For as long as I can remember, I have loved animals. My family would take in stray animals when we could, as our entire city was filled with strays, regardless of the shelters. Unfortunately, this is still a major issue today, with hundreds of animals on the streets. Even in elementary school, the entire situation made me frustrated, but I realized that I could make an effort. As a result, in 4th-grade, I talked to my teachers and set up boxes in the hallways to get donations. I stood outside the school for a week with signs every morning and afternoon, and I begged my classmates to donate anything they could to help the animals in the community. The next year, I put a name to my mini organization: Prized Pets. I expanded my efforts to other schools, and by the end of my 7th-grade year, I had four schools participating. I went on the news to speak about my efforts and even got people around the city to donate. Now, I’m a senior in high school and I still run Prized Pets every year around Christmas. I give my collected donations to an organization named BARK now, which is a no-kill traveling shelter and foster system centered in my city, with locations spread out across the country. Last year, in 2021, I was grateful to collect almost 200 pounds of donations. While my efforts may seem small, I am happy knowing that I am educating the younger students on the importance of taking care of animals and the world around them. Seeing children smile when they realize that they have done something to help animals makes all the difference in the world, and I hope that they learn to treat animals and humans with kindness and respect.

In third grade, I remember learning about Earth’s different biomes and where they are located. I learned about the marshes and swamps in my own state, Louisiana, the snowy mountains up North, and the deserts in the Southwest. Yet, there was one environment that I was utterly fascinated by: the ocean. I loved to learn about the way the water interacted with the coast, how and why people lived there, and how the plants and animals thrived in the salty water. That admiration never left me, and now that I’m a senior in high school, I am still just as in love with the coastline. However, I am not ignorant anymore. As I grew, I visited the beach often, and I learned that beaches were, in fact, not permanent. I gained an understanding that erosion was a prominent issue in today’s environment and society, and there were not enough people that cared to fix the problems. When I was a freshman in high school, I applied for a scholarship to go to a Sea Camp at Texas A&M in Galveston, Texas. I wanted to participate in their conservation course, and possibly look into jobs and ways to work out of Galveston. I had always wanted to work near the oceans, I just didn’t have a name for my job type yet. While I was at camp, I learned about the different plants that made up the Galveston coasts while following a Botanist, and took samples from the water to check salinity levels. I loved every second of it, and after talking to one of my teachers, I learned that I wanted to be a Conservation Biologist. Now, I am going to Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana to pursue my degree and do my best to make a difference. Most people know about overfishing and water pollution, but many don’t acknowledge the issue closer to home. Erosion is eating away at our coastlines and causing catastrophic environmental damage. Many would argue that this is a natural process that comes with time, but research has shown that we humans have caused this process to speed up and hurt the Earth. By building cities on top of fragile coasts, we have pushed the land further into the sea. Removing delicate plants and animals that acted as anchors for the shifting land has also been a huge issue. Dams, canals, and other man-made structures meant to contain rivers or the tides are preventing the natural processes that help hold the coasts together as well. Of course, not to mention the rising sea levels and increase in violent storms due to climate change, which humans have unfortunately furthered with pollution and global warming. As a researcher, I will do my best to find new ways to piece the coast back together and keep it in place, as well as educate people on how to not further harm what precious land we have left. The quality of life that we humans have always desired will increase, and we will finally be able to relax knowing that we are not harming the coasts anymore. As a teenager, I often get told that my generation is the last hope for the future. I plan to fix what humans have messed up in the world, and work to make a healthier, happier planet.

At only the age of 10, I learned how to judge my body in a mirror. I was always too short, too wide, or just too ugly. I would compare my adolescent body to models in pictures on social media. My peers didn’t help either, and I would often receive snide comments on my choice of clothes or food. In only the 7th grade, at 11 years old, I began to starve myself. Of course, I dropped several pounds, and I immediately felt more secure and confident, but I had only set myself up for failure. My weight fluctuated for a few years as I struggled to maintain a slim figure, and I remember always hating my body. When I got to high school, I decided to actually make friends and put effort into building relationships. Fortunately, I was able to surround myself with people who didn’t care how much I weighed. Slowly, I realized that I didn’t need to hold myself to impossible standards. With strong support from my friends, and kindness from my family, I learned to finally relax. Over the course of a few months, I undid years of unhappiness and loved myself again. Today, I know that there is nothing more beautiful than what I have now. I’m healthy and happy, and I have many friends I surround myself with. I am comfortable in my own skin, and I enjoy every moment I can because I know that I am truly blessed to have a healthy, active body that allows me to do the things I love, like cheer, art, and reading. So, although I should've already known this earlier in life, the thing I love most about myself is the fact that I know my own self-worth and confidence.

