My home, North Dakota, is in a region referred to as the “fly-over states.” It is overlooked in various industries and our opinions can be ignored by others who claim we are uneducated. My goal is to gain experience outside my home, then ultimately choose to return home to continue implementing positive change in civic spaces. Activism and community engagement have always been a passion of mine. I enjoy educating myself, hearing from diverse perspectives, and engaging in discussions that encourage critical thinking. After two years away from home, I have learned so much in and out of the classroom while also teaching others about perspectives too often overlooked. I am able to not only learn from others, but share a perspective that is too often underrepresented. I went to a small neighborhood elementary school and understand the benefits of small schools as a result. I formed personal connections with my teachers and close friendships with my entire grade. Throughout my years, the school provided a safe place for me to grow up, host community events, provide outdoor activities, and continuously tie the community together. When threatened with being shut down because it was simply too small, I led with my community to remind the school board of the benefit neighborhood elementary schools provide to students and their larger communities. After attending North Dakota Leadership Seminar—a non-profit focused on encouraging volunteerism, civic engagement, and leadership growth for high schoolers—I’ve continued to return as a volunteer leadership coach. Each summer, I come home to mentor over 100 high school students through community service projects, fostering a high-energy environment, and challenging their critical thinking. I have served on the alumni board where I published quarterly newsletters highlighting alumni achievements, volunteer opportunities, and community service projects. This past summer, I was elected to serve as the emcee of the seminar. I was able to challenge myself with this opportunity and experienced watching the students grow into incredible leaders. The Joyce Ivy Foundation provided me financial support to challenge myself academically as a young woman from the Midwest. I have since worked with the foundation to teach young women in my state about this opportunity and engage in the fellows program. I use my diabetes as a way to mentor young diabetics at camp, participate in activism at various government levels, and connect with others. At Brown, I work to share the voices of my home and other overlooked regions through Rural Students @Brown. I work to serve rural students from across the country by sharing my experience and advice of leaving my remote home and seeking out opportunities. I foster community on campus with rural students, and host the Rurality in the Ivy conference which encourages discussion surrounding rural America. With the club, I act as a student liaison to the Admission Office to coordinate and create outreach programming for 30 high school students. All of these organizations have shaped who I am today, and I stay engaged with them to continue the cycle in hopes of making an impact on others. I use my identity of where I come from to uplift the voices and create a platform for stories. While I am not finished in my education, I aspire to uplift underrepresented communities and provide a platform for them to share their experiences and know their values. I find joy in engaging with the communities I love, and I have a desire to pay back the support they’ve shown me.