Dancing Through Life Let me take you through my life in middle and high school. During my years at Providence Preparatory School, I was inducted into a house in middle school, just like Harry Potter. Two years later, I was later nominated and elected to be a house officer, in which I would help organize and plan different house and school-wide events. I was lucky enough to be nominated and elected as house officer every year until my high school graduation. During my senior year, I had the pleasure of serving as prefect of my house, in which I led all house and school-wide events. I absolutely loved serving my school community and planning events for my friends to enjoy. Since then, I have grown to have a heart of selfless service. Along with being nominated as a house officer and prefect of my house in high school, I was also chosen to be part of the worship team for my high school class at church. Through this, I learned the importance of courage and friendships. I also adopted the characteristic of perseverance through my varsity volleyball experience. I was the team captain for several years, and was nominated all-district player for several years during my volleyball career. Through my time with volleyball, I faced many struggles with health, coaching, and friendships. Thus, the value of perseverance sums up my volleyball experience well. Fast forward to senior year, where all of these lessons and qualities came together. First, I won first place for my senior thesis presentation. I was honored to be nominated by my entire school community to receive the Lamplighter Award, which is given to the senior student who embodies all of the values that the school seeks to instill in each student. However, out of all the challenges and awards in my life, none has topped being the sister of two awesome autistic brothers. They have always been a source of joy, laughter, and fabulous memories for my crazy family despite the challenges. In my exposure to autism, my heart would define it as a condition that brings both challenges and blessings to the recipient and his/her family. Based on my own family’s experience, the most pervading and constant obstacle autism brings the recipient’s family would be the extensive costs for therapy, respite, and provision for the future as their caretakers age. The costs of their education have inhibited my parents from helping me pay for my college education. Both of my parents work full-time jobs along with side jobs to pay for my brothers’ therapy. Since my parents struggle to assist me with college costs, I also work while maintaining an A average to cover my living costs each month. Thus, any and every scholarship I am awarded is greatly valued, appreciated, and treasured. This obstacle in my life has instilled in me the values of perseverance, strength, hope, and positivity, which are key qualities of a good leader. These qualities have shown through me and my family, and have inspired others families with challenges in autism. In conclusion, I believe all of these experiences and honors have set me up well to serve others in the future, and I cannot wait to continue serving others and gaining characteristics and experiences needed in order to be an outstanding leader in the future.

The Short & Sweet Essay Sabrina has impacted the hearts of many girls across the world in many ways. For me personally, Sabrina Carpenter's album Short & Sweet resonated with me the most out of all of her music because it brought back wounds from deep down in my heart that needed to be fixed. Sabrina's song Taste includes the lyrics, "Oh, I leave quite an impression, five feet to be exact, you're wondering why half his clothes went missing, my body's where they're at." Not only am I five feet to be exact, but I also went through a really challenging breakup where I found weeks after his clothes still in my closet. I still had all the gifts he ever gave me in my closet. It was time for me to throw these memories away and move on to feel confident in my single life. Later on in the song, Sabrina says, "I heard you're back together, and if that's true, you'll just have to taste me when he's kissing you." Before my ex-boyfriend and I began dating, he and one of my friends were talking, but it never led to anything else. However, after our relationship ended, he got together with that same friend. It felt like betrayal. It made me feel like our relationship was fake the entire time. Sabrina's lyrics in this song hit my heart hard, but the hit was much needed after much time reflecting on the past. This song was a wake-up call to stop focusing on the past, start dwelling in the present, and begin improving myself for the future. While Sabrina Carpenter is a celebrity, and I am not, we both have been through the same life struggles. Sabrina's bravery to sing about her struggles has encouraged me to not be afraid of sharing those past challenges, show how I have improved, and inspire others to do the same. So thanks, Sabrina, for your honesty and authenticity in your music.