In third grade, I remember learning about Earth’s different biomes and where they are located. I learned about the swamps in my own state, Louisiana, the mountains up North, and the rainforests in South America. Yet, there was one environment that I was utterly fascinated by: the ocean. I loved learning about the way water interacted with the coast and how the plants and animals thrived in salty environments. That admiration never left me, and now that I’m a senior in high school, I am still just as in love with the coastline. As I grew, I visited the beach often, and I learned that, unfortunately, beaches were not permanent. I gained an understanding that erosion was a prominent issue in today’s environment, and there were not enough people that cared to fix the problems. When I was a freshman in high school, I applied for a scholarship to go to Sea Camp at Texas A&M in Galveston, Texas. I wanted to participate in their conservation course and look into jobs and ways to work out of Galveston. I had always wanted to work near the ocean, I just didn’t have a name for my job type yet. While I was at camp, I learned about the different plants that made up the Galveston coasts while following a Botanist and took samples from the water to check salinity levels. I loved every second of it, and after talking to one of my teachers, I learned that the name for my job was Conservation Biology. Now, I am going to Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana to pursue my degree and do my best to make a difference in the world. Many people don't realize just how severe the coastline loss is around the globe, and my goal is to change that.

In third grade, I remember learning about Earth’s different biomes and where they are located. I learned about the marshes and swamps in my state, Louisiana, the snowy mountains up North, and the deserts in the Southwest. Yet, there was one environment that I was utterly fascinated by: the ocean. I loved to learn about the way the water interacted with the coast, how and why people lived there, and how the plants and animals thrived in the salty water. That admiration never left me, and now that I’m a senior in high school, I am still just as in love with the coastline. However, I am not ignorant anymore. As I grew, I visited the beach often, and I learned that beaches were, in fact, not permanent. I gained an understanding that erosion was a prominent issue in today’s environment and society, and there were not enough people that cared to fix the problems. When I was a freshman in high school, I applied for a scholarship to go to a Sea Camp at Texas A&M in Galveston, Texas. I wanted to participate in their conservation course, and possibly look into jobs and ways to work out of Galveston. I had always wanted to work near the oceans, I just didn’t have a name for my job type yet. While I was at camp, I learned about the different plants that made up the Galveston coasts while following a Botanist and took samples from the water to check salinity levels. I loved every second of it, and after talking to one of my teachers, I learned that I wanted to be a Conservation Biologist. Now, I am going to Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana to pursue my degree and do my best to make a difference. Most people know about over-fishing and water pollution, but many don’t acknowledge the issue closer to home. Erosion is eating away at our coastlines and causing catastrophic environmental damage. Many would argue that this is a natural process that comes with time, but research has shown that we humans have caused this process to speed up and hurt the Earth. By building cities on top of fragile coasts, we have pushed the land further into the sea. Removing delicate plants and animals that acted as anchors for the shifting land is also a huge issue. Dams and canals, and other man-made structures meant to contain rivers or the tides are preventing the natural processes that help hold the coasts together. Not to mention the rising sea levels and increase in violent storms due to climate change, which humans have unfortunately furthered with pollution and global warming. As a researcher, I will do my best to find new ways to piece the coast back together and keep it in place, as well as educate people on how to not further harm what precious land we have left. The quality of life that we humans always desire will increase, and we could finally relax knowing that we are not harming the coasts anymore. I am a girl, and I know that women are not leaders in science-related careers. Yet, I am willing to push past the stigmatism that "women can't be scientists" so I can save the planet. As a teenager, I often get told that my generation is the last hope for the future. I plan to fix what humans have messed up in the world, and work to make a healthier, happier planet.

