Reading helped shape my life today, and I can’t imagine growing up without the ability to access and explore books. My fantastical adventures provided me with the confidence to dream big, and they led me to discover the art of crafting those very stories myself. So when literacy rates began declining due to COVID, the bookworm in me needed to find a solution. I wanted to introduce kids to reading as an enjoyable experience outside of an intimidating classroom environment, and to another life skill in danger of dwindling in the next generation and another of my passions: baking. So I founded a monthly program, Tales and Treats, at the very library where I fell in love with reading. I wanted the first event to be fun and colorful, so I created an “Under the Sea” theme. I read a book by one of my favorite childhood authors, Eric Carle, and I developed a recipe for “sand dollar” snickerdoodle cookies. The program was a hit, with over twenty kids excitedly filling up ingredient jars to take home and bake “sand dollars” with. It is universally acknowledged that children love sweet treats, so incorporating a book-themed recipe inspired them to take notice of the story. Since the event was held at my local library, many kids excitedly explored the selection of books after the event. It was amazing to watch the kids take on my love of reading as they discovered new stories. Ever since I learned to read, I dreamed of working in the literature field. While other kindergarteners dressed up as firefighters and veterinarians for career day, I was a comical sight in my business attire, determined to become a literary editor. My experience with founding Tales and Treats has cemented my desire to work in the writing field, but it has shifted a few aspects of my career plan. Working directly with my community has been a greatly rewarding experience, and I can’t envision myself giving that up. I aim to major in communications or public relations, which will allow me to use my writing to spread positive community stories, whether of a local business’s community outreach or a nonprofit’s nationwide volunteer initiative. Sharing optimistic, sincere stories on a broader level will fulfill my passion for writing and my desire to be involved with my community. Tales and Treats is just one example of my determination to proactively search for ways to improve the lives of those around me. I am reminded of my capability to have an immense impact on my community every time I lead a Tales and Treats event. I hope to further this impact by joining community service organizations wherever I attend college, potentially expanding my program to local libraries. Even when it means creating a unique program from scratch, the bookworm in me will never stop sharing my passion for reading with the next generation.

Our world is one with billions of perspectives, and this is reflected in our diverse media culture. We can find information on almost everything, from almost everyone. However, the majority of news sources are so far to one side or another that they don’t pause to consider other perspectives. Every site claims to be correct, yet most simply blast us with opinions, not facts. Almost no news is true news - it is all biased and twisted. I fear that the media has abandoned its supposed goal of reporting the truth for the eye-catching option of opinion pieces. Everyone seems to have warped motives, and it is nearly impossible to find the truth. This issue is increasingly concerning, especially in our society of shortening attention spans and vulnerable minds. If our news sources continue to go unchecked, even the sliver of truth that exists now could disappear. Unfortunately, the general public will believe these stories and continue to act on information from unreliable sources. This is not only untrustworthy, it can be extremely dangerous. Not too long ago, anyone could open a newspaper and find out exactly what was happening in our world. Now, they turn on the news and see minor stories about insignificant events while wars, treaties, and major events are occurring across the globe. I fear that our society may soon become blinded to the true events of our world. My main goal as a writer is to spread the full story - the true story - even if I don’t agree personally. Higher education will teach me how to sift through information to find facts and write in a way that displays them clearly. Furthermore, I will learn how to best spread positivity and optimism, rather than the negativity and ignorant controversy in our news today. I will learn how to sift through biased headlines to find optimistic stories of people spreading positivity and giving back to their communities. Giving light to these stories would uplift communities and inspire people to act for the greater good. I hope to further explore unbiased news through meta-analyses of news stories about current events. I would also like to take a closer look at specific news sources, identify their biases, and use them as a guideline to prevent bias in my stories. Through higher education, I will become informed enough to write my own stories and speak with an unfiltered, unbiased voice. I truly hope that I can spread this perspective in order to create an unbiased news atmosphere in my community, and eventually the country.

