The movie that has had the greatest impact on my life is "The Wizard of Oz". Starting at age one, my mother first turned on "The Wizard of Oz" and my small, undeveloped brain fell in love with the magical story. I watched it from the moment I woke up to the moment I fell asleep. I would let nothing get in the way of me watching my favorite movie. I would scream "Oz! Oz! Oz!" until my mother would turn the movie on. My family never understood why I loved this movie so much, but I believe what attracted me to the movie was the beauty of Judy Garland who played Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion because he looked so fluffy. But watching the movie over and over again, I began to find hatred for the once-beloved movie. It was until recently I came across Turner Classic Movies (TCM) station on television that I found my forgotten love for "The Wizard of Oz" and many more classic movies. "The Wizard of Oz" shaped me into who I am today. The Brainless Scarecrow wanted a brain, so I began to study and learn more in school. The Cowardly Lion wanted courage, so I began to stick up for myself. The Tin Man wanted a heart, so I became the person people could love and trust. But each character had the traits they wanted, they only needed to believe in themself. I believe in myself just as they did at the end of the movie, I push limits and break boundaries because nothing should come in the way of my destiny. I learned that life brings hardship and pain even to the best of people, but how you overcome those hardships, defines who you are as a person. The hardships in "The Wizard of Oz" was the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys. Dorothy and her new companions overcame the Wicked Witch of the West by simply throwing a bucket of water at her. Whenever a hardship came into my life, I simply would remember "The Wizard of Oz" and throw a bucket of water on it to overcome that hardship. With any obstacle in life, I would do what Dorothy would do, follow the yellow brick road to achieve my goals. Each character in the movie had a desire to be great. I share that same desire in my education and my golf game, because I want to leave something great for the next generations. I want to be remembered as the young woman who achieved greatness and whose favorite movie is "The Wizard of Oz". Relinquishing my love for "The Wizard of Oz" has shown me that I am growing up and my childhood is becoming a faint memory, but I know now that every time I rewatch "The Wizard of Oz", I will feel like a kid again, sitting on the couch yelling for my mother to turn on the movie. I will once again jump back into the Land of Oz and follow the yellow brick road home again.

Golf means many different things to me. It means going out and meeting new people who love golf as much as you do. Golf allows me to be who I want to be. Golf has taught me a multitude of lessons with the main one being "just relax". Relaxation is the biggest key in playing golf, you can't be tense or else you'll hit bad shots. I started playing golf when I was 8 years old. I was never good enough to make a team until 8th-grade middle school. The biggest influence on my golf game is my grandpa. Without my grandpa, I wouldn't have thought about picking golf as my sport. I've been on a golf team all of high school and hoping to land a golf scholarship to be able to afford college and play at the collegiate level. I consider golf my best friend and my worst enemy. It can be fun at times but also extremely tiring. My favorite golf club is my pitching wedge because it was the first club I ever hit a good shot on when I first started playing. My golf journey has been a rollercoaster. I have come from wanting to quit because I felt like I wasn't good enough, to wanting to succeed and birdie the next hole. Golf is a very challenging sport. Every course and player is different, forcing them to think outside the box each hole. Golf brings new opportunities in life such as writing this essay in hopes of getting financial help in paying for college. Even though golf tends to be a male-dominated sport, I never let that stop me from wanting to achieve my dreams; of playing alongside professionals. Fellow golfers are always there to help one another, one of the many reasons why I love golf. It is a judgment-free sport where anything can happen, even to the best of players. Another reason why I love golf is that it is an individual sport. I don't have to rely on others to win, instead, I'm the one in charge. Golf is important to me because, without it, I would be nothing. Golf has saved my life multiple times by allowing me to release all my stress and anxiety and leave it on the course. I plan to play golf until I'm old of age and can no longer hold a club. Golf will forever hold a piece of my heart, and I am grateful enough to have people who support me and my golf journey.

