What inspired me to get involved in my community is a simple phrase that I live my life by: "You only live once, so do what you want to do." This quote sums up how I love having a positive impact on other people's lives, especially in my community. The overwhelming joy that I find when helping others has largely fueled my devoted commitment to my community. Seeing underprivileged children tugs at my heart every day and it encourages me to take action. I truly believe that every single child deserves every chance at a bright future, despite extenuating circumstances. Living in Texas, the life-changing Hurricane Harvey became a pivotal point in my life and my community involvement. Thankfully, my home was spared during the hurricane, but many other individuals were not as fortunate as me. I know numerous families who lost everything they had including food, water, shelter, and support. This situation definitely made me feel uneasy but I knew that someone in the community needed to step up and support the rest of those affected. As a young teenage girl, I kept thinking about how I could impact the lives of others during this terrible tragedy. As a member of my church, I immediately volunteered for the hurricane relief program that was set up to help individuals affected by the hurricane. I really wanted to be a positive change in someone's life. I was blessed with the ability to pass out food and supplies to hurricane victims. However, my desire to encourage change in my community goes way beyond disaster relief. I also love to inspire high school students, especially those in the healthcare field. With an aspiration to become a pediatric doctor, I understand the uncertainty that many students face when it comes to deciding a career choice. To address this, I took on the role of president for the Future Doctors of America club at my high school. This club is designed to fuel young students' passion for the medical field as my officers and I organize group hospital volunteer trips. During these trips, we assist nurses and doctors with tasks and offer any emotional support to the patients. My hope is that these experiences will inspire and encourage others in my community to step out and make a difference in people's lives. I am certainly committed to bringing happiness to even the gloomiest situations and to be an encouragement to everyone around me. My lifelong phrase, "You only live once," serves as a reminder that we should use our time to create positive change and make the world a better place. Jesus Christ has been my biggest support through my volunteering journey. In times and moments when I am unsure of how to help others in the best way, I turn to Jesus in prayer and ask him for guidance to lead me down the path of righteousness. His truth which is revealed in the Bible, provides me with the strength and the answers I need. By relying on his example, I am always motivated to serve others selflessly and with all the love that I have. I will continue to be the best change that I can be and inspire others to do so as well.

I’ve always enjoyed math and science because I love to learn more about how to problem solve and why we learn the math concepts we learn. As a younger girl, I used to also think math was pointless until I grew a bit older. Then I started to realize that I can’t ever escape math because it’s always going to follow me! Math is like a universal language that helps us make sense of the world around us. It helps us solve everyday problems and understand how things work. For example, when you're sharing your snacks with friends or siblings and want to make sure everyone gets a fair share, that’s math at work making sure everyone gets an equal number of cookies! Or how about when you need to know how much money you have and how much the item costs to make sure you have enough? That’s also math! We can’t ever escape it! Algebra also lets us use letters (like x, y, or z) to represent those unknowns, and then we can create cool equations to find their values. So to me, I love math because to me, It's not just a subject I study in school; it's a passion that fuels my curiosity and makes me eager to solve and learn new things that come my way. What truly makes math important to me is how it sharpens my problem-solving skills and trains my mind to think critically. You see, my life-long dream is to become an Emergency Medicine Pediatrician, and math is going to be my trusty sidekick throughout this journey. As a doctor, I'll need to encounter a diverse range of medical scenarios, such as calculating proper medication dosages based on a child's weight to assessing vital signs and interpreting complex lab results. In pediatrics, precision is paramount. Accuracy in medical calculations can be a matter of life and death, and I'm determined to be a doctor who gets it right every single time. But math isn't just a tool to me; it's a mindset. It teaches me resilience, patience, and the willingness to keep trying until I find a solution (sometimes I get a little too stressed with math LOL). As I continue my math journey and advancing my knowledge, I'm filled with excitement because I know that every day I'm learning something new and preparing myself for the better!

