My name is Addie Zeller and I'm an Art and Design major with a concentration in photography. Two years ago if you had asked me who I was or who I wanted to be, I don't think I would've been able to respond. I've always felt lost and unsure of myself. Until the day I picked up a camera and then suddenly, everything fell into place. Our world is divided by an infinite amount of things, but the one thing that connects us all is art. Art is a way to express the thoughts left unsaid or the feelings left unheard. Art can be for anyone, anywhere, anytime and it can invoke or trigger any emotion. The series I decided to submit is named Beauty Within Death. I used to think that was such a surreal statement. How could anyone find death fascinating or beautiful? Death is tragic. Death is ruining. Death is inevitable. Nothing about death is beautiful. This I firmly believed in. Until one day, my viewpoint shifted upon its axis. On a nippy fall afternoon, I accidentally stumbled upon a deer carcass in the middle of the forest. Its bones were stripped clean of its flesh as it had been decomposing for likely months. Ivy curled its gnarled hands around the antlers, playing tug of war with the earth as they both tried to reclaim the bones. A melancholic feeling echoed in my heart as I gazed down at the skull. Whoever had shot at this deer's head had barely touched him, just grazing the poor creature's face. The path of a bullet was etched into the skull from the top of the frontal lobe to the edge of the parietal lobe, the only evidence of what killed the innocent creature. Gently, I unwound the ivy from the antlers, unearthed the skull from the ground, and with shaky hands, I carried the skull back to my home. My previous self would have been horrified at this action, as I was utterly disgusted by the concept of death. Wanting nothing to do with it. But something inside of me knew I needed to take the remains of this creature home. It was likely the deer would have been mounted on someone's wall as a trophy. His head would have been a bragging reminder that the hunter won, not him. Fortunately, poor aim and this creature's resilience prevented that. Instead of bragging and showing him off as a trophy, I hung him on my wall to honor and respect the loss of his life. This skull and this story were the inspiration for many of my first photos as I began my photography journey. Suddenly, the idea of capturing beauty within death was such an intriguing concept to me. A normally unsettling topic swiftly transformed into something captivating, at least to me. It is meant to immortalize loss of life and innocence within these creatures, innocence we will never be able to truly know. To embrace the beauty within death.

My name is Adelaide Zeller, but I go by Addie. I recently graduated from high school at Western High School with a GPA of 3.8. I’m now attending Northern Michigan University where I intend to graduate with an Art and Design degree, concentrating in photography. I'm the only child of Jennifer and Todd Zeller. And all my life, I've never really known who I was. I knew bits and pieces about myself, things I liked, things I didn't like, but never truly who I was. Here is something I do know about myself. I love to read. All my life I've been drawn to books, specifically fantasy. There was always something missing from my life. A feeling I could never quench, most likely the disappointment of reality, until I began to read. Reading became an escape for me, whenever the world got a little bit too loud, I'd slip into a magical world and let my worries disintegrate. It became a safe place for me to hide. Another fact about me. I'm a nature fanatic. Everything about the environment, animals specifically, fascinates me. I've felt this way since I was a child, always knowing the career I would end up going into would be based on the environment. But, very recently, something else has made its way into my agenda and it changed my life. A newfound passion was introduced into my life this year. Photography. After taking a high school course, I went out, bought a camera, and started a side business as a senior photographer. This gave me a possible new outlet for my future, a new opportunity for college. I now intend to minor in photography and see where it leads me. My younger self might be shocked by this, but I think it's an idea worth pursuing for my future, to make things easier for me. I'll admit, I'm terrified of the future. So many unknowns I have to face, pretty much all by my lonesome. It makes my stomach wrench at the thought of it. But, I know that through all the struggles and fears I'll face shortly, I know there are going to be so many good things that will come with it. Even though I don't know who I am, yet, and that's a strong yet, I know I will eventually. Someday I'll find out who I am and then, I'll never look back. If I were to win this scholarship, I could put the money towards my education. It would help me fear my future less and have minimal worry about how I'll manage to pay for everything. It would help support my passions and the plans I have for the future. It would affect me in the most positive way. But at the end of the day, the reason this scholarship is important to me is so I can showcase myself and prove I deserve it, to prove I'm worth earning the money.

A rigid tone, as sharp as a knife. Words blunt and hostile. The tension was thick. An empty silence suddenly turned into a raging roar as two creatures tore into each other, fangs gnashing and claws flashing. An eruption of snickers, like little bee stings peppered my face. I flushed red as embarrassment rang through my mind. I slunk back to a dark corner where I wouldn’t draw attention. I hid, I ran, I cowered. And I slipped back into my mind, a place I knew was safe. For as long as I can remember I have been plagued with fear. From when I was seven years old, my thoughts filled with images of my parents dying in a tragic car crash and never coming home, to the present day, where speaking up feels like swallowing a glass full of nails. Anxiety has always been in my life. Hovering above me, waiting to strike and sink its fangs into my fragile skin. At the end of my high school career, I was filled to the brim with anxiety. I hated school but I hated new things more, and college was way too new. It ended with me missing over 40 days of school because I couldn't break the grasp anxiety had on me. Luckily I had an amazing vice principal who worked with me and a mother who supported my needs and fought for me against those who didn't. At this point, I had tried everything I could. Anxiety meds caused an allergic reaction that ended with an angry rash running up my neck. It felt like a curse. And can you guess what this rash caused? More anxiety! I was too scared to go into public, fearing people would view me as a grotesque being. I knew my thoughts were extreme but there was nothing I could do to stop them. And when I would try to face my fears, I was left shivering, covered in sweat, and my heart pounding like a drum in my ears. The second method I tried was therapy, suggested by my counselor. However, even though it was practically an emergency, nobody would see me. Their schedules too filled or pricing too expensive for my family to afford. Our insurance just wouldn't cover enough of the cost so I was left to deal with my anxiety on my own. However, I pushed through thanks to the amazing support group, filled with my family, friends, and teachers. I don't know what I would have done without them or how I would've pushed through that last bit of senior year. Suddenly, I was walking across the stage, glancing out at a sea of maroon and gold, hearing the roar of the crowd. Commencement. I was shocked I was allowed to walk, seeing as I had four times the amount of allowed absences. As I exited the stage, I felt two things. Relief and fear. But then it was time to move forward, to forget about everything that went wrong, and to start doing things right.

A rigid tone, as sharp as a knife. Words blunt and hostile. The tension was thick. An empty silence suddenly turned into a raging roar as two creatures tore into each other, fangs gnashing and claws flashing. An eruption of snickers, like little bee stings peppered my face. I flushed red as embarrassment rang through my mind. I slunk back to a dark corner where I wouldn’t draw attention. I hid, I ran, I cowered. And I slipped back into my mind, a place I knew was safe. For as long as I can remember I have been plagued with fear. From when I was seven years old, my thoughts filled with images of my parents dying in a tragic car crash and never coming home, to the present day, where speaking up feels like swallowing a glass full of nails. Anxiety has always been in my life. Hovering above me, waiting to strike and sink its fangs into my fragile skin. At the end of my high school career, I was filled to the brim with anxiety. I hated school but I hated new things more, and college was way too new. It ended with me missing over 40 days of school because I couldn't break the grasp anxiety had on me. Luckily I had an amazing vice principal who worked with me and a mother who supported my needs and fought for me against those who didn't. At this point, I had tried everything I could. Anxiety meds caused an allergic reaction that ended with an angry rash running up my neck. It felt like a curse. And can you guess what this rash caused? More anxiety! I was too scared to go into public, fearing people would view me as a grotesque being. I knew my thoughts were extreme but there was nothing I could do to stop them. And when I would try to face my fears, I was left shivering, covered in sweat, and my heart pounding like a drum in my ears. The second method I tried was therapy, suggested by my counselor. However, even though it was practically an emergency, nobody would see me. Their schedules too filled or pricing too expensive for my family to afford. Our insurance just wouldn't cover enough of the cost so I was left to deal with my anxiety on my own. Luckily, I had an amazing support group. Filled with my family, friends, and teachers. I don't know what I would have done without them. Suddenly, I was walking across the stage, glancing out at a sea of maroon and gold, hearing the roar of the crowd. Commencement. I was shocked I was allowed to walk, seeing as I had four times the amount of allowed absences. As I exited the stage, I felt two things. Relief and fear. But then it was time to move forward, to forget about everything that went wrong, and to start doing things right.

