Questioning the world has always been something I have done, so when I am in school, it is easy to raise my hand and ask questions about everything I can. One class that I always have questions about are my science classes. The human body, chemical equations, and the bountiful creations you can make has always kept me interested, and it is not long before my mouth opens and I am asking a million questions. Although others may think of my constant questioning as an annoyance, my teachers pushed for us to ask questions, and I was happy to comply. They always seemed to smile when I raised my hand, and they answered any question I had with vigor. Thinking back, it takes me a moment, because I have so many influences that it is hard to choose. Narrowing down my choices leads me to realize that the biggest influences in my life were my science teachers because influenced me in choosing my major. Each teacher’s teaching style always seemed to captivate me and kept me wanting to learn more. One instance is my 8th-grade science teacher’s teaching style that caught my attention. During one class, he had us do the egg drop experiment that was assigned for that week, but he let us design our containers however we wanted regardless of how weird or unconventional the design was. This allowed me the freedom to work out how to keep the egg safe while helping other teams if needed. Another class was my senior AP Biology, and how we experimented with bacteria and DNA. This class always got me excited and made me look forward to what was planned that day. One lab we did that I enjoyed greatly was the strawberry DNA lab, in which we separated strawberry DNA and spooned them out to compare the lengths of DNA strands. Not only did my science teachers influence me to love exploring science as a whole, but their classes and teaching styles also helped me realize how much I enjoy teaching and helping others. The idea of helping others understand a topic always makes me happy, as I feel like I will be able to make a difference.

Over a few years, my family has amassed several pets, from exotic animals like ferrets and rats to everyday animals like dogs and cats. I have loved all these animals because they have shown me how to be responsible and how to care for others. The first ever dog my family owned was a brown cocker spaniel, her name was Pixie Hollow and she was a fun and crazy dog. She was playful and was constantly looking for attention, I was young when we got her but she was a sweet puppy and was smart as well and I loved playing with her. Along with Pixie, we had gotten a sweet orange tabby which we named Diego, he was a mischievous and sweet kitten who loved to sit on our back porch and catch lizards and flies. They were both wonderful pets and they taught me how to care for animals and how fun and exciting it was to have a furry friend like them. Along with them, we have had two ferrets named Rosco and Bandit, a tuxedo cat named Midnight, and our late chocolate lab Lucy. Currently, we have two dogs, Mysty and Bailey, who have proven to be the craziest pair of dogs I have known. Mysty, our mini Aussie, is an instigator when it comes to Bailey, our mutt, who only wants to sleep and cuddle with anyone nearby. Mysty will constantly shove toys and herself at Bailey to try and get the older dog to play with her. These dogs taught me about how important it is to be responsible, and how much they rely on you. It was scary at first, but it made me realize how much I loved taking care of and helping others. All of my pets have taught me how important caring for others is, and how to be responsible for their messes. I am thankful that I am able to have pets, and that my pets love me just as much as I love them.

Something that not many people think about when interacting with their community is to interact one-on-one with young children. This could be because homeless shelters are constantly asking for volunteers in their soup kitchens or churches that help by providing food banks. Even animal shelters need help dealing with dogs and cats and exotic animals like rabbits and guinea pigs. Many people volunteer at homeless shelters or animal shelters, and while it is being active within one’s community, caring for children is just as important. To combat this, I stayed active within my community by participating with my local YMCA and National English Honor Society chapter by caring for and reading to children. Through my YMCA, I have helped in food drives, cared for children, and by hosting club-sponsored events. One example was that we have hosted events, such as Trunk or Treat, where a section of the YMCA parking lot was set aside for Halloween-inspired games, food, and even a movie. I aided in supervising the DIY station, where children decorated pumpkins with paint and stickers. Although this year has been busy, I did my best to stay connected with my YMCA by attending their meetings. I am currently more active within my school, for example, with my local NEHS chapter, I helped by reading to local elementary schools in and around my area, for example, Butts Road Primary and Southeastern Elementary. I would constantly choose to read to the Special Education children since my brother has special needs, and reading to these children always made me happy. Within my school, my chapter and I stayed connected within our school community by hosting small events. One small event we offered was a book recommendation board, where students took small sticky notes and pasted them along the board, along with gifting bookmarks and candy canes to encourage students to read over the winter. Along with this, I helped my environmental club by planting trees around my school, which we periodically checked on and watered. I found this rewarding, but working with children directly, and seeing their smiles, made me feel as though I impacted their lives. I have stayed active with my community during my school year. When I make my transition to college, I will make sure that I join clubs and volunteer in organizations in the community. I will ensure that I maintain as an active member of my community during my fall and spring semesters too. I hope to accomplish this with the help of the Mental Health Matters Scholarship.