Holding a newborn baby in your arms is both timorous and exhilarating. When I held my niece for the first time in July 2022, I had a realization that my time on Earth is short. Before finding out my sister was pregnant, I was constantly reminding myself I wasn't good enough. Simple things were not going the way I intended them to go, so my mental health was at its very lowest. Something is captivating about a baby being brought into this world that makes one stop and think about their own life. Babies aren't born with the knowledge of evil or the power to sin, but in time, they will have learned about sin and evil and how to potentially avoid it. Most young adults are surrounded by negativity through social media or troubled family members. When surrounded by negativity, people tend to lose any sign of happiness or hope. They begin to fully enclose themselves with immoral things to the point where mental health is at risk. I believe holding my niece for the first time helped me get back on track with recovery from my negative thoughts. Knowing I can help mold my niece to be a powerful woman is most transformative. When my niece is older, I will have the chance to explain to her that when she was first born, she helped me overcome my struggles and made me want to continue fighting for her. My niece ultimately changed my life for the better. I no longer remind myself I'm not good enough but instead, I remind myself I am strong and capable of anything. I have learned no matter what you or someone is going through, there is always something better out there, you just have to find it. I found my true self by holding my niece for the first time. And I hope other people who are struggling to find their true identity or path can easily find it as I did. Recently, I have become more engaged with schoolwork, golf, music, and my family. I was able to discover what I wanted to do in life and if I work hard enough, I can achieve many great things. During those small moments of holding my niece, I had begun to find my laughter again. But I also realized that I am now a role model for my niece and other generations that come after me, and I want to make an impact on their lives to help make the world a better place.

Losing someone you love is like having pieces of your heart ripped out of your chest. I lost my best friend due to suicide. We were inseparable from day one. She was like a sister to me and I loved her as if she was. In the 8th grade, she overdosed on her anxiety medication and died before the paramedics were able to save her. Hearing the news from your parents that your one true best friend has passed is heart-shattering and through the grieving process, I realized that life is short. The day after the funeral, I made it my mission to help those who are struggling with mental illnesses or who had fallen on hard times. Losing my best friend has shown me that you should cherish the moments you have with your loved ones because you never know when they may be taken from you. I hope to one day start my own business and carry her legacy as I know she is watching over me. Every day that passes I miss her more and more, but I try to take my grief and bring joy to others because I want people to be happy and to understand that I am there for them no matter what. I only wish I was able to say goodbye.

The United States of America is defined as the "Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave". Every American has the chance to succeed in this world, no matter their circumstances. Being American is not just someone who stands for the Pledge of Allegiance or wears red, white, and blue for Independence Day, but someone who is filled with love and aspiration for their fellow man. Being American defines who you are as a person. I am proud to be an American and am proud to have a country that wants me to succeed. Most Americans are unaware of the freedoms that are given to us, not by our government, but by the Grace of God and the men and women who serve and protect us. Whenever I stand for the National Anthem, I think about how lucky I am as a female to be able to go outside and do the things I want to do in life, whether that be making music, or golfing. I come from a military family so I take being American to heart. I stand with the stars and stripes, I support those who work hard for this country such as teachers, construction workers, and census takers. Every man and woman, from diverse backgrounds, have sacrificed themselves for the next generation. Being American is to appreciate all that is given to you because all of us are privileged, some more than others. We should be grateful for the things our country has achieved for us because without the sacrifices, the bloodshed, and the tears, I wouldn't be writing this essay and you wouldn't be reading it. Freedom comes at a cost and Americans know how to strive for what is deserved and what is right. The United States is my home, I was born with a purpose and I was born American. I am proud to be an American because I am free. Free from a government whose sole purpose is to only hold me back and take advantage of me. Our Founding Fathers made sure that many years after they are gone, America would be free from tyranny and unfair judgment. I stand for the Declaration of Independence because I am American. I stand for the Constitution because I am American. I stand for the flag that waves high and proud because I am American. I am not ashamed to call America my motherland because being free is more important than anything in this world. Without freedom, all would be lost. So, patriotism is what being American means to me.

Some Remember by Bridget Duggan ~In Loving Memory of Grandma Duggan I don't remember her much, Not even her touch. When I close my eyes there's no one there, To help me in times, everywhere. I wish I could have said goodbye, Before the dove left to fly. All I ask is to see her smile, One last time just for a while. Some remember her smell, Like blooming flowers in a dried-out well. Some remember the way she walked, I can’t even remember how she talked. I was turning one you see, When it came to me as her history. Some remember all she spoke, Like how she loved her fur coats. I have one of them you see, Shaped like a teddy bear just for me. She had three children; full of joy and mirth, Oh, how I love to see them walk the Earth. They are the ones who carry her memory, And they do so very carefully. As I see them walk by, I see her shining in their eye. I don’t remember her much, But I still love her a whole bunch.