Billie Eilish’s music resonates with me because of how she captures emotions I sometimes can’t put into words. Her songs feel so raw and honest, like she’s speaking directly to me. If I had to choose my top three songs, they’d be “when the party’s over,” “everything i wanted,” and “my future.” Each one connects with a different part of my life—heartbreak, insecurity, and hope. “when the party’s over” hits me hard every time I hear it. The haunting melody and Billie’s soft, aching voice make it impossible not to feel the pain she’s singing about. It’s about letting go, even when it hurts more than anything. I’ve been in situations where I knew I had to walk away from someone for my own good, but it felt like tearing myself apart. This song captures that conflict perfectly—the heartbreak of saying goodbye when you still care so much. Then there’s “everything i wanted,” which is so deeply personal and vulnerable. It’s about feeling like you’re drowning under the weight of expectations and self-doubt, but also having someone who’s there to lift you up. When Billie sings, “You were there, you cared,” it’s such a simple line, but it says so much. It reminds me of times when I’ve felt completely lost, but the support of someone close made all the difference. This song makes me feel seen, like I’m not alone in struggling with those feelings of inadequacy. Finally, “my future” is a song that gives me hope. It starts off slow and introspective, with Billie reflecting on her uncertainty, and then shifts into this upbeat, empowering anthem about self-love and growth. It’s like she’s saying, “It’s okay to focus on yourself and be excited about what’s ahead.” That’s a message I really need sometimes. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what’s next, this song helps me remember that it’s okay to embrace the unknown and trust in my own journey. These three songs show why Billie Eilish’s music means so much to me. She’s not afraid to be vulnerable, and through her lyrics, she makes me feel less alone in the messiness of growing up. Her music is like a safe space where all my emotions—the good, the bad, and the complicated—are valid.

Olivia Rodrigo’s album GUTS captures the raw, messy emotions of being a teenager and two songs in particular—“Pretty Isn’t Pretty” and “The Grudge”—hit me on a deeply personal level. They remind me of moments in my life when I’ve felt heartbreak, insecurity, and the struggle to move on. When I listen to “Pretty Isn’t Pretty,” it feels like Olivia is saying everything I’ve wanted to but couldn’t put into words. After my boyfriend and I broke up, he immediately got together with another girl. It completely shattered me. I’ve always felt insecure about how I look, and that betrayal just made those feelings even worse. The lyrics about never feeling pretty enough, no matter how hard you try, hit so close to home. It’s like you’re stuck in this exhausting loop of comparing yourself to others—especially the person your ex moved on with—and constantly feeling like you’re not good enough. Olivia’s words capture that kind of hopelessness so perfectly. Even when you try to change or improve, it feels like nothing will ever be enough to silence those doubts. What made it even harder was that he took his ex to prom after our breakup. That felt like a punch to the gut, like a loud, undeniable reminder that I wasn’t enough for him. I tried to move on, but honestly, I never really got over it. I eventually went back to him, but the hurt never fully went away. That’s why “the grudge” speaks to me so much. The song is all about holding onto pain even after you’ve tried to forgive someone, and that’s exactly how I feel. I’ve tried to let go of what he did, but the memories just don’t go away. Every time I think about it, it’s like I’m reliving the betrayal all over again. Olivia’s lyrics capture that mix of love and resentment—being stuck in this place where you can’t fully heal because the hurt is still so fresh. These two songs sum up what adolescence feels like: heartbreak, insecurity, and emotions that are so overwhelming it feels like you’ll never escape them. They remind me that I’m not alone in feeling this way and give me a way to express emotions I’ve struggled to explain. Olivia’s music makes me feel seen, and it helps me process everything I’m still working through. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to feel broken sometimes, even if letting go is hard. Adolescence is messy, and these songs embrace that messiness in a way that feels so real to me.

For my entire life I have been focused on one thing--my future. I know what I want, and I am determined to achieve my goals. Attending Clemson University has been my goal since I was a little girl dreaming of engineering roller coasters. I knew being accepted would be hard, so I did everything possible to make this dream come true. I worked hard in my advanced classes, participated in a variety of extracurricular activities, and attended summer camp at Clemson. These experiences led me to modify my childhood dream from engineering to bioengineering and genetics. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting every aspect of my life during my freshman year, I discovered my love of biology. Taking Biomedical Science in my sophomore year helped me narrow my focus even more, so I attended bioengineering camp at Clemson. While there, I refined my interests into something both unique and challenging. I decided that I wanted to study DNA and solve genetic mysteries such as overcoming new viruses and hereditary diseases. Fortunately, Clemson is an amazing school for genetics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, resources like masks were hard to find. Doctors and nurses were exposed to this new virus and did not have the protection they needed. A call went out to the community to help sew masks for healthcare professionals. I rushed to the store, gathered all the supplies, and got to work. I really enjoyed making these masks. I made so many--some plain, some with crazy colors, and some with patterns. The feeling I got after each batch of masks made was amazing. I felt like I was really helping in an important issue that was plaguing the community. This project enabled me to learn a lot about myself. I know I am a hard and determined worker. I know I want to achieve greatness in my future. I know I want to make a change and improve the world. Even isolated during COVID, I attempted to support my community by helping the super heroes who save lives. I know I am a driven student. I never give up. When I want something, I work hard to achieve it. I have spent countless hours studying and taking rigorous AP, honors, and dual enrollment classes to get into Clemson. However, Clemson University is about $29,000 a year which is far beyond my ability to afford without a scholarship. This scholarship would help me in achieving this first step in becoming a geneticist so that I can improve people's lives through genetic research.