The buzzers in my hands felt heavy as I sat in my therapist's office, as she told me to close my eyes for the millionth time and try to recall anything from my childhood. The machine that sent alternating buzzes between each hand only seemed to mock me as I tried my hardest to recall anything. I think it may have been because I was trying so hard, but I could not get anything to work, I was angry. I wanted to remember, I wanted to remember so that way I could feel the same things that my family felt about my biological mother and why she was so horrible in their eyes. Nothing came to mind, we finished the session and I was sent to school. It did not happen till I got home, when I was laying in bed and falling asleep did something flash across my conscience. I remember standing outside of my house one day in October, my biological mother was packing our dirty white van that my older sister had affectionately called Vanny. ‘Will you be back for my Halloween?’ I had asked, my mother had smiled and said yes and I excitedly began talking to her about my day at school. I do not recall what happened after that, the day progressed normally, and my siblings and I were sent to bed. She left in the night and did not even bother to say goodbye. Sometimes I think back to that day and I wonder if my mother even remembers making that promise. I recall counting the days till she came back on the school-issued calendars, Halloween day circled in pen with the words ‘mom comes home’ on the bright orange paper, burned deep into my eyelids. I should be glad that she is gone, she neglected me and my siblings and left us with trauma that still sticks to us. Yet, I can never remember it, sometimes it comes in flashes and I’m left crying and other times I am so full of anger that I want to lash out at anything near me. I developed severe anxiety and depression under her care, not to mention how underweight and sick I was. My biological mother commented about my looks, my weight, and anything she could to make sure I stayed thin. She wanted me to join cheer and gymnastics, and as a young child, I followed along. She made we worry about things that a younger me should not have needed to worry about. My beliefs were altered and my anxiety led me to believe many things that are not true. I believed others were perfect and I could never match them, that I am lesser and will always be behind my peers, and that I am useless. I would punish myself if I did not meet my unachievable standard of perfection, and I would cry over the smallest things, my worries of not being this “great daughter” in my mother's eyes always frightened me. After she left, she made me worry about my friendships: I thought that if I did not meet their expectations then they would leave, as my mother did. I began to lie to others, desperate for their validation, and I became impulsive, which led to me ending friendships that I would have rather kept. I was left scared and lonely in elementary school, worried that my peers hated me and that they judged me in the halls and the classroom. It has taken me some time to heal from this, with trial and error, and with the help of my new mother, I finally become anew. I was able to see that not everyone is perfect, even my friends who are smart and knowledgeable can miss questions on quizzes that I answered right. I am now comfortable putting myself on the same pedestal as my peers, academically. This was something I struggled with greatly in the past, and I realized how smart I am when I am not worrying about my score and more about learning the material. I can talk happily and freely with others, and I am no longer worried if I might say something weird, because I can laugh it off with my friends now without worrying too much about it. I can appreciate and cherish my friendship more now, without the worry that it will end at some point, or my friends will leave. There are moments when I feel as if I need to lie, to try and get on my peers' good side, and then I remember that I am who I am and if my peers do not like me, then that is their problem. I truly flourished under my science teachers and their teaching styles, as they always had hands-on lessons and constantly held labs and partner projects that encouraged me to talk to others. I enjoyed those classes the most because they allowed me to discover how much I enjoyed helping others and teaching them. I was able to choose my major easily and I am excited to see how my college years progress. As this new school year begins, so does a new chapter in my life, a chapter that I am excited about and actively looking forward to. I fought hard against my mental health, and with the support system of friends and family, I was able to get past my anxieties and become someone I am proud of. I know I will still encounter moments where I want to disappear, moments where I want to seclude myself and be alone, but I know I will be able to fight these feelings and come out stronger on top.

I have volunteered with many organizations since I moved to Virginia in 2017. The first organization that I volunteered for was Equi-Kids Therapeutic Riding Center, which is an organization that helps young mentally challenged children ride horses as therapy. I also volunteered with my local YMCA, where I helped aid during events and watched children. I reached out to my school through my National English Honor Society Chapter, where we read to our local elementary schools and I helped plant trees with the school's environmental club. One thing that volunteering has taught me was how to understand and control my anxiety, as I was always nervous and shy around other people. It also taught me how to be responsible and how much I enjoy helping and teaching others. Even though I get nervous around others, volunteering was a nice way for me to break out of my shell and talk with my peers. I enjoyed hearing about their volunteering experiences or just how their day had been. During my time at Equi-Kids, I learned how much I enjoyed helping others and teaching them. I would always look for an opportunity to help and as I continued to volunteer I was always excited when I was able to assist a supervisor or one of our riders. I began as a horse walker and taking initiative helped promote me to a horse leader, which allowed me to be in charge of leading the horse that our riders were on. My love for helping others would blossom as I started at the YMCA, and while I was watching children and assisting in events, I would happily talk and play with the younger children while helping them with whatever they needed. Not long into the school year, I joined the NEHS at my school and we participated in reading children’s books to the elementary school students first thing in the morning. We were able to choose the classrooms that we read in, and I was always drawn to the Special Education classrooms. I felt more at ease in these classrooms, since my brother has special needs, and reading to them always set me on a higher note afterwords. I usually brought the books that I read to my brother, and the students always enjoy them. Volunteering has taught me many things, and I am glad to say that I still use the lessons that I learned today. I have learned to be more responsible, how to control my anxiety in certain situations, and how much I enjoy helping and teaching others. I hope, as I start college and gain more experience, I will grow into a more kind and helpful person to others. I ask that the North Carolina Youth Equine Service Scholarship helps me achieve this goal.

