Young people are getting into relationships at younger and younger ages every year, and our current educational system refuses to acknowledge that young people are becoming vulnerable to relationship violence. Our sexual education systems and school-related services have a responsibility to step up and address the new concerns that our generation is facing, starting in middle school or even earlier. Education in both private and public schools is a necessary step to prevent intimate partner violence at younger ages and keep our children and teens safe as they grow up in a world with dating culture on the rise. As a middle school student, I personally experienced intimate relationship violence without even knowing I was being abused. Physical signs of abuse are more easily spotted by friends and family, but signs of emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse are less noticeable. Within my own experience, I found myself feeling trapped in what I thought was a “normal” and “okay” situation with my partner. I wish I would have known that what I was experiencing was wrong and definitely not my fault. If I had been educated about the signs of abuse within a relationship, I may have had a better chance at protecting myself and getting out of that harmful relationship. I also wish I would have talked to someone about what I was experiencing sooner, but I thought my situation was not “serious” enough to deserve any attention. Looking back, my 12-year-old self deserved and needed the attention of a friend or a trusted adult to help me see my situation and get out. I could have saved myself from many more traumatic experiences. I finally broke away from my abusive partner when my parents stepped in after discovering some concerning text messages between us. The damage had already been done, though, and I felt that I had no one to blame but myself. It took me years to really understand that what happened to me was not my fault and not normal for an intimate relationship. My orientation for my upcoming college semester included a sexual assault education module, which detailed scenarios and resources that are helpful in identifying, reporting, preventing, and overcoming partner violence. This module was the first partner violence education I have ever received, and it answered so many questions I had about my own experiences and the experiences of others my age. The information and resources I was given in this training would have helped me identify my abusive relationship when I was younger, and I feel that these interactive training sessions are very useful in teaching students how to respond appropriately. Oftentimes, people do not think that middle school or high school students are mature enough or ready to “handle” information about abuse, but they might be needing it. I needed it. Teens are getting into very mature relationships at younger ages, and those relationships are likely to come with the same problems that college students are trained about before starting school. Young students deserve a chance to protect themselves and identify signs of abuse before they happen. Schools should prioritize sexual education and relationship safety in times that need it most–before it happens, not after.

Women in martial arts have always been seen as inferior, incapable, and insecure by men on the mats. This belief is so prevalent in our culture, often in social media, entertainment, and public opinion. The stereotype of the female martial artist often boils down to men perceiving them as “fragile flowers” or incompetent children. After training for over a year in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai and frequently experiencing male judgment, I decided to take a stand for myself and the countless women that train around the world. My personal statement is more than words; it was a physical and emotional expression of strength, community, and commitment. I had thought about the injustice I was facing, but I never imagined that I could do anything to change my circumstances as a young woman. I wanted to be more than just a little girl on the mats; I wanted to be a real training partner for everyone. My training became focused on diversifying my partners, building up confidence, and growing my technical reach. Breaking out of my shell and training with men has been one of the most difficult tasks of life, constantly battling condescension, increased aggression, or blatant disregard from them while training. I was tired of being talked down to, judged, or ignored in the gym. Many women who train desire to just be seen as a training partner, and I wanted to feel the same as any guy in the school does. Every training partner deserves respect, honor, and equal treatment, whether they are a 5-year old child or a 30-year old man. As a 13-year old girl, it was very difficult to get my opinion of equality across to those full grown men, and now as an 18-year old, I still continue to fight the stigma. I fight because I love to train, and I deserve to have the same opportunities that any man in martial arts has. My passion for martial arts has never been stifled by the treatment from men I received, and I believe it never will be. Now, on the mats, I still face discrimination and mistreatment, based solely on the fact that I have long hair and a pink gym bag. However, I have earned some respect from the men at the gym, holding my place as a solid training partner for anyone who comes in. There is still so much work to be done on the stereotypes of women in martial arts that begin at the root of our culture. Men shaming female athletes on social media, an obvious lack of martial arts media featuring women, and the way ladies are depicted in “fight” culture are only the tip of the iceberg of common problems that promote the child-like stereotype of women on the mats. The best we can do as young ladies is to continue to train, encourage others, and use the voice we have to make a statement.