For my entire life I have been focused on one thing--my future. I know what I want, and I am determined to achieve my goals. Attending Clemson University has been my goal since I was a little girl dreaming of engineering roller coasters. I knew being accepted would be hard, so I did everything possible to make this dream come true. I worked hard in my advanced classes, participated in a variety of extracurricular activities, and attended summer camp at Clemson. These experiences led me to modify my childhood dream from engineering to bioengineering and genetics. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting every aspect of my life during my freshman year, I discovered my love of biology. Taking Biomedical Science in my sophomore year helped me narrow my focus even more, so I attended bioengineering camp at Clemson. While there, I refined my interests into something both unique and challenging. I decided that I wanted to study DNA and solve genetic mysteries such as overcoming new viruses and hereditary diseases. Fortunately, Clemson is an amazing school for genetics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, resources like masks were hard to find. Doctors and nurses were exposed to this new virus and did not have the protection they needed. A call went out to the community to help sew masks for healthcare professionals. I rushed to the store, gathered all the supplies, and got to work. I really enjoyed making these masks. I made so many--some plain, some with crazy colors, and some with patterns. The feeling I got after each batch of masks made was amazing. I felt like I was really helping in an important issue that was plaguing the community. This project enabled me to learn a lot about myself. I know I am a hard and determined worker. I know I want to achieve greatness in my future. I know I want to make a change and improve the world. Even isolated during COVID, I attempted to support my community by helping the super heroes who save lives. I know I am a driven student. I never give up. When I want something, I work hard to achieve it. I have spent countless hours studying and taking rigorous AP, honors, and dual enrollment classes to get into Clemson. However, Clemson University is about $29,000 a year which is far beyond my ability to afford without a scholarship. This scholarship would help me in achieving this first step in becoming a geneticist so that I can improve people's lives through genetic research.

For my entire life I have been focused on one thing--my future. I know what I want, and I am determined to achieve my goals. Attending Clemson University has been my goal since I was a little girl dreaming of engineering roller coasters. I knew being accepted would be hard, so I did everything possible to make this dream come true. I worked hard in my advanced classes, participated in a variety of extracurricular activities, and attended summer camp at Clemson. These experiences led me to modify my childhood dream from engineering to bioengineering and genetics. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting every aspect of my life during my freshman year, I discovered my love of biology. Taking Biomedical Science in my sophomore year helped me narrow my focus even more, so I attended bioengineering camp at Clemson. While there, I refined my interests into something both unique and challenging. I decided that I wanted to study DNA and solve genetic mysteries such as overcoming new viruses and hereditary diseases. Fortunately, Clemson is an amazing school for genetics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, resources like masks were hard to find. Doctors and nurses were exposed to this new virus and did not have the protection they needed. A call went out to the community to help sew masks for healthcare professionals. I rushed to the store, gathered all the supplies, and got to work. I really enjoyed making these masks. I made so many--some plain, some with crazy colors, and some with patterns. The feeling I got after each batch of masks made was amazing. I felt like I was really helping in an important issue that was plaguing the community. This project enabled me to learn a lot about myself. I know I am a hard and determined worker. I know I want to achieve greatness in my future. I know I want to make a change and improve the world. Even isolated during COVID, I attempted to support my community by helping the super heroes who save lives. I know I am a driven student. I never give up. When I want something, I work hard to achieve it. I have spent countless hours studying and taking rigorous AP, honors, and dual enrollment classes to get into Clemson. However, Clemson University is about $29,000 a year which is far beyond my ability to afford without a scholarship. This scholarship would help me in achieving this first step in becoming a geneticist so that I can improve people's lives through genetic research.

