Hello, my name is Caila Lyons. I'm a second-year student athlete at the University of Iowa, competing for the university's Division I Track & Field program. I'm pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Policy, a minor in English, a minor in Art, and a certificate in Political Risk Analysis. I have intentions of applying and enrolling to law school and completing a combine degree in the Master of Arts in Sport and Recreation Management. I would love to work in local government or policy areas, coach youth or collegiate sports, and/or become a sports agent or attorney for athletes and teams. All of these professions make immediate impacts within the community, especially in the black community. All of these field can educate the community whether it's financially or legally or just simple advice. I've looked up to my mother since I can remember. My family is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. I've always lived in a single-parent household. It was just me and my mom for forever. I have two older siblings, a brother and a sister, but my mom had to kick them out due to the legal trouble they were getting in. While taking care of me as a full-time mother, she worked as a pharmacy technician and was in school to become registered nurse while on government assistance programs. We eventually moved to San Antonio, Texas when I was in the first grade. She said that there was "nothing for us here" in Fort Wayne, she believed there were better opportunities in San Antonio. She eventually graduated nursing school and we moved in with my aunt and uncle who lived in a very nice neighborhood. I got a great education and great grades, I graduated in the top 8% in my class and graduated with a 3.95 weighted GPA. I was also very blessed to be able to compete in track and cross country for my high school. My mother was very generous and sacrificed a lot in order for me to compete. It paid off and I was recruited to run track in college. Seeing everything my mother was able to overcome and provide for me was very eye-opening and makes me so thankful to have her as a mother. Eugene Parker is also someone I look up to. He was born and grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He went to college for basketball at Purdue University and was later drafted to the San Antonio Spurs! I can relate to him from my hometown, growing up, and as a student-athlete. After he retired from basketball, he attended law school and became a sports agent. He is exactly who I want to be like. To save on costs, I've worked hard in high school to apply my dual credit enrollment to college. I'm scheduled to graduate two semesters early, which leads to me going to graduate school earlier. I live in off-campus apartments across the street from campus because they are cheaper than on-campus dorms but had to pick up a job and work a lot lately to make ends meet. I don't mind having a job but the stress of knowing you have to work takes a toll. It would be nice to apply this scholarship towards my books and tuition or rent.

Hello, my name is Caila Lyons. I'm currently a sophomore at the University of Iowa and I'm a student-athlete competing on the university's track and field team. I'm pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, a minor in English, a minor in Sport and Recreation Management, and a certificate in Political Risk Analysis. I'm planning to apply to the university's law school and earn a combined degree in Master of Arts in Sport and Recreation Management. My dream career is to work as a sport agent by negotiating contracts and be a sports team's attorney. I was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a medium-sized city known for its high crime rates. My parents tried to shield me from the chaos but ended up throwing in the towel and we moved to San Antonio, Texas for new opportunities. Seeing brothers Rod and Jaylon Smith playing football in college and eventually in the NFL was inspiring. If possible, I would love to continue running under a professional contract for a few years but if not, I would love to stay in the sports field and represent athletes and teams. I've studied Eugene Parker, a black sports agent from Fort Wayne, Indiana who represented many athletes during his career from the Smith Brothers to Deion Sanders! He played for the San Antonio Spurs and later obtained his law degree from a university in Indiana. He helped a lot of black people from everyday citizens to top-notch athletes from legal advice to financial negotiations to activism over various topics. I look up to him since we have so much in common, and it's always great to see black people who have "made it" in this world. There is so much I want to do in the law and sports fields. In law, I would love to become an elected politician on the local or state level and make a difference within urban communities especially involving children because they are the future. In sports, I would love to become a coach. Coaches are like a second or third parent to most athletes. A coach is someone who loves and believes in athletes but still educates and disciplines them when needed in order for the athletes to grow into good people with good values and morals. But with an interest in both fields, I can have the best of both worlds and combine the two ideas. To have the potential to work with athletes, especially black athletes, on a legal and political level is incredible and I could also inspire younger athletes and others to focus and become something of their very own one day.

Hello, my name is Caila Lyons and I'm 19 years old. I was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana but my mother wanted to move away because she said there was "nothing for us" in our hometown. Crime and teenage pregnancies were at an all-time high, my brother was in and out of jail and my eldest sister had gotten pregnant as a teenager and my other sister had passed due to medical issues. So, we moved to San Antonio, Texas with my aunt and her husband for a new start. As a single-mother, she wanted to leave that life behind. I was able to grow up better than my siblings and I'm so thankful for the environment I was raised in. My mother worked hard, she worked a job as a pharmacy technician while attending nursing school. She made sure to instill, in me, the importance of education. I was on the A honor roll almost every quarter from kindergarten to senior year of high school, it was rare to see me with a B. I graduated high school with a 3.95 GPA (magna cum laude) and was within the top 8% of my class. I even graduated with some dual credit enrollment courses. I found my passion for running when I was 10 years old. Though me and my mother hadn't seen it yet, my coach told me that I was going to be something one day. I ran club track for years (and became an 18x All-American at the AAU Junior Olympic Games) until I was old enough to run for my school. I qualified for state in track and field all four years in the 800m and was able to stand on the podium with a medal two of those years. My dream was to qualify to state in the 400m one day (top 2 qualify at regionals for state): freshman year I placed 6th, sophomore year I placed 4th, junior year I placed 3rd (missing it by just one spot, I cried all the way home that day), and senior year unfortunately I had gotten sick a day prior to the track meet senior but I still persevered to win the race and qualify for state. Track is my love and shows my willingness to work hard every day and go after what I want even if it means I fail during the process. I was blessed to talk to more than 50 colleges and universities during my recruiting process. I chose to commit to the University of Iowa to further my academic and athletic aspirations. I've chosen to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in English and certificate in Political Risk Analysis. I want to attend University of Iowa's law school and earn a combined degree in the Master of Arts in Sport and Recreation Management. I'm currently on track to graduate two semester (or one year) early and attend graduate school (if accepted) early. I would love to work in law, and specifically work as a sports agent or become a sports team attorney. I love sports and would love to stay in the field if I could.