My biggest goal in my educational and professional life is to give back to my community in every way I can. I believe I have the character to be a successful student and community member throughout my time in college, and I hope to use the knowledge I gain in college to give my students a great education and wonderful inspiration and encouragement for the future. I plan to study biochemistry and education in college, continuing to become a high school chemistry teacher. I dream of being able to give back to my community in the same way that it has given to me. I have volunteered for much of my high school career, contributing almost 200 hours of service throughout my time. I would be honored to work with my college to have the same chance of getting involved locally. My commitment to community is not my only goal, however, as I would like to push myself academically throughout college. I often see my academic drive as a reflection of my ambition to challenge my mind to persevere in difficult scenarios and think outside of the box, but I am not solely focused on only pushing myself for my own benefit. I want to see others succeed, and having a greater understanding of academic content allows me to better help others as well, especially in the field I am so passionate about: chemistry. My experiences with tutoring have shown me that although I may understand a topic well enough for myself, I may have to see that same topic from another perspective that allows me to give others a better explanation. I hope to expand my own knowledge while also helping others. I have learned to adapt my teaching and tutoring methods to include skills I have gathered over the past two years that benefit a variety of learners. In this way, I can begin to understand how and why people process information in the way they do and take that with me to help others in the future. The most important part of a teacher’s job is to constantly adapt and change their curriculum and their teaching methods to suit their students each year, which give each student the greatest chance at learning and succeeding. My teachers have been great inspirations for me to keep learning and stay involved after graduation, and I would love to be that same influence for students in their high school years. My chemistry teacher gave me passion for a subject I never thought I would enjoy, and now I find myself thrilled to see what opportunities will arise in science education for me, from making up new fun labs to running clubs to helping a student find their calling like I found. It is such an amazing feeling to give back, and this scholarship would help me be able to afford education, achieve my goals, and make my dreams a reality. I may face challenges in curriculum or study along the way, but I know my character and the pursuit of my dreams will always push me to be my best. My academic hunger to always learn more will get me through a difficult class or a challenging test, and my dreams of giving back will always inspire me to be the best person I can be. I love to help others, and my career and college pursuit are just the start of helping my community.

Working within the community is always rewarding, and it gets better each time I meet a new face or lend a hand. All the work I have done throughout the area has been so impactful on my values and views on life, but my favorite and most influential service experience has been working for my school’s food pantry, the Bulldog Pantry. The pantry is a food donation and distribution program run entirely by volunteers and the students of our special education program. The Life Skills students work during school to keep the pantry room stocked, organized, and create bags to distribute on our giveaway nights. As a volunteer, I coordinate distribution nights and get the wonderful opportunity to connect with families in our district. We have had upwards of 70 families stop by to get their meal-based bags, fresh eggs and bread, and visit the free tables in one night. Those busy nights are the best because we get to help so many people in such a short amount of time. It is so emotionally rewarding to be able to give so much to a family in need, to take away their stress for one thing in their life. No family should have to worry about their next meal or what to do over a holiday break. When a family comes in for the first time, they often are amazed at what the pantry is able to provide for them each month, from food to toiletries to toys. After their first visit, I get to know the family and encourage them to always take what they need. We even have special bins of snacks and sweets for the kids that come through, and I love seeing them find their favorite treat for the road. Some families are excited to see a fun cake mix flavor to try out, while others get their favorite dressing or a new flavor for their lunch. No matter the preference, there is always something for each family to find and feel great about. The scope of my volunteering does not stop with the pantry, though, as I have given over 200 hours of service to many organizations in my community, including the American Red Cross, the county Agency on Aging program, other schools in my district, and senior care facilities in the area. I could describe equally rewarding experiences from all of the other service opportunities I have taken part of, and I hope to find even more opportunities to share with others in the future. I plan to pursue a path to become a high school teacher in the future, a foundation for giving back to my community in another exciting way. Working with others to build them up will always be a passion of mine, whether through education, charity, or service to my community. The knowledge, wisdom, and encouragement I can give to others is just a start to making a positive impact on the world around me. I will forever carry the lessons I have learned from the Bulldog Pantry and all the other opportunities I have led, and I hope to share those lessons with my students and others for the life ahead of me.