I have had quite a few dogs, four in total, each with a unique and beautiful personality. The dog that has been the most influential in my life is my most current and loving dog, Mysty, my family’s mini Australian Shepard. She was bought from a professional breeder and came home to us as a puppy. She needed to be housebroken, something that I haven't done since my first dog Pixie Hollow who was a cocker spaniel that my father helped in training when I was young. Mysty taught me how to be caring, loving, responsible, and above all, patient. I have always been told I was a patient child, helping my siblings and peers with topics and completing tasks, but caring for a new puppy put all of that to the test. My family and I were always on edge, doing our best to teach Mysty where to use the bathroom and not to chew on furniture. In the beginning, my family and I had to take turns spending our nights downstairs to monitor her to ensure there were no accidents. She is currently a happy and healthy dog, she also enjoys playing with our other dog, Bailey, who is a mixed mutt. Mysty has changed my life for the better, as she taught me how to care for younger animals, how to be extra patient with anyone, and how to be responsible in certain scenarios. I am glad to have Mysty in my life and I love her with all my heart.

The universe is a vast and uncharted place, and even with the launch of the James Webb telescope and its enhancement to our studies of our solar system, we still know very little about anything that isn’t viewable with our own eyes. As quoted by the National Geographic Society regarding the ocean, “More than 80 percent of the ocean has never been mapped, explored, or even seen by humans.” This means that compared to our land, we have barely scratched at the surface of what lies in our ocean and solar system, and that's not even talking about the Human Genome Project and our own selves biologically. Out of many topics and ideas that I have thought about, biology and the study of our bodies as a whole have always intrigued me. For example, Neuroscience is the study of our brain and its influence on our behavior and cognitive functions; Embryology, the study of the creation growth, and development of an embryo is another topic that has grabbed my attention, and with its vast capacities for studies, I’m not surprised why biology drew me in. The study of the human body is one of the most important sciences and one we should be actively paying attention to. As shown historically, we have grown into Homo Sapiens merely 200 thousand years ago, so who is to say that we won’t evolve again? Although the Human Genome Project was successful as of 2022, it has taken close to 32 years to fully map compared to when the project first began in 1990. This does not take into account specific humans, since the genome they were using was a base to map all rather than a specific strand. I hope as I complete my bachelor’s degree, I will be able to use the Human Genome Project to help in gene therapy and aid in biology as a whole. Science is constantly changing and advancing. With the help of technology and a better understanding of our genetics, we can advance as a society. I plan to make more use of the Human Genome Project in gene therapy by increasing the odds of success by isolating specific genes and replacing them to help cure diseases. Genetic engineering is extremely beneficial to people with diseases such as lymphoma or melanoma, and it would be beneficial if we were to take a chance on more development of our genetic studies. As our world is explored more due to recent advancements in space, I aim to make biology to be the next top priority due to how effective it will be medically. I am aiming to help in this advancement through my studies in biology; therefore, I ask for the help of the Sean Carrollls Mindscape Big Picture Scholarship to aid in.

When I was younger, the first-ever dog my family and I owned was a brown cocker spaniel that I affectionately named Pixie Hollow. She was a joyful dog. She was always energetic and playful and loved to cuddle near me. Often she beside me without a leash, which was a trick I had taught her. I would try to teach her more tricks and we would wrestle with any of her toys. I loved Pixie with all my heart and I will always miss her, she was my first dog, and I enjoyed her company greatly. After moving to Virginia in 2017, we got two more dogs that I made room for in my heart; Lucy, our chocolate lab; and Bailey, our mixed mutt. Both of their personalities always kept me on my toes, with how energetic they were, it was no wonder how I was always upbeat and smiling every day. Sadly, not too long into 2022, my family and I had to put down Lucy, because she was experiencing issues with her bladder that was causing her to be uncomfortable. It was disheartening when we had to take her to the vet, and I still wish that she didn’t have to pass the way she did. After a while, we took in our most current dog, Mysty, a mini Australian Shepard who loves to play with Bailey every chance she gets. I love my dogs because no matter the circumstances they are always happy and excited to see me. Dogs can understand when I am feeling down, and they always try to cheer me up. Pixie was loveable and happy. She always enjoyed playing with me and we would always go on walks around our old neighborhood when we got the chance. Pixie taught me to love and how to have fun in times when it was just me and her. Lucy and Bailey will always hold a special place in my heart, even if they came a little later into my life. I have cherished all the time I have spent with Lucy and I just wish that she was still here. She was the best at cuddling and was super sweet if she knew you had food. Lucy taught me that even though good things will pass, it's best to stay in the present than wallow in the past. Bailey is very affectionate and loves to play, she is always so energetic when she's in the mood, and Mysty seems to bounce off her excitement and mess around with her any chance she gets. Bailey has taught me to know when it's time to play and when to leave others alone, she taught me how to be calmer and understanding since her years are starting to catch up to her. Out of all my dogs though, Mysty has shown me how to be patient and loving but also stern in certain situations. She has not yet left her puppy years, but she and Bailey will always be there for me if I need them.

