At the tender age of eleven, the world was a landscape of possibilities and insecurities. I navigated middle school with an infectious energy, but there was one thing that dulled my sparkle – my teeth. They were a crooked constellation in my mouth, a silent source of self-consciousness that kept my smiles tight-lipped and guarded. It was during a routine dental visit that my journey toward transformation began. The orthodontist's office was a sterile sanctuary, a place where dreams of a confident smile were realized through a series of wires and brackets. As I looked in the mirror with anticipation, the orthodontist gently placed the braces on my teeth, binding me to a future of alignment and self-discovery. Months rolled by, and with each adjustment, a glimmer of hope emerged. I watched as my teeth embarked on a graceful journey toward alignment. As the physical transformation took shape, so did my mindset. My perspective shifted from begrudging acceptance to embracing the change unfolding within me. I started to see my braces not as a hindrance, but as a bridge to the confident smile I had always yearned for. As the years marched on, my braces became my companions, my silent supporters. They taught me patience, resilience, and the value of gradual progress. They were a reminder that growth takes time, that sometimes the path to transformation is paved with moments of discomfort. And all the while, my confidence grew, one wire-adjustment at a time. Just before the dawn of high school, the day arrived – the day I would bid farewell to my braces. The orthodontist's office, once a symbol of transformation, now held the promise of a new beginning. As the braces were gently removed, I felt a mix of emotions – liberation, excitement, and a touch of nostalgia. I looked at my reflection and smiled unabashedly, revealing teeth that had journeyed from crookedness to cohesion. Entering high school with a radiant smile, I noticed a shift in how I was perceived and how I perceived myself. I no longer felt the need to hide my teeth behind closed lips. Instead, I reveled in the simple joy of smiling freely, of sharing my happiness with the world. The once-unattainable pearly whites were now my signature feature, a testament to my journey of self-discovery. As high school unfolded, I began to notice a pattern. Other girls, much like my younger self, would sometimes hide their smiles, letting insecurities overshadow their confidence. The memory of my own transformation fueled a fire within me – a desire to help them see their own potential, just as I had. It was in this realization that my career aspirations took shape. With each science class, each lesson on oral health, and each exploration of the dental field, my path became clearer. I wanted to become a dental hygienist, a professional who could directly impact the lives of others by fostering healthy smiles and boosting self-assurance. The dental chair, once a place of apprehension, was now a stage where I could empower others to embrace their uniqueness. As I prepare to embark on my college journey, I carry with me a story of transformation – a story that unfolded through wires, brackets, and the power of a confident smile. The braces that once reshaped my teeth have now reshaped my aspirations. With determination in my heart and a gleaming smile on my face, I look forward to a future where I can be a source of empowerment for those who, like me, are on a journey to discover their own radiant smiles.