In third grade, I remember learning about Earth’s different biomes and where they are located. I learned about the swamps in my own state, Louisiana, the mountains up North, and the rainforests in South America. Yet, there was one environment that I was utterly fascinated by: the ocean. I loved learning about the way water interacted with the coast and how the plants and animals thrived in salty environments. That admiration never left me, and now that I’m a senior in high school, I am still just as in love with the coastline. As I grew, I visited the beach often, and I learned that, unfortunately, beaches were not permanent. I gained an understanding that erosion was a prominent issue in today’s environment, and there were not enough people that cared to fix the problems. When I was a freshman in high school, I applied for a scholarship to go to Sea Camp at Texas A&M in Galveston, Texas. I wanted to participate in their conservation course and look into jobs and ways to work out of Galveston. I had always wanted to work near the ocean, I just didn’t have a name for my job type yet. While I was at camp, I learned about the different plants that made up the Galveston coasts while following a Botanist and took samples from the water to check salinity levels. I loved every second of it, and after talking to one of my teachers, I learned that the name for my job was Conservation Biology. Now, I am going to Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana to pursue my degree and do my best to make a difference in the world. Many people don't realize just how severe the coastline loss is around the globe, and my goal is to change that.

At only the age of 10, I learned how to judge my body in a mirror. I was always too short, too wide, or just too ugly. I would compare my adolescent body to models in pictures on social media. My peers didn’t help either, and I would often receive snide comments on my choice of clothes or food. In only the 7th grade, at 11 years old, I began to starve myself. Of course, I dropped several pounds, and I immediately felt more secure and confident, but I had only set myself up for failure. My weight fluctuated for a few years as I struggled to maintain a slim figure, and I remember always hating my body. When I got to high school, I decided to actually make friends and put effort into building relationships. Fortunately, I was able to surround myself with people who didn’t care how much I weighed. Slowly, I realized that I didn’t need to hold myself to impossible standards. With strong support from my friends, and kindness from my family, I learned to finally relax. Over the course of a few months, I undid years of unhappiness and loved myself again. Today, I know that there is nothing more beautiful than what I have now. I’m healthy and happy, and I have many friends I surround myself with. It's important for people, especially young girls, to know their own value. I am comfortable in my own skin, and I enjoy every moment I can because I know that I am truly blessed to have a healthy, active body that allows me to do the things I love, like cheer and art. So, although I should've already known this in life, the most valuable thing I've learned about myself is my own self-worth and confidence.

One of my most vivid memories from my young childhood comes from a vacation to the beach. I remember walking the coast with my parents, playing in the waves and sand, and just absolutely loving every minute. That admiration never left me, and now that I’m a senior in high school, I am still just as in love with the coastline. However, I am not ignorant anymore. As I grew, I visited the beach often, and I learned that beaches were, in fact, not permanent. I gained an understanding that erosion was a prominent issue in today’s environment and society, and I was not the only one who cared enough to fix the problem. Most people know about overfishing and water pollution, but many average people don’t acknowledge the issue closer to home. Erosion is eating away at our coastlines and causing catastrophic environmental damage. Many would argue that this is a natural process that comes with time, but research has shown that we humans have caused this process to speed up and therefore hurt the Earth. By building cities on top of fragile coasts, we have pushed the land further into the sea. By moving delicate plants and animals that acted as anchors, the shifting land is sliding more easily into the water. Dams and canals, and other man-made structures meant to contain rivers or the tides are preventing the natural processes that help to hold the coasts together. Not to mention the rising sea levels and increase in violent storms due to climate change, which humans have unfortunately furthered with pollution and global warming. Thankfully, many organizations across the globe are doing their part to push back against the effects of climate change and erosion. Some of these include BEACON, CPRG, and NOAA. Even in my home state of Louisiana, there are groups that find ways to piece the marshes and swamps back together, and slowly take down the levees that restrict the Mississippi River. I want to go to Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana to pursue a career in Conservation Biology, so I can join the workforce that is trying to fix what humans have messed up on our planet, and work to make a healthier, happier planet. There are thousands of researchers trying to piece the coasts back together once again. What gives me hope for the future is the countless people who actively work together to try to reverse the damage, and in the process educate younger generations. As a teenager, I often get told that my generation is the last hope for the future. If this is true, then I am pretty hopeful.