Spirit Leads to Success Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” I could not agree more with this quote. This concept is something that I believe Texas A&M University excels at. Texas A&M truly cultivates a spirit that can ne’er be told. A spirit that never fades away, even in the midst of suffering, and ignites a fire for success in each heart of the student body. Texas A&M cultivates students who eventually go on in life to fulfill their dreams and goals in life, and this is exactly why I chose to attend Texas A&M University. I want an environment that will assist me in my pursuit of success, not only in academics, but also in life in general. Spoiler alert, I can confirm my education at Texas A&M University has achieved that in me in multiple ways. I have the pleasure of being a Hospitality, Hotel Management, and Tourism major, and I want to go on to be a wedding planner someday, to radiate enthusiasm and support to all of my clients and inspire them to do the same with their connections. What better place to learn the hospitality of making dreams come true than Texas A&M University! While I am a student, I have the goal to gain experience and talk to trusted professionals in the hospitality industry, specifically at Texas A&M. I want to fully immerse myself in the A&M culture and learn the heart of hospitality, so I can spread that spirit to others later on in my career. I want to refine my skills as an event planner, and broaden my creativity in regards to planning so that I can make others’ dreams come true one day. Like all other college students, I want to eventually earn a bachelor’s degree and have a job lined up when I complete my college experience. Texas A&M University expects its students to work hard to achieve their academic goals, and this is the exact mindset I want for my college career heading into my life career. Texas A&M has pushed me out of my comfort zone when it comes to exploring job opportunities at career fairs, talking to trusted Hospitality professionals about career expectations, and fighting for deeper understanding in my classes each semester. Thus, I am not alone in this academic journey. Texas A&M invites many professionals and faculty into your journey to assist you in being successful. This is one of the many things I love about Texas A&M. However, in order to achieve these goals, I must have the funds to complete my college education. I have two super cool autistic brothers who are twins with totally different personalities. They have always been a source of joy, laughter, and fabulous memories for my crazy family despite the challenges. In my exposure to autism, my heart would define it as a condition that brings both challenges and blessings to the recipient and his/her family. Based on my own family’s experience, the most pervading and constant obstacle autism brings the recipient’s family would be the extensive costs for therapy, respite, and provision for the future as their caretakers age. The costs of their education have inhibited my parents from helping me pay for my college education. Both of my parents work full-time jobs along with side jobs to pay for my brothers’ therapy. Since my parents struggle to assist me with college costs, I also work while maintaining an A average to cover my living costs each month. Thus, any and every scholarship I am awarded is greatly valued, appreciated, and treasured. Working while pursuing a Bachelor's degree is challenging. My busy college schedule has shaped my ability to manage time well, and work efficiently in my classes, which are both aspects that will prove to be valuable in my life later on after college. In conclusion, Texas A&M University has improved my mindset and life in numerous ways, such as: having a mind and heart posture of drive and positivity, making connections for after college, continuously fighting for a deeper understanding in my classes, balancing the work and class lifestyle, and working efficiently on assignments. I have learned all of these skills in only two years of being a student at Texas A&M, which means there is more learning and improving to come, and I cannot wait for it. The hospitality industry is all about supporting others, and I want to apply the same spirit of drive and positivity to my career later on in life. I have witnessed in my fellow colleagues that the Texas A&M culture and mindset has improved them for the better, and I want to be the catalyst of this positive change in my own career with my future clients. Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm," challenges and inspires me to keep working hard at everything I do, and to do it with enthusiasm that inspires others to do the same.

