I've always been a very driven person who had specific goals for my life. I had high academic expectations for myself but unfortunately had to put my aspirations on hold to take care of my mom when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I was forced to drop out of high school to work full-time and ultimately became my mom's main caretaker during the pandemic. My mom was a single parent and the only parent I'd ever had. My father was never in the picture so my mom was not only my sole guardian but also my best friend. Because of the pandemic, I had the opportunity to take the GED exams online rather than at an in-person testing facility, which made it much more achievable so I didn't have to leave my mom unsupervised for several hours at a time to go take it. The day after I found out that I had passed the GED, I applied to Arizona State University Online through my employer's college program. I'll never forget the look on her face when I got to give her the news that I would be the first person in our family to get my degree. My mom, unfortunately, passed just a few months after I was able to move to North Carolina to work towards transferring to UNCW. It breaks my heart knowing that she never got to see me start my freshman year of school, she didn't get to see me get accepted as a transfer to UNCW, and she's not going to get to see me graduate. But it also has motivated me to work as hard as I can to get my degree because I know how proud of me she would be. Now I'm getting two bachelor's degrees and giving it my all because I had to sacrifice so much in order to care for someone else, and now I have the opportunity to take care of myself and do what makes me feel happy and successful, which I know is all my mom ever wanted for me.

I care about protecting global ocean environments because of the rapidly deteriorating ecosystems found within them. Every day there is another tragic statistic regarding endangered species, unusual mortality events, melting sea ice, and more. I believe that people have a duty to protect the species we share our planet with, but unfortunately, our existence does more harm than good to this wide variety of creatures. Living and going to school in coastal North Carolina has given me the opportunity to observe marine ecosystems. One local issue we're seeing is a rapidly dwindling population of North Atlantic right whales. The UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program is also seeing an increased number of strandings on our beaches and is seeing more strandings of species that should not be found this far down the coast. Most of the negative effects we're seeing on marine species and the environment are caused in some way by human interactions, whether they be direct or not. These causes can range anywhere from climate change resulting in warming and rising oceans, to species mortality due to chemical runoff or fishery and watercraft incidents. Because the human race is the cause of these issues, we are also the only ones who can fix our mistakes. As a double major in Marine Biology and Environmental Science (Biological Sciences Option), I hope to use my degrees to alter the fatal course that these species are taking. With a specific passion for the marine mammal field, I hope to be able to rescue sick and injured marine mammals in order to rehabilitate them and release them back into their natural habitats. I hope to be able to take part in research regarding unusual mortality events so that the scientific community can gain a better understanding of what causes these unfortunate phenomena. I also hope to gain the credibility and platform needed to educate the public on why we need to do a better job at protecting fragile marine ecosystems and how they can get involved to help set change into motion. I've always resonated with the phrase "be the change you want to see in the world" and I hope to be able to inspire others to do what they can to help ocean life recover from the damage that has already been done and to prevent any further damage from being done out of human selfishness. Let's be better and encourage the world to do better.

College can be incredibly stressful on both the mind and body. It can be easy to let that stress get the best of us and take a toll on our health and well-being. I've been fortunate to find several ways to maintain my personal health and wellness as a student. A key method for me was getting a job in the student recreation center. I generally don't have classes on that side of campus so it can be difficult to motivate myself to go to the gym. By getting hired there, it opens up more opportunities to take advantage of being on that side of campus and getting my exercise in either before or after a shift. Another way I've managed my wellness is by taking advantage of breaks between classes. I make sure to go home whenever possible so that I can make myself a healthy meal/snack to help fuel my body, as opposed to grabbing a quick meal on campus. One thing that has caused a drastic change in my motivation and energy levels is eating a light breakfast and getting a proper amount of sleep. Making time for social activities is also extremely beneficial for my mental health. Maintaining my personal wellness is very important for my success as a college student. By getting proper nutrition and exercise, my energy levels are increased and my ability to focus has improved. On days when I don't give myself adequate time to fuel my body, I find myself having trouble staying awake in class, staring off into the distance, and it takes a lot more mental energy to complete assignments. By starting my day right, I can fix those issues and also help prevent myself from experiencing burnout. Feeling less burnt out also allows me to make more time to socialize and take an active part in my extracurriculars, which ultimately aids me in feeling more well-rounded. Socialization is a human necessity, but if we spread ourselves too thin, it can feel draining. Ultimately, I find myself feeling more like myself and more successful in my studies when I allow myself to take breaks from schoolwork when needed in order to maintain healthy boundaries with myself. It seems to be human nature to want to be perfect, but holding myself to realistic expectations allows my stress levels to remain balanced and gives me time with myself to reflect and relax.