Whether it be baking birthday confections for my family members or working through my swing on the golf course, I always push myself to be fully engaged in all of my passions. I am also extremely passionate about community service, and I love creating volunteer projects based on my interests. Just before the pandemic, I organized a bake sale and community campaign to raise money and awareness for those without clean drinking water in other parts of the world. Not only did I raise over 2,000 dollars, but I also enjoyed baking all the treats and sharing my passion for helping others. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the isolation caused by the pandemic, I used that time to seek out ways to improve and expand my baking skills. I took online classes in French pastry making, became an official recipe tester for America’s Test Kitchen, and combined my enthusiasm for cooking with another passion - reading. I created a “Books & Bites” blog and founded the “Tales & Treats” program at my local library. This program pairs storytime with a story-themed baking project for kids, and I hope to share my love of reading and encourage kids to pursue their passions. Even while adjusting to my first year of high school - my first year back after the pandemic - I continued to search for opportunities to serve my community. It was during this time that I discovered one of my favorite volunteer programs. The Ladies Professional Golf Association, or LPGA, provides resources for young girls to learn to play golf through a program called Girls Golf. I am an “E-leader” in this program, which means I help coach the girls and create lessons for them. I love how Girls Golf empowers girls in all aspects of their lives, even off the golf course. Last year, I joined my school’s Key Club, an international volunteer organization dedicated to improving local communities. I loved the opportunities provided by the club, but I felt that we could have a much greater impact. I reached out to our local Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit that builds houses for those in need with resources funded from sales at their ReStore. Due to this initiative, my Key Club now organizes the ReStore once a month to help increase sales and donations. I loved coordinating this project and making a tangible impact. This year, I was elected as the president of Key Club, so I get to lead the entire program and expand our community impact. However, it was not easy for me to immediately assume the confidence required of a club president. I had always struggled with speaking in front of large groups, but the practice of presenting at club meetings and leading our many volunteer projects has helped me to persevere and overcome this anxiety. I believe that communities thrive when everyone directs their resources toward helping others, and I intend to spread this message through my studies of communications and journalism. Our world is one with millions of perspectives, and this is reflected in our diverse media culture. Unfortunately, many media sources have abandoned their goal of objectively reporting the truth for sensational and eye-catching opinion pieces. My main goal as a writer has always been to spread true stories of positivity and optimism, rather than the negativity and ignorant controversy often seen in our news today. There are hundreds of untold stories of people spreading positivity and giving back to their communities. Giving light to these stories would uplift communities and inspire people to act for the greater good.

One of the most influential books I have ever read was almost an accident. I had just finished my book on our family beach trip, so I went looking for another on our rental house's bookshelf. I wasn't too concerned with which one I picked, since we were leaving the next day. I assumed that I would find something light, read a few chapters, and leave it behind with no problem. In actuality, it was the fastest I've ever read a book. That book was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It is a book with layers and layers of meaning, and it resonated deeply with me. The Midnight Library follows the story of Nora, a depressed woman who has many regrets about her life. She is driven to purposefully overdose on her medication, but instead of dying, she finds herself in a mysterious place called the midnight library. It is a place between life and death, and the books in the library represent all the different lives Nora could have lived if she had made a different choice at any time in her life. She gets to experience dozens of her possible lives, searching for some sense of meaning in her life. While it may seem cliche, Nora eventually realizes that life itself can be the reason to live; in other words, the point of life is life itself. She is able to survive, turn her life around, and be truly happy with herself. This message really struck a chord with me, and it helped me change how I view my own life. If everyone in the world read The Midnight Library, I believe that we would all have a better outlook on life. Too many people are depressed and trapped in their negative ways, and they don't see all the good things that are happening around them. This book would help everyone realize that even if they can't see it right now, they still have a reason to keep living their lives and finding new meaning. We are all guilty of living in the past and regretting our decisions, and this book tells us to let go and focus on the positive. The Midnight Library tells us that there is still time for us to change for the better. Not only could this book save lives, but it could also reform our world and how we view ourselves.

