My most significant leadership experience is my role as an officer at my high school’s Tech Club. As a secretary, my responsibilities are to take attendance, document club activities, and guide club members when working on group projects or other fun activities. I have been a member of this club for about three years, but in 2020 I decided to become an officer because I always held an interest in computers, robotics, and programming, and I had the confidence and charisma to lead students and foster within them a love of technology. Since then, I have contributed to the club through my role as secretary, but I also work towards promoting Tech Club throughout the school as well. I do this by maintaining our Discord Server and promoting it through social media and word of mouth. I have also expressed my appreciation for Tech Club by coming up with new creative projects. For example, I came up with the idea of a Tech Club “Rewind” in which I compiled all the projects that we created over the past school year and shared them with all our members at the end of May. This includes blueprints for robots, an album of all our music projects, and a collection of movie trailers that we produced. Not only does it celebrate our accomplishments as a club, but it also works as advertising for the upcoming school year in order to demonstrate to the school how powerful and fun technology can be. Because of my passion and leadership among our members, this club has creatively flourished, especially since we have finally gone back to in-person learning and are now able to tackle more ambitious projects. My experience as a club officer has allowed me to build more confidence in my ability to lead and inspire others, and it has also allowed me to socially interact with my peers, something I used to struggle with for a long time. Since then, I have become significantly more outgoing and able to handle the pressures that come with leadership. As I enter college to major in computer science and engineering, I realized how important it is to build up that sense of leadership, especially since I'll have to communicate, collaborate, and work with those around me in the future. Now that I've been exposed to this sort of environment through Tech Club, I definitely feel much more prepared to take that next step towards becoming a computer engineer.

The most practical and simple solution that can help people who struggle with mental health is simply having more people you can talk to about your problems. One thing I’ve noticed for years is how our society tends to neglect the topic of mental health. As someone diagnosed with anxiety disorder, I’m especially alarmed at how we tend to overlook our need for emotional comfort and real-life social interactions in favor of worldly success and toxic masculinity. My struggles with mental health peaked at my adolescence, where I struggled with socializing and handling schoolwork, putting immense stress and loneliness onto me. As time passed, I became more emotionally volatile, yet I was unable to truly vent out my struggles because I convinced myself that doing so would make me look pathetic and attention-seeking. It wasn’t until one day when my parents caught wind of my distress and confronted me about these issues when I finally let my bottled-up emotions loose. To my surprise, they seemed to understand my struggles, as they told me they were going through their own hardships and would help me seek a therapist to sort myself out. Since then, I became more willing to discuss personal struggles with friends and family, which not only calmed me down, but also inspired others to share their own struggles. For once, I felt comfort in knowing that I can be a shoulder for others to lean on. No one deserves to be left alone with their darkest thoughts. Therefore, it is imperative that we strive to normalize serious mental health discussions in order to encourage others to reach out for support and mitigate the loneliness we all experience in today’s society.

Perhaps the greatest strength that I have developed throughout my life is the ability to optimize my schedule and tasks. One value that I have always taken to heart is efficiency, or the skill of accomplishing the most work in the least amount of time possible. Because of this, whenever I face a problem-solving situation, I often consider what offers the most convenient solution, while also striving to maintain the quality of my work. An everyday example of this is whenever I do homework for school. I tend to focus on my work more on-campus, which is why I always stay at the school library after class so that whatever I learned stays fresh in my mind and I can finish homework quickly. However, the most significant example in which I have optimized my time is within my high school schedule. Since freshman year, I prioritized honors and AP classes in order to build up my GPA and college credits. I also ensured that my course requirements were fulfilled as soon as possible by taking college courses such as cinema, government, and economics on top of high school classes. By doing this, I attained enough credits and requirements to take fewer classes for my senior year, which gave me more time to focus on getting a job, participate in clubs, and keep in touch with hobbies. Through my ability to optimize my time, I was able to relieve whatever stress and anxiety I would’ve gotten had I failed to take the opportunity to get ahead in school. Going into the future, I want to keep taking advantage of dual enrollment classes so I can save time and money. That way, I can make the most of my time in university and pursue my career sooner.

