I have always been fascinated and intrigued by the environment and the economy despite the seeming dissimilarity of those two topics. I suspect my appreciation for nature arose from my upbringing, which fortunately has included regular family camping and hiking trips. I hope that pursuing environmental studies academically in college will further my understanding of and appreciation for the ecosystem, especially under the dual threats of climate change and global warming. I want my post-graduate work to improve the environment for future generations. Likewise, I would love to learn more about economics. The intricacies of the market, government economic regulations, finance, and more captivate my interest. What I absorbed from my college macroeconomics course this semester heightened my curiosity, and I plan to take its microeconomics counterpart this spring. Ideally, my career after college would exist at the intersection of these two disciplines. I intend to study the environment to further my understanding of the complex and ever-changing ecosystem. I want my post-graduate work to improve the environment for future generations. The environmental and economic fields of study would give me the tools to attack the systemic economic issues preventing our country from taking a more urgent stance on global warming, climate change, and natural resource preservation. As a student who has always endeavored to solve any problem thrown my way, I am open to taking on a variety of career industries. I am choosing not to limit myself to one possibility and look forward to whatever career opportunities present during my time in college and beyond. I am very fortunate to have grown up in a diverse community. At my Title I elementary school, I witnessed classmates of various backgrounds interact without regard for those differences. Only later did I realize that harmony was not a universal norm. In 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and my virtual freshman school year, eight students, including myself, began meeting online to discuss the injustices around us. These conversations led us to found the Students for Social Justice (S4SJ) school-based activist group. Our goal was to discuss issues in our current society and then develop action plans to help remediate those issues. Our new student-run group facilitated projects and spaces for our community to consider and explore those societal injustices. We held many service projects through this student-led group to provide spaces for our community to engage in discussions of social justice and learn more about the current social injustices our society faces. Among my favorite projects were bringing a BLM at School Week of Action Resolution to our board of education two years in a row and leading a Counselors Not Cops Walkout with over 200 student participants and student speakers. We also organized various teach-ins on topics regarding race, ethnicity, disability, mental health, and more, and we hosted diverse movie nights and book drives for our elementary school. Through my experiences with S4SJ, I have learned that I am driven. I feel a passion for aiding those experiencing discriminatory treatment. Furthermore, I have learned that people are incredibly resilient. All around me, I see examples of how to improve, how to serve, and how to learn. I gained so much from my experience founding S4SJ, and I am thankful for the more informed approach I take to all aspects of my life because of my S4SJ service and experiences. I am now more aware of local and countrywide social issues and more dedicated to improving other people's lives. My experience with S4SJ has helped prepare me to better contribute to all communities I enter.

Being a high school senior is hard for most teens. We all experience it differently, and what makes it hard is not the same across the board. Personally, many of those difficulties come from having so many distinct interests. My extracurricular activities include volleyball, theatre, student government, and the outdoors, to name a few. Unfortunately, these are not the most related interests. Or maybe that is an advantage? The countless hours I have spent pursuing each of these activities have transformed me. Sports have taught me perseverance, teamwork, and personal health. Theatre has given me confidence, communication, and punctuality. Government prepares me to lead, set goals, and serve others. Nature humbles, calms, and inspires me. These attributes define who I am. They also empower me to make a difference in my community and give back to those who encouraged me to pursue these passions. I will be forever thankful that my parents registered first-grade me for an after-school drama production, “The Wizard of Oz”. Although initially shy about performing, it introduced me to the stimulating world of drama that I still cherish. After acting in my middle school’s Drama Club, I wanted to learn more about musical and dramatic theatre. When COVID pushed freshman year into a new format, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to choose Theatre Arts I as my extra elective. I have since added two years in GT Musical Theatre Company and have been in the cast and/or crew in every fall play and spring musical. As Production Crew Head this fall, I teach underclassmen what it means to be part of this silly, supportive, and creative group. Whether hiding Proscenium Pals gifts or celebrating the closing night with pasta, chips, and cake past midnight after the set strike, I cherish all of my theatre family's traditions, memories, and, especially, friendships. I also value the technical knowledge and intellectual stimulation these courses have provided. I hope to continue my involvement in this community to which I owe my enhanced appreciation for theatre, improved acting abilities, better communication, and greater self-confidence. The lifetime connections my theatre family has gifted me mirror those of all who walk through our doors, regardless of how they participate. Students form meaningful and sometimes unexpected relationships with the other cast, crew, and pit orchestra members, while our directors fully support everyone involved in their artistic and academic endeavors. Even community members from outside the school patronize and speak fondly of our performances each season. The theatre gives everyone in the community something to look forward to and benefit from. Our theatre, the Jim Rouse Theatre, is named for a man who believed in creating a community based on human values that brought different racial, religious, and class backgrounds together. One look at my school's theatre program and our reflection of this goal is clear. I am beyond thankful to be a member of this family, for it has given me and many others so much over the years, along with the many other extracurricular activities I am passionate about. I may not know what I want to study in college right now, but I know I have the skills and community support to pursue wherever my passions take me.