A rigid tone, as sharp as a knife. Words blunt and hostile. The tension was thick. An empty silence suddenly turned into a raging roar as two creatures tore into each other, fangs gnashing and claws flashing. An eruption of snickers, like little bee stings peppered my face. I flushed red as embarrassment rang through my mind. I slunk back to a dark corner where I wouldn’t draw attention. I hid, I ran, I cowered. And I slipped back into my mind, a place I knew was safe. I’ve been writing for leisure since I was a 4th grader. Weaving together short stories depicting fantastical adventures and creatures. They weren’t the best stories, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. I always knew I was different from other kids my age. I enjoyed the company of creatures and books over the company of my peers. Instead of playing video games or watching Disney Channel, I was pent up in my room, furiously writing up a storm. It was a peaceful escape for me, in a world where I belonged with characters who thought and acted how I did. When my world got too loud, I knew I always had a place to run to. I was often displaced at school, struggling to fit in with other kids. Eventually, I learned, but for a while I was alone. But not alone, I had the company of Balen Drannor and Soren Beldroth, or Lark Bones and Aris Thatcher. Characters I carefully crafted, taking pieces and parts from my personality. When my home got too loud or too angry, I ventured into the Kingdom of Aorins. My writing became a second home to me. A way to blow off some steam and clear my head. I’ve never fully finished a novel, but I’ve written plenty of short stories and crafted plenty of worlds and characters. Writing was always a way for me to express my creativity and write down the millions and millions of thoughts that constantly whirled around in my mind. It led me to meet people with minds like my own, who understand the way I work and the way I feel. I’m proud of what I've accomplished and I’ll forever be grateful for what writing has done for me. Without it, I genuinely don’t know where I’d be. I’d probably still be stuck in my head, endlessly searching for… something… but never knowing what was missing. This is why I want to further my education with writing, so I've officially declared my minor as writing so I can forever hold onto the thing that helped me through my struggles and the lonely moment of life.

A rigid tone, as sharp as a knife. Words blunt and hostile. The tension was thick. An empty silence suddenly turned into a raging roar as two creatures tore into each other, fangs gnashing and claws flashing. An eruption of snickers, like little bee stings peppered my face. I flushed red as embarrassment rang through my mind. I slunk back to a dark corner where I wouldn’t draw attention. I hid, I ran, I cowered. And I slipped back into my mind, a place I knew was safe. For as long as I can remember I have been plagued with fear. From when I was seven years old, my thoughts filled with images of my parents dying in a tragic car crash and never coming home, to the present day, where speaking up feels like swallowing a glass full of nails. Anxiety has always been in my life. Hovering above me, waiting to strike and sink its fangs into my fragile skin. At the end of my high school career, I was filled to the brim with anxiety. I hated school but I hated new things more, and college was way too new. It ended with me missing over 40 days of school because I couldn't break the grasp anxiety had on me. Luckily I had an amazing vice principal who worked with me and a mother who supported my needs and fought for me against those who didn't. At this point, I had tried everything I could. Anxiety meds caused an allergic reaction that ended with an angry rash running up my neck. It felt like a curse. And can you guess what this rash caused? More anxiety! I was too scared to go into public, fearing people would view me as a grotesque being. I knew my thoughts were extreme but there was nothing I could do to stop them. And when I would try to face my fears, I was left shivering, covered in sweat, and my heart pounding like a drum in my ears. The second method I tried was therapy, suggested by my counselor. However, even though it was practically an emergency, nobody would see me. Their schedules too filled or pricing too expensive for my family to afford. Our insurance just wouldn't cover enough of the cost so I was left to deal with my anxiety on my own. Luckily, I had an amazing support group. Filled with my family, friends, and teachers. I don't know what I would have done without them. Suddenly, I was walking across the stage, glancing out at a sea of maroon and gold, hearing the roar of the crowd. Commencement. I was shocked I actually was allowed to walk, seeing as I had four times the amount of allowed absences. As I exited the stage, I felt two things. Relief and fear. But then it was time to move forward, to forget about everything that went wrong and to start doing things right. Now I am heading towards the path of a college degree. Majoring in something I know I can make a difference in or at least feel passionate about, photography. Something that has helped me through so much by allowing me to express myself when words cannot.

I see bits of him everywhere I go; my grandpa, my greatest paternal influence, still to this day. I spent almost every day with him, sitting in his overly warm room, watching old, black-and-white movies made decades ago. At that moment, I was filled with boredom, wishing I was anywhere else, doing something interesting. But now, looking back, I wish I could be there again. I wish I could hold his soft hand, listening as he hummed along to the catchy theme song of Gilligan's Island or MASH. The day I lost him I curled up in my bed and cried until there was a tear-stained path engraved into my cheeks. For a few months I didn't know what to do from that point, a large chunk of my life abruptly missing. But then I realized he wouldn't want me to sit and mope. He'd want me to go out and do. He'd want me to live. I decided I didn't want to sulk anymore, so I got up and started to get to work. My grandpa always fueled my passions. Whether boasting about me to his friends or providing me with the funds/tools to pursue those passions. For years it had felt like I had been wearing shoes two sizes big, but suddenly, everything clicked, and my shoe fit. I picked up a new passion, photography. At times it was hard and I felt like giving up. But then I remembered how proud he was of me for doing the smallest things, for pursuing my passions. So then I picked my head back up and got to work. Once I got the knack for things, I decided I wanted to amp things up a bit. I asked a few close friends of mine if I could take their senior pictures. It was a total success and, suddenly, I was up to my ears in clients. I was being paid for something I would have done for free. Making an income on something fun for me. All because of my grandfather and how I knew he would believe in me. How he would have pushed me to do the best I could. Though he is gone, his spirit lives inside of me and I see him in passing faces. I see him in the gentle-spoken man at the library, I see him in the young boy playing cowboys, I hear him in the Christmas carols, and I feel his love and affection. Wherever he may be, I know he is proud of who I've become. And I hope he knows he had one of the biggest roles in molding who I am today.

Beauty within death. I used to think that was such a surreal statement. How could anyone find death fascinating or beautiful? Death is tragic. Death is ruining. Death is inevitable. Nothing about death is beautiful. This I firmly believed in, until one day, when my viewpoint shifted upon its axis. On a nippy fall afternoon, I accidentally stumbled upon a deer carcass in the middle of the forest. Its bones were stripped clean of its flesh as it had been decomposing for likely months. Ivy curled its gnarled hands around the antlers, playing tug of war with the earth as they both tried to reclaim the bones. A melancholic feeling echoed in my heart as I gazed down at the skull. Whoever had shot at this deer's head had barely touched him, just grazing the poor creature's face. The path of a bullet was etched into the skull from the top of the frontal lobe to the edge of the parietal lobe, the only evidence of what killed the innocent creature. Gently, I unwound the ivy from the antlers, unearthed the skull from the ground, and with shaky hands, I carried the skull back to my home. My previous self would have been horrified at this action, as I was utterly disgusted by the concept of death. Wanting nothing to do with it. But something inside of me knew I needed to take the remains of this creature home. It was likely the deer would have been mounted on someone's wall as a trophy. His head would have been a bragging reminder that the hunter won, not him. Fortunately, poor aim and this creature's resilience prevented that. Instead of bragging and showing him off as a trophy, I hung him on my wall to honor and respect the loss of his life. This skull and this story were the inspiration for many of my first photos as I began my photography journey. It's truly where I gained an understanding of creativity. Suddenly, the idea of capturing beauty within death was such an intriguing concept to me. A normally unsettling topic swiftly transformed into something captivating. That's how I define creativity. Taking something and molding it into the form of something completely different. These photos are meant to immortalize loss of life and innocence within these creatures, innocence we will never be able to truly know. To embrace the beauty within death.

