Some of my earliest memories involve me curling up on the arm of a large lounge chair as my dad read to me, X-men of all things. He would always do different voices for the characters. I recall being impressed by him, but I suspect my young mind over exaggerated his skills. These small moments shine like gold in my memory. Although I hardly remember the details anymore, just the feeling of warmth and admiration. These moments have made a profound impact upon the way I am and the choices I make. The plain and simple truth of the matter is that I was inspired. I would spend hours playing games with my sister pretending to be different characters. Of course I would still do the more common characters like princesses or mermaids but taking on “X-men” was always my favorite. The fantastical idea of superheroes drew me in, creating different powers, and pretending to fly. I wanted to have my own superhero story. As I’ve matured the sentiment still exists, but evolved ever so slightly. Instead of wanting to star in a superhero story, I now dream of creating them. If I can recreate even a fraction of my childhood wonder, I will be content. Part of my love for narratives stems from Anime as well. I understand that anime can be seen as taboo or childish but I think it’s important to consider the artistry behind it. It fascinates me, my favorite stories all come from Anime. I’ve found that writing is beautiful in all forms and the more I consume the more my inspiration grows. Seeing the fruits of someone’s labor, the stories they spent hours to craft and master, it’s inspiring. Watching anime further fueled my desire to create. I’ve learned something from every story I’ve read. Even if it was a quick story, part of it lives in me. All of these stories gathered together in a tangled mess and the result was me. I’m a messy combination of every story I’ve read. Each word shapes different parts of me, a person sculpted by others words. Stories made me who I am and I want nothing more than to create my own stories to give back to the stories that shaped me. It’s for these stories I am thankful as they have kept my creative spark alive. There are times where I want to create, but I’m at a loss and at those times, I turn back to my stories. New and old, shows and books, the stories build me back up and I can create again. When I don’t know the words, stories help me find them. I toil and I tumble over hurdle after hurdle but stories always lift me up. The value of creation never wavers in my eyes. Without it, I would very well self-destruct with all the ideas I keep locked inside. Countless worlds appear and disappear within the confines of my mind. Creation is my way to give back to the world by sharing my art and stories. I hope to recreate the joy I feel when enjoying stories. I hope one day young girls will curl up with their parents and read my books. One day I will create my own story, backed with the knowledge of the stories which created me.

It's hard to determine my long-term goals as I am just at the beginning of my journey. I can't even begin to imagine the kind of challenges I'll face, and the hurdles I'll have to overcome. But if I can set one goal that would be to publish a novel. A fantasy novel to be exact, something about the huge magical worlds of fantasy drew me in. I wasn't ever able to escape the grasp of fantasy works and I've read them my entire life. Whenever I read an amazing work of art, I always feel the need to write something of my own. As a way to give back to the writers of the stories that inspired me. That is why I want to become a writer first. To give back to all the amazing writers and stories that have inspired me growing up. I have this image in my mind of me as a little kid curled up reading book after book. I would sit by my bookshelf and just pile books around me adding one each time I finished it. It was an amazing experience to get lost in stories. I want to recreate that experience using my writing. I want a little kid somewhere in the world to get lost in my stories to dream about my characters. I want to use the inspiration that the stories I grew up on provided me with to gift that same magic to the next generation. So if I had to choose one goal, it would be to recreate that experience for a new group of kids. The next question is one I toiled over for a while. My original thought was "No Longer Human" by Dazai Osamu, it's an amazing book and I do feel like I learned a lot reading it but that answer isn't true to me. My answer is a far simpler and maybe sillier answer. I think everyone should read "Howl's Moving Castle" by Dianna Wynne Jones. Now for those who know this book or maybe even the movie, they may be thinking what a silly book no one needs to read. I will give it to you, no one needs to read it, there's no deep meaning or something to be learned. It's simply a light-hearted fantasy novel, but sometimes don't we need light-hearted fantasy? Live can't always be about moral lessons or deep broody commentaries about the human experience. Sometimes it's okay to read something light-hearted, to relax and get lost in a fantasy world. It's the kind of story that people of all ages can enjoy. The kind of story that everyone needs to read, every once in a while. Something light-hearted and fun, to wash away a stressful workday. I say screw it why not read something fun! Will there be anything learned by reading it? No! Will there be any deep philosophical questions to ponder? Also no. But it will stretch readers' imaginations, and allow them to let loose and escape into a fantasy world. No matter how many books with deep meanings I can think of, I still stand by my choice. I believe creativity is like a muscle if it's not used it will stop working. That's why everybody needs to let loose and let their imagination guide them.