In the heart of a small rural town, the tennis courts stand as a haven, a place where time seems to pause and the world outside fades into the background. For me, tennis is more than just a sport; it is a sanctuary, a realm where I feel most alive. From the tender age of three, I found myself captivated by the thwack of a tennis ball against the racket strings, a sound that resonated deep within me. It was on those sunlit afternoons that my father first introduced me to the magic of the game. His patient guidance led my tiny hands to grasp the racket, teaching me to swing it with a wide-eyed determination. Each swing was a step towards a future that neither of us could fully foresee, yet it was a journey we were eager to embark upon together. As the years unfolded, so did my love for tennis. The courts became my refuge, a place where worries and troubles melted away, replaced by the thrill of the game. With every serve, every volley, and every sprint across the court, I discovered a sense of purpose that echoed through every fiber of my being. Tennis was not just a sport; it was my way of connecting with myself, of channeling my energy into something that ignited my spirit. My father, always by my side, evolved from being a coach into a mentor. He wasn't just teaching me how to swing a racket anymore; he was guiding me through life lessons. The determination he instilled in me extended beyond the court, shaping my character and my approach to challenges. He taught me that resilience was key, that setbacks were stepping stones, and that the court was a canvas where I could paint my dreams. As I entered high school, tennis took on a new dimension. No longer was it just about hitting a ball back and forth; it became a battleground for my ambitions. With my father as my coach, we navigated the highs and lows of competition together. The familiar thud of the ball meeting the strings, the crispness of a well-executed backhand, and the camaraderie of teammates became the soundtrack of my teenage years. As junior year approaches, I stand at the threshold of a pivotal moment. Two consecutive state tournaments awaited me, a testament to the dedication and hard work that my father and I had poured into this shared passion. The pressure is palpable, yet it’s cushioned by the knowledge that I’m not alone in this journey. My father's unwavering belief in me provides a steady anchor, and the courts are a canvas where our dreams intertwine. With each tournament, the journey comes full circle. The echoes of my childhood, the guidance of my father, and the countless hours of practice converged in a symphony of moments. The tennis courts, once a place of solace, has transformed into an arena of triumph and achievement. As I step onto those courts, racket in hand, I carry with me the spirit of a child who has swung a racket for the first time under a father's patient gaze. I carry the memories of each victory and each defeat, the lessons learned, and the dreams that had propelled me forward. And when I serve the ball, I feel a surge of gratitude for the journey that has brought me here, for the sport that has become my home, and for the father who has coached me not just in tennis, but in life itself, with him by my side my future is sure to be bright.

In this day and age, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the media, rumors, and drama, and lose sight of what’s truly important. Which are family, friends, and loved ones! Personally, this pandemic has ravished my community and destroyed the previous notion of what I know to be normal, so it’s been hard it’s been to stay connected and in touch with important people in my life. This is why Zoom is an inspiring piece of technology that makes the world a better place. Zoom not only brought us all together in a time of uncertainty but did an excellent job doing so. I used zoom for school, family gatherings, and church meetings! Starting my first year of high school in a pandemic was tough enough as it was, but doing it all online seemed unbearable. Thankfully though, my school decided to do each class through zoom which made the experience ten times better! I could ask questions, see my peers, and communicate with my others all in one place! I also believe zoom was good for my mental health, in a way, because being at home in quarantine can make us feel isolated, but getting to see my peers was one of the highlights of my day. With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the past years it wasn’t safe nor smart to gather in large groups, which made seeing loved family members hard. We couldn’t take the risk of exposing the elder members of my family to COVID-19 seeing as it could be detrimental to their health, so we came up with a solution! Every Saturday we would have family Zoom calls! In full honesty, Zoom might have been an even better solution to a meeting rather than in person because my family in Norway could join! It was amazing to communicate no matter where we were in the world! Lastly, the pandemic shut down my local church, so I couldn’t spend time with my youth group, and we couldn’t have bible study. Luckily, our youth minister is technically gifted so he set up Zoom every Sunday night where we could all meet and talk to each other, having fun while reading the Bible! So, I hope you can see how Zoom has truly inspired me and has made the world a better place today!

My name is Bailey Boone and I am currently a sophomore at Mason County High School. I'm involved in FCCLA which is the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, where we do humanitarian acts all year round! I compete in STAR events which stand for, Students Taking Action with Recognition. We complete community service projects to help better our community and schools! I am currently competing in the recycle and re-purpose category in which I am taking single use, easily breakable bags and crocheting them into reusable, durable bags. Why am I doing this though? Well because I don't know about you but I love a clean healthy ocean, and my limiting the amount of plastic trash that makes it's way into the sea I'm doing my part at helping keeping our ocean clean. I myself can only do so much, so I hosted a crocheting class at my school one day, in order to teach others how to make these recyclable bags, so we can all do our part in cleaning up the oceans. This isn't my first project with FCCLA though, for my freshman year project I decided to go out and help the homeless community in my area. The homeless population in our small town had gotten out of control, and was rapidly increasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit hard during 2020. The pandemic laid people off, and if people couldn't work they couldn't get money, so some eventually fell homeless. So, I hosted a clothing and canned food drive at our school to donate to the homeless community. I hosted a bake sale at my school in order to raise money to buy scarves, gloves, and hats to pass out. With the help of a few of my friends we partnered with a local church and passed out hot soup and sandwiches to the homeless community too. Doing this project placed me first at state for FCCLA in the service project category, and it felt so rewarding! Like I mentioned though, I'm only a sophomore at Mason County High School, but l I don't plan to stop doing community service projects anytime soon. I will continue to do FCCLA all throughout my high school years, and hopefully the things I learn, the people I help, and the lives I impact will give me skills and knowledge to help people in my adult life. Please, always remember to give back because you'll never know, if one day, you'll be the one needing the helping hand.