Since ten years old, the track has been my stage. Each and every one of my races tests: endurance, discipline, and determination. Running has taught me the value of many quality characteristics like dedication, goal-setting, and persevering through adversity. These have transformed me, over the years, from a naive amateur to one of the best in the country. Having been an individual district champion eight times within the span of three years in high school, I have developed the ability to overcome setbacks and cherish the successes that I have worked so long and hard for. I believe what I have learned has contributed to my person, off the track. I am a well-rounded student. Academics is vital to me just as running track. Getting on the honor roll all through high school shows my passion of learning and my commitment to education in order to succeed in the future. While I enjoy learning, discovering new methods in a given subject, collaborating with my peers, and working through challenging situations, I also treasure the peaceful times I spend lost in a great book. Reading has been a pleasure of mine since the pandemic caused the lock down. I feel it provides a temporary escape from reality as well as a opening new and broad perspectives. English is my favorite subject. Books allow me to grasp life from many angles, whether that means investigating historical events, exploring a dystopian fantasy world, or a realistic genre, which include characters my age, that I could imagine myself in. Juggling sports with academics has called for serious time management skills and self-control. There were evenings when I had to complete homework and missed lesson plans. I had to be devoted to study instead of leisure. Though, I wouldn't change a thing, these events have helped me to keep focus under pressure and to properly manage my time. As I enter college and explore fresh prospects, these positive qualities and abilities should guide me to a successful transition from high school to college. Approaching new and never-seen-before challenges, meeting people from different backgrounds across the country and internationally, and carrying on running excites me. I view college as the next sprint in a race that will define the person I want to be. Every page I turn and every lap I run helps me to approach my desired future. I want to maximize the chances that lie ahead and introduce to your campus community the same enthusiasm, will, and interest. Accepting the challenges in athletics as a female helps me prepare to be a stronger female in the world of male dominance by often competing with boys when practicing and racing. It’s fun and challenging which allows growth and to improve in my sport. I’ve also worked various jobs that give me experience: Walgreen’s as a Pharmacy Technician Apprentice, SeaWorld as a Food & Beverage Service Ambassador, Bill Miller’s as a Food Line Prep/Server, and Mr. W’s Firework Stand as a Cashier. I also volunteered as a junior coach at Girls on the Run (Bexar County). Each experience taught me something new. This positively builds my confidence, work ethic (especially working under pressure), humility, and so much more.

I will be attending University of Iowa this fall and competing for their Track & Field team, a NCAA Division I Power 5 nationally ranked program. I plan to major in Political Science and minor in Educational Psychology with intent to earn my teaching license and apply to Law School. I have been fascinated with the government and politics since the age of fourteen. I have prepared myself for college by being involved with many clubs and organizations such as my school's Mock Trial Club, Bear The Cross Club, Book Club, Art Club, Student Council, National Honor Society (being apart of the recycling and trash clean up crew at school and in my neighborhood), a junior coach in Girls on the Run (Bexar County), an advanced debater in the Speech & Debate Club, secretary of the Class Officers and Representatives, the community outreach coordinator in the Black Student Union, and president of the Black Culture Club. I have also had the privilege and pressure of juggling school and sports by competing in two sports at the varsity level (Track & Field and Cross Country). I have maintained a 3.95 GPA, while taking dual enrollment and honors classes and competing at the state level seven times in my sports and medaling in Texas, one of the most competitive states. After college, I plan to move back to Indiana (my home state). I would love to teach a high school social studies class, preferably government, and coach any sport (though I would prefer track and cross country as I am familiar with the two sports). I want to teach students about government and politics because most students are clueless as to what happens in the country relating to the government. I would like to develop students into educated young adults who make informed decisions, especially when voting. I plan to work my way up in the school system, after teaching for about ten to fifteen years I would try to become an assistant principal or principal. After some years, I would apply to become the superintendent of a school district. After making notable changes within the school system, I will run for mayor of my small town. In hopes of making an impactful impression and earning a great reputation through the significance of my work, I would hope to earn enough votes to become mayor and maybe even become a Congresswoman someday.

I will be attending University of Iowa as a freshman this fall. I plan to major in Political Science with a minor in Educational Psychology, and plan to apply to Law School. I have prepared myself for college by taking Speech & Debate Honors, African American Ethnic Studies, and AP Government and Politics. I am also involved in Black Student Union as the community outreach coordinator, Black Culture Club as president, Gifted & Talented, Debate Club as an advanced mentor, Mock Trial Club, Class Representatives as the secretary, Student Council, National Honor Society as part of the recycling and trash pick up crew, Art Club, Book Club, Bear The Cross, and Girls on the Run - Bexar County as a junior coach. I grew up in a working class family who survived off of food stamps and reduced rent. Politics interested me because of the various policies, helping families like mine and working on other causes is important to me such as the environment, corporate businesses, crime rates, and so much more. I took a liking to legislative and policy-related work in my Speech & Debate class, after watching others debate on policies and debating myself. Being involved in Congressional Debate, Public Forum Debate, Policy Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and World Schools Debate. I also watch political debates and read the news often. I would like to start off working in the local government as a judge, city council member, and potentially even mayor someday in my hometown in northeast Indiana. As a city government official, I would first tackle the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate directly affects the economy, homelessness, and the amount of government assistance given to those in need. I believe by helping people find jobs, or - for some - higher paying jobs, 1) there will be minimal people on the street, 2) the interest rates and inflation will go down 3) the need for government assistance will substantially decrease, allowing for the excess money to go to another important cause. I believe civil discourse is essential to improving our society. Government officials should listen to the people they govern, their wants should be heard and responded to. This also shows maturity and appreciation for the voters and people who they govern. If I am successful in office in the local government, I would love to run for Congresswoman or Governor to make an even larger impact with more people in the United States.