Being a military child is something that I have always enjoyed, it has fostered my love for exploration and trying new things while also guiding me to become a responsible and helpful adult. Being both a mentor and mentoree while in school and at home has taught me about myself and how to help others in times of need. One thing that military children are commonly referred to as are dandelions, a flower that can put seeds down anywhere and bloom perfectly. Just like dandelions, we are resilient and always find a place to grow. I have always lived on bases as a child, so no matter where I was, there was always an older and more experienced military child there to help me and answer my questions. For example, helping me with my feelings when my father would go on his deployments. Living around children with the same conditions taught me many things, leading to respect and compassion being two of my main morals. Respect was a big thing since there were always adults who had a higher ranking compared to your parent, and even if they did not it, was rude to not address them correctly. Compassion is easy, sharing is something that I have always done. Whether it be with military children or my siblings because it always made me happy to share with others and relieve them of some emotions. As I got older my morals became cemented and I became more responsible, mainly since I became a mentor to my siblings and peers. Student 2 Student was a club run in my middle school that I was a part of from sixth to seventh grade. I mainly helped newer students, who had just moved to the area due to their military parents, get around the school. We also met up during lunch to talk about projects and how we were feeling, typically if we had a family member deployed. We usually started with an ice breaker, if there was anyone new, and played a game or two before beginning the meeting. These meetings made me realize how much I enjoyed helping my peers, which led me to choose education as my major. Another thing that being a military child taught me was about friendships, more importantly when you have to move. I used to get complex feelings about moving, I loved the aspect of leaving and going to new places but I would always miss my friends. I know as we grow older we change, but I will never forget the friends that I’ve made as I have moved. Being a mentor to other military children lets me explain those feelings and how to grow to accept them. I am asking the Michael J. Burns Military Children Scholarship to help me in achieving my goal of getting my Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, and I will gladly work hard to accomplish my schooling endeavors.

A common term told to people as they are about to leave home is ‘it is a dog eat dog world out there. Most people who this is told to are the type of person who is fueled by compassion and would offer you a jacket if it was cold, or their umbrella if it was raining. I have been told this phrase before, and I have also been told that I am brave and smart, but compassion and helpfulness are just as important. I value my compassion, helpfulness, bravery, and wisdom, especially as I grow older. The world runs on the kindness and helpfulness of strangers, something people don't think too much about. A person could be having a bad day, then a kind stranger could offer to pay for their coffee, and this person, who was upset, would smile at the kind gesture and most likely pay it forward. This compassion is something that I value within myself and a characteristic that I am constantly compared with because I have offered to help people on multiple occasions. I love being compassionate because it lets me breach conversations, helps me make friends quicker, and makes it so that I am seen as a kind and helpful individual. My wisdom helps me make the right choices and allows me to make mistakes and learn while giving me examples to use for future endeavors. Being brave allows me to act in situations that others would be afraid to, such as standing up to a bully, or going on a new adventure. I am preparing to obtain my bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, and I am starting at Longwood University this fall. By using my bravery and knowledge of past experiences, I can prepare myself for how rough and different college will be and be able to carry myself with compassion and helpfulness. A common trait that many teachers are associated with is their compassion and helpfulness when it comes to teaching students, especially if that student is struggling. Teachers are supposed to help their students understand and retain the material, in regard to their class, but they also are supposed to be understanding and helpful to their students. I will be using these traits to ensure that my students can understand and comprehend what I’m teaching them in class, and my wisdom to teach them the things they need when they graduate and move on to higher education.

