When I was twelve years old, I was looking for volunteer work and my church told me that they were looking for someone to help organize papers in their office. Little did I know how immensely that day would change my life. From when I was twelve years old to when I was fifteen years old, I taught a first-grade religious education class. That was between the years of 2019 to 2022 and equated to four different classes, each with its own individual challenges. In the first class that I taught, I was the teacher's assistant, and I started in January of 2019. Since I started partially through the year, I had trouble finding my role in the class. I did not know what my purpose was and struggled to find it. In addition, being as young as I was, I was not comfortable in front of a class. The entire experience was overwhelming at first. Throughout the rest of the year, I gradually became more comfortable to the point where I agreed to help teach the next year. The second class that I assistant taught was cut short due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. That class ran from September of 2019 to March of 2020 due to the interruption from the pandemic. It was truly an incredible experience. Having developed more of a rhythm and a place for myself the previous year, it was easier for me to acclimate this year. In addition, starting the year with the students was also helpful since they knew exactly who I was and what my role was from the beginning of the year. I also helped to teach the students a song for the annual Christmas play. As an aspiring musical theatre major, that helped me to learn about how everyone learns music differently and that different approaches sometimes need to be taken. The third year that I assistant taught this class was also a shorter year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The year did not start until October of 2020. Even though the class only had four students in it, it was difficult due to the procedures we had to implement to limit the spread of COVID-19. In the past, multiple students had sat at one table. For that year, however, every student needed their own table for social distancing purposes. It was a challenge to make sure that all of the students were properly learning and also to make sure that they were COVID-compliant at all times. After that year, I did not know if I was going to continue assistant teaching. When asked to return, I did, however, agree. The fourth and final year that I taught was unprecedented. Originally, I was going to assistant teach again with the teacher that I had taught with for the last three years. Two weeks into the year, she told me that she needed to stay home with her husband and that she would no longer be able to teach. That meant that I would have to take over the class as the head teacher. It was an incredibly difficult year and it taught me how to speak up for myself. I am so grateful to have had the experience of head-teaching a class, but after that year, I did not go back given the difficulty and the fact that my assistant teacher did not want to return. Ultimately, teaching CCD made me more comfortable in front of a class and helped to shape my future goals. I would like to be an actress and teaching this class helped to prepare me.

If I could have everyone read one book, I would have them read "The Cheat Sheet" by Sarah Adams. This novel is a sports romance. The male main character, Nathan, is a professional football player. The female main character, Bree, owns a dance studio. They are roommates and best friends. When Bree gets drunk, she accidentally tells a reporter that she would like to erase all other women from Nathan's life with a Tide Pen. Nathan's manager believes that Bree and Nathan should pretend to date to further Nathan's career. They agree, and throughout the book, Nathan and Bree discover that they have feelings for each other. "The Cheat Sheet" is extremely strong for many reasons. One of those reasons is the characters. Bree and Nathan's friend group is comprised of very likable characters that positively contribute to the story. In addition to those side characters, Bree and Nathan themselves are extremely easy for the reader to root for. All of the characters in this novel are dynamic and fully-developed, making for an amazing group. In the novel, Nathan has panic attacks. Mental health is the type of topic that needs to be handled with expert precision as to not misrepresent or offend people. "The Cheat Sheet" portrays Nathan's panic attacks in a very tasteful and realistic way. As someone who experiences panic attacks, I found that Nathan's mental health struggles were written extremely well and were representative of how some people feel when they experience panic attacks. The ending of this book is also exceptional. Once Nathan and Bree confess their feelings for one another, they decide to date for real. When Nathan goes to the Super Bowl, he proposes to Bree and they get married that night. It is such a wholesome and happy ending for this novel and it really ties everything together. If everyone read "The Cheat Sheet", I believe that their lives would improve. It truly is a feel-good book and one that everyone in the world should read.