Joy: A Prize Worth Fighting For Joy contains the power to change an individual’s life, but I never knew it could fade so quickly. According to my friends and family, joy is my defining trait and smiling is my signature look; however, there have been moments where fear has drowned out my positivity. There is one fear in particular that looms over me like a dark cloud, and that fear is the future. When I was six years old, my twin brothers were diagnosed with autism. At the time I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long term changes it would make in the lives of my family. It was not until several years ago that I fully understood what autism meant. Autism is a type of special need and developmental disorder that comes with challenges such as verbal communication and social interaction. From that moment on, I grew up with the fear that my brothers may never gain independence in their lives.​ To this day I worry about their future because I know they will someday only have me to care for them. My grandmother, Yaya, told me to never lose hope and positivity in God and His plan because there was not enough of it in this world. God has a plan that is worth the followthrough, no matter the trials we face in life. This realization changed my life and afterward, I began living and breathing the Bible. I began reshaping my mental health and character because I knew I needed joy back in my life. After much perseverance, I finally began to see and feel color blossom in my life again. I found joy in my family’s shared circumstance. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition have bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to defend them. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, show kindness and understanding to those with special needs, spread autism awareness to others, give grace without limit, and be a light that others might need in their lives. After much tribulation, I finally understand why the first thing that people thought of when they saw me was joy. My community of family and friends restored felicity in me, and I now feel called to build others up in a similar fashion. In the fall, I will be attending Texas A&M University to pursue a degree in event planning. With my degree, I want to piece together events to celebrate and bring more awareness to the special needs community. I want to spread joy to everyone I can, and I believe my future degree in event management would greatly help me accomplish this goal. My aim for this essay is that it may serve as a reminder to you today that there is joy in this world, just like the Hobbit Samwise Gamgee declared, and “It is worth fighting for.”

In a world that has started recognizing all types of people, we must give the special needs community more recognition--this is one of my many life goals, and it all started with my twin autistic brothers. For my whole life, my family has fought hard for the welfare of my brothers, knowing there are many overwhelming obstacles to overcome in the future. My greatest fear is being left alone with my brothers when my parents pass, without any guidance and knowledge of how to provide for them and create a secure future for them. I know there are thousands of families out there who feel the same way. Thus began the long search for a welcoming and supportive community. My family began connecting my brothers with not only a great group of occupational therapists but also other individuals with special needs. These groups have been the most inspiring, supportive, and encouraging people to my family. I believe creating fun events for individuals with special needs, such as prom and other hangouts that prove fun activities and action steps for the future, can give the special needs community more peace, security, and joy, knowing that others struggle with their same diagnosis. So with my Bachelor's Degree in event planning at Texas A&M University, I hope to accomplish my life goal of bringing more recognition to people with special needs. By investing in more secure opportunities for the future of the special needs community, so many families could take back that joy and positivity that was once taken by fear. Our world thirsts for more joy and positivity, and a nation of altruistic leaders can create that hopeful atmosphere, especially for the special needs community. With my degree in event planning, I can organize events to share love and positivity, especially towards special needs individuals. Joy is one of the most definitive and impacting characteristics a person and nation can possess. So let us create, absorb, and maintain that joy because just like Sam Gamgee boldly proclaimed, "It is worth fighting for!"

Joy: The state of happiness and felicity. Joy contains the power to change an individual’s life, but I never knew it could fade so quickly. According to my friends and family, joy is my defining trait and smiling is my signature look; however, there have been moments where fear has drowned out my positivity. There is one fear in particular that looms over me like a dark cloud, and that fear is the future. When I was six years old, my twin brothers were diagnosed with autism. At the time I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long term changes it would make in the lives of my family. It was not until several years ago that I fully understood what autism meant. Autism is a type of special need and developmental disorder that comes with challenges such as verbal communication and social interaction. From that moment on, I grew up with the fear that my brothers may never gain independence in their lives.​ To this day I worry about their future because I know they will someday only have me to care for them. My grandmother, Yaya, told me to never lose hope and positivity in God and His plan because there was not enough of it in this world. God has a plan that is worth the followthrough, no matter the trials we face in life. This realization changed my life and afterward, I began living and breathing the Bible. I began reshaping my mental health and character because I knew I needed joy back in my life. After much perseverance, I finally began to see and feel color blossom in my life again. I found joy in my family’s shared circumstance. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition have bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to defend them. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, show kindness and understanding to those with special needs, spread autism awareness to others, give grace without limit, and be a light that others might need in their lives. After much tribulation, I finally understand why the first thing that people thought of when they saw me was joy. My community of family and friends restored felicity in me, and I now feel called to build others up in a similar fashion. My aim for this essay is that it may serve as a reminder to you today that there is hope in this world, just like the Hobbit Samwise Gamgee declared, and “It is worth fighting for.”