I have recently graduated from Hickory High school this year and I am currently an undergraduate that is attending Longwood University in the fall for Secondary Education, an artistic, writing-centric student, and a child of seven. I have always loved to help my peers and younger siblings by explaining topics to help them better understand. As mentioned, I live in a house with six other siblings, so it is no wonder why I decided to pursue teaching as my major. Teaching came as second nature to me, and I have always found joy in it. One trait that others always point out about me is how positive I am, regardless of the situation, I always look to the brighter side of things and work to better myself and my situation. I plan to make a positive impact on this world by becoming a helpful and compassionate teacher and someone to whom peers and students can turn to in their time of need. I plan on doing this by offering office hours for students and sponsoring clubs to connect myself to the school community. The person who inspired me and made a positive impact on my life was my AP Biology teacher. She was always kind and helpful throughout the school year, keeping her door open in the mornings if I, or any of her other students, had a question or problems that we needed help with. She went out of her way to schedule a school counselor to hold a presentation about mental health, during her class time, because she was worried about the continued effects of the COVID-19 shut down on us, and wanted to be sure we knew how to find help and resources if we needed it. She always made time for us and assured us that she was happy to help, and she always enjoyed when we would have class discussions on topics because she liked hearing what we said. I plan to be like my AP Biology teacher: a person who is kind, helpful, and truthful. She ran her classroom like a second home to me, a place I could go and wind down if I needed to, and she sponsored her own clubs to keep her connected to the school community. While I will work hard to complete my degree, I hope that I will have the same positive impact on my peers and community.

Bravery is one of the many personality traits that a person can possess. To practice bravery is to take risks and reach out, or try new and exciting things. I live boldly and practice bravery by trying new things and going to new places. I have always had an adventurous spirit and a love for trying anything new; exploration is one thing that builds my bravery and helps me live boldly. I am currently practicing my bravery by preparing for my start at Longwood University in the fall. Preparing to go to my orientation, going through my personal items, and arranging to move out are all new things I am experiencing that are a little frightening. Due to being a freshman this year, I will be living on campus and I will have to leave my family for the school year. Living away from home takes courage, a trait that builds our bravery, and this aspect of a new adventure is fueling my courage and battling my fear. I am excited for this new chapter of my life, and I am working to tackle this adventure with prowess. I know with the support from my family, along with my college, I will be able to blossom into a successful and confident student.

One hardship my family and I have had to overcome multiple times was moving, this was because we are a military family, and we had to follow my father’s work when he restationed every few years. My father’s job mostly kept us on the shores of the US, such as California and Florida and my father had deployments that kept him away from us for months at a time. While my father was away for work, my biological mother did not do well in caring for us. She was neglectful and abusive, leaving us to mostly fend for ourselves as she moseyed around and slept most of the day away. My eldest sister did her best to feed us, but it mostly made us sick. While my older brother, who is mentally challenged, was left with minimal medical care. After my father divorced my biological mother we went through a few family members that tried to help take care of us before we met my stepmother. It was rough for a few months as we settled in, but after that, we were inseparable. To this day, my stepmother is the mother I wish I had started with when I was born because she has inspired me in so many ways as her compassion and helpfulness influenced me largely for my career path. Deciding on my career had been the easy part, my mother and grandmother had both been teachers. Just like my mother, I always found great accomplishment in explaining topics and reasonings to siblings and friends by connecting them to life experiences. Teaching was like second nature to me, so that decision wasn’t hard to come to when choosing my major: Secondary Education. The subject I wanted to teach, on the other hand, was something that I could never decide on. In history, I was always fascinated by what had transpired in the past, especially when connected to real-world instances. History classes had limited variation though, as the quote 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' by George Santayana, rings true throughout the lectures and tests given. On the other hand, science has always captivated me with its content. The studies on the human genome and medical advancements that could help countless generations made me glad that Biology is as interesting as it is advanced. With how progressive and how it seems to be constantly changing and advancing, it was easy to see how I was drawn to the subject and how I decided to choose it as my topic for teaching. It especially helped when I had such interactive and impactful teachers, like my AP Biology teacher Mrs. Taylor. One thing Mrs. Taylor was exceptionally good at was getting our class to interact, through enticing labs or simple worksheets, or even contributing to discussions that she started. Mrs. Taylor always made time for us in her day, whether it was before class, after class, or even through our remind group. She always made sure to stay connected with us, even going out of her way to offer websites and study material for upcoming tests and reviews. I strive to replicate her work effort and prowess in education and collaboration between both students and teachers. I hope after I complete my education at my university and begin working, I can reach out to my school community through my classroom. Either by offering office hours to help students, or sponsoring and advising clubs to teach students about teamwork. I also hope to offer experience and someone to turn to for my future students, just as Mrs. Taylor did for my class and me. As I have grown older, it has become evident that if I were to be like my teachers, I would need to be able to improve my relationships and communications with others, which I will be striving for this school year. One thing that I have mainly struggled with is my anxiety, specifically around newer people, and sometimes it makes it harder to interact with some people because I overthink certain things. I plan to join my schools offered clubs and organizations, which will help increase my support group and outreach efforts. By doing this, I hope that I will have broken my fear of expressing myself and talking to new people while also letting me be comfortable with interacting with anyone I that I am interested in. With these efforts and the ideas that I have, I am sure to exceed expectations and channel my drive. My drive is to become the teacher that will help students as our education system continues to change to keep up with the development of digital schools while bettering myself by reaching out to my community to gain experience for my future endeavors in college and my upcoming teaching career.

