I probably can’t change the world. I know it’s a common cliché to go on and on about how you’re going to carry out all of your many goals and change everything entirely forever, but I don’t have “world-changing” goals and I admittedly don’t think that I, as an individual, will be able to go that far with my current interests and career path. However, I do want to support the communities around me, and personally, I think that’s how someone can make a real difference in this world. Living in a very diverse area, I’ve met a people from all walks of life in my community. People in the deepest depths of poverty living on the streets and people who live far removed from the mere concept of insecurity living lavishly. Everyone has a story, but only those in positions of fortune are able to actually tell them. As such, I’ve always wanted to lessen the disparities that come with these groups, but I used to be unsure how to go about that—I was never great with leading others and my interests lied in art anyways. Despite it all though, I knew I had to do something. That “something” ended up being as simple as finding information. It started by just reposting articles and important ideas on social media; I would spread this information as far as possible in hopes of it reaching the correct people and sometimes it did. It felt great when this happened and it showed me that information is powerful. Now, as I am actively pursuing a degree regarding graphic design, I want to be the person who makes the posts that are spread around by others. I want to make infographics and digital designs that incite change within my local community. I want to connect with others through what I make. And most importantly, I want to amplify the voices that often go unheard by others. Coming from Alaska Native heritage, I have seen firsthand the effects of a community being pushed aside and forgotten. Many of my people live in terrible circumstances with no support because issues within native communities in Alaska are overlooked by both the government and the average citizen alike. If someone like me could document these issues and work them into infographics, web pages, and educational designs that can easily be spread online or in-person, perhaps my community could finally find the help and support it needs. Over everything else, that would be my ultimate desire. As of present, I know my dream of helping those who need an extra boost is still just that, a dream, but that will not stop me from pushing on. Beyond my own community, there are people who desperately need to get their voices out in order to build more support for themselves, and I refuse to stand on the sidelines just watching. So for now, I’ll just keep sharing that information and reposting those articles, and someday, others will be doing the same for my graphics. I hope that eventually, I can look at my community and all the others that I have come across and know I personally helped to lift it up and make a real change.

It may sound like an exaggeration, but there is a genocide going on right under our noses that many people not only don’t care about, but also actively contribute to. The genocide is that of birds all around the world, and the perpetrators? People who own “outdoor cats.” Even if I wasn’t aware that cats have contributed to the extinction of at least 70 different species of bird, I have still seen firsthand the destruction they can create. I used to hear an abundance of birds outside my window every morning, but nowadays, there are noticeably less. This could be for a variety of reasons, but in my heart, I know it's because of the many outdoor cats that I see roaming around. Whether the birds were hunted, or simply scared away, I do not know, but what I do know is that this cannot go on. It is unsafe for both the cats and the environment around them, yet these cat-owners do not seem to care. The impact that even just one cat can have on its local ecosystem cannot be understated. All it takes is one small animal to do damage at a terrifyingly large scale and wreak havoc upon the populations of endangered species. Not only that, the animal itself faces danger in its own right by facing large predators and cars that could prematurely end its life. Now if one were to multiply that destruction and danger on a much larger scale and spread it around the globe, that is currently what we as a society must learn to improve, and that is the problem I want to help solve entirely. Over the next four years, I plan to learn more about Digital Design at Washington State University. This might not sound very related to my qualms at first, however the first step to solving any problem is knowledge, and with my education, I can spread the knowledge I have to a wider audience. It is a lot easier to get my point across if I can display it in a memorable and snappy way such as a PSA or infographic, which is exactly what I strive to do. I know it will be tough, but I dream of a future where no bird or cat must suffer due to neglectful owners who do not keep their pets inside where they will live their best possible lives. If I cannot sway the people to care about the birds with my words only, I hope that someday my designs will be the key to educating people and changing their minds for the better. Even if I am only one person, I will do whatever it takes to change our world for the better, one design at a time.