You just died. You may not remember it, but you awaken to find yourself in the mysterious afterlife. Everyone you meet is absolutely perfect, and they spent their lives helping the world in any way they possibly could. There's just one catch - you didn't. You know your life was spent doing things that were, well... unproductive. So why are you here? And why does everyone else think you belong? This is the primary plot of the most binge-worthy show on Netflix: The Good Place. This is the show I could watch on repeat for hours and never get bored of. There are so many clever lines, and more plot twists than seem possible. Every episode of The Good Place presents more surprises and discoveries, so you want to keep watching in order to find out more. Even though cliffhangers are annoying, they certainly do a great job of convincing you to watch "just one more". I believe one of the reasons The Good Place is so interesting is because it tackles a subject almost everyone is curious about: what happens after you die? While the show's interpretation may not be the most accurate, it is certainly thought-provoking, and it's fun to dream about the possibilities. I'm a big fan of shows and movies that make you think a little. I enjoy creating mini spin-off episodes in my mind, or trying to guess the next reveal in a mystery. The Good Place combines the genre of mystery with comedy and dystopia. Not to mention, the director, Michael Schur, created two of my other top-ten favorite shows: Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation. All three shows have a similar sense of humor, which happens to be exactly my type of humor (the funniest kind, by the way). The show also does a good job of varying the jokes, so I guarantee everyone will laugh at least once. Creating a show is almost like a science - some could be too funny, others not funny enough. The Good Place is unique because the "formula" is exactly right. A sprinkle of romance, a dollop of mystery, and a bucketful of humor. Watching The Good Place is a truly enjoyable experience, unlike other popular shows I saw simply because they were popular. You could invite friends over to discuss it and laugh together. Have a cooking, drawing, or dancing competition based on the many sources of inspiration from the show. I watched the show with my family, and it was something all of us looked forward to every night. My brother and I shared the joyful victory of occasions when my mother sighed, "Alright, alright, we can watch one more." If no other reason in this entire essay convinces you to watch The Good Place, consider how its captivating premise connects people and creates an event to look forward to.

My dream house is a sprawling mansion surrounded by trees, away from any busy area. Next to it is a magnificent lake, and in the winter it gets just cold enough for ice skating on the frozen surface. Summers are never too hot, and fall turns the forest into an inferno of color. The house looks relatively simple on the outside, inspired by a rustic cabin. It is covered in windows, which allow a glimpse of the magic inside. There’s a room for anything and everything, and some simply for nothing. Of course, the kitchen is gigantic, containing anything necessary to bake even the wildest creations. Stand mixers in every color, cake molds, chocolates, bread baskets, and more. Two massive commercial ovens sit in the corner, alongside multiple fridges filled with a myriad of fruits and ingredients. And across the hall - which is lined with stunning photographs - is the library. It spirals upwards with no end in sight, shelves filled with thousands of books. Worn wooden ladders lean against the shelves, and spiral staircases are tucked into every corner. Large windows allow the sun to cast its rays into the room, creating a bright, warm glow. Follow the staircases up, and you will find the reading area. It’s not one big area, but rather dozens of nooks spaced between the windows and bookshelves. One is a window seat with cushions galore, overlooking the solitary forest and glistening lake. Another is on top of the shelves, hidden away in a corner with only a ladder as access. On the very top floor of the library, a labyrinth of bookshelves leads seemingly nowhere. But follow the path known only by some, and you’ll come to a sole shelf. Pull a book out, and the shelf spins to reveal a hidden room. Inside, paths weave off to the left and right, but a bright red slide leads straight down. At the end, a panel pushes out to the bedrooms, through a guest room mirror. Every bedroom is themed differently - one like the ocean, one like a candy store, yet another like a cloud in the night sky. The other side of the house contains an indoor swimming pool, a rock wall, and a greenhouse with a path outdoors to the garden filled with ripe fruit. Upstairs, there is a cozy living room, yet quite unlike the rest of the house. It is small, made to feel smaller by the massive quantity of furniture, blankets, and pillows. A TV is mounted on the wall, and shelves are stocked with games and puzzles. Now, of course, the house is bigger than this, but not all of it is in plain sight. Cabinets open to reveal stairs, mirrors swing on hinges, and floors slide open with the push of a button. This is why, from the outside, more windows appear than rooms, and perhaps why this house seems more similar a dream.

