Perpetual Beauty Author Kelly Magro once remarked, “Autism doesn’t come with an instruction guide. It comes with a family who will never give up.” This quote definitely encompasses my family’s testimony. I have two super cool twin autistic brothers with completely different personalities. In my exposure to autism, my heart would define it as a condition that brings both challenges and blessings to her and her family. The most pervasive and constant obstacle autism brings my family would be the extensive costs for therapy, respite, and provision for the future as their caretakers age. Therapy costs are a huge challenge my family must face every year. My brothers need an education to move from surviving to thriving, and therapy opens the door to communication, enabling them to learn. Finding the right environment to accomplish this for my brothers has been long and arduous throughout the last ten years. It was not until a few years ago that we found a school where my brothers could grow and soar, but 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; thus, I also work while maintaining an A average to cover my living costs each month during college. Thus, any and every scholarship I am awarded is greatly valued, appreciated, and treasured. Respite care costs are another demand my parents manage year-round. Respite costs are put in place when my family pays an adult to care for my brothers while my parents and I attend events my brothers cannot attend. For example, my brothers cannot sit still and attend events for extended periods of time. So, my family applies respite care for my brothers for things like my high school graduation and other school programs. Respite care allows my parents and me to go to my school events without the stress and worry of my brothers not being able to behave in a socially acceptable way without disruption. Thus, respite care costs do add to the financial burden my family faces each year. Finally, preparation costs for my brothers’ future are a massive stress and hardship for my family. The thoughts of how my brothers will be cared for in the future when my parents pass are always weighing on our minds. My brothers cannot live independently, and my family wants a living situation that will fit them well and truly care for them; however, the cost of choosing a special needs living facility for them when my parents are gone is high, so money is a big burden for the future. Therefore, future preparation costs encumber my family’s heart and mind. In conclusion, autism brings many challenges to a family, including therapy, respite, and future preparation costs. While many acknowledge the tribulations of special needs for a child, many fail to recognize the reality of the struggle special needs bring to the whole family, which reminds me of author Kelly Magro’s quote: “Autism doesn’t come with an instruction guide. It comes with a family who will never give up.” Even though my family faces many troubles each year, we face them together. We have joy in the struggles because we see the beauty of how my brothers have grounded us in compassion and joy amidst suffering and challenges, teaching us to celebrate every victory. Reader, I hope my family’s story reminds you that there is beauty in every circumstance, you need only to open your heart to it.

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 very young, 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 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 circumstances. 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 to others. 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 currently attend Texas A&M University, pursuing 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.”

Smile To The End I have two super cool autistic brothers who are twins. 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 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. I am blessed to currently work part-time at Starbucks on the Texas A&M campus as a barista. I started this job during my first semester of college because I needed to make money in order to pay rent each month. I work approximately eighteen hours per week while being a full-time student, taking 12 credit hours of classes. It has been increasingly more challenging each semester to balance work with school. My purpose for being in College Station is to get my bachelor’s degree, but I cannot stay at Texas A&M if I cannot make rent each month. This challenge has disciplined me to practice efficient time management skills. Another challenge with this balance is that both aspects require much dedication and energy. My barista job is part of the hospitality industry, meaning my job is to create a unique and personalized experience for my customers. This takes much dedication and energy every shift, but it is something I am very passionate about. I love putting a smile on someone’s face, which is why I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Hotel Management, and Tourism. On the other hand, my classes get increasingly more challenging in terms of content and workload. I want to succeed in my classes with good grades, but that requires much time and commitment. A lot of my classes are project-based, thus meetings with classmates are required to complete the assignments, taking more time out of my schedule. There have been numerous instances in the past where it felt like I could not survive the week, one particular instance being this past semester. Many colleagues of mine at work quit during the semester, putting more demand on me and the other experienced baristas to work more hours. During this time, my classes began introducing final projects, which require much time and work outside of class. All of these demands, hitting me at the same time, were extremely difficult to handle under stress. However, with much prayer and perseverance, I pushed through to the end of the semester. I know more situations such as that one will arise again in the future, and I am more confident now that I will power through it and succeed to the end. Even though the balance between work and classes has been challenging, I am blessed to have learned the value of discipline, hard work, and time management. Hard work pays off, and after my college years, I know I will be proud of myself for persevering and succeeding through it all.