Whenever I hear the words “financial freedom,” I often associate that term with “not being stuck in debt.” Although avoiding debt will certainly help towards achieving economic stability, I’ve come to realize that there is so much more to finances than just having the ability to pay off medical, student, home, or car loans. For me, the fullest extent of financial freedom is having sufficient life savings to not only survive, but also to thrive. Essentially, my goal is to have a high-salary job and earn enough income to pay for the well-being of me and my future family until I retire. From there, I want to have enough life savings to last me until natural causes catch up to me. However, on top of all that, I also want to have the ability to give back to those around me, whether that be through donating to charity, helping my parents with their own retirement funds, or even helping to pay for my future childrens’ tuition. By having the ability to pave the way for others to work towards financial freedom themselves, I can thrive and live knowing I’ve achieved financial freedom myself. However, in order for me to work towards financial security, I will have to take action as soon as possible. Right now, I’ve saved up hundreds of dollars that I’ve earned from gifts and allowance and have set up a savings account. However, I plan to set up an investing account and delve into the world of stock trading. Over the past year, I’ve researched specific stocks such as Roblox, Gamestop, and AMC, while also talking with friends and family about their own experiences and how they have profited from the stock market. Since then, I concluded that setting up an investing account is not only highly encouraged, but also fundamental in building up my retirement savings. Aside from that, I’ve also applied for countless local and private scholarships in my goal to reduce tuition and other student fees for university. However, I plan to receive most of my income through taking up multiple local part-time jobs next semester and during summer break before I head off to college. That way, I can gain valuable work experience and help pay off college tuition in the future. Aside from my short-term future plans, however, I also plan to participate in work-study programs and paid internships during college to help alleviate my student debt and gain work experience as it pertains to my computer science major. It won’t be until I graduate and pursue a career in computer programming, engineering, and analytics that I can finally secure a stable source of income for me to achieve financial freedom. Essentially, if I want to have the ability to financially thrive and give back to those around me, it requires that I start saving and earning right now, taking as many opportunities as I can to reduce my debt and work towards a career in computer science and engineering.

The toughest adversities I have faced throughout my middle and high school life were my medical problems that erupted on numerous occasions. During these times, I had to take time off of school to recover, which severely set me back in my studies and academic plans I had for the future. The first time I had faced these medical issues was in seventh grade, when I had to go to the hospital for an untreated stomach ulcer. During this time, I had occasional episodes of throwing up blood and having severe stomachaches, which often disrupted my learning. Eventually, I had to set aside three months to recover, which took a toll on my studies as well as my mental health since back then, I didn’t know if I was ever able to go back to normal. It was here when I was told by the doctors that the reason for my ulcer was because I had built up stomach acid from not eating and being under constant stress. In other words, I had failed to properly take care of myself, and it was my negligence that brought me to the hospital on numerous occasions. After those few months, I had to rush through three months’ worth of school to catch up through homeschooling, and it was here when my mental health plummeted. Back then, I felt like I had burdened not only myself, but also my parents for worrying them and having them pay my medical bills. These dark thoughts persisted throughout the rest of middle school and into the first few years of high school, where more of my mental conditions unraveled, which worsened my stress. Eventually, during my sophomore year of high school, I had another series of episodes of stomachaches and internal bleeding, which forced me to take a month off to recover in the hospital. Here, I began to seriously question whether or not I would be able to take on the rest of my life, especially now that my health, both physically and mentally, was failing me. I asked myself, “What would become of me if this continues? Will I even make it past high school?” That was when I realized that I seriously needed to get my act together and take care of myself, even if it means diverting attention away from school. I began to take more breaks in between my studies, as well as take more time to sleep and eat properly. I relaxed my grip on my studies and focused more on my hobbies, which include game design, golf, and walking around my neighborhood. By taking things more lightly, I learned how to reduce my stress levels, as well as learn how to enjoy whatever was left of my high school life. Now I am a high school senior, and although I’m busy with college applications, volunteering, school clubs, and classes, I finally managed to find a time to breathe and relax amidst the workload. I also encourage others to take care of themselves above anything else. No one should be forced to suffer and sacrifice their physical and mental health, because it will come back to haunt you. Whenever I hear someone complaining about only getting three to five hours of sleep just to study, I’m reminded of who I used to be four years ago, and I want to tell them that they’re better than that. Most importantly, I want to reassure people that their lives are valuable, no matter what kind of difficulties they’re going through.

For me, the most important aspect of friendship is about helping each other out. In fact, the quality that separates acquaintances from true friends is not through mere similarities, but the idea that friends are there to support you through difficult times. For example, I recall a friend that I met in my freshman Spanish class and frequently talked and worked with, especially after school. Over the years she became someone whom I could turn towards for emotional support, and I remember a time when she calmed me down after a panic attack I had during school. Since then, I realized how much she cared for me, and I felt that I needed to return the favor somehow. Wanting to be someone she can turn to for help as well, I encouraged her to vent out some of her emotional struggles too, and even to this day, we both seek solace in sharing with each other what bothered us at the time. To me, this is what demonstrates true friendship, especially in the sense that we supported each other in times of need. Although we both met through similar classes, it wasn’t until we frequently talked with each other that I considered her a true friend. I encourage everyone to seek out a friend who can pull through and be as supportive as my friend was. Even something as simple as asking them how their day was can go a long way, as it did for me when she calmed my anxiety attack years ago. In an age where many people feel that they’re alone in their mental struggle, it is now more important than ever to find that one person to lean onto for help.