Mrs. Claire, my Girl Scout troop leader, has helped me beyond what words can convey. I’ve known her for 15 years, and she has become family. Mrs. Claire always goes above and beyond for those she cares about. All those hours she spent at cold, windy, and rainy Girl Scout cookie booths did not go unappreciated. I recall several times we spoke about nothing in particular to pass the time, but I noticed that in every story she told or opinion she shared, she held so much patience and compassion for all, even strangers. Her passion for even the little things inspires me to find the same qualities within myself. When I asked to do more badges, she encouraged me to take the initiative and plan it myself. I chose Financing My Dreams and facilitated everyone picking their career, house, and vacation. We learned about saving our money to afford our priorities. I suppose even then, I was thinking monetarily and economically. Nonetheless, she saw my interest and motivated me to pursue what I was passionate about. Mrs. Claire, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me and inspired me to do for myself over the years. From her encouragement to pursue my passion for finance and economics, I plan to pursue an economics major at a four-year college or university this fall. I am also interested in majoring in environmental studies, which Mrs. Claire has encouraged through our Girl Scout troop hiking and camping trips. I suspect my appreciation for nature arose from my upbringing, which fortunately has included regular family and Girl Scout troop camping and hiking trips to various state parks across Maryland and opportunities to explore the natural treasures of many National Parks across the United States. I hope that pursuing environmental studies academically in college will further my understanding of and appreciation for the complex and ever-changing ecosystem and its effects on the world around me, especially under the dual threats of climate change and global warming. I want my post-graduate work to improve the environment for future generations. Likewise, I would love to learn more about economics. The intricacies of the market, government economic regulations, finance, and more captivate my interest. What I absorbed from my college macroeconomics course this semester heightened my curiosity, and I plan to take its microeconomics counterpart this spring. Ideally, my career after college would exist at the intersection of these two disciplines. I intend to study the environment to further my understanding of the complex and ever-changing ecosystem. I want my post-graduate work to improve the environment for future generations. The environmental and economic fields of study would give me the tools to attack the systemic economic issues preventing our country from taking a more urgent stance on global warming, climate change, and natural resource preservation. As a student who has always endeavored to solve any problem thrown my way, I am open to taking on a variety of career industries. I am choosing not to limit myself to one possibility and look forward to whatever career opportunities present during my time in college and beyond. I thank Mrs. Claire for inspiring and encouraging me to pursue these interests.

I am very fortunate to have grown up in a diverse community. At my Title I elementary school, I witnessed classmates of various backgrounds interact without regard for those differences. Only later did I realize that harmony was not a universal norm. In 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and my virtual freshman school year, eight students, including myself, began meeting online to discuss the injustices around us. These conversations led us to found the Students for Social Justice (S4SJ) school-based activist group. Our goal was to discuss issues in our current society and then develop action plans to help remediate those issues. Our new student-run group facilitated projects and spaces for our community to consider and explore those societal injustices. Among my favorite projects was partnering with HoCo For Justice, another local youth collective, to write a BLM at School Week of Action Resolution and bring it to our school system’s Board of Education, where members voted to pass it two consecutive years, as well as leading a Counselors Not Cops Walkout at our school and other nearby schools with over 200 student participants and speakers to show favor of proving students with access to more trained mental health professionals over student resource officers. Once the Board passed the Resolution, S4SJ also scheduled a BLM at School Week of Action for our school community and beyond to learn about related issues through presentations on Zoom. We partnered with local organizations, including the Anti-Racist Education Alliance, Black Lives Matter at School 365 Coalition of Howard County, Peers Not Perps, and Clymb's company Founder Ashley Williams. S4SJ also organized various other teach-ins on topics regarding race, ethnicity, disability, mental health, and more, hosted diverse movie nights to watch and discuss movies with diverse character representation, ran a book drive to provide our local elementary schools with books written by diverse authors and books that showcased diverse characters, and hosted a Google Meet for students to discuss their thoughts and feelings on the January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack the day following the insurrection. Through my experiences with S4SJ, I have learned that I am driven. I am hard-working and compelled to meet my goals. I feel a passion for aiding those experiencing discriminatory treatment. Furthermore, I have learned that people are incredibly resilient. All around me, I see examples of how to improve, how to serve, and how to learn. I gained so much from my experience founding S4SJ, and I am thankful for the more informed approach I take to all aspects of my life because of my S4SJ service and experiences. I am now more aware of local and countrywide social issues and more dedicated to improving other people's lives. My experience with S4SJ has helped prepare me to better contribute to all communities I enter.