@the_carolinecf

If I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life, I would choose to watch "Center Stage". "Center Stage" is my favorite movie of all time. I was first introduced to it by my mom in the summer of 2019. "Center Stage" is about a dancer named Jody Sawyer who is accepted into a prestigious ballet academy. Throughout the movie, Jody creates lasting friendships and has to work extremely hard to stay at the American Ballet Academy. At that point, I had been a dancer for ten years and an actress for three, so this movie appealed, and still appeals, to my interests. At the start of the movie, Jody is auditioning for a spot at the American Ballet Academy. Jody's parents are adamant that she should go to college instead of dancing, but she is determined to go to the academy. She believes in her dreams and is determined to succeed. I find that to be extremely admirable and inspiring. As a main character, Jody makes the audience want to root for her, and that is exactly how the viewer should feel when watching a film. This cast is also extremely talented. Starring Amanda Schull, Zoe Saldana, and Sascha Radetsky; "Center Stage" flourishes. The acting is amazing and all of their emotions feel genuine. All of the actors in the movie were classically trained in ballet and the movie required zero dance doubles. All of the dancing was done by the actors themselves. That makes for a movie that feels more authentic than when dance doubles are used. For many films, dance doubles are necessary and very important, but the fact that this movie does not use them is a unique quality. The costuming for this movie is also exceptional. It is evident how much effort the costume department put into this film. When the characters have a performance, their costumes are amazing and incredibly detailed. For Zoe Saldana's character's performance, she wears a gorgeous white tutu and looks like the epitome of a classical ballerina. Throughout the film, she acts as though she does not care at all about ballet, so the costume is a direct juxtaposition to her actions. When Jody performs, her most notable costume is a firey red dress with red pointe shoes. Her costume is also a juxtaposition to her actions, as she spends the entire film attempting to prove that she is the perfect ballerina and deserves a spot in the American Ballet Company. Those costuming choices help to fully develop the characters and demonstrate how they are ready to move on to their next steps in life. Another facet of the movie that sticks out is the characters themselves. The film makes sure that all of the characters are shown and developed so that the viewer can fully connect with all of them. Viewers are able to understand all of the characters' motivations and it makes those characters feel like real people. When the characters are given problems that apply to the real world, it makes them easier to connect with and can make the viewer feel seen. That is truly the stamp of an amazing film. If in a position where I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life, I would choose "Center Stage" without hesitation. From the characters, to the costumes, to the storylines, "Center Stage" is an incredible movie that I will rewatch for years to come.

The aspect of Zendaya's career that I admire the most is her acting. As an amateur actress currently, I would like to be a professional in the future. Her career has been very inspiring in my journey. My favorite of her acting projects is "The Greatest Showman". Zendaya worked on that project for many years and never gave up on it even when it seemed unlikely that it would ever come to fruition. She is a brilliant actress and makes acting look easy. For "The Greatest Showman", she learned how to perform aerial tricks. It would have been quite easy to cast a stunt double for her, but her dedication to the role and her craft was her drive to learn the moves for herself. She also spent hours in hair and makeup every morning to encapsulate the look of Anne Wheeler perfectly. Zendaya also sang difficult songs in that movie. Those songs take immense vocal control to sing and her talent is unmatchable. Zendaya's acting range is also something that I admire. After playing Anne Wheeler in "The Greatest Showman", Zendaya took on the role of MJ in the newest Spiderman trilogy. That is an extremely different role than she previously played, demonstrating the remarkable range that she possesses as an actor. Possessing a wide range is extremely important in the acting field and helps actors to book more roles. She demonstrates not only her range physically, but also emotionally. To play such different roles and to perform both with the same level of dedication is the true mark of a great actor. Zendaya is truly an inspiration to so many different people for many different reasons. In my case, I am most inspired by her acting career and how she has changed the world through her work.