I've always been an avid reader allowing books to shape my life. Escaping from reality to spend some time in a fantasy world is my favorite pastime. I find every moment spent reading is time well spent. Books more than anything have taught me to never give up on my dreams. I prefer to read rich fantasy books with fantastical creatures and magical worlds. The kind of book where you get lost in the world. Everything about those books is impossible, none of it could ever happen but isn't it nice to dream? That kind of dream had me caught in a false reality for a while. When I was younger like many kids I believed I'd get sucked away into a fantasy world and not have to ever worry about adult life. Of course, that's not the case I worry about my future all the time as I'm headed off to college next year it's something that I can't ignore. Yet the dreams remain the hope that those fantasy worlds will open up and I can run away on an adventure. I want to hunt for treasure or to run a tavern to hear all kinds of stories from adventures. But I've come to terms with the fact that it's not possible. Despite all that I never stopped dreaming my dream simply changed forms. The dream to run away on an adventure changed to the dream of creating an adventure. I want to become a writer. I hope to inspire the next generation of kids to dream. I want people to find themselves lost in my story. If I can't have my own adventure why not help inspire someone else? I never was able to escape books, there were a few years when I hardly read but when I was lost about my future books were there again. I picked up a book and started reading again and right away it clicked. What if I can't have my magic adventure then I'd love to be the architect of someone else. Books created my dream, without them I doubt I'd dream as big as I do. The ability to dream is one that I fear many lose as they grow up. I'm thankful to still hold fast to mine. Books changed me for the better without them I wouldn't know what to do. Writing is my way of giving back to the books that have helped me keep dreaming.

Whenever I would play with Barbies as a kid I would always think up ways that her house could be better, I never would have thought my silly fantasies would ever pay off. First off the location of the house, I would put it in a small town, somewhere that you can walk to every store and everyone knows each other. That sense of community is very important to me. On the outside, the house would be a castle, towers and all. The castle would be surrounded by beautiful flowers and shrubbery, I adore nature so it's a must-have. In the back of the castle, there would be a gazebo where I can sit and drink tea while I write. As for the inside of the castle, I want it to look tiny, so tiny that people are taken aback. At least that's how it will look at first glance, the castle will be covered in hidden rooms. With bookshelves that move, stairs that have hidden compartments, and paintings leading to secret rooms, I want the house to be a mystery to all guests who visit. The house itself will be a game, to see who can find all the rooms I think it would be great fun, unless you can't find the bathroom. I want the interior to look as if a fairy lives there, with lights that look like mushrooms and plants lining the walls. I want the inside just as green as the outside. Now there is one incredibly important part of this house one item that makes the entire place, the item I've dreamed of owning my entire life. That item is a Mario Kart arcade machine, the one that allows you to drive the cars as if you're driving a real car using a wheel and pedals. It's the one childish dream I don't think I'll ever be able to let go of. I've looked into purchasing them they go for about 10,000, despite that I still dream of owning one one day. It wouldn't be my dream house if it didn't have one. The little girl in me cried tears of joy while writing this what a fantastic house it would be, for now only a dream but who can tell what the future holds?