For my entire life I have been focused on one thing--my future. I know what I want, and I am determined to achieve my goals. Attending Clemson University has been my goal since I was a little girl dreaming of engineering roller coasters. I knew being accepted would be hard, so I did everything possible to make this dream come true. I worked hard in my advanced classes, participated in a variety of extracurricular activities, and attended summer camp at Clemson. These experiences led me to modify my childhood dream from engineering to bioengineering and genetics. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting every aspect of my life during my freshman year, I discovered my love of biology. Taking Biomedical Science in my sophomore year helped me narrow my focus even more, so I attended bioengineering camp at Clemson. While there, I refined my interests into something both unique and challenging. I decided that I wanted to study DNA and solve genetic mysteries such as overcoming new viruses and hereditary diseases. Fortunately, Clemson is an amazing school for genetics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, resources like masks were hard to find. Doctors and nurses were exposed to this new virus and did not have the protection they needed. A call went out to the community to help sew masks for healthcare professionals. I rushed to the store, gathered all the supplies, and got to work. I really enjoyed making these masks. I made so many--some plain, some with crazy colors, and some with patterns. The feeling I got after each batch of masks made was amazing. I felt like I was really helping in an important issue that was plaguing the community. This project enabled me to learn a lot about myself. I know I am a hard and determined worker. I know I want to achieve greatness in my future. I know I want to make a change and improve the world. Even isolated during COVID, I attempted to support my community by helping the super heroes who save lives. I know I am a driven student. I never give up. When I want something, I work hard to achieve it. I have spent countless hours studying and taking rigorous AP, honors, and dual enrollment classes to get into Clemson. However, Clemson University is about $29,000 a year which is far beyond my ability to afford without a scholarship. This scholarship would help me in achieving this first step in becoming a geneticist so that I can improve people's lives through genetic research.

Walking up the never-ending staircase, excited for the journey ahead of me, I only had one thought in my mind. How is this week going to impact my life? Once I reached the top of the stairs I knew. This week was going to make me into a great leader, and it all started at Palmetto ALA Girls State (political camp). At Girls State I finally learned how to use my voice. I gave numerous speeches on how I could make the world better and what I believed. I cheered my new friends on and encouraged them to run for different positions. I even pushed my roommate to run for governor. I helped her with her speech, her campaign, and her confidence. We had so many guest speakers who gave uplifting and empowering speeches telling us we were meant for great things. These speakers made me feel like I could accomplish anything. Everyone here was a leader and so was I. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was learning about what it means to lead. When the next school year started I felt I had learned enough at Girls State to be a leader. So, I ran for swim captain. I won. I was so excited to lead and make my team better. I did many things for the team. I created an Instagram page, and I wrote down all our accomplishments for them to be announced in the school's daily announcement. I taught the new swimmers the strokes, I cheered my teammates on, and when we had a meet I helped everyone get to their correct lanes. It felt amazing. I was finally able to lead the way other girls lead at Girls State. In the future, I will accomplish greatness. It is because of Girls State and my opportunity as swim captain that I believe I can continue to lead in the workplace. After I complete college, hopefully with a genetics degree, I plan on working in a lab. When working in a lab you need leadership skills. There are so many things that can go wrong in the lab and if you do not have any leadership skills, most times, many problems with the tests can occur. I can be the person in the lab that leads. I can be the one who helps the test run smoothly. I am extremely thankful for my experience which has made me the leader that I am today. I will always be a leader, and it is all because of that amazing week at ALA Palmetto Girls State.

Motionless in my father's arms, tired from a whole day of fun and walking, I slump into my car seat. I can still feel the way the wind hit my face on the thrilling space mountain ride. As I fell asleep in the car I remembered all that had occurred that day at Disney. The day started out with my parents freaking out about if we had everything we needed for the day. “Parking pass?” “Check!” “Waters?” “Check!” My parents continued on like this for a while. Then, once everything was checked off the list, we were off to the best park at Disney World, Magic Kingdom. The feeling of walking into the park is always the same. It is as if I am transported to another world, full of magic and adventure. Once we made it into the park the first thing we did was find Mickey Mouse. Once we found him I was so excited, I ran up and kissed him on the nose. It made me so happy to see him, as a young child I believed he was 100% real. After seeing Mickey, it was time for rides. I was always so obsessed with the rides because I wanted to design them one day when I grew up. I wanted to become an Imagineer ( a person who designs roller coasters at Disney). My favorite ride that day was Space Mountain. I was finally tall enough to ride it, so I was very excited. I felt like I was flying through the air on a dark moonless night. When we rode the haunted mansion I was having the time of my life. This ride was not like a roller coaster, it was like being inside the movie. That's what I love about Magic Kingdom; it feels as if you are really a part of the story. As the day grew later, it was time to be a princess. I got to go eat at, the one and only, Cinderella's Castle. I had a princess dress on and my hair was up with a crown on my head. I was ready. Once it was time for our reservations I walked into the castle, did a twirl, and eagerly waited to see Cinderella. After I took my picture with her, my family and I made our way to the dining room. As we were eating, characters circled the room. I was thrilled, I got to see and talk to all of them. I even got my own magic wand. When we were about to leave we got to make a wish on a blue sparkly star. The room went quiet as we made our wishes, I wished the day would last forever. Unfortunately, it was time to leave the castle. I was so sad, but there was still one last thing to do. Fireworks! We found the perfect spot to watch them. I gazed at the sky in amazement, the 4th of July could not compare. The only way to describe the fireworks was magical. At some point I fell asleep, and the next thing I knew I was in the car on the way back to the hotel. This day at Disney was perfect. No matter how old I get it always feels perfect. Disney is so special to me and will always be a part of me. My favorite thing about Disney is that the magic never fades at Magic Kingdom.