I am Team Jeremiah. Belly grew up with the Fishers and had a close relationship with both Conrad and Jeremiah. The difference between Conrad and Jeremiah is that Conrad loved Belly when Jeremiah wanted her rather than because he genuinely wanted to be with her. Conrad showed no interest in Belly until after she kissed Jeremiah and asked him to the Debutante Ball. Being with Belly was something that only one brother could have, and Conrad wanted to ensure that she chose him. He was selfish in his motives for wanting to date Belly, whereas Jeremiah's motives were always pure. When Belly and Jeremiah first kissed, it was not because Jeremiah wanted to beat Conrad. He kissed her because he truly wanted to be with her. When Jeremiah found out that his mother had cancer, he was devastated and he was not able to be at the Debutante Ball when Belly needed him. Conrad conveniently stepped in for Jeremiah knowing that it was something that he would be able to take from his brother. At the end of the Season 1 finale, Conrad kisses Belly, knowing that he would put her in a position where she would have to choose between him and Jeremiah. He was not oblivious enough to be unaware of Belly's long-standing crush on him and he knew that she would choose him. When Season 2 premieres, it is revealed that Belly and Conrad dated, but broke up shortly before Sussanah's funeral. When Belly chose Conrad over Jeremiah, Jeremiah was devastated because, unlike Conrad, Jeremiah genuinely liked her and wanted to be with her. Due to the pain that she caused him, Jeremiah breaks off communications with Belly. Conrad, meanwhile, took Belly to her prom and forgot her corsage. He knew how important that night was to Belly and their mothers, but he didn't care enough to remember the corsage. Sussanah specifically bought him one to give to Belly, and he did not care enough about her to put in the effort to remember it. He was moody and clearly did not want to be there. Normally, someone would be excited to be at their girlfriend's prom, but not Conrad. Conrad did not care in the least. When Belly and Conrad inevitably broke up later that night, Conrad was not even sad about it. He hurt Belly and was only disappointed because he lost his hold on the one person Jeremiah wanted to be with. He was selfish in his relationship with Belly. At the end of the school year, Jeremiah finally called Belly when he had not heard from Conrad for a few days. When she told him that she hadn't heard from Conrad, the two of them rushed to their house in Cousins Beach, Massachusetts. They found out that their Aunt Julia was selling the house and they had to either give up or find a way to save it. When Julia cleared out all of their belongings from the house, Cam Cameron used his mother's credentials to find them all a place to sleep at the country club. When Belly asked Jeremiah why he didn't kiss her during a game of Truth or Dare, Jeremiah told her that if he kissed her, he wouldn't be able to stop and that he wouldn't survive if she chose Conrad again. Throughout the rest of Season 2, Belly battled her feelings for Conrad and Jeremiah until she finally realized that Jeremiah was always there for her and chose him. Jeremiah always wanted to be with Belly because of who she was, not because his brother wanted her.

I would stick to the traditional Barbie color scheme for my Barbie Dream House since pink is my favorite color. I would put my Dream House right on St. Pete's Beach in Florida. St. Pete's Beach is the number one beach in the United States and I also recently went there on vacation. The beach itself is gorgeous and so much fun to be at. In addition, since it is in the southern United States, it would be warm all year, making for a nice place to live. My Dream House would be three stories tall and have many windows in every room. I love looking outside and seeing what is around me, so I would make sure that there were a lot of windows. I would have a large kitchen and living room so that I could entertain many people at once. I would also have a large bedroom with a large bed to make sure that I am as comfortable as possible. My Dream House would feature a library as well as an at-home theater. Reading is one of my favorite activities and I also own many books. A library in my Dream House would make sure that I always have enough shelf space for my books. It would also give me an area solely dedicated to reading. An at-home theater would allow me to be able to watch movies and shows on a big screen and in a comfortable chair without having to go to a traditional movie theater. Those two amenities would be my top priorities when building my Barbie Dream House. In addition, I would make sure to have an efficient ventilation system. Florida can be very hot, so I would make sure that my Barbie Dream House was equipped with the best air conditioning system possible. I would also put in a heating system even though I probably would not use it very often. My Dream House would be my sanctuary and I would make sure to fill it with everything that I could possibly need or want.

I have been singing since I was very young. I was even named after the song "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond, so music has been ingrained in my upbringing. I love music, and it is a large part of my life. Music is transformative. It has taught me to look at the world believing that I can improve it. When I started writing songs at eleven years old, it was simply a fun project that I could do. As I got older, music became my outlet. Anything that I was experiencing in my life could be turned into a song. I wanted to use the music I wrote to make people feel that they had a voice and that someone else in the world knew what they were experiencing. My main goal was always to inspire others to love music and to see the world differently. Music puts the world into perspective for me and opens up my mind to new possibilities. As soon as I started high school, I knew that I wanted to be in the Cumberland High School Chorus. My first year was during the COVID-19 pandemic, so my experience that year was not as full as it could have been. Through that, however, I kept going because I love music and how singing makes me feel. Music has taught me that I can do and be whoever I want to be. In today's world, people tend to be very judgmental. Music has helped me to see that the world is not black and white. Everyone has hardships and those without an outlet can sometimes lash out at others. Music is my reprieve and my escape from the world around me. Music tells many stories. Whether it be in musicals or just the story of the song, every piece of music has a story behind it. Many of the songs that I write are inspired by events in my life and they tell the story of that moment. I love listening to music and getting an insight into what is going on in the writer's life. I truly believe in the saying "art imitates life". Music has helped me to see the stories of the world and how everyone has a story to tell. Music is so special because it is completely free. Music is all around you and can be made using anything. Everyone has access to music no matter their economic status, making music one of the most accessible art forms in the world. I can confidently say that, without music, my life would not be what it is now. Music has transformed how I see the world and how I see myself. I am more positive, articulate, and open-minded because of music. Music can change your outlook on life, and it truly did that for me.