Last year, I went on a beach trip with my family. I had just finished my book, so I went looking for another on our rental house's bookshelf. I wasn't too concerned with which one I picked, since we were leaving the next day. I assumed that I would find something light, read a few chapters, and leave it behind with no problem. In actuality, that couldn't have been further from the truth. It was the fastest I've ever read a book. That book was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It is a book with layers and layers of meaning, and it resonated deeply with me. The Midnight Library follows the story of Nora, a depressed woman who has many regrets about her life. She is driven to purposefully overdosing on her medication, but instead of dying, she finds herself in a mysterious place called the midnight library. It is a place between life and death, and the books in the library represent all the different lives Nora could have lived if she had made a different choice at any time in her life. She gets to experience dozens of her possible lives, searching for some sense of meaning in her life. While it may seem cliche, Nora eventually realizes that life itself can be the reason to live; in other words, the point of life is life itself. She is able to survive, turn her life around, and be truly happy with herself. This message really struck a chord with me, and it helped me change how I view my own life. If everyone in the world read The Midnight Library, I believe that we would all have a better outlook on life. Too many people are depressed and trapped in their negative ways, and they don't see all the good things that are happening around them. This book would help everyone realize that even if they can't see it right now, they still have a reason to keep living their lives and finding new meaning. We are all guilty of living in the past and regretting our decisions, and this book tells us to let go and focus on the positive. The Midnight Library tells us that there is still time for us to change for the better. Not only could this book save lives, but it could also reform our world and how we view ourselves.

When I was in middle school, I hated learning math. It was hard, confusing, and frustrating. I liked my teachers, but what they were saying made no sense. Online classes didn't make it any easier, and I had to spend a lot of time learning on my own. Then, one day, it clicked. I don't know what changed, but the numbers started making sense. It was an "aha!" moment, like a cartoon lightbulb appeared over my head. I started being able to keep up in class, and I understood so many more concepts. From then on, I began to enjoy math. Some problems have a relaxing simplicity to them, as if the equation solves itself and I'm just along for the ride. Even the more difficult problems are fun since they provide a challenge. Even on the days when I don't enjoy going to math class, I am still engaged the whole time, and I can't say the same for some of my other classes. I also feel like I'm learning something new every day in class, and I enjoy that feeling of growth. In math, there is usually one right answer with no room for debate, and I find that comforting. There are also ways to check your answer. These factors combined means that if you know how to do a problem, you can find the correct answer almost every time. In addition to this, all math is connected, so learning one problem can actually help you solve lots of similar problems. Not only is math connected to all other math, but it is connected to real life. Don't get me wrong, imaginary numbers and quadratic equations are loads of fun, but I have always enjoyed learning about math that is applicable to everyday life more than math that is not. For example, when I was in elementary school, we did an addition project where we cut out ads from grocery stores. We would plan out a meal, then add the prices of the ingredients we wanted to buy. While it seems simple, it is a skill everyone uses all the time, and I enjoyed learning something I knew would be useful later. Now I realize that it was not only a fun project, but a necessary one. If no one learned math in school, generations of kids would not be able to function. Engineers use math to create safe buildings, accountants keep an organized system thanks to math concepts, and every adult uses math to pay taxes, go shopping, and calculate distances for a road trip. If math didn't exist at all, we would be a useless, disorganized society struggling with simple tasks like knowing how many more apples we need in our basket to have a dozen. In conclusion, math has been a wild ride for me, but it has also been a big part of my life. If I could go back and talk to middle-school me, I would reassure her that it would all work out. I would also tell her to keep learning because math is present everywhere, and understanding it is the key to help us succeed in life.