Music is my life. I was raised with music and learned to love it from a very early age. I think this is because my mom always sang to me as a child. Whether they were "real songs" or things she made up on the spot, she wanted to make sure that I loved it as much as she did. It's really no wonder that it is such a big part of who I am in my high school life. I sang all the time once I learned how, I did it so much that my family still likes to tease me over it years later. At school, in the shower, before bed, it didn't matter. I joined the elementary school choir in third through fifth grade, and I picked up the flute in sixth, going so far as to play this beautiful instrument at our end of year talent show. As someone who is famously very shy and socially anxious, that is a massive feat only achieved through the power of song. This struggle with socialization only got worse when social distancing happened with the start of the pandemic and I found it so much harder to reach out towards others. Fortunately, my love for music never wavered and neither did the confidence that came with it. With the isolation spurring me on, I picked up the ukulele and started posting short videos of myself playing instruments and singing for friends and family, however it reached other people as well. I received multiple comments from future online friends and it made me feel better about myself at a critical time when my self-confidence was at an all time low. Because of this--once we went back to doing things in person--I was able to connect to others through the use of music, even if it made me anxious. If we played the same instrument or had the same tastes in music, I suddenly had the perfect jumping-off point to make new friends. Now that I'm in my last year of high school, I am sad to report that my people skills have not necessarily improved in the way one might hope. However, song will always remain the exception to that rule of avoiding excessive interaction. There are occasionally special days in which some of the classes will sing karaoke, and though it is a daunting task to do in person, I am proud to say that I have sung my favorite songs in front of my fellow classmates multiple times. The people around me support my passions and my friends love to quietly cheer me on from the sidelines, even asking me to sing to them when we're alone. Confidence is the key to a lot of important aspects in life, and though I struggle, I know that listening or even making music will clear my mind and give me the necessary self-assurance to know that I am capable of anything I put my mind to. As a high school senior, a lot of crucial parts of transitioning into college are confusing and daunting for someone like me to get through. It can be a struggle to keep persevering through the stresses and hardships I face, however I find that music fills the gaps and builds bridges where there were none before. I would not be who I am without the songs I hold in my heart and I would never have half the opportunities I do without the confidence it gives me.

Many sports fanatics make jokes about how it sometimes feels as if certain players play as if they were just pulled off of the street, how it almost seems as if they had no prior experience before stepping up to the field. I never laugh at these jokes because that was essentially my exact experience with the sport of bowling. It sounds, for lack of a better description, a little inconsequential to many people when I tell this story, and that is part of the reason it was so hard to overcome in the first place. I have never been athletic, nor have I been interested in sports in general, but in freshman year, I was happy to try bowling. Unfortunately though, despite having no experience, I was automatically placed on the varsity team because there were not enough girls in the program for anything else. Day after day, practice after practice, it became increasingly more difficult to pretend that it wasn’t affecting me to bowl alongside four other girls who had done this for years before this point. I was doing horribly both in the game, and in my head, and despite my coaches’ best efforts, I had barely improved before the first game of the season came around. I sometimes ponder that first game. I got a score of 68. About 52 pins behind the girl I was up against and just around 65 pins behind the second lowest score on my own team. I am not exaggerating when I say that I cried hard that night. My mental health only went down after that moment. I stopped caring about the sport, I became more closed off from my friends, and I was just generally uninterested in things that used to bring me joy. At the time, I didn’t know how bad I had it, but looking back on it, I think I may have been truly depressed. However, I am proud to say I improved. I looked inside myself and I said “what can I do to make this better?” And I put immense time into trying to figure out what it is I truly needed to thrive. It took effort but I eventually got out of this slump and learned a valuable lesson about myself that I apply to everything today, from my education to my relationships. Sometimes, you just need to step back and examine your priorities in the bigger picture. My failures don't define my self-worth. When I go bowling and miss a strike; it doesn't mean I'm a bad bowler or a failure, it just shows that I have room to improve and learn. Separating my self-worth from my mistakes has helped me grow more confident and resilient, knowing that each setback is just a stepping stone to success. This outlook significantly enhanced my educational journey and I want to use it to positively impact my community too. When you view mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than reflections of your value, you become more open to learning and taking risks. Just like in bowling, getting a lower score than everyone else doesn’t make you any worse than them; it’s simply a difference in your skill sets. This mindset fosters resilience and a growth mindset which are essential traits for academic success. Just because I struggled in order to learn these lessons, doesn't mean others have to, so as I continue to grow and succeed, I can share these experiences and insights with others, inspiring and uplifting my community to embrace challenges and strive for continuous improvement.

