Spiny pin feathers rubbed my fingertips as I spread a baby bluebird's wings for a local Davidson College Ornithologist to measure. We worked while discussing the evolution of brood parasitism. A surge of electric excitement rushed through my body. Ecology and avifauna are a source of passion for me, but I am not limited to them. Years earlier, vicelike fascination overtook my mind in a Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) biotechnology summer program. I traced a simulated disease outbreak to its source and learned about the modification of bacteria to produce lifesaving medicines alongside other captivating challenges. Part of me wishes to study plant biology, blazing a trail for sustainable agriculture that will feed the world. Alternatively, I want to study ecology and conservation to protect ecosystems and wildlife, which I hold dear. Yet I am also called to the miniature, yearning to study molecular and cell biology to help cure disease and to create accessible lifesaving medicines through biotechnology. Even beyond these examples, my interest in life sciences is multifaceted. During my early undergraduate years, I plan to explore my fields of interest in depth to figure out which pathway suits me best before narrowing my focus. However, I will discuss the two most likely career paths for me to take below. The first set of careers I may pursue lies in biotechnology and food science. My experiences in a biotechnology-focused summer course led me to develop interests in agricultural sustainability, regenerative medicine, food science, and the creation of medicines. Depending on what college I go to I may major in biology or biochemistry (if I end up at Virginia Tech I very well may double major in biochemistry and food science!!). I will most likely pursue a master's or Ph.D. after I complete my bachelor's degree before entering the industry. I would likely pursue cell and molecular biology and work in the development of medicines and foods. This field excites me and I am eager to create products that could benefit humanity. The second career I may pursue lies in animal and poultry sciences, either as a researcher or an avifauna-focused veterinarian. This region of study is significant because the health of livestock such as chickens impacts humanity's well-being. Figuring out ways to humanely and sustainably manage poultry while navigating the issues of disease and antibiotic resistance is crucial to public health and food security. I'm interested in this career because it aligns with my lifelong interests and passions. I’m not entirely sure where my interest in birds began, but it is present throughout my early memories. From reading all the bird books in my elementary school’s library, to visiting the local Raptor Center, to dragging my parents to a rescue shelter for homeless parrots, birds have always been a passion of mine. As a high-schooler I now volunteer at the Raptor Center, helping in rehabilitation by administering medicine, assisting in intake examinations, and working alongside veterinarians. Beyond that, I've worked alongside ornithologists in data collection, fostered homeless nonreleasable pigeons for a local rescue, and created an award winning video on the struggles of feral pigeons. I find birds fascinating; they’re a marvelous display of biodiversity, and I delight in observing them. Working with birds in a way that is beneficial to both nature and humanity is highly appealing to me and is a pathway I may pursue. Though it is too early for me to know for certain which pathway I will choose, I will make the most of my opportunities to make the right choice and to do good for the world in my career.

It was raining, and I was having a bad mental health day, so naturally, I wandered off into the woods. Of course, I wasn't haphazard about it. I just needed a place to reflect, and nature is that haven. Going on walks where I pay attention to my surroundings (the songs of the birds, the textures of the bark, the smell of the air, and more) helps me to relax and benefits me mentally. Walking as well as any other form of exercise releases neurotransmitters that can be beneficial to one's mental health. Not only that, but the aspect of being in nature is helpful to me because it provides a break from harsh blue lights and overwhelming manmade noise. Focusing on my natural surroundings helps me to clear my mind from my scuttling pest-like thoughts. It's a place to reflect, a place to reach ease. Nature walks aren't the only thing I do as self-care. In early 2020, I felt myself losing track of time. Every thought, every day, every action flowed into a gray mind-numbing wave, and I was left unable to recognize my accomplishments. To offset this, I began journaling in my sketchbooks; I have continued this almost every day since I started. I write down random thoughts I'm having, sometimes I write about my troubles, other times I write down a simple list of things I did that day (even if it was just talking to my brother or walking my dog), sometimes I write about what I was looking forward to. I also doodle but without the pressure of trying to make something that looks good. These journals helped to pull me out of my brain fog and feel human. These methods of self-care have helped me to stay afloat in this tumultuous world.

As a student who tends to put a lot of pressure on myself to perform highly and as someone who struggles with mental health challenges, I've gone through periods where I was simply surviving rather than truly living; hobbies to say that hobbies have helped me with this. Hobbies are important for me to unwind, ground myself, and better appreciate life. My oldest hobbies trace back to reading and birdwatching. I love reading because I get to visit worlds and meet people, learn about sciences' hidden wonders, to explore new horizons and ideas in a safe environment. Birdwatching is an interest of mine as birds have fascinated me since I was young. These feathered, sometimes colorful, and oftentimes flighted creatures make the world feel so alive and magical. Learning their names, smiling at their songs, becoming giddy upon seeing yellow goldfinches, or watching a bold mockingbird chase down a crow who was holding food has added so much joy to tasks like driving to work that would otherwise be mundane. Digital art is a hobby that has been extremely important to me over the past eight years. At times, this hobby was my primary reprieve from my struggles. Not only do I love producing art and the process behind it, but I love seeing the world as an artist. Seeing the play of light, the symphony of colors, and shapes and flow. Becoming inspired by the world is truly a wonderful thing. Most recently I've taught myself crochet; I love this hobby because it allows me to make something tangible. Being able to physically make something, anything I want (I tend to do amigurumi animals) feels empowering. I enjoy it, and it provides a sort of mental stimulation I don't get anywhere else. These favorite hobbies have helped me greatly.