I was born in a medium-sized city in northeast Indiana called Fort Wayne and was raised in a big city in south Texas called San Antonio. Since living in San Antonio, my hometown has gone down hill because of violence and poverty and I plan to fix that. I will be attending University of Iowa, and plan to major in Political Science and minor in Educational Psychology with intent to attend Law School. I would love to make a difference within my hometown by working in the city government as a judge, city council member, or as mayor some day. After observing the many mistakes my parents and siblings have made I want better for myself and others. My parents graduated college in their forties (better late than never!) and my siblings never attended college. My dad dropped out of high school and served in the U.S. Army, my mom didn't know what to do with her life just then so she worked while raising a family, my brother had a child, dropped out of high school and ended up in jail, and my sister graduated high school but had a child a few months after and lived off of government assistance. I believe it by further educating students of the real world such as opportunities post-graduation, cost of living, the consequences of actions (such as committing crimes, having children at a young age, etc.). I feel that it is important to educate high school students about their post-graduation options: workforce, military, or college. I also believe decreasing the unemployment by helping people find jobs suitable for them can help with the homeless population and get people off government assistance so the money for those programs can go towards another important cause.

My community, in my opinion, is one of the best in my city. It was built to mirror a small town. On one side of it, there are neighborhoods, farm land, and senior retreats and housing. On the other side, there is: a hospital, an outdoor mall, food truck parks, a movie theater, coffee shops and juice shops, grocery stores, fitness studios, boutiques and other shops, schools and day cares, parks, and sit-down and fast food restaurants. My community encourages its residents to stay fit and keep our community clean. Leaders of my community host family fun runs, community garage sales, and trash clean up and recycle. I regularly participate in trash clean up days and recycling awareness. The "giving back" opportunities are incredible, all year round not just during the holiday periods. I am proud of the people in my community, the neighborhoods are clean. We have come together and maintained a nice community. In my eyes it is perfect. Last fall, I also applied to be a junior coach for the program Girls on the Run Bexar County. It is a nonprofit organization that works with elementary and middle school girls, the program is designed to educate the girls about living a healthy, fit, and active lifestyle! I also love that the program is "girls only" so there are also only female coaches and mentors (as well as the people who work in administration). It was a fun after school extracurricular activity for everyone. We would have fun activities like coloring and playing games, we would also run and train for the end of the season fun run which is a 5k (about three miles). I feel that I left a greater impact on the girls, especially the ones that will soon enter high school. I hope they live their high school years to the fullest with confidence and make smart decisions! This summer, I plan to volunteer at a track team. I currently run track for my high school but once I graduate I can't see myself leaving the sport. I would love to help other runners become the best version of themselves. My passion is to coach after college. I worked at SeaWorld San Antonio Parks & Entertainment for over a year. It was the best job I ever had. I love working with people from all over the world. Talking to people was my favorite thing, getting to know the customers, adults and children, was nice because I grew up in San Antonio so learning about different regions and cultures was amazing to me! While I was there, I was able to serve food, give park tours/guides, and educate our visitors about marine life! Volunteering is so fun, it can be so rewarding and fulfilling!

Since the early twentieth century, there has been a long line of educators on the paternal side of my family. The first documented college graduate from my family was my great-great-great grandmother who received a bachelor's degree in education from Prairie View A&M University, an Historically Black College and University in Texas and taught elementary school children in the 1910s. From then on many men and women in my family taught at schools, including my dad. My dad, an army veteran, educator, and entrepreneur, earned his bachelor's in mathematics degree and teacher's certification and license from Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne University in Indiana in 2000s. My qualities often take after my dad. I remember when I was in elementary school, I had a niece two years younger than me which allowed us to play "classroom" or "school". Because I knew more than her, I would use my old textbooks to teach her. I like to think I was a very good teacher because she was one of the smartest in her class and was asked to join me to be a part of the Gifted & Talented program. My biggest aspiration in life is to find a career that I never want to stop working. For me, teaching and coaching seems like such fulfilling jobs. I would like to major in Political Science and minor in Educational Psychology at the University of Iowa. I would love to educate the upcoming generations of what is happening in our country. I love the social studies subject, it brings out a variety of qualities within an individual such as creativity and critical thinking. When discussing government and all topics related, it can be very fun and informative by making students think on their own rather than to trust one source of media. It would be interesting to hear others opinions about their values and beliefs, and what criteria they think she uphold our society. My personal opinion is that too many people by into the propaganda, hop on the bandwagon, and follow their families traditional beliefs rather than finding their own. Analyzing the current and past government, could have students come to a realization of their true values and this could contribute to the future society of the United States of America, as the students I will be teaching will be the future blue collar workers like police officers and white collar workers like educators.