During my sophomore year of high school, I was given the opportunity to enter a competition to create a logo for my school's Ocean Club. This was my first real foray into the world of graphic design, and it was an experience that profoundly influenced my decision to pursue this field in the future. As I worked on the logo, I found myself very absorbed in the process of researching, refining, and finally polishing my design. The satisfaction I felt when my logo won the competition was unparalleled, and it grew even more when I got to see my design printed on t-shirts. This experience opened my eyes to the power of visual communication. I realized that through graphic design, I could not only help to express my creative side, but also convey messages and evoke emotions in a way that words could not quite do. The ability to blend art with another purpose was incredibly fulfilling, and it was then that I knew I wanted to make design my career. From that moment on, I sought out every opportunity to hone my skills. I participated in more design competitions, helped make small fliers for various other school events, and tried my best to learn more about what it takes to be a graphic designer. Each project reinforced my passion for design and solidified my desire to pursue it as a field of study. This journey, which began with a simple school logo, has led me to apply for this scholarship with the hope of furthering my education and ultimately making a meaningful impact through design. I still occasionally see people around my school wearing the shirt I designed for the Ocean Club, and it still brings me the same happiness that it did years ago. I want to chase that feeling and keep creating things for people to use and enjoy for years to come. Without this one decision to enter a competition, I don’t know where I would be today, but I am glad this is where I stand today, and I am excited to stand here tomorrow.

I have fallen time and time again, and with each tumble, I discover just how low life can push me. There was a time not too long ago where I was well and truly depressed. Every morning, I would wake up and stare at the ceiling, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the point was. During this period, I stopped talking with close friends and family, I lost any and all motivation for the things that used to bring me joy, and I would come home each day and break down in tears over how unbelievably overwhelmed I felt. I was truly convinced that this feeling would never end. However, despite it all, I am alive and well today; I would even dare say that I’m flourishing. Without exaggeration, I can proudly say that this amazing comeback was due mostly in part to the healing power of God. With nobody I thought I could turn to, God was there for me time and time again. In those times where I could barely climb out of bed He was there to take my hand and guide me toward the light, He was the one to help me learn that “the point” was to just appreciate the glory of being able to live. When I cried for help, one of the only things that helped me cope was putting my hands together and praying to the lord above for help, and against all odds, I got through it. By keeping strong faith, I suddenly realized that I had something to live for. If I couldn’t find motivation for the sake of the work, I could at least do it for the sake of showing my strength to God. The mere thought that I at least had Him standing beside me helped me keep going on those tough, dark, and miserable days. I must admit, I was never the religious sort in the years before this. Of course, I believed in God, and I went to church and prayed every once in a while, but that was about where my faith stopped. However, it grew so much in those few months that I have no choice but to believe that God was looking out for me. I like to think it was my own personal miracle that I could find a guide such as this at a time where I was quite frankly at rock bottom. I am so happy that I can once again walk with joy in my heart because I managed to find my faith. This experience has taught me so much about myself and the world around me, and I thank God every day that I am able to keep learning. I wish that everybody could have such a life changing experience such as this, because I want joy and happiness for all those struggling. God not only brings us the light, but He also helps us rise up and climb from the deep valleys in which we fall, and I cannot be more proud the efforts I have taken with Him to overcome it all.