While many applicants may write about resolving world hunger or achieving world peace (both of which are still important issues), I would like to see an impact on people with the potential to make a difference. These are regular people who have the resources and time to help others, but they don't realize the full effect they can have. Informing these people about ways they can help and providing them with volunteer opportunities would have a huge impact. There would be millions of people who can now volunteer, donate money and supplies, and spread awareness about hundreds of issues. This would be extremely effective for solving issues since so many people would know about it. For example, let's say that half of the population of the US was informed about a crisis somewhere in the world. If everyone donated just one dollar, over $166 million would be donated to the cause. Now imagine if this idea was applied to populations all around the world, or if people donated more than one dollar. This could provide food, water, and supplies for millions of people. This concept would apply to practically any issue that requires funding, and it would also help with any issue that needs physical volunteers. If people were informed of a volunteer organization or family in need near them, entire communities could come together to eradicate the problem. There would also likely be many people willing to travel to other countries to assist anyone in need. I have applied this idea several times, and in all of my service projects. A few years ago, I had a bake sale to raise funds to help provide water for those in need. However, my mission was not just to raise money. One of my main goals was to spread awareness about those who need help. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our lives that we forget there are others who are less fortunate. With my bake sale, I wanted to bring attention to problems that are often forgotten, and provide people in my community with an opportunity to give. I wanted people to know that they can and should donate more than once, and I hoped to inspire them to look into ways to help and volunteer. I was also inspired by the concept of spreading awareness in a more recent volunteer project. Through my school's Key Club and our local Kiwanis Club, I was able to schedule a volunteer opportunity with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is a non-profit organization that helps less-fortunate families get back on their feet by building them a house. These houses are built by volunteers and funded by Habitat's ReStore. My mission was to bring in as many volunteers as possible, especially people who had never heard of Habitat before. I hoped that once volunteers saw how easily they could make a difference, they would want to continue helping. This has proven to be true, and I have already had volunteers reach out about volunteering again. These experiences prove that there is a large population of people with the ability to help. With the small act of informing them or giving them an opportunity to volunteer, we could provide almost anyone in need with funds or volunteers. I would like to be the one to initiate this change in my community, and I will continue showing people how they can help. I enjoy helping other people, and I would love to be the one to spread that joy to others in my community.

The song "It's Ok" by Imagine Dragons has the most important message to me. The main line of the song is, "It's okay to be not okay", and I feel like that isn't said enough today. There is a lot of pressure to be perfect, or at least to appear like you're happy. I really like how this song gives me permission to accept my imperfections and be content to feel how I feel. It also helps me whenever I'm stuck in a rut or just having a bad day. The song helps me feel like I don't have to push my feelings down or "fix" them. In the long run, this just makes the feeling worse. "It's Ok" creates a sense of peace and acceptance that I really need and enjoy. Although the entire song resonates deeply with me, my favorite line is the line, "Breathe in deep, just a day at a time." This is so true, and sometimes we all need to hear it. I tend to get caught up in planning for the future or trying to coordinate things, and a lot of times I just need to remember to take a break and breathe. Especially while trying to plan for college and scholarships, life can become overwhelming. This song helps me take everything one step at a time and remember that I have so much time in my future, so I don't need to rush. I love to listen to this song, close my eyes, and breathe.

The World of Books By: Hailey Price When I open a book, I discover a world. A wonderful world of words, A lavish language of letters. I drift into dystopic lands Filled with mystery, horror, or history. I befriend merely a name, I create connections with quotations. I travel a world of joy and laughter, I see palaces crafted from paragraphs. Fantastical fruit grows from fictional trees, And prose flows from paper rivers. Topics almost seem tangible, And lines appear to be living. But the imaginary world soon comes to an end, And leaving feels unbelievably real.