scene: A math teacher walks into the classroom with an enthusiastic smile! Mrs. Greene (My 8th Grade Math Teacher): Hey, kids! Good morning! I hope you're all ready for an exciting math adventure today! Class: murmurs and groans Mrs. Greene (Math Teacher): I know, I know, algebra might sound a bit intimidating, but trust me, it's going to be fun! John: (raises his hand) Uh, Ms. Greene, do we really need to learn this? I mean, when will we ever use algebra in real life? Mrs. Greene (Math Teacher): Ah, come on now, don't be so upset! Algebra is like solving puzzles with letters and numbers. Algebra is actually used in many real-life situations, like calculating expenses, planning budgets, designing buildings, and even predicting patterns in data. Plus, it sharpens your problem-solving skills for any field you want to pursue in the future! Class: Even more groaning and sighs surround the room. Mrs. Greene (Math Teacher): (points to a girl who seems quietly engaged) Beatrice, how are you feeling about algebra? Me (Beatice): Actually, I find them quite interesting, Ms. Greene. It's like a puzzle, and I enjoy solving different types of puzzles. This was always usually how I felt about learning algebra. I’ve always enjoyed math and science because I love to learn more about how to problem solve and why we learn the math concepts we learn. As a younger girl, I used to also think math was pointless until I grew a bit older. Then I started to realize that I can’t ever escape math because it’s always going to follow me! Math is like a universal language that helps us make sense of the world around us. It helps us solve everyday problems and understand how things work. For example, when you're sharing your snacks with friends or siblings and want to make sure everyone gets a fair share, that’s math at work making sure everyone gets an equal number of cookies! Or how about when you need to know how much money you have and how much the item costs to make sure you have enough? That’s also math! We can’t ever escape it! Algebra also lets us use letters (like x, y, or z) to represent those unknowns, and then we can create cool equations to find their values. So to me, math is important to me because It's not just a subject I study in school; it's a passion that fuels my curiosity and makes me eager to solve and learn new things that come my way. What truly makes math important to me is how it sharpens my problem-solving skills and trains my mind to think critically. You see, my life-long dream is to become an Emergency Medicine Pediatrician, and math is going to be my trusty sidekick throughout this journey. As a doctor, I'll need to encounter a diverse range of medical scenarios, such as calculating proper medication dosages based on a child's weight to assessing vital signs and interpreting complex lab results. In pediatrics, precision is paramount. Accuracy in medical calculations can be a matter of life and death, and I'm determined to be a doctor who gets it right every single time. But math isn't just a tool to me; it's a mindset. It teaches me resilience, patience, and the willingness to keep trying until I find a solution (sometimes I get a little too stressed with math LOL). As I continue my math journey and advancing my knowledge, I'm filled with excitement because I know that every day I'm learning something new and preparing myself for the better!

Hey there! My name is Beatrice Asekomhe, but you can just call me Bea, the future doctor a passion for kids! So, picture this: I'm the oldest sibling, and my younger sisters all dream of becoming doctors. But guess what? I'm ready to take the lead and be the trendsetter in my family. I mean, somebody's gotta break the doctor trend, right?! As a young girl, I had this dream of being a doctor, but oh boy, the choices were overwhelming. When everyone asked what I wanted to be, it was always such a simple answer; a doctor! The troubling question though, was when they asked me what specific doctor I wanted to be. I had absolutely no idea! But as I grew older, I discovered my heart belonged to kids. Children hold a special place in my heart, and I am determined to contribute to creating a better society for them. Those kids bring me joy and light up my life like a Christmas tree! And let me tell you, being the oldest sibling sure taught me how to handle chaos and pressure like a pro. Believe it or not, I excel in high-pressure situations, something I never imagined for myself. I always wondered how I could start to be a change at a young age. Because of my passion in the medical field, I decided to become president of a club at my school called “Future Doctors of America”! This club brings together like minded individuals who are also interested in any speciality in the medical field. We perform dissections of organs, volunteer at hospitals and I even schedule guest speaker meetings for those who want to hear from real professional doctors. I am hoping this club inspires others that they can also be a change in the medical field by starting at a young age! Jokes aside, I'm very set and serious on becoming an Emergency Medicine Pediatrician. Why? Because happy kids are my joy! As a black woman, I'm out to prove to the world that I can be a successful superhero for children's health. Being black has had many challenges as people have told me that I should probably steer clear of being a doctor and that I simply wouldn’t get anywhere. No one could change my mind about wanting to be a doctor, not even my parents. If I were fortunate enough to receive financial help, I'm putting money into what I am very passionate about ! I'll be donating $4,000 to my local hospital (Memorial Herman) and spreading the love between the NICU, Pediatric, and Pediatric Emergency Departments. Those departments need all the support they can get because they're the frontline workers of our country and I truly admire their hard work. I deeply understand the stresses that doctors, nurses, parents, and patients endure during hospital stays, with uncertainties surrounding them. By supporting these departments, I hope to contribute to technological advancements and provide essential resources to improve the overall experience for everyone! But wait, there's more! The remaining money is going into my college fund, because being a college student isn't cheap, you know?! With this money, i’m hoping that it will help me chase my dreams without worrying about having empty pockets. I'm also planning to pursue a PHD in Public Health too! This has truly been a dream of mine for a long, long time and I would be so grateful to have an opportunity to use this money to pursue my goals and my career. Thank you for considering my heartfelt ambitions and the potential to make a difference.