Beauty within death. I used to think that was such a surreal statement. How could anyone find death fascinating or beautiful? Death is tragic. Death is ruining. Death is inevitable. Nothing about death is beautiful. This I firmly believed in. Until one day, my viewpoint shifted upon its axis. On a nippy fall afternoon, I accidentally stumbled upon a deer carcass in the middle of the forest. Its bones were stripped clean of its flesh as it had been decomposing for likely months. Ivy curled its gnarled hands around the antlers, playing tug of war with the earth as they both tried to reclaim the bones. A melancholic feeling echoed in my heart as I gazed down at the skull. Whoever had shot at this deer's head had barely touched him, just grazing the poor creature's face. The path of a bullet was etched into the skull from the top of the frontal lobe to the edge of the parietal lobe, the only evidence of what killed the innocent creature. Gently, I unwound the ivy from the antlers, unearthed the skull from the ground, and with shaky hands, I carried the skull back to my home. My previous self would have been horrified at this action, as I was utterly disgusted by the concept of death. Wanting nothing to do with it. But something inside of me knew I needed to take the remains of this creature home. It was likely the deer would have been mounted on someone's wall as a trophy. His head would have been a bragging reminder that the hunter won, not him. Fortunately, poor aim and this creature's resilience prevented that. Instead of bragging and showing him off as a trophy, I hung him on my wall to honor and respect the loss of his life. This skull and this story were the inspiration for many of my first photos as I began my photography journey. Suddenly, the idea of capturing beauty within death was such an intriguing concept to me. A normally unsettling topic swiftly transformed into something captivating, at least to me. It is meant to immortalize loss of life and innocence within these creatures, innocence we will never be able to truly know. To embrace the beauty within death. An elective class I was taking only for the credit, abruptly became a newfound passion, changing the previous path I thought my life was heading down. In the simple flash of a lens and the snap of a shutter closing, my life was changed.

A young curly-haired girl sat on the edge of a bridge, feet dangling over a gently flowing stream. She was focused, her brow taunt, as she peered into the water. Patiently waiting for something to appear. Suddenly, a little brown head popped up, the water rippling as the animal broke the surface tension. A tiny muskrat stared up at the girl, beady black eyes meeting hers. It froze, out of fear or curiosity, then ducked back under the water, disappearing with a flash of brown. Later in life, the little girl grew more and more curious about animals. Eventually, she collected her own menagerie of animals. From there, she went to schools and care homes to advocate the importance of these animals and the environment. This girl is me. This is my positive impact on the world. I've always been drawn to nature specifically animals. However, the older I got, I realized how much our earth and animals are struggling. I decided to take charge and make a difference. I inspired young children to go out and make a positive difference in our environment. I challenged them to pick up litter, make a birdhouse, recycle plastic, compost, etc... Anything to make a difference, no matter how big or small. I also work hard to make a positive impact on the environment. By building bat houses, creating a pollinator garden, protecting endangered plants, removing the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, limiting water use, reducing waste, and more. I do my personal best to limit my negative effect on this earth. I want to see our future generations flourish and be able to experience the glory of our earth without worry. If everyone makes a small, positive impact, soon the world will be changed. Otherwise, we might be dealt with a future where kids don't know about lions, and tigers, and bears... oh my. What a world that would be. Nature is my passion and I want other people to be able to view the world through my eyes, to see how much the world means to me. By going out and inspiring people and educating them, I can make a positive impact. This is why I work hard and put effort into my creatures because I know a simple demonstration can change someone's world. A simple look into the life of an innocent creature can move someone immensely. Just how the muskrat inspired me. When asked, what is your favorite animal? I genuinely couldn't answer. How do you choose one animal in a world filled with so many extraordinary ones? It's impossible in my opinion. However, I can list a few animals that have captured my attention. Shoebill storks, Argentine black/white tegu, Amazonian horned frog, and more... But again, I can't choose a favorite, who truly could? In a world full of wonderfully unique creatures, why choose one?

In the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Having poor mental health can ruin a life, it can make everything turn upside down. From losing your friends, your passion, your good grades, and more. Poor mental health equals loss. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and figure out how to help my mental illnesses, so that eventually, one day, I can feel okay again. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health. To help them learn how to help themselves and beat their mental illness. This is my goal.

My name is Adelaide Zeller, but I go by Addie. I'm a high school senior at Western High School located in Parma, Michigan. My current GPA is 3.8. I'm the only child of Jennifer and Todd Zeller. And all my life, I've never really known who I was. I knew bits and pieces about myself, things I liked, things I didn't like, but never truly who I was. Here is something I do know about myself. I'm a nature fanatic. Everything about the environment fascinates me. I've felt this way since I was a child, always knowing I would end up in the science field. This is still my plan as I go into college, majoring in either biology or environmental science. Picture this, a young curly-haired girl sat on the edge of a bridge, feet dangling over a gently flowing stream. She was focused, her brow taunt, as she peered into the water. Patiently waiting for something to appear. Suddenly, a little brown head popped up, the water rippling as the animal broke the surface tension. A tiny muskrat stared up at the girl, beady black eyes meeting hers. It froze, out of fear or curiosity, then ducked back under the water, disappearing with a flash of brown. Later in life, the little girl grew more and more curious about animals. Eventually, she collected her menagerie of animals. From there, she went to schools and care homes to advocate the importance of these animals and the environment. This girl is me. I've always been drawn to nature specifically animals. However, the older I got, I realized how much our earth and animals are struggling. I decided to take charge and make a difference. I inspired young children to go out and make a positive difference in our environment. I challenged them to pick up litter, make a birdhouse, recycle plastic, compost, etc... Anything to make a difference, no matter how big or small. I also work hard to make a positive impact on the environment. By building bat houses, creating a pollinator garden, protecting endangered plants, removing the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, limiting water use, reducing waste, and more. I do my personal best to limit my negative effect on this earth. I want to see our future generations flourish and be able to experience the glory of our earth without worry. If everyone makes a small, positive impact, soon the world will be different. Otherwise, we might be dealt with a future where kids don't know about lions, and tigers, and bears... oh my. What a world that would be. Nature is my passion and I want other people to be able to view the world through my eyes, to see how much the world means to me. By going out and inspiring people and educating them, I can make a positive impact. I know a simple demonstration can change someone's world. A simple look into the life of an innocent creature can move someone immensely. Just how the muskrat inspired me. I'll admit, I'm terrified of the future. So many unknowns I have to face, pretty much all by my lonesome. It makes my stomach wrench at the thought of it. But, I know that through all the struggles and fears I'll face shortly, I know there are going to be so many good things that will come with it. Even though I don't know who I am, yet, and that's a strong yet, I know I will eventually. Someday I'll find out who I am and then, I'll never look back.

My name is Adelaide Zeller, but I go by Addie. I'm a high school senior at Western High School located in Parma, Michigan. My current GPA is 3.8. I'm the only child of Jennifer and Todd Zeller. And all my life, I've never really known who I was. I knew bits and pieces about myself, things I liked, things I didn't like, but never truly who I was. Here is something I do know about myself. I'm a nature fanatic. Everything about the environment fascinates me. I've felt this way since I was a child, always knowing I would end up in the science field. This is still my plan as I go into college, majoring in either biology or environmental science. Picture this, a young curly-haired girl sat on the edge of a bridge, feet dangling over a gently flowing stream. She was focused, her brow taunt, as she peered into the water. Patiently waiting for something to appear. Suddenly, a little brown head popped up, the water rippling as the animal broke the surface tension. A tiny muskrat stared up at the girl, beady black eyes meeting hers. It froze, out of fear or curiosity, then ducked back under the water, disappearing with a flash of brown. Later in life, the little girl grew more and more curious about animals. Eventually, she collected her menagerie of animals. From there, she went to schools and care homes to advocate the importance of these animals and the environment. This girl is me. I've always been drawn to nature specifically animals. However, the older I got, I realized how much our earth and animals are struggling. I decided to take charge and make a difference. I inspired young children to go out and make a positive difference in our environment. I challenged them to pick up litter, make a birdhouse, recycle plastic, compost, etc... Anything to make a difference, no matter how big or small. I also work hard to make a positive impact on the environment. By building bat houses, creating a pollinator garden, protecting endangered plants, removing the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, limiting water use, reducing waste, and more. I do my personal best to limit my negative effect on this earth. I want to see our future generations flourish and be able to experience the glory of our earth without worry. If everyone makes a small, positive impact, soon the world will be different. Otherwise, we might be dealt with a future where kids don't know about lions, and tigers, and bears... oh my. What a world that would be. Nature is my passion and I want other people to be able to view the world through my eyes, to see how much the world means to me. By going out and inspiring people and educating them, I can make a positive impact. I know a simple demonstration can change someone's world. A simple look into the life of an innocent creature can move someone immensely. Just how the muskrat inspired me. I'll admit, I'm terrified of the future. So many unknowns I have to face, pretty much all by my lonesome. It makes my stomach wrench at the thought of it. But, I know that through all the struggles and fears I'll face shortly, I know there are going to be so many good things that will come with it. Even though I don't know who I am, yet, and that's a strong yet, I know I will eventually. Someday I'll find out who I am and then, I'll never look back.