As a proud Sugpiaq Alutiiq and a graphic designer at heart, I strive to help those around me both inside and outside of the native community, even if it is difficult. With the education I am working toward, I am committed to using my knowledge to make a positive impact on those around me. Ultimately, I strive to make the world a better place in any way that I possibly can, bit by bit. A big goal of mine is to someday preserve and promote my rich cultural heritage through visual storytelling. That is to say, by creating culturally relevant graphic designs, I can help educate others about my traditions, history, and values. Additionally, once I have been adequately taught the proper methods through a degree, I wish to collaborate with local organizations and perhaps in the future, I can develop educational materials or some sort of marketing campaign that highlights the beauty and resilience of our community and the people within it. After all, I have found that many people can be quite ignorant about who I am and where I come from, and I wish to change that. I am a good candidate for this scholarship because of what I do and what I stand for. Because of my commitment to education, volunteer work, and cultural preservation, I see myself as a force for spreading good in society now and hopefully I will continue to do so in the future. During the warmer months, I also like to help out in removing weeds and invasive plants from local parks and from around other areas in my close community. I have even helped in this endeavor in my mother’s native village. This volunteer work in invasive species removal exemplifies my dedication to environmental stewardship and protecting the welfare of my community, while my excellent academic record gives me the knowledge and abilities I need to tackle challenging issues. I help maintain the health of our ecosystems and provide a good example for others by actively taking part in these initiatives. To summarize, I try to be the type of role model that I desperately needed as a much younger child. It is important to me that the stories of my culture are kept alive, and if I can do that through design and education, then my education will all be worth it. Through my work, I hope to inspire younger generations to take pride in their heritage and pursue their own creative endeavors. My pride as a Sugpiaq is held up by that.

I am at a time in my life where many things around me are confusing and daunting to manage. It can be difficult to find reasons to keep persevering through the stresses and hardships I face, however I find that doing good makes me feel good too. It is as simple as that. Because of my commitment to education, volunteer work, and cultural preservation, I see myself as a force for spreading good in society both now and in the future. During the warmer months, I like to help out in removing weeds and invasive plants from local parks. This volunteer work displays my dedication to environmental stewardship and taking care of my community, while my excellent academic record gives me the knowledge and abilities I need to face challenging issues. I help maintain the health of our ecosystems and provide a good example for those around me by actively taking part in these activities. By reminding myself of the good deeds that I can do for others, it makes me feel better about my life, and as a chronic overthinker, this reassurance is extremely important to maintaining good mental health. This way of thinking stems from societal pressures that usefulness equals value, and as hard as it may be to admit it, these norms can get to me. I know that just by being me, I have value as a person, but it can be difficult to fully believe sometimes. However, I have been working on this perception for a long time now, and I am proud to say that as of current, it is a lot easier for me to simply help my community because it is a nice thing to do, not necessarily because I am trying to find “value” and I continue to work on this perception everyday. Beyond that, my perspective is partially shaped by current societal standards that place an emphasis on sustainability and community service. In a world that is changing every day, we must save what we still can. This emphasizes the importance of helping one another and preserving our natural resources. I also find strength in my heritage as an Indigenous person, which emphasizes the value of respecting all living things and living in balance with the environment. I want to always keep learning and use what I've learned to create creative solutions that will help society as a whole. By fusing old knowledge with modern techniques, I want to motivate people to take initiative and build a more inclusive and sustainable world.