I have announced my commitment to the University of Iowa to run D1 Track & Field last week. I plan to major in Political Science and minor in Educational Psychology with a track to apply to Law School. I would love to work in the city government in Fort Wayne, Indiana which is my hometown. I would also like to take my test to be certified as an educator as a backup plan, I would like to contribute to the education of the future generations. My career goals are to become a lawyer, judge, then city council member, then hopefully run and be elected as mayor. As a member of my community, I have given back with many hours of community service. Back in August, I volunteered as a junior coach for some months at an elementary school nearby that inspired elementary and middle school girls to stay active, fit, and eat healthy. I was a part of a program called Girls on the Run Bexar County. I live in a minority community, majority Hispanic people with some Black and Asian people as well, which is even more inspiring because I feel that we are already at a disadvantage in life because we are people of color. I am a part of a book club, we have just started reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. I believe by joining a book club, it allows me to have a break from reality with a group of teenage girls where we can be ourselves. I am part of the art club at my school, I love meeting and collaborating with new people. At school, I also participate in the Speech & Debate and Mock Trial Club which I believe is helpful for my future career plans. I feel that these clubs give me a head start and an inside look on my law journey. I am a member of my school's National Honor Society which encourages juniors and seniors at my school to get involved with the community. I see the various issues in my community on a daily basis. Government assistance programs are being taken advantage of, and not given to some that need it more than others. The education curriculum and circumstances are not as beneficial as they have the potential to be. My main goals are to work directly within the community, first with students especially high school students because they will be living in the real world soon and the working class because, in my opinion, getting people out of poverty and back on their feet working is the ultimate "American Dream". Giving back to my community has inspired me to make a difference in the world by working in my hometown's local government and to potentially work in the state or federal government to help people around the country and possibly around the world.

My dad joined the United States Army at just seventeen years old after having his father sign the paperwork needed to allow him to join at such a young age. He had dropped out of high school because of his family and living situation at the time, he felt there was no need for school. My father is a very ambitious person, he loves trying new business ideas. He's always had a love for classic cars since a young boy. When he was deployed to Panama in the 1980s, he started buying and selling cars. He would have a car for a few months, then flip his car and try to get a nicer one for the money he sold it for. After he returned to the states as a regular civilian, when we lived in Indiana, he continued to buy and sell vehicles. He would often drive across the east coast for different classic cars he would spot online or in the newspaper. He was in the flipping vehicles business for three decades. Some of his favorite cars that he bought and unfortunately regret selling: 1960 Chevrolet Impala, 1969 Pontiac Firebird, and 1970 Oldsmobile Cutless. While flipping cars, in the 1990s, he started a candy selling business and employed local high school students from working class families to give them a chance to earn money so they could either contribute to their family needs or to have for themselves. He would pick up his workers everyday after school and drop them off in neighborhoods to sell candy and the children would get a certain percentage based on how well of a salesman or saleswoman they were. A few years ago, we unfortunately fell on hard times and moved to Texas and he gave up his businesses and worked as a high school math teacher for a few years until starting his next and most recent business that still involves vehicles, semi-truck driving. He bought his own semi-truck and drove across the country, he's been to many states: New York, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Utah, Oregon, California. He loves driving and is very proud of his business called Infinite Vector, LLC. He hauls loads around the country for various companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and car companies. My dad has inspired me to start a business of my own. I would love to flip cars and houses, and own a skating rink in our community back in Indiana. My dad's military service has impacted my educational journey so far by learning from his passion and drive but also his mistakes. His military service has also contributed to his parenting skills and after seeing how many students at my school act, I'm glad and proud of how he raised me.

In my opinion, a coach is like a third parent. They create a home-like environment that involves every athlete and makes everyone feel included. They try to enhance the positive qualities of their athletes and change their lives for the better. They watch us grow up from a scrawny fourteen year old boy or girl fresh out of middle and school and clueless to how the world works to an eighteen year old independent, fearless adult. A coach wants the best for us, like a parent, and they are naturally competitive for us. They want each individuals to put their heart and soul into competition and to give it all they've got in them, they want the team to be the best at the sport, and they want our grades to be the best. That's how my coach, Coach Ortiz, was. He strove for us to be the best in everything. Coaches want us to become our best selves. Coach Ortiz did his job as a coach and much more, he was family. He did his own homework on the team's competition (and sometimes individuals especially when we got into "championship season"), we would often talk about race strategy (I know he did with others as well such as my teammates, Zac and Mikey). Usually he was very calm, but when the time came he would cheer so loud it would block out any other voices. For example, my freshman year when I made it to state for the first time. I was about to turn the corner for the final stretch of the race and he was standing in the corner behind the fence and cheered for me. It was the first time I had ever heard him yell like that. It really helped me to push to the finish line and set a personal record that day! My sophomore year, he let us take trips during the cross country season because the team improved so much. We were able to go to Round Rock, Texas to race with the faster runners. He always wanted us to push harder and compete against the best of the best. Even though we know we aren't he believed we were one of the best. And that's another thing, he always treated everyone equally. From the first place runner to the last place runner, even if you weren't on Brennan's team he would clap and say encouraging phrases like "good job", "keep it up", or "your almost there". Coach Ortiz made Brennan Track & Field and Cross Country feel like my second home.

In June of this past summer, my coach passed away and unfortunately right before his passing our other coach had received a promotion as the head district athletic coordinator. Those two coaches were great and they complimented each other's coaching styles. One was the good cop and the other was the bad cop. Our new head coach for cross country was now a volleyball coach, our new head coach for track is a football coach, and the assistant coach for cross country is the soccer coach. Out of these three coaches, there isn't much experience with the sport. Our school is known as the best high school for athletics in the city and metropolitan. We've made state appearances in football, basketball, track & field, swim, dive, and cross country. As the top runners in the state, we didn't want to mess up our winning streak. The coaching adjustment was difficult, especially for the upperclassmen who had been used to our previous coach's coaching styles. Before this drastic change, I had made the state cross country meet three years in a row and making it this year would have been even more special since I am a senior. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. It was a long and hard season, mentally and physically. I was drained, and my parents and cross country teammates definitely didn't help the fact. Everyone is so negative, I don't understand why we don't lift others up instead of putting them down. Now that cross country season is over, I think I've had some time to clear my mind and reflect on what I've done right versus what I've done wrong. I've started journaling once a month and getting back into reading (right now, I'm reading Murder on the Orient Express by Christie Agatha) everyday, I think these two activities have helped. For this upcoming track season, I think I will practice and compete better. I've started practicing with my club team again, something I haven't done in about five months. I think they definitely have a better attitude and we are all like-minded. I've done great in practice recently and hopefully it will pay off and show on the track. I think the lessons I've learned are to embrace change around you but to not change who you are, and to also have a positive mentality because without it you have nothing to strive and work for.