One of the biggest reasons why patience matters to me is because it allows me to be a more approachable person to others, especially when it comes to leadership and helping others. For example, I recently volunteered as a math tutor for high school sophomores to help them study for an upcoming exam on polynomial fractions. Here, I went through some example problems step-by-step to make sure they understand the material, while also giving them time to solve the problem for themselves so that they can be prepared for the exam. Whenever someone has trouble with a problem, however, I go through the step-by-step process again, while also making sure to point out their mistakes. Rather than leaving them to work on the problem for themselves, I instead have the patience to work with students and figure out their learning process. My guidance and persistence to help them learn have even earned some praise from students, going so far as to say that my teaching process is more straightforward than their teachers’. It was my patience here that allowed students to be more comfortable with asking for help, and I want to continue to uphold this aspect of myself for the future. I plan to major in computer science and engineering, which will require me to have the patience to collaborate with others within the field. Through my experiences with volunteering and leadership, I allowed myself to be more patient with others, a trait that will undoubtedly help me as I enter college and the working world.

One of the best ways I motivate myself to grow is by seeking out new experiences and not letting myself stay within my comfort zone. I’ve grown to despise boredom above anything else because it meant that I wasn’t doing anything productive and that I wasn’t making the most of my time. Whenever I take a step back and relax for a day, I often feel a pang of guilt afterward for not continuing to seek out new experiences. Last summer, for example, instead of taking a vacation or sleeping in, I actively sought out other ways to challenge myself, such as by taking summer college classes for economics and government. I also kept myself preoccupied by picking up a new hobby in game design, completing my driver’s education, and regularly volunteering for a local church. Finally, I arranged in-person hangouts with friends at nearby theme parks or malls, something I’ve never mustered the confidence to do before. By keeping myself busy, I open myself up to unique, enriching experiences, allowing me to feel a sense of accomplishment for not staying within my comfort zone. As I begin my transition to college, I want to continue to try new activities while I still can so I don’t have to wonder what I missed out on back in high school. Right now, I’m currently taking college classes, working towards getting my driver’s license, scouting out new jobs and scholarships, and participating in volunteering and school clubs, on top of my academics. Even though at times my workload leaves me overwhelmed, I can still sleep peacefully knowing that my extracurricular activities and experiences allow me to grow as a person much more than if I took an easier route during high school.

In terms of music, my favorite artist is songwriter, producer, and rapper Kendrick Lamar. What makes him stand out in the industry is his ability to craft catchy and harmonious instrumentals while also concentrating on lyrics that resonate within the listener. Perhaps the best example of his work is his 2015 release, “To Pimp A Butterfly”, in which Lamar not only produces a library of entertaining tracks that complement one another, but also speaks out about race relations and the feeling of being institutionalized through songs such as “Alright”, “The Blacker The Berry”, and “Mortal Man”, all of which still age beautifully years later. Personally, I’ve been moved by his message to love yourself in spite of your flaws, which is best demonstrated through the duality of the tracks “U” and “I”. Overall, Kendrick Lamar’s exceptional talent in both producing and rapping makes him my favorite musical artist.