Stereotypes of mentors are easy to identify, some examples from fiction are Batman and Robin, Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter, or even Luke Skywalker and Yoda. Everyday mentors, such as interns and scientists, or bosses from work, are common examples. One mentorship that is often overlooked, and that I am most proud of, is between family siblings. It is popular for houses to have 2 or more children under one roof; however, my family consists of 7 children and our great grandmother that lives with us. Being one of the oldest in the house, it is common for my siblings to come to me for help with school work or advice about what to do in a particular situation. As I grow older, I hope that my wisdom and abilities will grow so that I can help my siblings with more life situations than I am capable of now. For instance, I hope to be able to help my siblings with college questions that my parents may be too busy to answer, for instance, class sign-ups or applying for work during their school year. I also hope to help with questions about applying for jobs once graduated, or acquiring vehicle and house loans. As I grow older, make mistakes, experience, and overcome challenges, I hope I will have taught something to my siblings, something that my parents may have not been able to teach. I also hope that my siblings will still look up to me, even when I have moved out and am living on my own. They are destined for greater things, maybe even some things I cannot do, and I hope they will take my lessons, my mistakes, and my challenges and use them to help better themselves and the world around them.

My original short story is included as a PDF. It has a short interaction between two characters that I've been developing for some time. Our main character Felix has finally met his guardian angel for the first time, and this short excerpt has their interaction.

Not many people know what Failure to Thrive is. When I was a kid, one of the many things I went through was my food issue. My biological mother was not the best. She hardly ever made edible food and she left me and my siblings to fend for ourselves with minimal guidance. With how I was back then, at eleven years old and weighing in at only 98 pounds, I have been through quite a few things. This led me to not eat, causing many issues with my body and its functions. This led to my diagnosis and the efforts to help get me back on track. One issue that I’ve had in my ‘relationship’ with food was my biological mother always had something to say to me about eating. Even when the food she made was barely edible, she still made me worry about my eating habits and how I looked. Her words still ring in my head sometimes, even though I was too young to worry about how I looked or dressed in elementary. I want to be able to help children who go through these issues, just like how my teachers helped me. Before I met my new mother, my teachers were all that I had when I was upset or just hungry. They would lend me an ear and help me however they could. I want to make a change in my life because change is something that will always happen. Change happens gradually, something that we do not realize, but I want to make a change in my life because it will prepare me for the road ahead. And I’ve already been taking steps in getting ready for my biggest change yet: college. I have been working towards saving for college necessities, taking harder classes offered at my high school, and searching for scholarships that will help me in paying to attend. I know that if I am chosen to receive this scholarship, this will immensely help me in paying for my college and help me in achieving my college degree. If I am to win this scholarship, I can receive my degree in Secondary Education and provide knowledge, help, and support to other children just as how my teachers have done for me. This scholarship will help me to become a role model to the children that need it, while also helping them with anything that they need.

One of the most common traits I’ve described is being optimistic. With how these past school years have gone, I have filled the characteristics of an optimistic person through my actions and words. My high school life was turned upside down by the pandemic and with the loss of my grandmother, but I took these challenges in stride while maintaining my happy and carefree way of thinking. When COVID first hit in 2020, I thought I would return to school after two weeks and continue my education, and I was excited about that. Yet, when the pandemic began to get out of hand and schooling was changed to fit the quarantine regulations. I didn’t look at this change as something horrible, as many of my peers had done. I took to it with stride. Flourishing under the new changes and even trying new things, I enjoyed the change and embraced it, even coming up with new ways to have fun in the pandemic. One thing I knew that I had done my best to stay optimistic about was the passing of my grandmother in late 2020 when she had finally lost her battle with breast cancer. Those times taught me that although certain things happen in life that cause you strife and make you wish you could change it, you need to understand that you can’t control everything. Life has a reason for everything that happens, as it did in these situations for me.