My name is Adelaide Zeller, but I go by Addie. I'm a high school senior at Western High School located in Parma, Michigan. My current GPA is 3.8. I'm the only child of Jennifer and Todd Zeller. And all my life, I've never really known who I was. I knew bits and pieces about myself, things I liked, things I didn't like, but never truly who I was. Here is something I do know about myself. I love to read. All my life I've been drawn to books, specifically fantasy. There was always something missing from my life. A feeling I could never quench, most likely the disappointment of reality, until I began to read. Reading became an escape for me, whenever the world got a little bit too loud, I'd slip into a magical world and let my worries disintegrate. It became a safe place for me to hide. Another fact about me. I'm a nature fanatic. Everything about the environment, animals specifically, fascinates me. I've felt this way since I was a child, always knowing the career I would end up going into would be based on the environment. This is still my plan as I go into college, majoring in either biology or environmental science. But, very recently, something else has made its way into my agenda and it changed my life. A newfound passion was introduced into my life this year. Photography. After taking a high school course, I went out, bought a camera, and started a side business as a senior photographer. This gave me a possible new outlet for my future, a new opportunity for college. I now intend to minor in photography and see where it leads me. My younger self might be shocked by this, but I think it's an idea worth pursuing for my future, to make things easier for me. I'll admit, I'm terrified of the future. So many unknowns I have to face, pretty much all by my lonesome. It makes my stomach wrench at the thought of it. But, I know that through all the struggles and fears I'll face shortly, I know there are going to be so many good things that will come with it. Even though I don't know who I am, yet, and that's a strong yet, I know I will eventually. Someday I'll find out who I am and then, I'll never look back. If I were to win this scholarship, I could put the money towards my education. It would help me fear my future less and have minimal worry about how I'll manage to pay for everything. It would help support my passions and the plans I have for the future. It would affect me most positively. But at the end of the day, the reason this scholarship is important to me is so I can showcase myself and prove I deserve it, to prove I'm worth earning the money.

A rigid tone, as sharp as a knife. Words blunt and hostile. The tension was thick. An empty silence suddenly turned into a raging roar as two creatures tore into each other, fangs gnashing and claws flashing. An eruption of snickers, like little bee stings peppered my face. I flushed red as embarrassment rang through my mind. I slunk back to a dark corner where I wouldn’t draw attention. I hid, I ran, I cowered. And I slipped back into my mind, a place I knew was safe. I’ve been writing for leisure since I was a 4th grader. Weaving together short stories depicting fantastical adventures and creatures. They weren’t the best stories, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. I always knew I was different from other kids my age. I enjoyed the company of creatures and books over the company of my peers. Instead of playing video games or watching Disney Channel, I was pent up in my room, furiously writing up a storm. It was a peaceful escape for me, in a world where I belonged with characters who thought and acted how I did. When my world got too loud, I knew I always had a place to run to. I was often displaced at school, struggling to fit in with other kids. Eventually, I learned, but for a while I was alone. But not alone, I had the company of Balen Drannor and Soren Beldroth, or Lark Bones and Aris Thatcher. Characters I carefully crafted, taking pieces and parts from my personality. When my home got too loud or too angry, I ventured into the Kingdom of Aorins. My writing became a second home to me. A way to blow off some steam and clear my head. If I had an extra 24 hours in the day, I'd probably spend it brainstorming and writing, maybe even creating mood boards or trying to perfect my characters. Hopefully, I would finish a few short stories or make a dent in my active novel. I normally feel the most creative when I'm locked away in my room, wrapped up in a thick comforter, listening to music. If it's raining or dark outside (better yet, both), then productivity rises significantly. I’ve never fully finished a novel, but I’ve written plenty of short stories and crafted plenty of worlds and characters. Writing was always a way for me to express my creativity and write down the millions and millions of thoughts that constantly whirled around in my mind. It led me to meet people with minds like my own, who understand the way I work and the way I feel. I think it makes my world a better place. It gives me a purpose and a way to release pent-up emotions, it betters me. I’m proud of what I've accomplished and I’ll forever be grateful for what writing has done for me. Without it, I genuinely don’t know where I’d be. I’d probably still be stuck in my head, endlessly searching for… something… but never knowing what was missing.

A rigid tone, as sharp as a knife. Words blunt and hostile. The tension was thick. An empty silence suddenly turned into a raging roar as two creatures tore into each other, fangs gnashing and claws flashing. An eruption of snickers, like little bee stings peppered my face. I flushed red as embarrassment rang through my mind. I slunk back to a dark corner where I wouldn’t draw attention. I hid, I ran, I cowered. And I slipped back into my mind, a place I knew was safe. I’ve been writing for leisure since I was a 4th grader. Weaving together short stories depicting fantastical adventures and creatures. They weren’t the best stories, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. I always knew I was different from other kids my age. I enjoyed the company of creatures and books over the company of my peers. Instead of playing video games or watching Disney Channel, I was pent up in my room, furiously writing up a storm. It was a peaceful escape for me, in a world where I belonged with characters who thought and acted how I did. When my world got too loud, I knew I always had a place to run to. I was often displaced at school, struggling to fit in with other kids. Eventually, I learned, but for a while I was alone. But not alone, I had the company of Balen Drannor and Soren Beldroth, or Lark Bones and Aris Thatcher. Characters I carefully crafted, taking pieces and parts from my personality. When my home got too loud or too angry, I ventured into the Kingdom of Aorins. My writing became a second home to me. A way to blow off some steam and clear my head. I’ve never fully finished a novel, but I’ve written plenty of short stories and crafted plenty of worlds and characters. Writing was always a way for me to express my creativity and write down the millions and millions of thoughts that constantly whirled around in my mind. It led me to meet people with minds like my own, who understand the way I work and the way I feel. I’m proud of what I've accomplished and I’ll forever be grateful for what writing has done for me. Without it, I genuinely don’t know where I’d be. I’d probably still be stuck in my head, endlessly searching for… something… but never knowing what was missing.

I've only seen the ocean once. That's all I've ever needed. I can still feel the gentle waves lapping at my ankles as I wade deeper and deeper into the mesmerizing water. The calls of seabirds yelling out to one another emphasize their existence. I held my breath and dove under. The water rushed over my head as I sliced through the waves like a knife through butter. A serene silence fell upon me as the ocean embraced me, holding me afloat in her gentle arms. Tiny cuts on my legs and arms stung from high salinity, but it didn't matter. Nothing did. It was just me, the brooding ocean, her sharp kisses, and the newfound warmth within my soul. The ocean is one of the most important parts of our fundamental life. She provides us with new life, she regulates our climate, she supplies us with a majority of our oxygen, and she feeds us. She gives and gives and gives. However, we rarely often give back. In matter of fact, the only thing we seem to give our ocean is pollutants. Instead of protecting this vast and wild ecosystem, we wrap a noose around her neck and hang her from the gallows. There are around 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in the ocean. This statistic is devastating as not only the life within the ocean dies, but the sea herself as more and more dead zones are formed due to human pollutants and increasing climate change. If more effort is not put into the preservation of our oceans, these statistics will just worsen until there's nothing anyone can do. We need to take quick action now. Every person plays a part in this preservation, including myself. I intend on getting a degree in biology, environmental science, or marine biology. With this degree, I will take action, voice my concerns, spread awareness, conduct research, monitor levels, clean up waste, and truly embrace/learn about our oceans. These things might seem small now, but over time they could make an impact. I believe I can make an impact, whether little or huge, in some way to help preserve/protect our oceans and everything within them. Currently, I try to do my best to help without a degree such as reducing personal waste/pollutants, aiding in garbage cleanup, recycling, conserving water, and shopping responsibly. By just giving back in simple effective ways, a difference can be made. It starts with one person, and then, like a frenzied wildfire, it spreads. We need to save our ocean before there's nothing left to save.