A Heart of Hospitality “A soul of hospitality and a heart of humanity is a house of love, peace, freedom, liberty, and justice”-- a profound quote by author Auliq Ice. Hospitality is the beating heart for all business and social interactions. In a world that is slowly being engulfed by AI, hospitality continues to bring real and humane interactions and experiences to us all. A career in hospitality encompasses fulfilling guests' needs to the fullest. In order to be truly successful in the hospitality industry, it is crucial to have a passion for serving others with one’s whole heart. I discovered my passion for hospitality during my middle school and high school years. From a young age, I found joy and fulfillment in making others smile and have fun through attending events my grandmother coordinated with her. She often brought me with her for extra help with weddings, which began my dreams of romance and weddings. Her kindness, energy, and passion for selfless service inspired me to do the same for my community. Later on in my middle school and high school years, I planned and coordinated special school events, such as volunteering and social events. I was voted a student officer, which gave me plenty of opportunities to practice creativity and organizational skills. This hobby made a home in my heart, leading me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Hotel Management, and Tourism with a concentration in Hospitality, Event Management, and Tourism. During my first two years in college, I had the pleasure of assisting two different brides in planning and coordinating their weddings. I discovered that wedding planning is my dream career. Nothing is as special as the joy and pure happiness on the guests’ faces at a wedding. Weddings are such a memorable and special experience for all who attend, and I love being part of that magical event, making every detail of the bride’s dream wedding come true. Ultimately, my life goal is to carry on my grandmother's legacy of unique and meaning selfless service and to impact the world around me through joy, love, kindness, and peace, choosing hospitality as my outlet to achieve that goal. As mentioned before, author Auliq Ice concisely encapsulates this point: “A soul of hospitality and a heart of humanity is a house of love, peace, freedom, liberty, and justice.” I want to create a business that promises every client a memorable and wonderful experience for the wedding day. If anyone has the same desire to make the world a better place, I implore them to adopt a heart of hospitality. I encourage them to challenge themselves with a heart of humility, and a “soul of hospitality”. In a dark world that lacks hospitable hearts, I invite them to be a much-needed source of light for the benefit of us all.

A Heart of Hospitality “A soul of hospitality and a heart of humanity is a house of love, peace, freedom, liberty, and justice”-- a profound quote by author Auliq Ice. Hospitality is the beating heart of all business and social interactions. In a world that is slowly being engulfed by AI, hospitality continues to bring real and humane interactions and experiences to us all. A career in hospitality encompasses fulfilling guests' needs to the fullest. In order to be truly successful in the hospitality industry, it is crucial to have a passion for serving others with one’s whole heart. I discovered my passion for hospitality during my middle school and high school years. From a young age, I found joy and fulfillment in making others smile and have fun through planning and coordinating special school events, such as volunteering, social, and sporting events. I was voted a student officer, which gave me plenty of opportunities to practice creativity and organizational skills. This hobby made a home in my heart, leading me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Hotel Management, and Tourism with a concentration in Hospitality, Event Management, and Tourism. During my first two years in college, I had the pleasure of assisting two different brides in planning and coordinating their weddings. I discovered that wedding planning is my dream career. Nothing is as special as the joy and pure happiness on the guests’ faces at a wedding. Weddings are such a memorable and special experience for all who attend, and I love being part of that magical event, making every detail of the bride’s dream wedding come true. Ultimately, my life goal is to impact the world around me through joy, love, kindness, and peace, choosing hospitality as my outlet to achieve that goal. As mentioned before, author Auliq Ice concisely encapsulates this point: “A soul of hospitality and a heart of humanity is a house of love, peace, freedom, liberty, and justice.” I want to create a business that promises every client a memorable and wonderful experience for the wedding day. If anyone has the same desire to make the world a better place, I implore them to adopt a heart of hospitality. I encourage them to challenge themselves with a heart of humility, and a “soul of hospitality”. In a dark world that lacks hospitable hearts, I invite them to be a much-needed source of light for the benefit of us all.

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.