Whenever someone asks me what has driven my passion, I always say ‘My family’. As simple and easy as it sounds, my family has always been there when I needed them. My passion has made me an intellectual and curious person, someone who is always wondering and asking questions about certain topics or things of interest. For as long as I could remember, I have always been the inquisitive type to my parents, much to their chagrin. I would always ask them questions on everything I could, like; ‘Why is the sky blue?’ to harder questions, ‘Why does everything cost money?’. I have sufficiently driven my parents bonkers with all the questions I have asked, but these help me understand the world. When I understand, it allows me to generate my ideas and ways to express them, like drawing or writing. That is another thing I would bug my parents with, questions about things to help further my passion. My questions would always generate from whatever thought I was having at the moment, usually dealing with my writing and occasionally an art idea I wanted to get down on paper before the thought would dissipate from my mind. If it was action related, I would ask my father. If the topic revolved around cooking then I would ask my mother. If the topic strayed to love and acceptance and/or family, I would ask either or even both, curious to see the different answers. Sometimes, I would ask a sibling or two the same questions and would happily write down anything I found intriguing. Their answers were similar to my parents but I did not mind. I didn’t just stop at family, I would ask friends if I could. Bouncing ideas back and forth from each other was always a thrill to me, as sometimes they would even offer different ideas or different ways to go about the whole picture. Not only did this make me closer to my friends, but it also made me consider them family. Including them in all that I could, whether it was a simple get-together or a fun excursion out. My passion has made me an interesting person, full of questions and ideas. Others like to say that I’m creative in my projects and that I always have multiple different routes on how I want things to go, whether it be a class project, an art project, or even a simple essay or short story I came up with out of the blue. My passion has shaped me to be a more knowledgeable and wondrous person with an insightful mind for anything and all things that I find exciting.

To be honest, most of the teachers I have ever had in my high school journey have had a great impact on my life, so this makes picking one a bit hard. Since all of the teachers that I’ve had were large influences since they made not only the class fun but also the work. Narrowing down all my choices though leads me to choose my favorite teacher of all time. This teacher is very impacting in my life and future career because he was the one that sparked my goal to teach history, a class that many deem boring since it is categorized as a “textbook” class. His name is Mr. Sarver, and he made learning history one of my very favorite subjects, and his class is one that I will always cherish. He spoke loud and proud, cracking jokes and keeping us entertained while also informed throughout each lesson and explaining anything we did not understand. He helped me through anything I had issues with, like schoolwork and even any projects he assigned during class. He had a very influenceable paternal persona and was very playful in his own right, messing around with us during breaks and putting his foot down against certain actions during class time. He led his class similar to that of a father, since he was taking care of a classroom full of teenagers, he made sure to make fun of himself along with any of his students. When I told Mr. Sarver that I wished to become a history teacher like him he was all for it, he was happy for me and explained the best he could on how I could go about teaching. He talked about the college he went to and how he made his own teaching style, he was a teacher of note-taking but he makes fun ways to memorize great battles and huge political debates. Mr. Sarver had a huge impact on my decision on continuing my education and finishing college so I can obtain my Bachelors or Masters degree in education and make it into the workforce as soon as possible since he talks about all the fun he has with teaching while also explaining certain things that make students and potential teachers shy away. He made me realize how fun a class can be, and cement that it is the teacher that makes a class successful and not just the work. Mr. Saver is one of the main contributing adults in my life that made me choose to continue my path of school and become a history teacher.

Quotes are some things many people live by, either to find strength in problematic situations or just because they like the way the sentence is used. I too have a quote I stand beside. My quote comes from a book called ‘Only the Pretty Lies’ by Rebekah Crane. The quote, “If love is a verb, what is the right action?” comes from our protagonist and main character Amoris Westmore who lives in her hometown of Alder Creek, her life was just as she wanted until her old friend and first crush came back to finish his last year of high school and enter his dream college. It isn’t until her friend, Jamison Rush, points out that a school mural has racist depictions. From there, her life goals and understanding of her peers begin to spiral. She ends up falling in love with him and tries hard to win his love and trust, from which this quote came. I believe that this quote holds powerful meaning since most of our interactions with each other are based on one another’s wellbeing. This has made me feel more obligated to help others I care about with their best opinion in mind. My goal is to become a successful teacher to help future peers and students become successful in their own lives. Since I care and platonically love all my friends and family to the point of which I care for their futures and their well-being. For example, if someone I know is engaging in a toxic environment and does not care, I would inform the proper enforcement and try to reason with them. This would be where my quote would come into play, because my acquaintance is functioning “normally” and “well” in this environment even though they could be in danger, making me contemplate what would be the best approach to the situation. Since their wellbeing should be their top priority, yet I do not wish to enrage or upset them. This is why I love this quote from the bottom of my heart since it stands out so boldly to me.

What I have learned throughout 2020 is to follow the saying, “Don’t cry over spilled milk”, as the saying really means that there is no use in getting upset that something has already happened. Throughout this pandemic, it has made me realize that no matter what happens, you shouldn’t dwell on the past, or else you’ll miss out on the present. As I made my way through COVID, I believe that it has made me a stronger person, overall. I have grown to expect the unexpected and learned how to adapt to any issues thrown my way while keeping a level head and a positive outlook on any situation. Some of the main experiences I will remember would be when the pandemic truly started, and how the United States went into a complete meltdown. I remember being worried and scared, mainly if anyone in my family was infected and what to do about my education. After the first few weeks passed, I was bored and missing my friends, this made me realize how important it was to talk with people, even when I can’t see them. This pandemic has made me understand to expect the unexpected and always have a backup plan in case our original plan can’t be enacted or completed. This year made me take my education to the next level, by completing my work before it was due and rechecking my work before submitting it. 2020 is over but many of our peers have been changed for the better and have allowed us to grow as a unified state.