Even in the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and help my mental illnesses. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health.

As I sprinted for a ball shot straight down the line, something was wrong. I felt a pressure begin to build up within my kneecap, and suddenly, POP. My body turned to liquid as I slammed against the ground, watching as the tennis ball rolled away. Severe pain racked up my leg as I slowly sat up, and then I felt my kneecap slide back into place. I stood and hobbled off the court, calling for my coach and ignoring the pain. My coach called my parents as I sat on the bench, my head in between my hands. The pain hurt, but what hurt worse was my disappointment in myself. Yet again, my injury proved I wasn't ready to be on varsity. Perhaps I had the skills, but the chance of my knee dislocating and being benched for the rest of the season was the true reason they'd never put me on varsity. That night I got home and I cried for hours, moping and feeling bad about myself. Tennis had always been a second home, suddenly, it was taken from me. At that moment, it truly hit me how much tennis meant to me. The players, the coaches, and the game. I decided I wouldn't let my injury stop me from doing what I loved. I recovered in slightly over a week. In 8 days, I was back on the courts playing with my teammates. In 8 days, what seemed like the end of my season was pure fantasy. Though I wasn't as strong of a player as before (same skill level, just less speed), I knew my value and how much I mattered to my team, in many ways. I played through the rest of my season, only experiencing two losses (the knee injury match being one). Tennis has taught me that even if there's a barrier that seems invincible and impossible to break through or cross, there's always a way. There's always a way to burst through the barrier and get to your goal. Tennis also taught me that it doesn't matter what your placement on the team is or what your skill level is. The only thing that matters is the belief you have within yourself. If I had gone back to tennis with a negative attitude and mindset, I never would have flourished the way I did. I went back, grateful to be able to play again, and I blossomed. I became better and pushed myself more than I ever did. This sport is so different from any other sport. Most sports are physical games whereas tennis is mainly mental. This is why I cherish it. I have a physical disability that I would not be able to play most sports with, but tennis has never once felt like I didn't belong. It's always welcomed me with open arms. And for that, I will be forever grateful. Tennis has pushed me towards careers that involve teamwork versus careers that just involve myself. I’m going into biology/environmental science, which is very heavy on teamwork, communication, and just people in general. I chose this because I love creatures and nature, it's always been my passion for as long as I can remember. But I never really wanted to have to interact with other people, feeling like animals understood me better, until after tennis. Now I crave human interactions and fully intend on being a team player for the rest of my life.

Even in the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and help my mental illnesses. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health.

Even in the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been totally proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and help my own mental illnesses. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my own struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health.

Even in the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been totally proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and help my own mental illnesses. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my own struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health.

Even in the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been totally proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and help my own mental illnesses. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my own struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health. It's greatly affected how I view the world, changing my relationships, attitude, and more. I've had to change a lot in my life to be able to push through my mental health struggles, but in the end, it was worth it. I'm a totally different person for the better, I'm stronger, I'm intuitive, I'm compassionate, I'm creative, but, most importantly, I'm me.

Even in the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been totally proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and help my own mental illnesses. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my own struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health.

My name is Adelaide Zeller, but I go by Addie. I'm a high school senior at Western High School located in Parma, Michigan. My current GPA is 3.8. I'm the only child of Jennifer and Todd Zeller. And all my life, I've never really known who I was. I knew bits and pieces about myself, things I liked, things I didn't like, but never truly who I was. Here is something I do know about myself. I love to read. All my life I've been drawn to books, specifically fantasy. There was always something missing from my life. A feeling I could never quench, most likely the disappointment of reality, until I began to read. Reading became an escape for me, whenever the world got a little bit too loud, I'd slip into a magical world and let my worries disintegrate. It became a safe place for me to hide. Another fact about me. I'm a nature fanatic. Everything about the environment, animals specifically, fascinates me. I've felt this way since I was a child, always knowing the career I would end up going into would be based on the environment. This is still my plan as I go into college, majoring in either biology or environmental science. But, very recently, something else has made its way into my agenda and it changed my life. A newfound passion was introduced into my life this year. Photography. After taking a high school course, I went out, bought a camera, and started a side business as a senior photographer. This gave me a possible new outlet for my future, a new opportunity for college. I now intend to minor in photography and see where it leads me. My younger self might be shocked by this, but I think it's an idea worth pursuing for my future, to make things easier for me. I'll admit, I'm terrified of the future. So many unknowns I have to face, pretty much all by my lonesome. It makes my stomach wrench at the thought of it. But, I know that through all the struggles and fears I'll face shortly, I know there are going to be so many good things that will come with it. Even though I don't know who I am, yet, and that's a strong yet, I know I will eventually. Some day I'll find out who I am and then, I'll never look back. If I were to win this scholarship, I could put the money towards my education. It would help me fear my future less and have minimal worry about how I'll manage to pay for everything. It would help support my passions and the plans I have for the future. It would affect me in the most positive way. But at the end of the day, the reason this scholarship is important to me is so I can showcase myself and prove I deserve it, to prove I'm worth earning the money.

My name is Adelaide Zeller, but I go by Addie. I'm a high school senior at Western High School located in Parma, Michigan. My current GPA is 3.8. I'm the only child of Jennifer and Todd Zeller. And all my life, I've never really known who I was. I knew bits and pieces about myself, things I liked, things I didn't like, but never truly who I was. Here is something I do know about myself. I love to read. All my life I've been drawn to books, specifically fantasy. There was always something missing from my life. A feeling I could never quench, most likely the disappointment of reality, until I began to read. Reading became an escape for me, whenever the world got a little bit too loud, I'd slip into a magical world and let my worries disintegrate. It became a safe place for me to hide. Another fact about me. I'm a nature fanatic. Everything about the environment, animals specifically, fascinates me. I've felt this way since I was a child, always knowing the career I would end up going into would be based on the environment. This is still my plan as I go into college, majoring in either biology or environmental science. But, very recently, something else has made its way into my agenda and it changed my life. A newfound passion was introduced into my life this year. Photography. After taking a high school course, I went out, bought a camera, and started a side business as a senior photographer. This gave me a possible new outlet for my future, a new opportunity for college. I now intend to minor in photography and see where it leads me. My younger self might be shocked by this, but I think it's an idea worth pursuing for my future, to make things easier for me. I'll admit, I'm terrified of the future. So many unknowns I have to face, pretty much all by my lonesome. It makes my stomach wrench at the thought of it. But, I know that through all the struggles and fears I'll face shortly, I know there are going to be so many good things that will come with it. Even though I don't know who I am, yet, and that's a strong yet, I know I will eventually. Some day I'll find out who I am and then, I'll never look back. My name is Addie Zeller and I'm a lot of things. A reader, an animal enthusiast, an aspiring writer, a photographer, and more. But at the end of the day, I'm me, and that's all that matters. As I begin my journey into college and my future, I worry but I know I'll make it. I'll show the world I can.