I sometimes look back at my childhood and wonder to myself, “Who would I be if I had spent my whole life in one place? Would I have grown to be the same person I am now?” I was born in a metropolitan region of the Philippines and was raised there alongside many of my relatives for the first three years of my life. Although I don’t recall much about my life back then, I remember how friendly and welcoming everyone was to me. However, when my parents and I immigrated to the United States, particularly in a small town in Pennsylvania, that sense of familiarity was replaced with alienation and distance. During my preschool years there, I often kept to myself and refused to interact with other kids around me. This, combined with the fact that I had to learn a whole new language in a new country, discouraged me from socializing and contributed to my fear of socialization. Then, when I turned six, my family moved again, this time to Wisconsin, and whatever familiarity I had with Pennsylvania faded with it. I had to re-experience that feeling of alienation and feeling like I don’t belong, especially since the area I lived in wasn’t ethnically diverse. Despite that, I began to come out of my bubble and started talking to kids my age, and I even managed to make a handful of friends during my elementary school years. I felt like I was beginning to find my place in America now that I had made myself comfortable with those around me. However, towards the end of my fourth grade, my parents told me that we would move once again, this time to the California suburbs. This news emotionally wrecked me, especially now that I’ve made a name for myself in Wisconsin. All those years of socializing and finally talking to others now meant nothing if I couldn’t see them again. Once I moved to California and entered the fifth grade, I fell back to my old introverted ways, keeping to myself unless someone else came to me. It wasn’t until seventh grade when I finally met my group of friends that would stick with me even to this day. Once I met them, I finally came out of my shell and felt comfort in knowing that I finally found my place in California. Even when high school began, the anxiety of having to talk to people from different schools was mitigated by the fact that my friends still stuck with me. Over the coming years, I kept challenging myself to talk to others by joining different clubs and interacting with fellow classmates. Through my efforts, I finally overcame my fear of talking to others. Even so, now I’m preparing myself to leave my community once again for my college years, but I feel much more comfortable with others now that I’ve built up my social skills and even made a name for myself as a leader of a school club. As I enter the university experience and work towards my major in computer science and engineering, I can at least feel solace in the fact that I no longer feel alone. For the first time in my life, the anxiety I usually feel when moving is now paired with excitement for the future. Despite my enthusiasm, however, I recognize that my road towards a career in computer science will be arduous and expensive, which is why I’m currently applying for this scholarship, which will help cover my tuition and reduce the stress that comes with student debt.

The best lesson I’ve learned about money is that I should set aside 10% of my income for savings, around 30% for rent, and the rest for other necessities and commodities. By doing this, not only will I be able to pay off necessary bills, but I can also quickly build up my savings over time, which will help towards retirement and other long-term spending plans. I first learned about this from my high school business and graphic design teacher, and he has taught me that every penny towards savings will help me in the long run. His lesson also made me realize how important it is to have a job that yields enough income for me to budget 10% towards savings and the rest for bills. Even though income and budget may differ from person to person, it is still important to create a similar benchmark in regards to savings so that you don’t end up spending your entire paycheck or fall into debt.

One thing I’ve noticed over the past few years is the lack of discussion revolving around mental health and the emotional well-being of others. Although today’s society brought forth immeasurable technological advancements and countless opportunities to communicate with others through the Internet, it has also overlooked the importance of real-life social interactions. On top of the fact that more people are living independently from friends and family, society nowadays has become much more lonely, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in which opportunities to socialize with others in person significantly dwindled. People around the world are suffering, and they don’t have anyone to talk to about it; this could be because they’re too afraid to reveal their own insecurities and vulnerabilities, or because they don’t even know if what they’re feeling is normal or not. All this stems from the lack of serious public discussion regarding mental health in the world, and there is no point in people hiding these issues from everyone else anymore. Therefore, the biggest change I want to see not only within my community, but the world at large, is education on mental health, as well as more resources for people to come out with their emotional and mental issues. Most importantly, society should consider normalizing mental health discussions in order to encourage more people to seek support and company so that everyone has a chance to voice their own struggles. I’ve also had my fair share of mental issues in the past, and the only reason I overcame them is because I gained the confidence to talk with my friends and family about my emotional struggles. Throughout most of middle and high school, I often felt lonely, anxious about the future, and insecure about how I compared with those around me. Not only that, but I refused to talk about my problems with friends and family because I didn’t want to burden them with my suffering. However, I would occasionally have panic attacks out of stress or schoolwork, and I felt like I had no one to talk to, making me feel trapped. It wasn’t until one day when my parents noticed I was going through some personal struggles, that someone finally reached out to break me out of my shell. They told me that they were going through stressful times as well, and would help me seek out a therapist to sort out my problems. That was when I realized that there wasn’t any point in keeping in my stress until I would reach my breaking point. That was when I realized that it was okay to talk to others about my problems, and that no one in their right mind would judge you for having feelings you can’t control. That was when I realized that I wasn’t alone. In fact, others around me were going through their own struggles. Since then, I’ve been more confident in discussing my personal struggles with friends and family, which not only calmed me down and get things off my chest, I also allowed for others to share their own struggles. For the first time, I felt comfort in knowing that I can be a shoulder for others to lean on. I continued to encourage others to vent their frustrations by setting up an online group chat to act as a safe space for fellow classmates to express what they’re going through. I also shared mental health resources I found online within my high school’s Tech Club, a club that I’m also a leader of. I want to set an example for others and build a healthy club environment, and I believe that sharing these resources will bring some comfort to fellow members, that they aren’t alone. No one deserves to be left alone with their mental struggles. Therefore, it is imperative that I and other advocates for this cause continue to promote the normalization of serious mental health discussions in order to encourage others to reach out for support and mitigate the loneliness that we all experience in today’s society.