I am a collector. Not Benicio del Toro’s extraterrestrial antagonist from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy kind of Collector, but one with intellectual ambitions. What some might call “hoarding,” I label “reminiscent” or “economical.” What do I collect that is so life-defining? Well, my collections, though they inhabit humble areas in the corners of my room, reveal my values, character, and passions. By some remarkable feat, I undertook my first collection, one of stuffed animals, before birth. It began with my infantile comfort item, a pastel yellow stuffed bear blanket gifted at my mother’s baby shower. The collection, like my passions, only grew from there. Admittedly, some remain at my headboard, while others mingle in my closet. I cannot bring myself to banish those last, special few from my bed, only to become abandoned childhood relics. Though I no longer demand that my “Bear Blankie” accompany me on overnight trips, the trust I am not alone accompanies me wherever I go. As the eldest child of high-achieving parents with standards of independence and a relentless work ethic, I sometimes struggle to notice their subtle expressions of support. My collection of stuffed animals reminds me that if I look for encouragement, I see it all around. I fearlessly confront my rigorous academics while jumping at opportunities to explore my diverse passions through extracurriculars and service. Likewise, my quarter coin collections display my passion for exploration. Years ago, my parents gifted me and my brother 50 State Quarters and America the Beautiful Quarters collection books. I am especially fond of my national park quarters; growing up, my family camped and road-tripped during school breaks to breathtaking scenery, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Rocky Mountains. I developed a passion for exploring and preserving nature and history. This led me to build a rain garden at my Title I elementary school for my independent Girl Scout Silver Award project to decrease runoff and teach others about their environment. Last year, I researched and crafted causal and proposal arguments about harmful algal blooms in the Chesapeake Bay dead zone. When growing my quarter collections, I recall those family trips and projects fondly, envisioning where I have been, where I will go, and how I want to continue giving back. My quarter sets may not be complete, but neither is my bucket list. I yearn to discover more, and my passion for exploration ushers me there. My quarters reveal my environmental and economic interests, as well as my intent to study them academically. Lastly, a collection of endless enjoyment and exhilaration: my books. Reading was my escape from the real world. Fantasy, mystery, and adventure were my languages of learning. Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and other heroes accompanied me on many imaginative adventures, teaching me perseverance, fortitude, and loyalty. I still reread them and recall ways I carry those lessons with me. Despite the finger cuts they bestowed on me, I overcame my perilous struggle with thin wood sheets for my love of what they contained within. Like my fictional heroes, I persevere in my passions. I rise to the tasks of schoolwork, sports, clubs, and a hectic household of working parents and younger siblings. Like those heroes, I remain comfortable and diligent when faced with accumulating pressure. I do not “hoard” infinity stones like Marvel’s Collector, although the character and my busy calendar may share chaotic tendencies at times. The humble corners of my room hardly occupy a humble component of my life. The diverse values and passions my collections represent remind me of my past experiences and encourage me to look to the future.

I am very fortunate to have grown up in a diverse community. At my Title I elementary school, I witnessed classmates of various backgrounds interact without regard for those differences. Only later did I realize that harmony was not a universal norm. In 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and my virtual freshman school year, eight students, including myself, began meeting online to discuss the injustices around us. These conversations led us to found the Students for Social Justice (S4SJ) school-based activist group. Our goal was to discuss issues in our current society and then develop action plans to help remediate those issues. Our new student-run group facilitated projects and spaces for our community to consider and explore those societal injustices. Among my favorite projects was partnering with HoCo For Justice, another local youth collective, to write a BLM at School Week of Action Resolution and bring it to our school system’s Board of Education, where members voted to pass it two consecutive years, as well as leading a Counselors Not Cops Walkout at our school and other nearby schools with over 200 student participants and speakers to show favor of proving students with access to more trained mental health professionals over student resource officers. Once the Board passed the Resolution, S4SJ also scheduled a BLM at School Week of Action for our school community and beyond to learn about related issues through presentations on Zoom. We partnered with local organizations, including the Anti-Racist Education Alliance, Black Lives Matter at School 365 Coalition of Howard County, Peers Not Perps, and Clymb's company Founder Ashley Williams. S4SJ also organized various other teach-ins on topics regarding race, ethnicity, disability, mental health, and more, hosted diverse movie nights to watch and discuss movies with diverse character representation, ran a book drive to provide our local elementary schools with books written by diverse authors and books that showcased diverse characters, and hosted a Google Meet for students to discuss their thoughts and feelings on the January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack the day following the insurrection. Through my experiences with S4SJ, I have learned that I am driven. I am hard-working and compelled to meet my goals. I feel a passion for aiding those experiencing discriminatory treatment. Furthermore, I have learned that people are incredibly resilient. All around me, I see examples of how to improve, how to serve, and how to learn. I gained so much from my experience founding S4SJ, and I am thankful for the more informed approach I take to all aspects of my life because of my S4SJ service and experiences. I am now more aware of local and countrywide social issues and more dedicated to improving other people's lives. My experience with S4SJ has helped prepare me to better contribute to all communities I enter.