A young curly-haired girl sat on the edge of a bridge, feet dangling over a gently flowing stream. She was focused, her brow taunt, as she peered into the water. Patiently waiting for something to appear. Suddenly, a little brown head popped up, the water rippling as the animal broke the surface tension. A tiny muskrat stared up at the girl, beady black eyes meeting hers. It froze, out of fear or curiosity, then ducked back under the water, disappearing with a flash of brown. Later in life, the little girl grew more and more curious about animals. Eventually, she collected her own menagerie of animals. From there, she went to schools and care homes to advocate the importance of these animals and the environment. This girl is me. This is my positive impact on the world. I've always been drawn to nature specifically animals. However, the older I got, I realized how much our earth and animals are struggling. I decided to take charge and make a difference. I inspired young children to go out and make a positive difference in our environment. I challenged them to pick up litter, make a birdhouse, recycle plastic, compost, etc... Anything to make a difference, no matter how big or small. I also work hard to make a positive impact on the environment. By building bat houses, creating a pollinator garden, protecting endangered plants, removing the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, limiting water use, reducing waste, and more. I do my personal best to limit my negative effect on this earth. I want to see our future generations flourish and be able to experience the glory of our earth without worry. If everyone makes a small, positive impact, soon the world will be changed. Otherwise, we might be dealt with a future where kids don't know about lions, and tigers, and bears... oh my. What a world that would be. Nature is my passion and I want other people to be able to view the world through my eyes, to see how much the world means to me. By going out and inspiring people and educating them, I can make a positive impact. This is why I work hard and put effort into my creatures because I know a simple demonstration can change someone's world. A simple look into the life of an innocent creature can move someone immensely. Just like that muskrat inspired me.

If you told my 6th-grade self how big of a superhero nerd I am today, she'd be shocked. In 7th grade, I was doing research on Norse mythology when I stumbled upon the movie Thor. After watching the entire series, I was hooked and soon I was elbows-deep in the Marvel Universe. Then, I met my favorite character in the Marvel Universe, Spider-Man. Just an average teenage boy from Queens who happened to be exposed to a radioactive spider. This caught my interest immediately as not only was I obsessed with the Marvel Universe, but also creatures. The concept of a boy roughly my age having powers similar to a spider's was fascinating. I binge-watched every Spider-Man movie I could get my hands on within a week. After a while, I found a favorite. If I had to choose one actor to forever play Spider-Man, it would be Andrew Garfield. When I think of Spider-Man, I envision a dorky teenager with a heart of gold, this perfectly describes Andrew Garfield. His acting skills make me laugh, they make me ponder, and they even make me cry. The raw emotion he puts into his career is astounding and he's the embodiment of Spider-Man in my personal opinion. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, seeing his character reintroduced to the Spider-Verse filled me with such great happiness. Watching Garfield save Holland's MJ was such a bittersweet moment. Seeing how deeply he regretted not being able to save Gwen Stacy, but grateful he could save MJ was a heart-wrenchingly tender moment. He truly is the best Spider-Man. He experiences so much loss through this series but still fights for what he thinks is right, he still fights to protect his people and his world. Even though the world hasn't been kind to him, he never once has thought anything of it.

The wind whistled through my ears as I outstretched my arms toward the sky, the spray of the salty sea hitting me in the face. On the back of my magnificent dragon, I felt alive. The blood rushed to my face as the dizzying dips and turns gave me an adrenaline rush like no other. The dragon began to dive, plummeting straight towards the ocean and I gasped, gripping on for dear life. We were seconds away from smashing into the aggravated waves when suddenly, click. Instead of a view of the ocean, I was met with the view of a TV in the middle of my living room. My thrilling adventure abruptly ended as my mother paused the movie I'd been watching. She called me for dinner and I reluctantly left, dreading stopping the movie even for a second. As I ate my dinner at the kitchen table, my mind was moving a million miles a minute, daydreaming about nothing other than dragons. If I had to watch one movie for the rest of my life, it would be none other than How To Train Your Dragon 2. Growing up, this series was quite literally my escape from reality. When my parent's arguments got too loud, I imagined I was on the back of a massive Timberjack, watching as its wings sliced through trees like they were nothing. When I felt outcasted at school, I imagined a pack of Speed Stingers taking me into their pack as one of their own. When I felt scared at night of the strange shadows cast across my room, I imagined Toothless curled up at the foot of my bed, ready to send a plasma blast through the chest of anyone who dared enter my room. They protected me whenever I needed it, and shielded me from harm. I know it might seem strange or embarrassing that a kid's movie has had such a big impact on me, however, this movie is so much bigger than just a kid's movie. It displays so many raw emotions. From the blissful emotions like the love between Astrid and Hiccup, the pride Stoick has for his son, and the admirable bond Hiccup has with Toothless, to even the bittersweet moments like the loss of Stoick, the death of the kingly Bewilderbeast, and the sadness the newly reunited Haddock family experiences from the loss of their patriarch. This movie is packed with such raw emotions, that I can't help but cry every time. It's more than just a movie to me. It's a part of my soul and heart, a part of my childhood. This series helped me through some of the hardest moments of my life. It helped me keep my childhood innocence and protected me from dark forces that wished to intrude upon my life. I cherish this series for everything it has given me and I truly think it played such a huge role in molding me into who I am today. I don't know where I'd be without it.

The wind whistled through my ears as I outstretched my arms toward the sky, the spray of the salty sea hitting me in the face. On the back of my magnificent dragon, I felt alive. The blood rushed to my face as the dizzying dips and turns gave me an adrenaline rush like no other. The dragon began to dive, plummeting straight towards the ocean and I gasped, gripping on for dear life. We were seconds away from smashing into the aggravated waves when suddenly, click. Instead of a view of the ocean, I was met with the view of a TV in the middle of my living room. My thrilling adventure abruptly ended as my mother paused the movie I'd been watching. She called me for dinner and I reluctantly left, dreading stopping the movie even for a second. As I ate my dinner at the kitchen table, my mind was moving a million miles a minute, daydreaming about nothing other than dragons. If I had to watch one movie for the rest of my life, it would be none other than How To Train Your Dragon 2. Growing up, this series was quite literally my escape from reality. When my parent's arguments got too loud, I imagined I was on the back of a massive Timberjack, watching as its wings sliced through trees like they were nothing. When I felt outcasted at school, I imagined a pack of Speed Stingers taking me into their pack as one of their own. When I felt scared at night of the strange shadows cast across my room, I imagined Toothless curled up at the foot of my bed, ready to send a plasma blast through the chest of anyone who dared enter my room. They protected me whenever I needed it, and shielded me from harm. I know it might seem strange or embarrassing that a kid's movie has had such a big impact on me, however, this movie is so much bigger than just a kid's movie. It displays so many raw emotions. From the blissful emotions like the love between Astrid and Hiccup, the pride Stoick has for his son, and the admirable bond Hiccup has with Toothless, to even the bittersweet moments like the loss of Stoick, the death of the kingly Bewilderbeast, and the sadness the newly reunited Haddock family experiences from the loss of their patriarch. This movie is packed with such raw emotions, that I can't help but cry every time. It's more than just a movie to me. It's a part of my soul and heart, a part of my childhood. This series helped me through some of the hardest moments of my life. It helped me keep my childhood innocence and protected me from dark forces that wished to intrude upon my life. I cherish this series for everything it has given me and I truly think it played such a huge role in molding me into who I am today. I don't know where I'd be without it.

If you asked me the seemingly simple question, what's your favorite book, I would look at you as if you asked me to jump into traffic. However, when given a moment to think, there's one specific book that comes to mind. I'm an avid fantasy reader, I always have been. When I was younger, my favorite series was Percy Jackson, nowadays I read various young adult series, but I do still dabble in the Rick Riordan world for obvious reasons. For a while, I wasn't able to find a series that was captivating enough. I have read almost the entire bookshelf of the fantasy section in my local library, I've found many good reads but not necessarily one good enough to call my favorite. Until one day, everything changed. While on my way to school in my mom's car, I overheard the name of a book on the radio station she was listening to. The name of this story piqued my interest, The Children of Blood and Bone. It was a recently released young adult fantasy novel, written by Tomi Adeyemi. That afternoon, I begged my mom to go to the library so I could order the book. The next thing I knew, I was elbows deep into a fierce and thrilling story, and I was obsessed. If I could recommend anyone a book to read, it would be this one. This book is an action-packed, riveting story with well-developed characters of all sorts and some of the best world-building I've ever witnessed. Adeyemi has created the most raw and powerful main character, Zélie, who experiences such moving hardships and losses. Her characters piece together so well, like that of a jigsaw, and they truly come to life in this story. Her world-building is exceptional as well, each part of the magical world of Orïsha perfectly explained in a way that anyone could understand. I truly think this story is a masterpiece. Every single aspect of it is absolutely out of this world. So, when given some time to think about what my favorite book is, I now know. Without any hesitation, The Children of Blood and Bone is my true answer. The one story every book lover, and especially every fantasy lover, should read. I'm forever grateful to that radio station for introducing me to Adeyemi's wonderfully crafted story that has forever changed my life. Though not popular on booktok, it definitely should be and I think it would quickly take over.