My goals for the future are to make a difference. More specifically, I hope to work with wildlife rehabilitation, preferably in the marine mammal field. I've always been someone who is drawn to animals and nature. I admire the way it can simultaneously be peaceful and chaotic. It bothers me how human society seems to have a disregard for nature and a sense of superiority over it. I'm a firm believer that we do not have any sort of "right" to abuse and exploit the planet or the species that inhabit it. My goal is to help reverse some of the damage that we have done to the natural world. There are so many amazing animals who get sick, injured, or die as a direct result of people. I want to help these animals by rehabilitating them and releasing those that can be back into their natural habitats, conserving the wild populations. These fascinating creatures can't advocate for themselves, so I feel it's only right to advocate for them. I hope I can also educate others on the importance of these species and their complex ecosystems. I want to be part of the solution. If I can only make a small difference, at least I made a difference at all.

Nature is a complex and beautiful thing. It's intricately balanced and the smallest changes can have rolling effects on more significant parts. It's simultaneously peaceful and chaotic. My favorite part of nature is the ocean. The waves and tides can be calming and it hides so much mystery in its depths. I try to appreciate nature in a multitude of ways, some more complex than others. The first way I try to appreciate it is by going to the beach just to sit and relax and soak it all in. I find it calming to lay on the beach and listen to the waves, smell the salty air, and even go float in the water. It allows me to clear my head and fully appreciate the beauty around me. Another way I'm making an effort to appreciate nature is with my education. I'm majoring in Conservation Biology & Ecology with a minor in Sustainability. While this is a complex commitment, I hope that I can make a difference in the natural world. It breaks my heart to see the way nature is abused and disrespected. I hope that by being educated in these fields, I can have a small part in making a significant difference. My goal is to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.

The biggest example in my life of overcoming an obstacle is my education. As a teenager, I faced several obstacles that set me behind my peers. My mom was diagnosed with a terminal illness when I was 15, and soon after she stopped being able to work. She was a single parent with 2 children and we were surviving off of only her social security disability benefits and food stamps. I made the decision to get a job so I could contribute to supporting myself financially, in hopes it would reduce some of the stress and responsibility on my mom. I quickly worked my way up in this job, being promoted to assistant store manager just a year later. Due to mental health struggles, I was finding it extremely difficult to maintain and balance my school work alongside my job and social life. This resulted in me switching to online schooling. Unfortunately, my ability to be flexible with my schedule resulted in my boss taking advantage of me as an employee. I was 16 years old working up to 90 hours a week. Eventually, I couldn't keep up with my schoolwork and dropped out of high school. 2 years later, I found the motivation to get my GED and enroll in college as a first-generation student and I'm grateful that my mom was around long enough to see my college acceptance letter because she is the reason I was determined to get where I am. I was determined to make her proud before she passed.