Disney holds a special place in my heart, and it has been my first love that continues to drive me to this day. My journey with Disney began in 2012 when I was seven years old. At that time, my family and I were living in Canada, and although we didn't know much about Disney, we decided to take ourselves on an adventure to Disney World. Little did I know that it would shape my life in such an amazing way. Our visit to Disney World took place in December, right around my birthday on December 28th. As we entered the enchanting world of Magic Kingdom, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the amount of people. However, as I turned the corner and laid my eyes upon Cinderella's castle, it was as if all my dreams had come true. The castle stood tall and majestic, and I felt a wave of privilege to be in its presence. From that moment on, I knew Disney was something so extraordinary. During our visit, we made it a point to experience every age-appropriate ride and enjoy the Disney magic. Among the many unforgettable experiences, the "It's a Small World" ride stood out to me. I couldn't quite place where the catchy tune originated, but I instantly fell in love with it. We also met every Disney Princess, and I treasured my personalized autograph book like a baby. Our love for Disney didn't end there. In a remarkable turn of events, we visited Disney World 13 times in the following years, making it an annual tradition. We even went to Disneyland in California twice. This showcases the deep connection I have with Disney and how it has become a significant part of my life. One asset that sets Disney apart and holds a special place in my heart is its inclusivity. Since my birthday fell on our visits, I often had the privilege to celebrate my special day at a Disney World park, usually at Epcot. My FAVORITE thing about Disney was Epcot, and it became my favorite park. The staff's genuine enthusiasm in celebrating birthdays were contagious. Each time my parents shared the news, the Epcot staff would happily present me with a "Happy Birthday" pin, which I wore with immense pride. Disney’s Epcot made sure that every visitor felt celebrated and included, and that meant the world to me. It truly became my second home, and I cherish it for being such a warm and welcoming environment. As I approach my senior year of high school, I find myself reflecting on the gratitude I have for being able to experience my lifelong dream of going to Disney World. When my friends and I discussed our senior trip, with destinations like Bora Bora and Greece being mentioned, I confidently blurted out Disney World. I excitedly detailed the rides we would experience, the food we would eat, and even convinced my dad to pay for everyone's tickets. With that being said, SEE YOU IN SPRING 2024 DISNEY with my friends. I can’t wait to share the beautiful impact it has had on my life with my friends. Disney, I love you with my whole heart. You have been my first love, a source of joy and wonder that continues to inspire my imagination. Thank you for making dreams come true, for creating a world where everyone is welcomed, and for fostering a place that feels like home. I will always carry the spirit of Disney with me and share its magic with those I truly cherish.

From the beginning of my childhood, I knew deep in my heart that I wanted to make a difference in the medical field. As a high school senior and a teenager myself, I am very aware of the struggles that people in my generation face when it comes to mental health. It pains me to see the constant suffering that individuals of all ages endure due to mental health issues. Even I have experienced battles with my mental state and the overwhelming feeling it brings. So to change this problem, after completing medical school and graduating college, I plan to start up my very own clinic. My ultimate goal is to bring about real change in the world and provide assistance to the younger generation who constantly battle with their mental health. I strongly believe that mental health is not something to be taken lightly; it is an incredibly serious matter that deserves attention and care. I want to create the most accessible and affordable healthcare system possible. I want individuals to receive the treatment they need without having to worry about the burden of treatment costs. For me, a person's health is of significant importance, and witnessing the toll that mental health takes on individuals motivates me to dedicate my life to helping others escape the misery it inflicts. To be able to bring hope to someone's life, to lessen their pain and bring happiness, would be the greatest reward I could ever ask for.