The original concept for a sandbox game was to allow players to do whatever they could dream up. Minecraft gamers around the world built massive bases, complex redstone machines, and fought the Ender Dragon, the Wither, and a modded boss all at the same time. I, on the other hand, collected flowers. The original rose and dandelion were in my inventory at all times. It was a game that allowed me to roam an infinite world on a peaceful setting, picking flowers. My stresses were gone, and my anxiety would be calmed for a while when I picked flowers. The ability to turn off hostility and exist in a world without fighting was very important for me as a child. I saw anger all around me: at school, on the bus, or at the park. Minecraft could keep that away and give players the option to choose the thrill of mobs or the tranquility of just the sweet animals. I was thrilled when Minecraft added beautiful varieties of flowers in later updates, now up to 15 types. The sunflowers are my favorite, aside from the originals, as it incorporates the use of cardinal directions and always faces east towards the sun, just like in real life. Gorgeous flower gardens, bee breeders, and flower farms are now possible with these updates. I feel that Minecraft’s flower mechanics could be a game in itself. All of the amazing possibilities of floral builds go back to my passion for collecting flowers, decorating my house, and exploring the endless worlds. Minecraft was made to give every player something they like to do, and I was the girl that just liked to pick the flowers.

Education and the lifelong pursuit of a career are inextricably linked, and college truly begins to strengthen that bond. Post-secondary learning allows students like me to bring their elementary school dreams on Career Day to life. The aspirations I had of teaching and being a mad scientist are now my reality, and the education I received along the way only nurtured those goals. My academic and career goals are not distinct paths; they are one path that not only defines who I am, but that I continue to define. Professoring in the ever-growing field of chemistry would give me a chance to let my inner child free and encourage the wonder of students alike. The most important part of education is growing the curiosity of your students, whether they are five, twenty-five, or ninety-five. Helping them explore their wandering minds is the career I have imagined myself in for years. The education I have and will receive will lead my career to blossom, and the career I undertake will allow me to educate myself and the next generation each day. My personal goal is to teach and learn for as long as I can, as the lifelong pursuit of a career and education can never be separated.

Walking into the Saturday open mat, I felt terrible. I rolled like a newbie and got submitted about a thousand times. I really did not want to be there; I just wanted to be home. I had woken up that morning to the news of my great-uncle’s death, with just an hour to get ready for the 9:00am rolling session. I put on my rash guard and packed up my gi. I could not just linger on my feelings because I would never be able to get them out of my head. I just had to go to class and put in my best effort. The pain of chokes and leg locks did not compare to the pain I felt in my heart that morning. We knew his passing was going to be soon, but you never really get comfortable when somebody you love is truly gone. He was my Uncle John, just as my mom had called him. We had been upstate to visit him so many times throughout my life, and he was always just the brightest face in that little town. Everyone knew and loved him. He lived in the very last house on the road and worked in the school across the street for years. He was the most generous man I know, contributing everything he could to churches, charities, and family. He was a light in so many people’s lives, including mine. Uncle John loved to watch my “karate” competitions that my mom recorded when we came up. He would ask me on the phone how my classes were and always told me to keep fighting. Even if I lost every match in a competition, he would still cheer me on over the phone and give me the strength to try again. I knew when he passed that he would not have wanted me to put a hold on my training to grieve or stay home and stay in my head. He would want me to go to class, work hard, and kick some butt. I show up everyday to make myself and him proud. My Uncle John inspired me to evaluate what I put out into this world throughout my actions and my voice. He was always so generous and kind, and his passing truly made me realize how much of an impact I could have on a community. The whole town knew him for his beautiful soul, and I hope to have half of that soul when I leave this earth. I started focusing my energy into my relationships with people, working to put out good energy and make others feel loved. I started bonding with the girls in my gym more and being kinder to new faces when they walked in. His selflessness opened my eyes to the world of volunteering and giving my everything to my community. I started working within our school pantry and with younger students in my district. Uncle John always shared the kindest and most encouraging words, and I saw how my voice and actions can both have an impact. I decided to advocate for students throughout my state for a safer, more diverse, and higher quality of education. My focus in life is now on improving the people and community around me. I wish my Uncle John could see my training and my improvement in martial arts, and he is a huge reason why I keep going. On that Saturday morning, I had the opportunity to talk some of my feelings out with my coach. He had no idea that I was going through this tremendous loss during that open mat. My fight is both a true bout and an emotional match-up. As a young woman on the mats, I fight each day to prove myself to be a strong, competent student, but I also fight to make an influence in my community. My battle to be a better friend, daughter, student, training partner, neighbor, and community member is ongoing. I hope to inspire others in my life to always give more than what you get and leave a footprint wherever you go, just like my amazing Uncle John taught me.