I like to think that if you were to cut me open and look inside, the vibrant hues of red that flow out--the very essence which keeps me alive and running--is not that of blood, but of watercolor. This dark pigment mixture intertwined with water has stained the pages of my life in a way that cannot ever be erased, and I am glad for that. I don't think I could stand here today as I am without the influence of watercolor painting forming the complex image of my background. In the words of illustrator Chris Raschka, "Part of why I like watercolor is that mistakes are visible, and you can't really repair much." This boils down my exact sentiments in a concise phrase. I am a perfectionist through and through, but not with watercolors. This medium allows me to really let go of my worries about detail, and instead focus on simply relaxing and making something beautiful, even if it deviates from my initial vision. The “looseness” of this technique has taught me to accept the mistakes and work with them to make them fit. Watercolors are very versatile after all. They are able to make colors of all values and saturations, and this versatility gives me ease. No matter if I feel like making a dark and moody piece, or a bright and colorful one, I can use watercolors to achieve my goal; this has done wonders for my self-confidence when it comes to creation. Trying new mediums is often a daunting process for me, and though I have learned to love many, I have to admit that it can be rather heartbreaking to put so much time and effort into a piece only to end up with something that I am not proud of. This worry goes away when I have the watercolor brush in hand, because I have built the confidence within myself to keep going and embrace the slip-ups. Since art is a massive part of my life, this has the added benefit of giving me more confidence in general, something I admittedly really need at this juncture. I have loved these paints ever since I tried them way back in elementary school, and just as I have grown up, so too has my skill within this medium. I hope to keep improving upon myself with time, and I hope that I can keep making my watercolor pieces throughout it all. Though the very blood I bleed may not literally be that of pigment and gum arabic, I think that in the metaphorical sense, it may as well be. I am made of the watercolors that I use, and the watercolors that I use are made through me. I think there's a kind of poetry in that.

All around the world, things have been happening that might make us unsure of the life we are living in; whether it's tough images in the news, or personal events that rock us to our very foundation. At least personally, it feels like I've needed a little pick-me-up recently. I've been thinking deeply about myself--I need something to make me smile, I need someone to remind me to keep going, I just need a change in my life, all of these and more. But most frequently, I've been asking myself "What do I need?" And I think I've finally found an answer to that question. What I really need is a femininomenon. In a time like this, Chappell Roan has never been more of an important figure in my life and the lives of many others. To not only have an LGBTQ+ artist topping the charts, but also one who openly identifies as a lesbian is almost unprecedented. She is unapologetically authentic to who she is and that is something we could all stand to strive for. Especially with her recent win at the Grammys, it is clear to see that Roan works hard for what she does with amazing results. For that I look up to her greatly. With so many amazing songs in Roan’s discography, it is difficult for me to pick my favorite, but if I had to choose, it would be Pink Pony Club. I relate a lot to the lyrics ( specifically the need to get away from it all), and because of that, this song has become something of a comfort to me. As I have previously hinted, life has been rather turbulent for me lately, and I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that I have an anchor such as Chappell Roan’s music. I genuinely believe that, without her rise to fame, my life would be worse off. She has touched my heart in a way that I cannot quite articulate. Whether I’m enjoying the Red Supernova or listening to Roan take it Hot to Go, I am briefly transported to a more pleasant life in which all my worries are resolved and far away. If I ever met Chappell Roan in real life, I would first and foremost thank her immensely for all that she has done for young women like me. Then I would probably cry tears of joy because I got to meet my number one idol. However, since this will not likely happen soon, I shall simply keep letting her music drift deep into my soul, and her admirable values will keep me going through all the ups and downs of reality.