In this day and age it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the media, rumors, drama, and loose sight of what’s truly important. Which are family, friends, and loved ones! Personally, this pandemic has ravished my community and destroyed the previous notion of what I know to be normal, so it’s been hard it’s been to stay connected and in touch with important people in my life. Which is why Zoom is an inspiring piece of technology which makes the world a better place. Zoom not only brought us all together in a time of uncertainty, but did an excellent job doing so. I personally used zoom for school, family gatherings, and church meetings! Starting my first year of high school in a pandemic was tough enough as it was, but doing it all online seemed unbearable. Thankfully though, my school decided to do each class through zoom which made the experience ten times better! I could ask questions, see my peers, and communicate with my others all in one place! I also believe zoom was good for my mental health, in a way, because being at home in quarantine can make us feel isolated, but getting to see my peers was one of the highlights of my day. With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the past years it wasn’t safe nor smart to gather in large groups, which made seeing loved family members hard. We couldn’t take the risk of exposing the elder members of my family to COVID-19 seeing as it could be detrimental to their health, so we came up with a solution! Every Saturday we would have family Zoom calls! In full honesty, Zoom might have been an even better solution to meeting rather than in person because my family in Norway could join! It was amazing to communicate no matter where we were in the world! Lastly, the pandemic shut down my local church, so I couldn’t spend time with my youth group, and we couldn’t have bible study. Luckily, our youth minister is technically gifted so he set up Zoom’s every Sunday night where we could all meet and talk to each other, having fun while reading the Bible! So, I hope you can see how Zoom has truly inspired me, and has made the world a better place today!

In this day and age it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the media, rumors, drama, and loose sight of what’s truly important. Which are family, friends, and loved ones! Personally, this pandemic has ravished my community and destroyed the previous notion of what I know to be normal, so it’s been hard it’s been to stay connected and in touch with important people in my life. Which is why Zoom is an inspiring piece of technology which makes the world a better place. Zoom not only brought us all together in a time of uncertainty, but did an excellent job doing so. I personally used Zoom for school, family gatherings, and church meetings! Starting my first year of high school in a pandemic was tough enough as it was, but doing it all online seemed unbearable. Thankfully though, my school decided to do each class through Zoom which made the experience ten times better! I could ask questions, see my peers, and communicate with my others all in one place! I also believe Zoom was good for my mental health, in a way, because being at home in quarantine can make us feel isolated, but getting to see my peers was one of the highlights of my day. With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the past years it wasn’t safe nor smart to gather in large groups, which made seeing loved family members hard. We couldn’t take the risk of exposing the elder members of my family to COVID-19 seeing as it could be detrimental to their health, so we came up with a solution! Every Saturday we would have family Zoom calls! In full honesty, Zoom might have been an even better solution to meeting rather than in person because my family in Norway could join! It was amazing to communicate no matter where we were in the world! Lastly, the pandemic shut down my local church, so I couldn’t spend time with my youth group, and we couldn’t have bible study. Luckily, our youth minister is technically gifted so he set up Zoom’s every Sunday night where we could all meet and talk to each other, having fun, while reading the Bible! So, I hope you can see how Zoom has truly inspired me, and has made the world a better place today!