Joy: The state of happiness and felicity. Joy contains the power to change an individual’s life, but I never knew it could fade so quickly. According to my friends and family, joy is my defining trait and smiling is my signature look; however, there have been moments where fear has drowned out my positivity. There is one fear in particular that looms over me like a dark cloud, and that fear is the future. When I was six years old, my twin brothers were diagnosed with autism. At the time I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long term changes it would make in the lives of my family. It was not until several years ago that I fully understood what autism meant. Autism is a type of special need and developmental disorder that comes with challenges such as verbal communication and social interaction. From that moment on, I grew up with the fear that my brothers may never gain independence in their lives.​ To this day I worry about their future because I know they will someday only have me to care for them. My grandmother, Yaya, told me to never lose hope and positivity in God and His plan because there was not enough of it in this world. God has a plan that is worth the followthrough, no matter the trials we face in life. This realization changed my life and afterward, I began living and breathing the Bible. I began reshaping my mental health and character because I knew I needed joy back in my life. After much perseverance, I finally began to see and feel color blossom in my life again. I found joy in my family’s shared circumstance. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition have bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to defend them. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, show kindness and understanding to those with special needs, spread autism awareness to others, give grace without limit, and be a light that others might need in their lives. After much tribulation, I finally understand why the first thing that people thought of when they saw me was joy. My community of family and friends restored felicity in me, and I now feel called to build others up in a similar fashion. My aim for this essay is that it may serve as a reminder to you today that there is hope in this world, just like the Hobbit Samwise Gamgee declared, and “It is worth fighting for.”

I am very blessed to attend a preparatory school in Belton, Texas that operates much like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (yes…you read it right). It has four different houses that are led by certain students nominated by the staff. Since my sixth grade year, others have elected me as an officer of the Augustine house because of my passion and encouragement for fellow classmates, not just in House Augustine. Now I am nominated prefect of my house heading into my senior year; it is a big role that requires much responsibility, creativity, dedication, and critical thinking. Today, I believe I am a leader at heart, and I am told by my friends, family, and school that they see that trait in me---for which I am honored! I have never been more excited in my life to lead others towards the path of humility and servantheartedness in our community. I seek to be an example of the importance of volunteer work and community service. For the past two years, the house of Augustine has had the pleasure of serving at a special needs school in Killeen, Texas. This small childcare facility exists to serve children in the special-needs community and rarely has the time and assistance to deep clean and organize the facility for all the kids. Thus, two years ago the members of Augustine set out to serve their community with humble and devoted hearts. They unboxed new toys for the kids to play with, and constructed sandboxes for the kids to play in. The next service project the Augustinites organized for the Killeen school included deep cleaning each classroom and all the furniture inside and writing encouraging notes for the teachers and students to discover the next week at school. All the hard-working and dedicated Augustinites used these opportunities to show love and care to the staff and students of the small academy, just like Jesus did to everyone He encountered in His lifetime. One of the values that the wise St. Augustine cherished most was community, and the Augustine house continues to carry on that legacy by acting in love to those around it, for that is one of the greatest commandments in the Bible. In conclusion, I am very blessed and thankful to have been given the opportunity to display the joy volunteer work brings to the community. I hope this essay encourages the person reading it to participate in community service, because one small act has the power to change someone's life.