Politics has been my passion since eighth grade and I would like to have a career as a government official. Fort Wayne, Indiana is considered a medium-sized city in the United States. It is a quiet, ethnically diverse city located in the mid-west region and home to just under 220,000 people. After I graduate college, I plan to teach and coach at a local public high school. I would love to inspire students in and outside of the classroom. After working in the school system for a few decades, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and maybe even superintendent, hopefully I would have gained a positive reputation and grown connections with a variety of people in the city, especially with my co-workers, students who have graduated and parents. I would run, and hopefully elected, as a city council member and maybe even be elected as the mayor one day. Over the last few decades, in articles, I have noticed that the city has gone down hill and it’s sad to see. There are three issues I would like to address: bussing, crime rates, and low-income families. I believe bussing students out to high schools not located in their area is not a good idea, leading to a very segregated school. The school will be segregated unintentionally, by the student’s doing, most likely by income, race, and/or religion. This, unfortunately, is already happening in the Fort Wayne Community Schools district. The crime rates have significantly grown and the main age group committing crimes are young adults under twenty-five and even some teens. I believe by implementing and enforcing stricter punishments for violent crimes will make the crime rates decrease and educating student’s about career opportunities will have people rethink their plans post graduation. Many students, especially those who come from low-income families do not know that the military is a great paying career, especially for those who struggled in high school. There are also many great vocational schools that can get young adults into a great paying profession without a college degree. Community colleges are also a great two-year plan, that is a lot cheaper than a university, which can lead to a variety of six-figure paying jobs. The low-income population has increased and those that take advantage of the government assistance programs provided tend to remain reliant on those programs for decades. I feel that the government, more specifically city council members, should do more to help adults in need of finding a job. Potentially, if a job is open for too long, the city council member could have the opportunity to place an individual in need of a job in that position, with the right qualifications. In my opinion, the plans mentioned start by educating the youth. We can build up an even stronger community. By becoming an educator or city government official, I could create a positive reputation and become a part of the U.S. Congress so I can make an even bigger impact on more citizens lives.

On September 21 of this year, I had a horrible thought in my mind of taking my life because my sport, track & field and cross country, was becoming overwhelming due to my parents and teammates critical comments. My mom is never happy with my performances and I noticed it since my freshman year when I made the UIL 6a State Track & Field meet and I got fourth place. I was the youngest in the heat and I beat the other freshman, however I was beat by one sophomore, a junior, and a senior. I asked her if she was proud of me because this was my first time at state and I was named fourth in the entire state but all she said was “you could’ve done better”. That same year, a month later I caught covid and had to stop training so I would feel better but my mom had already bought plane tickets and a hotel to Eugene, Oregon for track nationals so she had me continue to train so it wouldn’t be a waste of money. When I raced in Oregon, I placed fourth in the 800m (like at state) and once again she was mad. It’s been like this for years, but now it’s really effecting me because I get tired of hearing “your lazy”, “you could’ve done better”, and the threats. My dad is very positive, thank goodness. I don’t think I could live with two negative parents, he just unintentionally stressed me out because every time we talk he says that I need to hurry and pick a college. My new coach’s work ethic was a big adjustment this fall, we got a new coach because our coach passed away in June of this year. The stress of trying to be recruited by some of the top D1 track and field universities in the country was also a lot, I thought about going to the military after I graduate but my parents once again had negative things to say. Back to September 21, as I cried to myself and scrolled through photos in my phone, I saw photos of a picnic that I had attended of a club that students at my school organized called “Bear The Cross”. My parents are not religious people, in fact my dad calls the Bible “a good book of Jewish stories”. I don’t know if that’s offensive or not. I have never gone to church but more recently I have become interested in it. I started to read the Bible and thought about how selfish my desired choice could be. I am now starting to have a better relationship with God in my opinion and have strengthened my faith. When I graduate high school and go to college, I’ve been thinking about finding a church and attending. I think putting my faith in a higher being that believes in me no matter what, gives me the courage that keeps me going. That being will not judge me or make me feel bad, He will also make me feel loved.

Politics has been my passion since eighth grade and I would like to have a career as a government official. Fort Wayne, Indiana is considered a medium-sized city in the United States. It is a quiet, ethnically diverse city located in the mid-west region and home to just under 220,000 people. After I graduate college, I plan to teach and coach at a local public high school. I would love to inspire students in and outside of the classroom. After working in the school system for a few decades, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and maybe even superintendent, hopefully I would have gained a positive reputation and grown connections with a variety of people in the city, especially with my co-workers, students who have graduated and parents. I would run, and hopefully elected, as a city councilmember and maybe even be elected as the mayor one day. Over the last few decades, in articles, I have noticed that the city has gone down hill and it’s sad to see. There are three issues I would like to address: bussing, crime rates, and low-income families. I believe bussing students out to high schools not located in their area is not a good idea, leading to a very segreated school. The school will be segregated unintentionally, by the student’s doing, most likely by income, race, and/or religion. This, unfortunately, is already happening in the Fort Wayne Community Schools district. The crime rates have significantly grown and the main age group committing crimes are young adults under twenty-five and even some teens. I believe by implementing and enforcing stricter punishments for violent crimes will make the crime rates decrease and educating student’s about career opportunities will have people rethink their plans post graduation. Many students, especially those who come from low-income families do not know that the military is a great paying career, especially for those who struggled in high school. There are also many great vocactional schools that can get young adults into a great paying profession without a college degree. Community colleges are also a great two-year plan, that is a lot cheaper than a university, which can lead to a variety of six-figure paying jobs. The low-income population has increased and those that take advantage of the government assistance programs provided tend to remain reliant on those programs for decades. I feel that the government, more specifically city councilmembers, should do more to help adults in need of finding a job. Potentially, if a job is open for too long, the city councilmember could have the opportunity to place an individual in need of a job in that position, with the right qualifications. In my opinion, the plans mentioned start by educating the youth. We can build up an even stronger community. By becoming an educator or city government official, I could create a positive reputation and become a part of the U.S. Congress so I can make an even bigger impact on more citizens lives.