Despite being the biggest U.S. state than any other by far, Alaska is tragically underrepresented beyond quick mentions or overused stereotypes. I love my home state and it always made me just a little sad to so consistently not have any Alaskans on the screen in front of me. Of course, this is not a problem during the Olympics. Alaska has many incredibly talented athletes who have competed internationally over the years--off the top of my head, I can name at least four. Out of all of them though, my heart goes out to Kristen Faulkner. There are not enough words in the English language to describe how elated I was when she won gold in not just one, but two different cycling categories in Paris last year. Not just that, she also was the first American to receive a gold road racing medal in 40 years and she won the first ever team track cycling medal in all of Team USA's Olympic history. I just simply cannot state how monumental this achievement was for me and all other Alaskans. I am admittedly not the most "sporty" person out there, and though I can recognize accomplishments such as these, I derive the most meaning from the people and context behind them. So while these records are massively important, the most significant aspect of all of this by far is that Faulkner was able to show that even someone like me from far-away, insignificant Alaska can go on to achieve great things. I love Alaska and it means the world to me that athletes like Kristen Faulkner can get people talking about my state and provide a role model for young people such as myself. It can be quite frankly disheartening to not have representation in the media, so seeing an Alaska on screen doing big things gives me motivation to pursue my goals and reach for new heights. I would like to extend a gigantic thank-you to Kristen Faulkner and all other Alaskan athletes who have competed in international games over the years. I look up to these people and will be watching their future endeavors excitedly from my home, and I hope they know just how much their achievements mean to me and all others like me. Maybe someday I might be famous like them and I will get to serve as another Alaskan role model to the people watching with bated breath behind their screens. If I do someday achieve this goal, I will have to happily attribute a big proportion of my success to people like Kristen Faulkner. Until then however, keeping their efforts close to my heart will keep me going and striving for more.

A child sits down in a dark room, curious about a supposed adaptation of their favorite book series. Going into it, they are skeptical; it looks and sounds nothing like the book! Walking out of it? Their life has undeniably and irrevocably changed for the better. This was my experience with the How to Train Your Dragon movie. The original book series by Cressida Cowell is a charming and witty series of twelve books following the story of a young boy named Hiccup. I immediately fell in love with it as a child because of its intriguing story and style that was unlike any other. In fact, after reading through each book, I then reread all of them again just a few months later. As evidenced by my sheer dedication, this series turned into something of an obsession—so imagine my surprise when I found out that there was a movie that I hadn’t known about. Though I’m not one to judge a book by its cover, I was not above judging a movie. Frankly put, I didn’t like what I saw. Even just looking at the main character Hiccup, I could tell that it would be incredibly inaccurate to the books; from his hair to his age, this was not the Hiccup I grew to love. Even worse, Toothless, my favorite character, had changed from a small green dragon with no teeth into a massive black rarity with teeth that retracted on will. The characters I adored and related to were all strangers with the same name (though sometimes, not even that stayed the same.) Needless to say, this was entirely devastating to my young mind. However I was willing to give it a chance and I’m so glad I did. With a beautiful soundtrack and amazing 3d animation that—in my opinion—still holds up flawlessly today, I fell for a new world that was different yet similar to the original. Toothless, whom I had initially seen as too different from the book, broke all apprehensions the moment I saw his personality shining through. It was like reconnecting with an old friend. Important life lessons about compassion and empathy stuck with me and I truly believe it changed something in my perception of life. If I was obsessed with the books, then I can only describe my connection to the movies as a very deep infatuation. I watched every movie, binged the tv series, and I even played the MMO spin-off game. About a year after this fixation started, I turned back to the book series once again and found that I was noticing new details about the characters and setting as a result of new knowledge from the movies and it undoubtedly heightened my experience to the next level. Admittedly, I am not the biggest movie-watcher, the medium just unfortunately doesn’t resonate with me as well as it does others. That being said, I will never forget the impact of this life changing movie and its subsequent sequels. This obsession has since faded greatly as I’ve grown older and found new avenues to travel down, however it will never truly disappear—it is simply just laying dormant like an ancient dragon in a cave. I am excited to see where this series will go in the future, and I hope that it can always bring the immense happiness that it has over all these years. Above all however, I would like to thank Cressida Cowell for her series that left an indelible mark on my life, for without her, my interests and pathways in life would certainly have been much different.