The definition of adversity in the Oxford Dictionary is simply “difficulties.” These “difficulties” can range from small, annoying things, often labeled the “death by a thousand cuts,” all the way to mental illnesses and financial issues. As a result of this broad range of trouble, everyone faces adversities - but it’s how people handle their problems that matter. One of my most predominant issues began very early on in my life, and I have only just recently overcame it. At a very young age, I learned how to judge my body in a mirror. I was always too short, too wide, or just too ugly. When I got to middle school, my problems only worsened. I was only 10, and I was comparing my adolescent body to adult models in pictures on social media. My peers didn’t help either, and I would often receive snide comments on my choice of clothes or food. In only the 7th grade, at 11 years old, I began to starve myself. Of course, I dropped several pounds, and I immediately felt more secure and confident. Unfortunately, I had set myself up for failure. My weight fluctuated for a few years as I struggled to maintain a slim figure. When I got to high school, I decided to actually make friends and put effort into building relationships. Fortunately, I was able to surround myself with people who didn’t care what I looked like or how much I weighed. Slowly, I realized that I don’t need to hold myself to impossible standards. With strong support from my friends and kindness from my family for I learned to finally relax. I started eating things that I loved again, and finally stopped stepping on the scale at every waking moment. Over the course of a few months, without the judging eyes of unkind students and a severe deficit of social media, I undid years of unhappiness and loved myself again. Today, I know that there is nothing more beautiful than what I have now. I’m healthy and happy, and I have many friends I surround myself with. My adversity was invisible to others - it was within. To some, my struggles may seem childish, but I was consumed by self-loathing for years. I hope that other young girls do not make the same mistakes I did, and decide to make idols out of photoshopped pictures on social media. I have a younger sister, and I constantly remind her of how beautiful she is. Sometimes I feel as if I tell her that too much, but deep down I know that I’d rather her be overconfident than insecure. Currently, I am the President of a small club that focuses on body positivity. My club members and I often post signs about loving yourself, and we seek out young individuals and do our best to make them feel like they belong. It’s not the easiest to get others to interact, but I’m happy knowing that I am trying to make a difference in the world and fight adversities in the minds of students like me.

The definition of adversity in the Oxford Dictionary is simply “difficulties.” These “difficulties” can range from small, annoying things, often labeled the “death by a thousand cuts,” all the way to mental illnesses and financial issues. As a result of this broad range of trouble, everyone faces adversities - but it’s how people handle their problems that matter. One of my most predominant issues began very early on in my life, and I have only just recently overcame it. At a very young age, I learned how to judge my body in a mirror. I was always too short, too wide, or just too ugly. When I got to middle school, my problems only worsened. I was only 10, and I was comparing my adolescent body to adult models in pictures on social media. My peers didn’t help either, and I would often receive snide comments on my choice of clothes or food. In only the 7th grade, at 11 years old, I began to starve myself. Of course, I dropped several pounds, and I immediately felt more secure and confident. Unfortunately, I had set myself up for failure. My weight fluctuated for a few years as I struggled to maintain a slim figure. When I got to high school, I decided to actually make friends and put effort into building relationships. Fortunately, I was able to surround myself with people who didn’t care what I looked like or how much I weighed. Slowly, I realized that I don’t need to hold myself to impossible standards. With strong support from my friends and kindness from my family for I learned to finally relax. I started eating things that I loved again, and finally stopped stepping on the scale at every waking moment. Over the course of a few months, without the judging eyes of unkind students and a severe deficit of social media, I undid years of unhappiness and loved myself again. Today, I know that there is nothing more beautiful than what I have now. I’m healthy and happy, and I have many friends I surround myself with. My adversity was invisible to others - it was within. To some, my struggles may seem childish, but I was consumed by self-loathing for years. I hope that other young girls do not make the same mistakes I did, and decide to make idols out of photoshopped pictures on social media. I have a younger sister, and I constantly remind her of how beautiful she is. Sometimes I feel as if I tell her that too much, but deep down I know that I’d rather her be overconfident than insecure. Currently, I am the President of a small club at my school that focuses on body positivity. My club members and I often post signs about loving yourself, and we seek out young individuals and do our best to make them feel like they belong. It’s not the easiest to get others to interact, but I’m happy knowing that I am trying to make a difference in the world and fight adversities in the minds of students like me.