I spent most of my life believing I was a Gryffindor, turns out I'm a Hufflepuff. The brave heroic protagonist gimmick drew me in I wanted nothing more than to be a Gryffindor because who doesn't want to be a hero? It wasn't the right fit, no matter how much I wanted it I'm not brave, I panic whenever I have to talk to a stranger. I'm not the kind of person who would actively seek out danger, I'm someone whose brave only shows in emergencies. Now I am quite proud to be a Hufflepuff they are a rather underappreciated group. Hufflepuffs are tough they're the unexpected cavalry. I myself am incredibly weak and really should never fight, but if it's for my friends I would find the strength. Loyalty is the trait I exemplify the strongest. I believe in making meaningful connections and standing by those you love no matter the situation. I try to be hard-working if others are counting on me then I will put 100 percent effort into any task at hand. When I'm the only one who benefits from the task it tends to be more difficult to complete, but no matter what I get it done. I would say that I am just but I don't believe I'm in a position where my justness should matter. I have no problems to solve other than my own so the only person I could act unjustly towards is myself. If I was put in a situation where my justness is tested I would try to come up with a proper solution. Fairness is a tricky one and not for me to decide, the only situations I find fairness relevant in my current life is how I allocate my time. There are times when multiple people want to hang out with me at the same time I try to alternate between spending time with different people. Modesty is a trait I believe I have. I try not to brag often if I do it unintently I apologize. I have never seen much need to hype myself up if it ends up hurting others. Now the final trait of Hufflepuffs is one that I can't in good faith say that I exemplify or even have, patience has always been my greatest weakness. I've grown up my entire life hearing the phrase "Ashley slow down" repeated over and over again. While I've certainly improved and matured I wouldn't say I'm patient. I do try and my issues with patience only really come out when I have to wait a long time for something, like a new game or dinner. I don't react I just get antsy but I'm working on it and I hope to one day say that I am patient. I'm glad I've matured enough to accept who I truly am. It took me a long time to not push a false image onto myself, but now that I'm free I'm much happier. It was a stupid fantasy and I'm glad I broke free I'm proud to be a Hufflepuff.

My name is Ashley McAllister and I'm a current High School Senior my goal is to become a novelist. I'm pursuing higher education to further hone my skills in writing and visual arts so that I can create something that I am proud of. I believe that college will help me to learn skills that I would be unable to learn on my own. With these skills, I plan to create, to create comics, novels, art, and anything that I can think of because creating is all I know. I wish to create something that others can enjoy, I want people to look at my art and get the same joy I get from looking at art. I want my ideas to be shared with the world because I have too many ideas to keep inside. I want my stories to line people's bookshelves, the covers holding hours of comfort within. While my writing isn't going to automate the world or cure disease it can still make a difference. I know from experience the impact good writing can have on a person. Whenever I'm having a rough time with work, school, or my social life I always know that there are books I can fall back on. Books hold a different kind of value than other parts of STEAM. They hold an emotional value, that can only be captured through experience. I hope that one day my writing will do the same for others, I want my writing to be a source of comfort. If my writing can help one person then it would have been worth it for me. I'm hopeless when it comes to the other parts of STEAM so I dream big. All I can do is hope that one day my writing will reach someone. Creating is all I know how to do so I will continue to do it. I will continue with the hopes that my art will change someone's life for the better. I know the great impact art can have on people, and I can only hope that mine is the same. Attending college will allow me to refine my skills so that I can share my stories with the world. I have a passion but I refuse to share anything lackluster the world deserves my best and college will help to achieve that. Once I achieve my best then I will share my stories and hopefully create positive change.