Ever since I was a small child, I have loved video games. Not only was it the most engaging way to spend my time, it also allowed me to connect with my older brothers who were the ones to pass this meaningful hobby onto me. I wholeheartedly believe I would not be the same without it, and I think that videogames will stick with me all my life. When asked what brings them into a game, people will often list things such as enjoyability or intrigue. And though I find these significant, to me, the most important part of a video game has always been the art. I am, and always will be an artist, and I find the artistic process when it comes to game-making incredibly alluring, from the concept art all the way to the final product. This interest has brought me down avenues I never would have considered at all; case in point, I have recently taken up a newfound interest in 3d modelling due solely to the fact that I wanted to learn how to make models from some of my favorite games, and I am currently taking a class on coding and game development for a similar reason. Though I am unsure if I will ever use these skills to create a video game of my own, I know that I will be able to apply them to countless other facets of my life. Additionally, I attribute a good portion of my artistic evolution to the sheer passion with which I make fan art in order to show love to my favorite video games. Beyond artistic achievement, some of my favorite games of all time have also led me into joining some of the most diverse and welcoming communities I have ever found myself a part of. For example, during the mass lockdowns of 2020, like everyone, I found myself looking for an outlet to express myself, and that happened to be Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It provided some semblance of normalcy to everything going on around me, but even further than that, the community around this game welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to make friends during a time of isolation and confusion. With other fans of ACNH, I was allowed to just be myself and have fun; they encouraged me to make art and lauded me when I shared it. Even though I do not play this game very often anymore, I look back on these times with fondness in my heart. As time goes on and games continue to evolve and innovate, so too do I. Each passing day gives me an opportunity to improve on who I am, and each passing day, my love for gaming stays right there with me. Be it visual novels or open-worlds, I know that I can rely on video games to bring me joy and give me the inspiration I need to keep going and keep creating. With each new game that I play, I gain a new piece of myself that works in tandem with the whole and teaches me something new. I know that I will always have a place in my heart for video games, as I know that they will always bring me the joy I need. Should I ever face struggles in life, these games will show me the way and keep me balanced throughout

My name is Beatrix Bosse and I am a Sugpiaq Alaska Native. Ever since I was very young, reading has been a big part of my life and that passion for books has brought me to where I am today. Without this love and proficiency, I never would have been able to apply for the schools of my dreams and become knowledgeable in a wide variety of both fun and engaging topics that connect me with both my culture and the world around me. This devotion to literature started all the way back when I was only four or five years old. At this age, I absolutely loved picture books. They could be about anything and everything, from dinosaurs to aliens to earthworms, but the ones that stuck with me the most were books that were read to me by my family. Some of my most cherished childhood memories are from when my mother sat me down on her lap and read to me about how she would love me forever, or about how life is better with a friend. It brought me closer to her, and the lessons she taught me through these books will stay with me forever. My teachers always mentioned my good behavior and kind disposition during parent-teacher conferences, and I wholeheartedly believe that the picture books of my childhood help contribute to this high praise. These books taught me to be a good person, and I still hold those values to this day. Beyond just good behavior however, these books also taught me another valuable lesson in that I learned to be curious and caring about the world around me. I read picture books about topics like nature and history, which have sparked an adoration for learning like no other. The captivating illustrations and imagery caused me to seek out educational content with zeal, and allowed me to form a much deeper connection with the world by constantly wanting to know more. No topic was safe from my inquiry, no matter if it were about animals in the ocean, or a simple history of the first airplanes, I most likely read about it. Through this deep connection and passion for finding more in my community, I even managed to explore my own native identity and how it shaped who I am today. I found book after book written by people just like me, who taught me about my ancestors and their important beliefs and practices; it gave me a sense of belonging in the world. Without picture books, it would not have been possible for me to advance so easily in school and pursue higher education with as much excitement as I currently do. I fully believe that all the connections I have made, and all the things I have learned were built upon a strong foundation of picture books. Without these valuable resources, I would be nothing like the person I am today, and I would have been worse off for it.