Politics has been my passion since eighth grade and I would like to have a career as a government official. Fort Wayne, Indiana is considered a medium-sized city in the United States. It is a quiet, ethnically diverse city located in the mid-west region and home to just under 220,000 people. I plan to run Division 1 Track & Field at an out-of-state university and should receive a partial scholarship, however to pay the remaining balance I plan to have a part time job during the summer and potentially the fall to earn as much money as I can so I can graduate debt free. Any scholarships I earn could also go to the cause. After I graduate college, I plan to teach and coach at a local public high school. I would love to inspire students in and outside of the classroom. After working in the school system for a few decades, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and maybe even superintendent, hopefully I would have gained a positive reputation and grown connections with a variety of people in the city, especially with my co-workers, students who have graduated and parents. As a leader in the community, I would be apart of the community and participate in events and volunteer. I would run, and hopefully elected, as a city council member and maybe even be elected as the mayor one day. Over the last few decades, in articles, I have noticed that the city has gone down hill and it’s sad to see. There are three issues I would like to address: bussing, crime rates, and low-income families. I believe bussing students out to high schools not located in their area is not a good idea, leading to a very segreated school. The school will be segregated unintentionally, by the student’s doing, most likely by income, race, and/or religion. This, unfortunately, is already happening in the Fort Wayne Community Schools district. The crime rates have significantly grown and the main age group committing crimes are young adults under twenty-five and even some teens. I believe by implementing and enforcing stricter punishments for violent crimes will make the crime rates decrease and educating student’s about career opportunities will have people rethink their plans post graduation. Many students, especially those who come from low-income families do not know that the military is a great paying career, especially for those who struggled in high school. There are also many great vocactional schools that can get young adults into a great paying profession without a college degree. Community colleges are also a great two-year plan, that is a lot cheaper than a university, which can lead to a variety of six-figure paying jobs. The low-income population has increased and those that take advantage of the government assistance programs provided tend to remain reliant on those programs for decades. I feel that the government, more specifically city councilmembers, should do more to help adults in need of finding a job. Potentially, if a job is open for too long, the city councilmember could have the opportunity to place an individual in need of a job in that position, with the right qualifications. In my opinion, the plans mentioned start by educating the youth. We can build up an even stronger community. By becoming an educator or city government official, I could create a positive reputation and become a part of the U.S. Congress so I can make an even bigger impact on more citizens lives. Hopefully, at this age, I would have saved up enough money after investing in real estate and campaign.

Politics has been my passion since eighth grade and I would like to have a career as a government official. I am a three year speech and debate member, I'm also in the debate club. I've also participated in mock trials. I love the subject English and Social Studies, I'm actually taking two social studies classes now. Fort Wayne, Indiana is considered a medium-sized city in the United States. It is a quiet, ethnically diverse city located in the mid-west region and home to just under 220,000 people. After I graduate college, I plan to teach and coach at a local public high school. I would love to inspire students in and outside of the classroom. After working in the school system for a few decades, as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and maybe even superintendent, hopefully I would have gained a positive reputation and grown connections with a variety of people in the city, especially with my co-workers, students who have graduated and parents. I would run, and hopefully elected, as a city councilmember and maybe even be elected as the mayor one day. Over the last few decades, in articles, I have noticed that the city has gone down hill and it’s sad to see. There are three issues I would like to address: bussing, crime rates, and low-income families. I believe bussing students out to high schools not located in their area is not a good idea, leading to a very segreated school. The school will be segregated unintentionally, by the student’s doing, most likely by income, race, and/or religion. This, unfortunately, is already happening in the Fort Wayne Community Schools district. The crime rates have significantly grown and the main age group committing crimes are young adults under twenty-five and even some teens. I believe by implementing and enforcing stricter punishments for violent crimes will make the crime rates decrease and educating student’s about career opportunities will have people rethink their plans post graduation. Many students, especially those who come from low-income families do not know that the military is a great paying career, especially for those who struggled in high school. There are also many great vocacational schools that can get young adults into a great paying profession without a college degree. Community colleges are also a great two-year plan, that is a lot cheaper than a university, which can lead to a variety of six-figure paying jobs. The low-income population has increased and those that take advantage of the government assistance programs provided tend to remain reliant on those programs for decades. I feel that the government, more specifically city councilmembers, should do more to help adults in need of finding a job. Potentially, if a job is open for too long, the city councilmember could have the opportunity to place an individual in need of a job in that position, with the right qualifications. In my opinion, the plans mentioned start by educating the youth. We can build up an even stronger community. By becoming an educator or city government official, I could create a positive reputation and become a part of the U.S. Congress so I can make an even bigger impact on more citizens lives.