It's difficult to choose just one book as the world is full of amazing books each deserving of its praise. When forced to choose only one I would go with "No Longer Human" by Osamu Dazia. It's a rather tragic book about the protagonist, Yuzu's struggles. Despite its somber tone, the book shares a unique perspective on life. It provides an eloquently worded commentary on the world through the eyes of someone suffering from depression. In the world, there are still a great many stigmas associated with mental illness. Which is why I find it imperative for people to educate themselves on the topic. While fiction is not always the best way to learn it can often provide thoughtful insights. "No Longer Human" showcases the progression of depression in rather gruesome detail. It shows how Yuzu suffered to appease others and when he could no longer entertain them how they each turned their back on him. The book teaches readers not only about mental illness but as well the importance of staying true to who they are. I believe that reading "No Longer Human" will help people to become more open-minded. If they are able to garner an understanding of Yuzu's mindsight, they will hopefully showcase empathy when they come across those suffering from similar issues. Dazai's writing is semi-autobiographic and thus rooted in fact. Everything that Dazai writes is based on his real experience making the book that much more profound. Dazai's writing truly makes the writer feel and empathize with Yuzu. His unique perspective on mental illness could be instrumental in ending the stigma. I believe if everyone in the world was to read "No Longer Human" the world would become a more understanding place.

Something I always find funny is that I had never realized being a lesbian was an option. It's not that I was told being gay was wrong it was that I simply couldn't conceive the notion that it existed. Up until middle school, I truly believed that a man and a woman would fall in love and that was how it worked. Whenever I thought a woman was hot on TV I assumed it was admiration, I genuinely didn't think women could love other women. I had never been exposed to anything LGBTQ so I didn't even know it existed. I was completely ignorant my entire childhood. Middle school was when I was first exposed to LGBTQ relationships and it was eye-opening. I realized that oh, I can like other women and I do. I didn't have to choose a random boy to pretend to have a crush on to appease everyone I could choose a girl instead. I'm fortunate to have a very excepting family to the point where I've never felt the need to hide my identity. Once I realized that I like women I told my family and I'm pretty sure my mother's response was "okay". It was never a big deal for my family and for that I'm grateful. I'm choosing to major in writing so that I can create representation. I spent my childhood confused due to the lack of representation. I hope to enter a position where I can help children understand the LGBTQ community. So that no little girls spend their life wondering why they don't like any of the boys in their school. Writing has always been my passion even before I had realized I was a lesbian. Being able to create representation is just a bonus. I hope that my writing can one day help to normalize LGBTQ relationships. I hope that seeing two men kissing is one day as normal as seeing a man and a woman kissing. The world is filled with stereotypes that must first be dismantled for progress to be made. I may not be a genius lawyer or politician helping to create equal laws but I plan to do all I can to help. I believe that if children learn from a young age to be accepting then the world might have a chance. Hatred is learned, if I can write and teach about LGBTQ I will. I want every part of the LGBTQ community to become normalized so that everyone may feel safe and accepted.

I hope to write a story that allows people to experience the same passion that I do for reading.

For me Disney is a source of inspiration, it is one of the reasons that I've chosen to pursue writing as a career. From a young age, I believe around 1 I've been going to Disney World almost every year. My parents have always been huge Disney fans, they even spent their Honeymoon at Disney World. In the past few years, my mother even became a Disney travel agent which has caused us to travel to Disney World even more. The best thing is that even though we go there so often I never find myself getting bored, there's always something new to try. I've always been an avid reader dreaming of fantasy worlds going to far-off places with magic and while I know that it's an impossible dream, the things they do at Disney World truly simulate feelings of magic. With each new park and ride, I am always amazed at what they can achieve. Each time I ride flights of passage I'm still in awe of all the little details, especially the fact that the bikes move to simulate the Ikran's breathing. Disney truly helps keep the little kid alive in me and for that, I'll be forever grateful. If I had lost that ability to imagine, that ability to dream I fear that I wouldn't be the same person I am today. I believe that I wouldn't be able to write at all and if I did it all come out sounding dull and uninspired. Whenever I experience something so close to magic, all I want to do is to capture and share it with others. That is why I've chosen to pursue writing so that I can share these emotions with others. I want to trap this magic within paper and ink so that everyone can feel how I feel. More then anything I want others to see the things I dream of, I want my version of magic to come to life. Disney has shown me that it's possible, it's given me the tools I need to create. My next step is to take this inspiration, this feeling and make it into something that others will love. I have a deep love for Disney it will always be one of my favorite vacation spots. I hope that one day I can walk through the gates of Magic Kingdom knowing that I too have created magic.