My hands dug into the neighbor-kid's sandbox, sharp sand scraping my fingers, I clawed until I hit clay. I scooped out palmfuls of clay and began to mold them into a form, this time a bunny, as best as my ten-year-old self could. Often I would do this, longing to create yet without proper ceramic materials. Ever since I was young I have taken an interest in creating art, one of my earliest memories is actually drawing a picture involving a sunflower and a monster. Throughout my life, I've made many efforts to nurture this creative desire. When I was little, I would follow along with books on drawing and then push myself to go above and beyond their instructions to make the best art I could. As I aged this approach of learning what I can from others and experimenting on my own stuck with me. When I started middle school I developed an interest in digital art and animation, I spent countless hours researching and experimenting with this skill. The best way to practice art is to create it, to create frequently, and push yourself in your endeavors. I draw almost every day, so much so that at one point (April 2021) I developed tendonitis from drawing too much (I'm more careful now, but the point still stands, I draw and create a lot!) I don't just create art by myself, some of the ways I practice involved working with other amateur animators I met online to make a full video. I also have participated in charity zines (Thrawnzine and the World Between Worlds Zine) and pushed my skills in my pieces for those. Last year I finally gained the opportunity to take ceramics, digital art, and animation in school, and I jumped aboard happier than ever.

My best skill is that I am a lifelong learner and something of an autodidact. Ever since I was young I have always been interested in learning. Many examples of this can be seen throughout my life. Since I was a child I have been learning art and animation, much of this process was seld guided through countless hours of practice and observing the methods of others (both online and in-person). For I time I was obsessed with space and learned as much as I could about astronomy as possible. Countless hours were spent watching shows like "How the Universe Works" on the Science Channel to feed this. Sometimes this leads me down rather strange routes. I am interested in natural sciences, animals (especially birds), as well as art, and in the past few months this led me to try to teach myself... taxidermy. Before you deem me insane and click off of this essay, I will express that my interests simply reflect my desire to learn. Emailing my chicken-owning teacher and asking him to donate any carcass skins, and (sanitarily!!!!!!) storing carcasses in my family's garage freezer while I researched the best ways to preserve them is a little unconventional. I'm okay with that though, part of the skill of being a lifelong learner is accepting others not understanding you. I was introduced to that conflict at a young age upon learning that some of my peers genuinely had no interest in anything we learned at school. I'm a somewhat autodidactic lifelong learner, and I strive to improve this skill through practice. Every time I challenge myself in art and animation, every time I get curious and dive into a rabbit hole of information, this skill sharpens. Being a lifelong learner is a "gift" (skill) that keeps on giving.

So much love in this world goes unspoken. So often do people hold back, and so often is this regretted. I believe that if you love someone, you better tell them while they're here, and I make an effort to reflect this in my actions. Often will I outright tell friends, family, and others who are important to me things that are sometimes left to subtext. A little, "I appreciate you," "I enjoy talking to you," or even a straight-up "I love you" could make all the difference to someone, especially if they are struggling. Many of those who are important to me struggle with mental health issues, some of them in particular are pervaded by the idea that they are a burden. I pay attention to these sorts of things, pick out vulnerabilities disclosed in the subtleties of speech, and I shift to accommodate them. For a friend who believes they are a burden, I make an even bigger effort to supply more random reassurance that they are appreciated. In my opinion, the best sort of reassurance is random. Apart from expressing love in words, I will also express it in action. I try to make things easier for those in my life, whether that be cleaning off a table for them without being asked or leaving a note to help them remember something they otherwise might have forgotten, I strive to mitigate troubles. There is so much goodness in the world, and I have so much goodness to offer. Wearing my heart on my sleeve like this may feel vulnerable, but I will not let my goodness and the love I have to give be missed out of fear.

I found happiness while sprinting through the forest, vaulting over fallen trees, carefully weaving through thickets of thorns, and jumping over small streams. I found it while slowing to study the local flora and fauna, looking at them and how they are all connected. I found happiness by collapsing onto a moss bed and listening to the sound of birdsong and leaves rustling in the wind, natural and peaceful. I found it while feeling the textures of the trees' bark and breathing the fresh forest air. I met happiness while running until I could taste iron on the back of my throat, heart fast, and lungs breathless, I plunge my hands into an icy creek. I am awake, I am alive. The outdoors is where I go to reflect. No matter how detached you may feel from the world at times, you are still a part of it, and that can be seen through the way ecosystems behave. I ponder the astronomical and geological history of the planet, how everything is temporary, how we are small, and what exists now is fleeting, yet at the same we are impactful. We’re recycled from ancient materials. Everything that has ever happened has led up to this moment. Everything is connected, and you’re a part of it. I find happiness in nature because it is wonderful to experience and it is a good place to reflect.

I aim to improve the lives of elderly people in my community through my job as a server at The Pines at Davidson, a retirement home. Not only am I a food server at this job, but I also provide company and conversation for the elderly residents who I serve. Oftentimes I'll find myself listening to the stories one of the residents is telling another and smiling while I look for plates to clear, the stories, wisdom, and even the jokes I hear are wonderful. I am more than a setter-of-tables, clearer-of-plates, and server-of-icecream, I have meaningful and appreciated interactions with the residents: recently I talked with one resident about what materials would be ideal to construct a sculpture she wanted to make; yesterday a man saw the word "trainee" on my name tag and told me about his time in the military, where he was addressed as "trainee" for the first few weeks; one of them told me she thought my name was pretty and that she was going to recommend it for her granddaughter; the other day I helped bring out a cake for a dinner birthday party and sang. The warmth in the voices of the residents as they speak with me, and the gratitude they express puts a warm feeling in my heart. I am glad I am able to not only provide care but also have an impact on the lives of seniors socially.