If you asked me the seemingly simple question, what's your favorite book, I would look at you as if you asked me to jump into traffic. However, when given a moment to think, there's one specific book that comes to mind. I'm an avid fantasy reader, I always have been. When I was younger, my favorite series was Percy Jackson, nowadays I read various young adult series, but I do still dabble in the Rick Riordan world for obvious reasons. For a while, I wasn't able to find a series that was captivating enough. I have read almost the entire bookshelf of the fantasy section in my local library, I've found many good reads but not necessarily one good enough to call my favorite. Until one day, everything changed. While on my way to school in my mom's car, I overheard the name of a book on the radio station she was listening to. The name of this story piqued my interest, The Children of Blood and Bone. It was a recently released young adult fantasy novel, written by Tomi Adeyemi. That afternoon, I begged my mom to go to the library so I could order the book. The next thing I knew, I was elbows deep into a fierce and thrilling story, and I was obsessed. If I could recommend anyone a book to read, it would be this one. This book is an action-packed, riveting story with well-developed characters of all sorts and some of the best world-building I've ever witnessed. Adeyemi has created the most raw and powerful main character, Zélie, who experiences such moving hardships and losses. Her characters piece together so well, like that of a jigsaw, and they truly come to life in this story. Her world-building is exceptional as well, each part of the magical world of Orïsha perfectly explained in a way that anyone could understand. I truly think this story is a masterpiece. Every single aspect of it is absolutely out of this world. So, when given some time to think about what my favorite book is, I now know. Without any hesitation, The Children of Blood and Bone is my true answer. The one story every book lover, and especially every fantasy lover, should read. I'm forever grateful to that radio station for introducing me to Adeyemi's wonderfully crafted story that has forever changed my life.

There's nothing more exciting than opening up a brand new world in Minecraft. It's a game that offers limitless possibilities and ideas, a game that is fueled by creativity. I always make a Minecraft world with a specific intention. Perhaps it's to make a plant-themed home, a monumental ranch, or even a village based in the tundra. There's always a reason I start up the game, an intention. Some new persona I want to be within the game. But over the years, I've noticed that reason always ends up heading in one particular direction and instead of a chilly village, I end up with a chilly menagerie of animals. I've always been fond of Minecraft's creatures. The gentle sheep, the shy ocelots, the talkative parrots, the loyal wolves, the curious chickens, the grumpy polar bears, the skittish squids, etc... these creatures are what attracted me to the game in the first place. The average player's main goal was to beat The End, mine was always building a big enough house to fit all twenty of my cats or a barn to fit my growing collection of horses. The large variety of animals has always piqued my interest the most. I quite literally grew up in the middle of the woods, if I wasn't outside playing in the woods, I was inside playing in the Minecraft woods. If I wasn't outside catching toads and frogs, I was inside taming ocelots in Minecraft's vast jungles. I think the reason Minecraft resonates with me so strongly is because I adore animals and so do the creators of the game as they continue to add more and more creatures. Minecraft creators add animals for two main reasons: to raise awareness and for cuteness levels. They've added polar bears, giant pandas, sea turtles, axolotls, and bees all because they are becoming increasingly threatened and on the endangered species list. As someone who strongly advocates for endangered and threatened animals, this makes me appreciate Minecraft even more. To know I share a common passion and belief with the creators of Minecraft, makes me cherish the game even more. I truly think Minecraft and its animals are what pushed me to become the person I am today. A strong animal advocate who intends to study biology or environmental studies so I can make a difference, just like Minecraft has on me.

From playing the French horn for five years to singing in choir for six years (select for two years) to playing the bass recreationally for four years, music has always played a prominent role in my life. I remember sitting in my car seat in the back of my dad's truck, listening to a variety of genres. Everything from jazz to rock and roll to folk music. Music is everywhere I go. It's in every aspect of my life. Every year my mom takes me to this music festival, I think this is what truly has turned my soul towards music. I was exposed to a variety of music at such a young age, I think it just stayed with me. It turned me to join as many music classes as I could, having been in freshman choir, concert choir, select choir, jazz band, and symphonic band. As one of the oldest members in my alto section, I try to be the best leader I can. I always take action when we sightread solfège as a group or whether we do sectionals. I want to inspire and encourage other students to stay in the music program as it is highly rewarding and looks great on the transcript to colleges. Being involved has not only helped me grow but has also brought me closer to my classmates who I've been with for years. I've met many close friends through band and choir, which I'll forever be grateful for because without the class, I doubt I'd be who I am. Not only classmates have I bonded with, but my teachers as well. These teachers dedicate their lives to teaching music, it is their strongest passion and it's so obvious how much it means to them. Though I've gone through many different teachers, each one has made a huge impact on my life and I'll never forget it. They are one of the major reasons why I've always loved music. Though I don't intend to major or minor in music, I intend to continue my education in music by joining my college's band, choir, and any possible clubs that pique my interest. I want to continue to play and perfect the bass as I have much more to learn. I want to expand my vocal range and my knowledge of music. I think being involved in music in college will also help me make new friends and strengthen my bond with my teachers.

As I sprinted for a ball shot straight down the line, something was wrong. I felt a pressure begin to build up within my kneecap, and suddenly, POP. My body turned to liquid as I slammed against the ground, watching as the tennis ball rolled away. Severe pain racked up my leg as I slowly sat up, and then I felt my kneecap slide back into place. I stood and hobbled off the court, calling for my coach and ignoring the pain. My coach called my parents as I sat on the bench, my head in between my hands. The pain hurt, but what hurt worse was my disappointment in myself. Yet again, my injury proved I wasn't ready to be on varsity. Perhaps I had the skills, but the chance of my knee dislocating and being benched for the rest of the season was the true reason they'd never put me on varsity. That night I got home and I cried for hours, moping and feeling bad about myself. Tennis had always been a second home, suddenly, it was taken from me. At that moment, it truly hit me how much tennis meant to me. The players, the coaches, and the game. I decided I wouldn't let my injury stop me from doing what I loved. I recovered in slightly over a week. In 8 days, I was back on the courts playing with my teammates. In 8 days, what seemed like the end of my season was pure fantasy. Though I wasn't as strong of a player as before (same skill level, just less speed), I knew my value and how much I mattered to my team, in many ways. I played through the rest of my season, only experiencing two losses (the knee injury match being one). Tennis has taught me that even if there's a barrier that seems invincible and impossible to break through or cross, there's always a way. There's always a way to burst through the barrier and get to your goal. Tennis also taught me that it doesn't matter what your placement on the team is or what your skill level is. The only thing that matters is the belief you have within yourself. If I had gone back to tennis with a negative attitude and mindset, I never would have flourished the way I did. I went back, grateful to be able to play again, and I blossomed. I became better and pushed myself more than I ever did. This sport is so different from any other sport. Most sports are physical games whereas tennis is mainly mental. This is why I cherish it. I have a physical disability that I would not be able to play most sports with, but tennis has never once felt like I didn't belong. It's always welcomed me with open arms. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

Even in the earliest moments of my life, I always struggled with my mental health. I grew up helping out a lot of people with their problems and mental health struggles, but I never spent time focusing on my own. This led to a rapid degradation of my mental health. In 8th grade, 2020, COVID hit and the life I knew flipped upside down. Where most people struggled with their mental health, strangely enough, I started to get better. I created a weekly schedule for my school work and always ended up finishing halfway through the week, leaving the other half of the week time for my hobbies and interests. Eventually, I noticed myself worrying less and less, my anxiety and stress substantially low. I worked on myself and when it was finally time to come back to school, my mental health was in tip-top shape. Though my mental health is not perfect, I try my best to keep the healthiest mindset I can. I balance my schoolwork and social life so I'm never overwhelmed with my work, but still have time to do the things I enjoy. When I feel like my mental health is taking a turn for the worse, I sometimes force myself to take a break. Whether it's not working as hard, skipping one assignment, taking a mental health day, or studying for a shorter amount of time, I give my mind a break. Eventually, I do have to catch up with the things I missed or put aside, but those things are for a different day when I feel better. I prioritize my mental health over most things in my life. I know how important it is to be in a good mental state and I know how draining it is when you're not. Poor mental health, unfortunately, plagues my family, and both sides are equally affected by it. Though it's not been totally proven that mental health issues are genetic, I think there must be some truth to this as my mother, her mother, my father, his mother, and myself all have some sort of mental health issues. I do not know if my other family members suffer from these issues, as I am not very close with them, but I can only assume they do. Knowing this information, I work my hardest to truly understand and help my own mental illnesses. In the future, I hope to make a difference or change so other people don't have to go through the hardships of poor mental health. Whether it's speaking about my own struggle, offering my opinion, or advocating within schools, I intend to help students/teens learn how to better their mental health.