Education is a large part of someone's life, especially if they wish for a good job, a brighter future, or even if they want to learn more about the world. I want to pursue higher education so that I can help my peers and younger students continue their paths throughout their education. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be an educator, since they are one of the most predominant jobs in the United States. My mother is a teacher, moreover, she is very passionate about her work. Her attitude towards her work and students has inspired me to become an educator. Similar to how all my teachers from my schools interacted with me and my fellow peers, they all teach something they are extremely passionate about, which has led me to look forward to school. They are one of the larger reasons I have become so passionate about teaching, and I take every opportunity I can to help others express themselves and learn. I am currently most passionate about my education and making it to college to complete my degree and venture into the workforce when the chance opportunity arises. I believe that there is always something I can be doing to further my education while expanding my knowledge and helping my fellow peers along the way. I am planning to educate myself as a teacher in one of the critical shortage subjects, as many core subjects are in need since there is always a shortage of teachers in many states. I am hopeful, yet excited, to become an ESL teacher or a core subject teacher in Secondary Education, as these are always needed in schools and I love to interact with others. Not many are swayed to become a teacher, due to older teachers being paid with experience. To add to that, teachers are normally not paid all too well. I am hoping to change that and help more students decide to continue down the path of continuing their education and pursuing a degree in education or something similar to that sort. Educating children is a major step in a child's development, as this is the time when they are learning important lifelong skills that they will continue to use even after college and retirement. I am not in any extracurriculars at the moment, however, I'm hoping to help others show more of themselves, experience more, and learn things that they have never learned by rejoining the Leadership Club at the YMCA. To conclude, I wish to further my education so I can complete college and educate children in the future, while also teaching them how to be responsible adults and to be true to themselves.

My experience with mental health is one that not many have shared nor have gone through. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, something many teens have as of current. The ways I have developed these issues come from a not-so-good story that I have been reluctant to share. Yet, I feel it would greatly help inform anyone who has not come across issues like this before. The outcome that emanates from my relationships came built along with lies and abuse my biological mother had my life set for me when I was born. She would ridicule me and clamor at me, telling me all these things I could and could not do, leading me to attain anxiety and depression from the lack of positive interactions with her or anyone. My mother was my world, so I strived to be good and make her happy, which meant taking everything to heart. At first, my goals were what my mother wanted me to do, like going on diets and joining the cheerleading squad while simultaneously establishing a stressed relationship with my siblings. When my siblings would get in trouble, I would be excluded and left alone. Leading me to believe that was how I was, a perfect child that had graced my mother and was outstanding in body and nature. Then we moved, my mother and father, divorced and my whole life came crashing down. I was seen by doctors and therapists and told of the horrible things she had done. Simultaneously told how I was lucky to have been here rather than with her. I to be put on medicine to help cope and protein shakes to help regain some much-needed weight. I watched as family member after family member would come in and out of my life like a revolving door, leaving me aching for someone to try and fill the mom-shaped hole in my heart. Everything I had learned had come back with a biting vengeance. Everything I did now was incorrect and shameful; lies no longer worked, while crocodile tears meant nothing to anyone. I was often grounded or punished and taught how to treat my anxiety and depression, which was at its worst, and the constant of getting up, eating, going to school. It felt like a chore while interacting with others left me in a spiral of panic and fear. I would continue to have until we move for one final time. I will not lie, as I have had moments in my life in which I contemplated if I should continue on earth. Before my mother left, these thoughts would be constant, poking and prodding my brain and leaving me a husk of my former self. Now though, I cannot see myself going through with these plans as they have been left in the dust and will no longer be of use to me nor anyone. For this, I am glad; the people who have entered my life will help me allow myself to truly blossom and bloom into a fine young adult with goals I will constantly strive to complete. Although I have had many hardships in life, I like to believe that I've become more observant now that I reflected on my experiences. I no longer follow orders blindly as I had possessed when I was younger and have developed an opinion of my own. I have come to love my siblings equally and I could only wish I had developed the bonds I shared with them when I was younger. I also have my own goals set in stone, the need to teach courses through my veins as strong as the pull toward it is. I am glad to have shared my experience and wish the best of luck to anyone dealing with problems similar to mine. As a final thought, I would like to part with a quote I have found solace in, "Memory is a way of holding onto things you love, things you are, the things you never want to lose." This quote is from the TV show "The Wonder Years" and is from my English class at the beginning of the year. I have deciphered it as a means of remembering what you want to remember and living how you want, not what others say or dictate.