For me, college is an opportunity for a better career which can lead me, my family, and others to an improved life. I am from a considerably smaller city compared to my current place of residence in San Antonio, Texas. My mom moved away from all she had ever known in order to provide me with a better life. She wanted me to be around the right crowd of kids, have an opportunity for a better education, and to not live in a dangerous community. She aspired for my siblings to go to college but unfortunate events occurred leading them onto different paths. I live in a single parent household with my mother, my sister, my sister’s two children and I. Because my mom is often stressed and already taking care of four people and herself in our small house with only two beds and a couch, I do not want to put the burden on her to have to worry about paying for my schooling. It gives me the chance to make my parents proud, to finally see a college graduate from their offspring. It provides me with a chance of earning a degree in a field that will change my life including hundreds if not thousands of others. I would like to major in English at the University of Incarnate Word. I found my passion for literature during the 2020 pandemic. I love to read and write (and would love for the opportunity to publish a book one day). I would love to teach high school students and change their perspective on such a “boring” subject. I love the English subject, reading and writing brings out a variety of qualities within an individual such as creativity and critical thinking. At my school, I have noticed most teachers have seemed to lost their passion for teaching. They often have short-tempers and show signs of incompetence. Many "teachers" at my school do not have the appropriate degrees and/or certifications to teach. The United States education program is failing and the main cause is it's teachers due to the lack of qualifications (on and off paper). My long-term aspirations are to eventually become an assistant principal and a principal, later on, at a high school to make an even bigger impact on the next generation. Applying for a variety of scholarships can give me hope to achieve the life I want. Going to college can lead to a positive impact on the current and future generations in my family and community.

Hello, my name is Caila and plan to graduate high school in May of 2025. I am from the northeast part of Indiana but I currently reside in south Texas. I love the English subject and run varsity track and cross country at my high school. I plan to major and earn a master's degree in English at a D1 university in order to pursue what I love and to change high school student's perception of the "boring" subject. If given the opportunity by my employer, I plan to coach track and cross country as well to continue to have an active position in the sport I love. The English subject brings out, enhances, and teaches a variety of useful skills and positive personal characteristics. Over the years, I've noticed students dread going to English class. Personally, I feel like some educators haven't found modern methods to make the subject interesting enough for this new and advanced generation. English is such a broad subject and many educators have narrowed it down to being repetitive, it is the same multiple choice packets and essays every year. I am passionate about English, I love to read and write. I have felt the positive effects of it: my vocabulary has improved, my writing skills have improved, and my love reading has grown. There are so many important life lessons to be learned. The importance of reading is not stressed enough in school, students are often shamed because they want to read magazine or comic books but how do you teach people when you shame them for enjoying a certain type of reading? Many people are ignorant to the world around them, watching and talking about the news and the difference between fake and real news is important. The importance of planning after high school and building a resume, English teachers could be the best type of people to help with this, especially when it comes to using the correct grammar. Learning to defend a topic a student is passionate about is also important in the real world and skills should be implemented early. Teaching students useful material while following state curriculum is essential to their transition into adulthood. This is my seventh year running track and fourth running cross country, I fell in love with the sport years ago. Being around my teammates, competing, and the adrenaline of getting stronger mentally and physically makes me happy and feel fulfilled. I want others to experience this sensational feeling as well so I want to coach at a high school. There are also many opportunities for college scholarships, if that is the path the athlete would like to go after high school. Athletic scholarships will take a financial burden off the student and families, leading to a less stressful situation so the student can focus more on improving and showcasing their talents academically and athletically. This scholarship could benefit me, and my future students and athletes, by taking the financial burden off of my hard working, single mother. I live in a single parent household with four other people: my mom, my sister, and my sister's two children. As my mother financially supports everyone on her own in the household, winning this scholarship could help towards my tuition or books in college.

Just a few months ago, I thought mental health was for people who had experienced serious trauma relating to death or abuse. Recently, I have felt empty and no traumatic events have happened in my life. This is when I realized mental health was real and serious for everyone, especially for the ones who choose to stay silent. In my first semester of junior year, I studied hard because I enrolled myself in four college-level classes and two advanced classes that will prepare me for college. I worked hard in my sport, track and field, I religiously worked out at least six times a week and did the recovery needed. I hung out with my friends frequently, we would go to the mall and arcades. Lately, I've started to feel distant from the world. I studied hard for my chemistry class and failed every test but one. I stayed up late at night only to end up receiving a C in the class. I've felt targeted at school by various individuals, when it was time to share our work around the room I could never find a partner and when I would give a speech in my English and debate class people would whisper and judge what I had to say. My body began to feel restless after awhile, I consistently worked hard at my craft however I wasn't seeing results after months and felt discouraged because I'm constantly putting my body in pain for two to three hours a week and not improving. And I see the slight disappointment within my parents face when I finish my race and we see the results and it isn't as good as what we feel like it should be. I haven't checked up on my friends as much but then again, I can't feel guilty because no one has checked up on me either. I try to stay positive and "trust the process" but it's hard when you feel like your life is falling apart. Life throws me a few punches and I fall but I keep getting back up and I think I'll always pick myself back up, because I want to make my parents and family proud. I want to be the first in my family to go to a D1 university for track and earn a scholarship for it, I want to be the first college graduate from my parent's offspring, and I want to be the first in my entire family to earn a master's degree. I want to become a high school English teacher and change students' perspectives on such a "boring" subject and make a significant impact on their life that they will remember through adulthood. My experience with mental health has shaped my goals by defying the odds and persevering, I continue to study and train hard because I know it might seem worthless now but it will benefit me in the long run. My experience with mental health has shaped my relationships with my family and true friends by sticking close to them because I know they care and only want the best for me even if, sometimes, I don't want to hear what they have to say. My experience with mental health has shaped my understanding of the world by staying true to myself, not letting anyone get to me. Music and journaling has helped my sanity and to not put the negative burden on my friends and family.