Beauty within death. I used to think that was such a surreal statement. How could anyone find death fascinating or beautiful? Death is tragic. Death is ruining. Death is inevitable. Nothing about death is beautiful. This I firmly believed in. Until one day, my viewpoint shifted upon its axis. On a nippy fall afternoon, I accidentally stumbled upon a deer carcass in the middle of the forest. Its bones were stripped clean of its flesh as it had been decomposing for likely months. Ivy curled its gnarled hands around the antlers, playing tug of war with the earth as they both tried to reclaim the bones. A melancholic feeling echoed in my heart as I gazed down at the skull. Whoever had shot at this deer's head had barely touched him, just grazing the poor creature's face. The path of a bullet was etched into the skull from the top of the frontal lobe to the edge of the parietal lobe, the only evidence of what killed the innocent creature. Gently, I unwound the ivy from the antlers, unearthed the skull from the ground, and with shaky hands, I carried the skull back to my home. My previous self would have been horrified at this action, as I was utterly disgusted by the concept of death. Wanting nothing to do with it. But something inside of me knew I needed to take the remains of this creature home. It was likely the deer would have been mounted on someone's wall as a trophy. His head would have been a bragging reminder that the hunter won, not him. Fortunately, poor aim and this creature's resilience prevented that. Instead of bragging and showing him off as a trophy, I hung him on my wall to honor and respect the loss of his life. This skull and this story were the inspiration for many of my first photos as I began my photography journey. Suddenly, the idea of capturing beauty within death was such an intriguing concept to me. A normally unsettling topic swiftly transformed into something captivating, at least to me. It is meant to immortalize loss of life and innocence within these creatures, innocence we will never be able to truly know. To embrace the beauty within death.

I've only seen the ocean once. That's all I've ever needed. I can still feel the gentle waves lapping at my ankles as I wade deeper and deeper into the mesmerizing water. The calls of seabirds yelling out to one another emphasize their existence. I held my breath and dove under. The water rushed over my head as I sliced through the waves like a knife through butter. A serene silence fell upon me as the ocean embraced me, holding me afloat in her gentle arms. Tiny cuts on my legs and arms stung from high salinity, but it didn't matter. Nothing did. It was just me, the brooding ocean, her sharp kisses, and the newfound warmth within my soul. The ocean is one of the most important parts of our fundamental life. She provides us with new life, she regulates our climate, she supplies us with a majority of our oxygen, and she feeds us. She gives and gives and gives. However, we rarely often give back. In matter of fact, the only thing we seem to give our ocean is pollutants. Instead of protecting this vast and wild ecosystem, we wrap a noose around her neck and hang her from the gallows. There are around 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste in the ocean. This statistic is devastating as not only the life within the ocean dies, but the sea herself as more and more dead zones are formed due to human pollutants and increasing climate change. If more effort is not put into the preservation of our oceans, these statistics will just worsen until there's nothing anyone can do. We need to take quick action now. Every person plays a part in this preservation, including myself. I intend on getting a degree in biology, environmental science, or marine biology. With this degree, I will take action, voice my concerns, spread awareness, conduct research, monitor levels, clean up waste, and truly embrace/learn about our oceans. These things might seem small now, but over time they could make an impact. I believe I can make an impact, whether little or huge, in some way to help preserve/protect our oceans and everything within them. Currently, I try to do my best to help without a degree such as reducing personal waste/pollutants, aiding in garbage cleanup, recycling, conserving water, and shopping responsibly. By just giving back in simple effective ways, a difference can be made. It starts with one person, and then, like a frenzied wildfire, it spreads. We need to save our ocean before there's nothing left to save.

All my life I've been daring and extravagant, oftentimes considered a "wild child" by various helicoptering adults. From throwing myself from the tops of trees into the marshland grasses to swimming in duckweed-covered ponds, people have always seen me as a creature of courage. Along with my wild side, I also am a strong and imaginative reader. My struggle with minor aphantasia led to books becoming a huge part of my life due to the fact I think mainly in words. Those same words on a page soon became real and transformed into characters I wanted to model myself after. I was introduced to the Harry Potter series, and my whole life changed. I suddenly had a reason for being daring and wild. These are all traits of being a Gryffindor, traits of characters I idolized and desperately wanted to be more akin to. I knew I finally found a place to belong. I'd say one of my best traits is my intense loyalty to my loved ones. I'm so loyal to my family and friends that I'd be willing to go to the far ends of the earth if necessary. I've been wronged many times by multiple people, but I always invite them back into my life without a second thought. Arms outstretched warmly. That's because those who I love, even if they have wronged me, are the most important thing in the world to me. This is yet another trait of being a Gryffindor. Though oftentimes my loyalty and braveness lead to my arrogance. Sometimes I tend to be a bit too cocky about tasks, games, or other things. Combined with good luck, loyalty, and courage I'm a competitive spirit who always manages to win a majority of the time. This is what causes my arrogance. I'm working on the trait, however, I like having this trait at times because it closely interlinks me with some of my favorite characters (Hermione, Sirius, Harry, and Hagrid). Though I know not the best trait, I intend on keeping a bit of arrogance because of this bond between these (unfortunately) fictional characters. In the end, though some of my personality traits might relate more to other houses, I think my heart and soul are found in the Gryffindor house. It's just the place for me and I know if I could ever travel to the mystique land of Hogwarts, it would be the place for me.

I see bits of him everywhere I go. My grandpa, my greatest paternal influence, still to this day. I spent almost every day with him, sitting in his overly warm room, watching old, black-and-white movies that had been made decades ago. At that moment, I was filled with boredom, wishing I was anywhere else, doing something interesting. But now, looking back, I wish I could be there again. I wish I could hold his soft hand, listening as he hummed along to the catchy theme song of Gilligan's Island or MASH. The day I lost him I curled up in my bed and cried until there was a tear-stained path engraved into my cheeks. For a few months I didn't know what to do from that point, a large chunk of my life suddenly missing. But then I realized he wouldn't want me to sit and mope. He'd want me to go out and do. He'd want me to live. I decided I didn't want to sulk anymore, so I got up and started to get to work. My grandpa always fueled my passions. Whether boasting about me to his friends or providing me with the funds/tools to pursue those passions. For years it had felt like I had been wearing shoes two sizes big, but suddenly, everything clicked and my shoe fit. I picked up a new passion, photography. At times it was hard and I felt like giving up. But then I remembered how proud he was of me for doing the smallest things, for pursuing my passions. So then I picked my head back up and got to work. Once I got the knack for things, I decided I wanted to amp things up a bit. I asked a few close friends of mine if I could take their senior pictures. It was a total success and, suddenly, I was up to my ears in clients. I was being paid for something I would have done for free. Making an income on something fun for me. All because of my grandfather and how I knew he would believe in me. How he would have pushed me to do the best I could. Though he is gone, his spirit lives inside of me and I see him in passing faces. I see him in the gentle-spoken man at the library, I see him in the young boy playing cowboys, I hear him in the Christmas carols, and I feel his love and affection. Wherever he may be, I know he is proud of who I've become. And I hope he knows he had one of the biggest roles in molding who I am today.