Joy: The state of happiness and felicity. Joy contains the power to change an individual’s life, but I never knew it could fade so quickly. According to my friends and family, joy is my defining trait and smiling is my signature look; however, there have been moments where fear has drowned out my positivity. There is one fear in particular that looms over me like a dark cloud, and that fear is the future. When I was six years old, my twin brothers were diagnosed with autism. At the time I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long term changes it would make in the lives of my family. It was not until several years ago that I fully understood what autism meant. Autism is a type of special need and developmental disorder that comes with challenges such as verbal communication and social interaction. From that moment on, I grew up with the fear that my brothers may never gain independence in their lives.​ To this day I worry about their future because I know they will someday only have me to care for them. My grandmother, Yaya, told me to never lose hope and positivity in God and His plan because there was not enough of it in this world. God has a plan that is worth the followthrough, no matter the trials we face in life. This realization changed my life and afterward, I began living and breathing the Bible. I began reshaping my mental health and character because I knew I needed joy back in my life. After much perseverance, I finally began to see and feel color blossom in my life again. I found joy in my family’s shared circumstance. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition have bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to defend them. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, show kindness and understanding to those with special needs, spread autism awareness to others, give grace without limit, and be a light that others might need in their lives. I am very blessed to attend a preparatory school in Belton, Texas that operates much like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (yes…you read it right). It has four different houses that are led by certain students nominated by the staff. Since my sixth grade year, others have elected me as a house officer because of my passion and encouragement for fellow classmates, not just in House Augustine. Now I am nominated prefect of my house heading into my senior year; it is a big role that requires much responsibility, creativity, dedication, and critical thinking. Today, I believe I am a leader at heart, and I am told by my friends, family, and school that they see that trait in me---for which I am honored! After much tribulation, I finally understand why the first thing that people thought of when they saw me was joy. My community of family and friends restored felicity in me, and I now feel called to build others up in a similar fashion. I have never been more excited in my life to lead others towards the path to positivity. I seek to be an example of how optimism and tenacity can truly change someone's life in a real and meaningful way. I watch my brothers struggle daily with everyday things that come naturally to neurotypical kids, and they have taught me so much, with regard to their perseverance, gratitude for the littlest of things, and grace for others’ struggles. I wish that whomever is reading this, that you seek out joy in everything you experience in life, and I challenge you to also be that spark that sets a wildfire of positivity in another's life. I have learned that joy is not only a state but also a choice. I have to choose to fight for joy. I have to choose to look toward positivity. Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, I hope through whatever trials you are facing or will face in the coming days you might think about the lessons I have learned so far. (Psalm 34:19) “In your promised trials never forget that God is present in your journey. He is your provider, comforter, and refuge.” My aim for this essay is that it may serve as a reminder to you today that there is hope in this world, just like the Hobbit Samwise Gamgee declared, and “It is worth fighting for.” In a world that has started recognizing all types of people, we must give the special needs community more recognition. My family has fought hard for the welfare of my autistic brothers and our nation can create efficient ways to give the special needs community more peace, security, and JOY. My greatest fear is being left alone with my brothers when my parents pass, without any guidance and knowledge of how to provide for them and create a secure future for them. I know there are thousands of families out there who feel the same way. By investing in more secure opportunities for the future of the special needs community, so many people could take back that joy and positivity that was once taken by fear. Many generations would benefit from these changes. Secondly, our nation must set out to create more leaders fit for guiding us to success. Too often I see leaders absorbed in their own personal desires rather than engulfed in the welfare and joy of others. Humility is the KEY to effective leadership. Our world thirsts for more joy and positivity, and a nation of humble leaders can create that hopeful atmosphere. Joy is one of the most definitive and impacting characteristics a person and nation can possess. So let us create, absorb, and maintain that joy because just like Sam Gamgee boldly proclaimed, "It is worth fighting for!"