Artificial intelligence, also known as A.I., is perceived as a blessing, although in reality, it is a curse. We rely on technology too much, in schools, jobs, and our everyday lifestyle. It has permitted us to be apposite. We say it makes our lives easier, but it will hurt us in the long run. Due to our generation’s ignorance, A.I will soon cause generational indolency, leading our world to an uncertain future. Artificial intelligence inhibits human authenticity. In more recent years, A.I. has become popular in schools. This generation and upcoming generations will lack integrity, personal and social values, and academic knowledge setting us up for failure in the future. Because so many students have become reliant on A.I. to help them through school, many will lack the necessary knowledge for their profession. Having too many people in society who hardly know the basics of a subject that they should’ve been thoroughly informed of in school will end up harming society later on. In Bertalan Mesko’s excerpt in Journal of Medical Internet Research, he explains the attraction to ChatGPT. Within its new version’s launch, the number of user’s rapidly grew. It is used to reduce an individual’s workload causing less stress. ChatGPT is an LLM, large language models, which are used in “education and research, writing, and…journalism.” Their roles in research papers have been questioned, because using A.I. is often times plagiarism leading to copyright infringement. Now moving on from schooling to careers, A.I. is known to inhibit individualism at school and in the workplace environment a lot of the time. In Chao Li’s Does Artificial Intelligence Promote Or Inhibit on-the-Job Learning? Human Reactions to AI at Work, he gives insight about the world’s new “technological revolution”, artificial intelligence. He takes a serious approach to how A.I. harms the world. It can increase productivity but we cannot rely on it for everything, this is where qualified human workers come into play but with A.I., it limits their capabilities. This is important because the growing industry is affecting jobs, something that helps circulate money through the global economy. Money makes the world go round. “AI’s…cost-saving effects can also increase people’s income” Later on, he mentions, “the growing power of artificial intelligence and its increasing status in the workplace…make workers more pessimistic about their future.” But what is the benefit if some people get an increase in pay and many others lose their job? Wouldn’t it be better to have the same pay and most people still with a job? We should practice socialism as an economy to ensure stability. A.I. can also be ineffective in the workplace because it seems to always affect someone’s job negatively. Elizabeth Fisher’s Occupational Safety and Health Equity Impacts of Artificial Intelligence: A Scoping Review in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Fisher’s book explains how A.I. is used in the workplace, it is used to fill a number of jobs that humans possessed in the past. Proving that they do steal jobs that humans are fully capable of completing. A.I. can filter applications sent to an employer, it used to increase safety measures, and to increase worker productivity. It monitors human actions at work such as their communication skills and body language. Apparently, workers will benefit from A.I.’s presence in the workplace because it helps to control and limit inequities and improve well-being between employees. However, it does the exact opposite. This new technology limits workers capabilities because a robot is watching them at all times, it instills fear which will cause most to act differently. Fisher believes this advanced technology protects workers from discrimination by employers. Although it says it will not discriminate, how do we know that? It can still be filtered by an employer to reject a certain number of people of a gender, race, nationality, or another undesirable category. According to Fisher, due to our societal ignorance, workers are seen as vulnerable and have modest abilities; however in the right environment people can be brought out of their ‘shell’. Lucas Bellaiche studies psychology and neuroscience at Drake University. He wrote Humans versus AI: whether and why we prefer human-created compared to AI-created artwork. Artist’s are being replaced by A.I. We must protect the original aura of art, including music, art, and literature. Originality and individualism can put a different perspective and manifest human life in a commonly known or another way. This can be achieved by an artist creating a piece that expresses their “inner thoughts, emotions, and experiences” in which the artist and the artwork have a unique, “profound” connection. The unique and ineffable quality that an original work of art possesses due to its authenticity, history, and physical presence in a specific time and place. A.I. art is unoriginal and detaches the “sphere” of tradition and loses the community’s appreciation. If we continue to use A.I. art, we put artists and producers at risk, putting them out of business and we will instead have boring, repeated work to see. Real artists have skill and talent, A.I. doesn’t. It lacks natural ability and originality. This destroys the essence of art, it loses its core value and spirit. Bellaiche believes authentic art has the power to “transcend cultural and temporal boundaries, resonating with people across diverse backgrounds” for generations to come. A.I. has done a lot of good in this world, it can help inspire thoughts for a “brain dead” student who needs to write a paper for their English class, it creates art, it entertains (ex. TikTok), and it has made so much more contributions to society. A.I. can be useful however, it will and already is blind siding us by hurting us without us being cognisant of it. It steals jobs away from the working class because it is seen as cost-efficient. In fact, A.I. is not any more reliable than humans because it is only as smart as what has already been discovered and programmed into it. We have the same brain as they do a motherboard, humans can explore outside the box while a robot can’t because it is only as smart as you make it. A.I. is a temporary solution to a long-term problem. We should use resources around us to survive and thrive. Humans are the future, not A.I.

The highest and only degree in my household is an associates degree earned by my hardworking mother. She earned this degree as a single mother while taking care of her three children, working a full time job, and going to school. I am very proud of her for her dedication towards a better life for me and my siblings, however, like most parents, she wants better for me. She inspires me everyday to work hard because it will pay off in the future. In my opinion, college is an opportunity for a better career which can lead me, my family, and others to an improved life. It gives me the chance to make my parents proud, to finally see a college graduate from their offspring. It provides me with a chance of earning a degree in a field that will change my life including hundreds if not thousands of others. I would like to major in English at a university and earn a masters degree in English, I would be the first in my entire family to earn a degree higher than a bachelor’s. I would love to teach high school student and change their perspective on such a “boring” subject. I love the English subject, reading and writing brings out a variety of qualities within an individual such as creativity and critical thinking. I have taken higher level English classes at my school since I was eleven. I am from Fort Wayne, Indiana a considerably smaller city compared to my current place of residence in San Antonio, Texas. My mom moved away from all she had ever known in order to provide me with a better life. She wanted me to be around the right crowd of kids, have an opportunity for a better education, and to not live in a violet nor dangerous community. She aspired for my siblings to go to college but unfortunate events occurred leading them onto different paths. I live in a single parent household with my mother, my sister, my sister’s two children and I. Because my mom is already taking care of four people and herself in our small three bedroom and two bathroom house, I do not want to put the burden on her to have to worry about paying for my schooling. Applying for a variety of scholarships can give me hope to achieve the life I want. Going to college can lead to a positive impact on the current and future generations in my family and community.