Being a high school junior is hard for most teens. We all experience it differently, and what makes it hard is not the same across the board. Personally, many of those difficulties come from having so many distinct interests. I never know what to tell people when they ask what I want to study in college, and while the sentiment of, "you'll be fine as long as you pick something that interests you," is there, it rarely makes me feel better. My extracurricular activities include volleyball, theatre, student government, and the outdoors, to name a few. Unfortunately, these are not the most related interests. Or maybe that is an advantage? The countless hours I have spent pursuing each of these activities have transformed me. Sports have taught me perseverance, teamwork, and personal health. Theatre has given me confidence, communication, and punctuality. Government prepares me to lead, set goals, and serve others. Nature humbles, calms, and inspires me. These attributes define who I am. They also empower me to make a difference in my community and give back to those who encouraged me to pursue these passions. In particular, I have theatre to thank for many of the lasting bonds and memories that I cherish today. I began acting in first grade with the local theatre company that visited my elementary school once a week. Learning "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Little Mermaid Jr." song and dance was an enjoyable hobby, but the art has come to mean so much more to me now that I find myself immersed in my high school's theatre program. With the cast and crew nearing 100 students per production, there is never a dull moment during rehearsal. We welcome everyone with open arms, no matter their theatre experience or outside interests. Our theatre is a family, and I am proud to be a part of its legacy. The lifetime connections my theatre family has gifted me mirror those of all who walk through our doors, regardless of how they participate. Students form meaningful and sometimes unexpected relationships with the other cast, crew, and pit orchestra members, while our directors fully support everyone involved in their artistic and academic endeavors. Even community members from outside the school patronize and speak fondly of our performances each season. The theatre gives everyone in the community something to look forward to and benefit from. Our theatre, the Jim Rouse Theatre, is named for a man who believed in creating a community based on human values that brought different racial, religious, and class backgrounds together. One look at my school's theatre program and our reflection of this goal is clear. I am beyond thankful to be a member of this family, for it has given me and many others so much over the years, along with the many other extracurricular activities I am passionate about. I may not know what I want to study in college right now, but I know I have the skills and community support to pursue wherever my passions take me.

Right now, the world is in an unusual situation and many people across the globe are suffering. Not only this, but our planet is suffering from the ever-growing effects of climate change. Recently, I have discovered how to successfully thrive in an environment where COVID-19 affects day-to-day activities. Despite this, I understand that others have endured much more hardship than I and will continue to experience this trial for many years to come. Hence, that is why I feel such a strong passion to aid those who are experiencing discriminatory treatment and improve the ecosystem for future generations. In life, you will come across countless types of people. Nonetheless, I have learned that no one, especially those less fortunate than you, deserves to be treated as such: less. Lately, I have seen severe injustice in the United States which has prompted me to reevaluate my commitment to serving others. Luckily, I live in a stable family environment that provides me with love and support. But sadly, as a white female, I receive additional privileges that some of my peers do not. Consequently, I have been inspired to be an ally and serve these incredible individuals. Recently, I jointly formed a group at my school to do restorative justice around us and discuss current issues affecting our country. This student-led group, the Students for Social Justice (S4SJ), has worked on many projects, including Black Lives Matter at School activities. I hope in the future, organizations like these will not be necessary, but until then, I plan to help undermine the barriers keeping people from being seen as equals. I have not spent much time on this planet. However, I have experienced significant transitions in my lifetime already. I have also experienced small moments of change throughout my life. And while those small occurrences may not seem important, something can be learned from everything that happens, about myself and the world. I have learned that I am driven. I am hard-working and compelled to meet my goals. Additionally, I have learned that I am quite flexible. I enjoy life’s surprises and am adaptable to new circumstances. Likewise, I have learned that I am optimistic. If a situation does not look great, I hope to push through. Furthermore, some of the things I have learned about the world include humans being incredibly resilient. So many things push us down- nature, disease, ourselves, but we always get back up again. Also, the world is our home, but we are guests in it. Much came before us, and more will come after us. We should be caring for our home, not taking it for granted. Lastly, many people struggle with a big change. I have learned that I am fortunate to be growing up when and where I am, but there is still room for improvement. The world certainly has room too. All around me, I see examples of how to improve, how to serve, and how to learn. But, like others, I do not always remember to pay attention to them. This is where we can improve. This is where we can begin to make a change for the better. There will be bumps in the road, but we can get there. It is not just a sci-fi fantasy. It can be real if we make an effort to get there.