I love dogs because their innocence and pure intentions are refreshing to see in a world that can be scary at times. These animals can be so loving and kind and make amazing companions if the world shows them the same love and kindness. I've had several dogs that positively impacted my life. The first is my aunt's late dog, Stella. Stella was my very first animal companion. She was adopted when I was barely a year old. The bond I had with her was unique to anything I've ever had with another animal. I vividly remember the personalized birthday party invitation I would make for her and how she would pose for pictures with me wearing a crown, immediately removing the crown once the photos were done being taken. Her understanding of me felt human as if she knew exactly what I was thinking at all times. She also had a sense of protectiveness and responsibility that was unique to our bond. She would herd me like a livestock dog when she thought I was in danger, if I cried she would get my mom. Even as I got older she wouldn't jump on me out of fear she may knock me over. She truly cared about me and her loyalty and love were unique and life-changing. Another instance of a dog who's had a positive impact on my life is my dog, Maya. I rescued Maya in July of 2021 at the age of 6 months. She was found tied up in an abandoned building in my city, where she had been for a while because the rope used to tie her up had fused to her skin as she grew. Despite being left alone, starved, and receiving extensive medical attention for her injuries, Maya's temperament was never affected. From the day I adopted her until now, she is incredibly happy, energetic, loving, and has never been negatively reactive to anything. Maya has shown me that the things you go through don't define you. Just because you experience something of a negative nature doesn't mean you have to let it negatively affect you. Her scars are battle scars, something that reminds her of what she went through and gives her a more grateful look at life. She looks at me with so much love in her eyes and I realize how happy she is over the simple things. Having a person, a home, food. She is more grateful for these things than I have ever seen in a dog before. Her only goal is to make her family happy because it makes her happy and I find that so pure and it makes me amazed at the complexity of her thought process and emotions.

A practical solution to helping those who struggle with their mental health is to provide a wider range of education on the topic of mental health & illnesses. A major contributing factor to the stigma surrounding mental health is that not enough people are properly educated on the subject. This leads to the feeling that something may be wrong with them or that they are alone in their experience. By providing education and resources for those who find themselves struggling to cope with their mental health, many people would stop feeling the need to hide their feelings out of the fear of being seen as broken or abnormal. Instead, they would feel more comfortable reaching out for help and would have access to a larger amount of resources in order to help them cope with and regulate their struggles. Mental health struggles are normal. I think the current generation has done a good job of normalizing struggles with mental health and illness, in turn creating a much more inclusive environment for those who find themselves dealing with it.

One person from history that I find admirable is the late Princess Diana Spencer. I find her to be an inspiration because she took the traditional female image and set new precedents. She broke boundaries and barriers and remained true to herself despite the immense amount of public pressure that she faced daily. The Princess of Wales broke through many barriers while being married to Prince Charles. Some of these barriers seem small but they empowered many women to always stick to who they are. She refused to sacrifice who she was as a woman and a mother to "fit in" with the standards of the royal family. The biggest example of this was when she was told she should not participate in a school activity with her children because she was "wearing a skirt" and an accident could happen. She participated anyways, alongside every other skirt-wearing mother because that moment with her children was far more important to her than a royal standard. Another example of her strength and vigor is how open & candid she was about her struggles with an eating disorder. While many women would have (and still do) feel too ashamed to admit they struggle with one, Diana chose to use her own experiences with bulimia to educate and empower others who had faced the same battles. She chose not to let the judgment she may face keep her from using her platform to help those in need. She was a royal, but she was a woman of the people. Royal rules and standards were second to her genuinely kind and caring personality.

The biggest problem facing the world is environmental entropy. This issue is affecting every living thing on the planet we call home and will inevitably lead to the extinction of many species, including our own. There are many obvious ways we can solve the issue, like creating a more sustainable society. However, I think the most important step in solving this problem is creating a selfless society. A society that doesn't see the human species as a superior force that has the right to "rule" and abuse the world around us for our own benefit. What we fail to realize is that by damaging ecosystems and harming species around us, we are triggering a butterfly effect. Every crime we commit against the Earth will somehow come back to us. Nature is a delicate balance that impacts every living and non-living thing within it. By becoming a society that recognizes the intrinsic value of every living thing, we can develop a world that protects the world around us rather than exploits it for the benefit of our own kind. We can coexist with those we share this planet with, instead of seeing life as a competition. I personally believe that by valuing non-human life, it gives us more of an appreciation for life itself. It could change the views that some have on racial differences and cultural differences, allowing us to see our own species as an important whole.