Very few people have the foresight or self-awareness to acknowledge that they don't know everything, which is why the founding fathers wrote the constitution specifically to be amended. They knew that times changed, and the words of people who lived centuries ago should not dictate the lives of future generations. Unfortunately, I believe many Americans have forgotten this. Our democracy is ancient, and its issues are becoming more apparent every day. However, many see the constitution not as a living, breathing document, but as a quasi-religious text, infallible and irreproachable. This means that the issues indirectly or directly caused by those that lived generations ago cannot be solved, and they are ignored or minimized. This complete reverence for the constitution is a major obstacle in the way of progress, and it has been shown to directly hurt those in marginalized communities. To fix this issue and allow the United States to grow, we must change the way we think about the constitution. It is not a sacred document made by perfect, divine figures - it was made by a group of white men who didn't want to pay taxes, and the document itself reflects those men's desires. Once we acknowledge that the constitution is imperfect, we can go on the path of perfecting it. We can make the America that our schoolteachers told us about: a beacon of liberty and prosperity for the world, where all are equal and anyone can be anything. America was never great, but it can be. This reason is why I've devoted my work to bringing the flaws of our democracy to light, and how the ancient document that has dictated our country often forgets about those pushed to the sidelines. As a journalist, we have the power to show the public what those in power don't want them to see, and I intend to do just that. People want to forget about those that they've marginalized. Perhaps they feel guilty, or they're just plain bigots - the outcomes are the same. I will make sure that they cannot forget about the wrongdoings that have allowed marginalized communities to be excluded from the same opportunities afforded to those with power. I know what it feels like to be pushed to the sidelines and forgotten. The transgender community has been the victim of this for years, with people believing that it's a "trend" or a "phase". Transgender people have been recorded since ancient Rome in emperor Elagabalus, and possibly even Sumeria with the gala priests. I always wanted to do something important and meaningful, and fighting for civil rights is a very worthy cause. By bringing communities from the margins into the spotlight, I hope that I can help promote the civil rights of all people.

I was very young when I fell in love with the news. My parents and friends always found it odd how such a young person would be so fascinated in what these broadcasters would say on television, what writers would write in newspapers, and what newscasters would say on the radio. What they didn't know, however, was that I was looking for someone that was like me. Someone who was insecure about their gender identity. Someone that would represent people that were like me, and someone who would advocate for me. I did not find that. All I found was misrepresentation and misinformation. That's when I decided I wanted to go into media. I had always been a good writer - or at least, that's what my teachers told me - and I knew the best chance I had for success is to use that talent. Of course, by success, I don't mean riches or fame. Journalism is known for not being very profitable. But I don't care about that - I want for children that were like me to read a story in a newspaper, or see me on a broadcast, or hear me on a radio, and see themselves. To show them that there are other people like them, and that they are fighting to allow them to be who they are without limits. Making a real, positive difference in the world is what success means to me. Going to the University of Texas at Arlington has helped me make that dream a reality. As far as I can tell, I am the only transgender journalism major in my class. I learned to take what natural talent that I have in writing and turn that into something that can be published. Not only that, I have taken multiple courses that further my understanding of sociology, specifically sexuality and gender. These studies have improved my knowledge about people like me, and likewise strengthened my resolve. While at UTA, I have also made various connections to important figures and resources within my field, as well as strengthened my portfolio. I am starting up a news desert initiative with one of my professors, where I can publish my work in a real newsroom setting. I have also made connections with important figures in LGBTQ+ studies and women's rights. I work under Dr. Dustin Harp, who wrote "Gender in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election", and I have also worked alongside people who are conducting real research into LGBTQ+ people. I also work with Roshan Mashal, who is an international women's rights activist who was the networking manager for the Afghan Women's Network. What I learned and gained at UTA will help me realize my dream of helping combat misinformation and to educate about LGBTQ+ people in a journalistic sense. Using what I have worked so hard to gain, I believe that I can make a real, positive difference in the world.