My favorite song on Taylor Swift's '1989' album is "Wildest Dreams". This song has a dreamy feel to it. As a self-proclaimed dreamer, I believe that you should follow your dreams as far as they can take you before abandoning them. If you have dreams, you have them for a reason and I do not believe that it is fair to you to give up on your dreams just because you think they may be impractical. "Wildest Dreams", to me, is about embracing those dreams that you may see as impractical. The song encourages people to work for their own happiness and not deny themselves what they want. I am also a hopeless romantic. This song has a dreamy and romantic feel to it, something that I enjoy. I like that the song also has a hopeful sound to it. It elicits emotions that only music can elicit. When someone listens to music, it can transport them to another world. That is exactly what "Wildest Dreams" does for me. When I hear that song, I am transported to a world of hope and longing. In today's world, everyone needs a vehicle for escapism and that is what that song is for me. In every phase of someone's life, they need to be able to turn to something for a door into another world, and when I listen to "Wildest Dreams", I am given a door into Taylor Swift's world. Many of her songs are inspired by events that occurred in her life, so "Wildest Dreams" gives me a doorway into what she strives for herself. As a musician, I can also admire the artistic elements of the song. It is incredibly well-written and the notes well-suit Taylor Swift's voice. "Wildest Dreams" has an earworm melody that is perfectly suited to play on a loop in people's brains. For music, the writing and the marketing strategy go hand in hand, so I can acknowledge that Taylor Swift's writing is part of what made '1989' her best-selling album. Everything in the song, from the vocals to the instrumentation, makes this song what it is and fits together seamlessly. Those elements combine to make the song what it is. Taylor Swift's career is very inspiring. She was never handed anything and had to work for everything. She makes me believe that if she could do it, I could, too. "Wildest Dreams" inspires me to want more and to go for everything that I deserve.

When I think back to the fondest memories of my childhood, I think of Disney. I remember watching Disney movies with my family and visiting Disney World. Disney has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and I truly love the magic that it brings with it. My favorite vacation I have ever taken was to Disney World. I went with my family and we were all elated during the trip. No one thought about any problems they may be having or what else was going on in the world, we just existed inside of the Disney bubble. Disney is truly for everyone and makes people feel welcome no matter who they are or what they are experiencing. The rides at the park and the magical feeling that they elicited made that vacation worthwhile and enjoyable. My grandma is one of the most important people in my life. Being able to share Disney movies with her has been such a blessing and I have made many memories watching them with her. Disney movies exist in their own worlds that help people to escape from what they are experiencing in their own lives. They are full of magic and color and bring worlds to life that people could only imagine. People may say that Disney movies are just for children, but I do not believe that. I believe that Disney movies are for dreamers, no matter how old they may be. Everyone has dreams and everyone can relate to characters in Disney movies. Even as I am getting ready to go to college in a little over a year, I still revisit the Disney movies of my childhood for that magical feeling. Disney is actually part of what inspired me to want to pursue performing arts. I dream of being cast in a Disney movie someday and I think that dreams are what Disney is all about. Disney is for the dreamers and the outcasts, those who feel isolated, and those who need comfort. The essence of Disney cannot be encompassed in any one adjective as it is so much more than just a tiny box. In fact, Disney has taught people to go against the grain and reject those tiny boxes. I love that Disney encourages people to be unique. All Disney characters that we see in movies have unique personalities that they explore during the film, and they have taught people to go out and discover themselves.