I was standing over the bassinet in the hospital, staring at the two little babies that are now my two crazy, authentic brothers. Fast forward to kindergarten, the year that my brothers were diagnosed with autism. My family, which was once a cherry blossom amid weeds, was then becoming one of the weeds. When I was six years old, I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long-term changes it would make in the lives of my family. My grandmother, also known as Yaya, always told me to never lose hope and positivity because there was not enough of it in this world. Hope was the only fighting strength I had to survive as long as I have. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to stand up for what is right. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, spread kindness to those with special needs out of empathy, spread awareness to others, and be the light that others may need in their life. I go to a classical school that is run basically like Hogwarts. It has four different houses that are led by certain students nominated by the staff. Ever since sixth grade, others have elected me as a house officer. For my senior year, I was just now elected prefect, which is the leader of the whole house. It is a big role that requires much responsibility, creativity, dedication, and critical thinking. I am a leader at heart, and my friends, family, and school see that in me---wow I am honored! I have never been more excited in my life to lead others towards the path to being a cherry blossom in the midst of weeds. I cannot wait to be an example of how hope and perseverance can change someone's life in a GOOD way. Even though my essay is not about losing a family member, my essay does speak of the constant fear of losing hope and joy in my family's current circumstances. I watch my brothers struggle daily with everyday things that come naturally to neurotypical kids and they have taught me so much about perseverance, gratitude for the littlest of things, and grace for others struggles. Now, Reader, I encourage you to also be that spark that sets a wildfire of positivity in another's life.

Joy: The state of happiness and felicity. Joy contains the power to change an individual’s life, but I never knew it could fade so quickly. According to my friends and family, joy is my defining trait and smiling is my signature look; however, there have been moments where fear has drowned out my positivity. There is one fear in particular that looms over me like a dark cloud, and that fear is the future. When I was six years old, my twin brothers were diagnosed with autism. Autism is a type of special need and developmental disorder that comes with challenges such as verbal communication and social interaction. From that moment on, I grew up with the fear that my brothers may never gain independence in their lives.​ To this day I worry about their future because I know they will someday only have me to care for them. My grandmother, Yaya, told me to never lose hope and positivity in God and His plan because there was not enough of it in this world. This realization changed my life. I began reshaping my mental health and character because I knew I needed joy back in my life. After much perseverance, I finally began to see and feel color blossom in my life again. I found joy in my family’s shared circumstances. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, show kindness and understanding to those with special needs, spread autism awareness to others, give grace without limit, and be a light that others might need in their lives. Today, I believe I am a leader at heart, and I am told by my friends, family, and school that they see that trait in me---for which I am honored! After much tribulation, I finally understand why the first thing that people thought of when they saw me was joy. My community of family and friends restored felicity in me, and I now feel called to build others up in a similar fashion. I have never been more excited in my life to lead others towards the path to positivity. I seek to be an example of how optimism and tenacity can truly change someone's life in a real and meaningful way. I watch my brothers struggle daily with everyday things that come naturally to neurotypical kids, and they have taught me so much, with regard to their perseverance, gratitude for the littlest of things, and grace for others’ struggles. I wish that whomever is reading this, that you seek out joy in everything you experience in life, and I challenge you to also be that spark that sets a wildfire of positivity in another's life. Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, I hope through whatever trials you are facing or will face in your coming days you might think upon the lessons I have learned so far. (Psalm 34:19) “In your promised trials never forget that God is present in your journey. He is your provider, comforter, and refuge.” My aim for this essay is that it may serve as a reminder to you today that there is hope in this world, just like the Hobbit Samwise Gamgee declared, and “It is worth fighting for.”

I was standing over the bassinet in the hospital, staring at the two little babies that are now my two crazy, authentic brothers, thinking to myself "This is going to be a handful" (just kidding!). Fast forward to kindergarten, the year that my brothers were diagnosed with autism. My family, which was once a cherry blossom in the midst of weeds, was then becoming one of the weeds. When I was six years old, I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long-term changes it would make in the lives of my family. My grandmother, also known as Yaya, always told me to never lose hope and positivity because there was not enough of it in this world. Hope was the only fighting strength I had to survive as long as I have. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to stand up for what is right. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, spread kindness to those with special needs out of empathy, spread awareness to others, be the light that others may need in their life, and be an exemplary leader. I go to a classical school that is run basically like Hogwarts. It has four different houses that are led by certain students nominated by the staff. Ever since sixth grade, others have elected me as a house officer. For my senior year, I was just now elected prefect, which is the leader of the whole house. It is a big role that requires much responsibility, creativity, dedication, critical thinking, and humility. I am a leader at heart, and my friends, family, and school see that in me---wow I am honored! I have never been more excited in my life to lead others toward the path to being a cherry blossom in the midst of weeds. I cannot wait to be an example of how hope and perseverance can change someone's life in a GOOD way. I watch my brothers struggle daily with everyday things that come naturally to neurotypical kids and they have taught me so much about perseverance through life challenges, gratitude for the littlest of things, and grace for others' struggles. Now, Reader, I encourage you to also be that spark that sets a wildfire of positivity in another's life.

