“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin. America was made for people like me, with dreams and goals that require freedom. I value education because of the many times I’ve seen what good it can do for the people around me, as well as allow me the freedom to do what I love. An education can make the difference between a woman who is tied down to a relationship, an unhappy job, or an unhappy home to an independent and happy woman who has the freedom to do what she loves. I truly believe in the power of education to change lives. I was homeschooled in a rural area of Kentucky, where many people, especially women, grew up to never leave. That was never my aspiration. I love the woods and trees I grew up around but never wanted to stay there forever. I want the freedom to research and travel, to love all of the trees and people I see and help all that I can. I’ve been able to teach, and I see and value the difference that a multi-disciplinary education makes in girls and women through my teaching experience. Specifically, I taught karate, a highly male-dominated sport. Instead of allowing myself to be intimidated, I quickly rose to the top of my class and found a passion for teaching other young women the joys of being strong in the face of an increasingly scary world. Currently, I work for my education. An eighteen-hour course load in Forestry with 20-35 hours a week at multiple jobs becomes tiring, but I won’t quit. I love learning, and nothing can stop me from wanting to learn all that I can about the world around me. Not only do I want this for myself, but I want to be able to encourage those around me to take a leap into the world of education and beauty that I see for myself every day now. Watching the other women in forestry, specifically, my academic advisor has challenged me to hold myself to a higher standard in my educational journey. Even in a highly taxing physical and mental environment, I find immense pride and joy in being a woman who excels in her work and school. To many, I may seem ordinary. I know better, and I know that every woman I meet needs to know the same thing. That they are unique and can achieve what they dream of. I can help make that dream a reality by finishing my education and going on to teach the next generation of girls that they, too, can succeed in any field they want. That makes my education important to me.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” - The Fellowship of the Ring. The best books teach us, and The Lord of the Rings series does just that. The Fellowship of the Ring is my favorite book out of this series, and it helped me through some of the most difficult periods of my life. Watching Sam care for Frodo gave me a head start when learning to care for my little sister, especially when she had Lyme's disease. This book comforted me, told me it was ok to be scared as long as I was trying to be brave, and captured my attention when I didn’t have the strength to do anything but read. This book will always be precious to me, as it was the first book I read by Tolkien. Any time I have a difficult day or a hard week, I’ll sit down and read this book. If I don’t have the book near, I’ll watch the movie adaptation on my phone or tablet. This comforting book has also made me many friends, as it’s a wonderful common ground for talking and creates a safe space for conversations to start. All in all, this book is a life-changer to some, and a life-saver to me. I recommend you read it if you haven’t!