I was standing over the bassinet in the hospital, staring at the two little babies that are now my two crazy, authentic brothers. Fast forward to kindergarten, the year that my brothers were diagnosed with autism. My family, which was once a cherry blossom in the midst of weeds, was then becoming one of the weeds. When I was six years old, I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long-term changes it would make in the lives of my family. My grandmother, also known as Yaya, always told me to never lose hope and positivity because there was not enough of it in this world. Hope was the only fighting strength I had to survive as long as I have. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to stand up for what is right. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, spread kindness to those with special needs out of empathy, spread awareness to others, and be the light that others may need in their life. I go to a classical school that is run basically like Hogwarts. It has four different houses that are led by certain students nominated by the staff. Ever since sixth grade, others have elected me as a house officer. For my senior year, I was just now elected prefect, which is the leader of the whole house. It is a big role that requires much responsibility, creativity, dedication, and critical thinking. I am a leader at heart, and my friends, family, and school see that in me---wow I am honored! I have never been more excited in my life to lead others toward the path to being a cherry blossom in the midst of weeds. I cannot wait to be an example of how hope and perseverance can change someone's life in a GOOD way. I watch my brothers struggle daily with everyday things that come naturally to neurotypical kids and they have taught me so much about perseverance, gratitude for the littlest of things, and grace for others' struggles. When I finish studying my major in business I want to use my strengths of organization and planning and life-learned lessons to lead others just like I will be doing my senior year. I want to lead others in a way that glorifies Christ and proclaims His goodness, and celebrate those who the world titles "different". Now, Reader, I encourage you to also be that spark that sets a wildfire of positivity in another's life.

I was standing over the bassinet in the hospital, staring at the two little babies that are now my two crazy, authentic brothers. Fast forward to kindergarten, the year that my brothers were diagnosed with autism. My family, which was once a cherry blossom in the midst of weeds, was then becoming one of the weeds. When I was six years old, I did not fully grasp the term autism, nor the long-term changes it would make not only in the lives of my brothers but also in the lives of the rest of my family. My grandmother, also known as Yaya, always told me to never lose hope and positivity because there was not enough of it in this world. Hope was the only fighting strength I had to survive as long as I have. Over the many years, people who did not understand my brothers' condition bullied them, which in turn gave me many opportunities to stand up for what is right. I now realize that my autistic brothers have affected my life in a GOOD way. I have learned how to stand up for what is right, spread kindness to those with special needs out of empathy, spread awareness to others, and be the light that others may need in their life. I go to a classical school that is run basically like Hogwarts. It has four different houses that are led by certain students nominated by the staff. Ever since sixth grade, others have elected me as a house officer. For my senior year, I was just now elected prefect, which is the leader of the whole house. It is a big role that requires much responsibility, creativity, dedication, and critical thinking. I am a leader at heart, and my friends, family, and school see that in me---wow I am honored! I have never been more excited in my life to lead others toward the path to being a cherry blossom in the midst of weeds. I cannot wait to be an example of how hope and perseverance can change someone's life in a GOOD way. I watch my brothers struggle daily with everyday things that come naturally to neurotypical kids and they have taught me so much about perseverance, gratitude for the littlest of things, and grace for others' struggles. Now, Reader, I encourage you to also be that spark that sets a wildfire of positivity in another's life.