Science fairs, teacher aiding, soccer clinics; all volunteer experiences I have participated in to add hours to my transcript. Although I enjoyed volunteering, I had not found a real passion for it due to the mundane and basic nature of the activities I was enrolling in. However, my time volunteering for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign had produced a change in my perception. In Madison, Wisconsin, we planted signs, passed out memorabilia, and informed the public on the values of the campaign. It was here that I realized the role volunteers play in the lives of others, whether big or small. Working on the campaign was making a large difference, helping elect the next president of the United States, a crucial change in the future of the country as well as the lives of those living in it. In contrast, the individual basis I was working in illuminated the importance of my past endeavors, such as the soccer clinic. Although the results of my work were not immediately shown, the small deeds I performed for the individual kids would eventually add up to a noticeable sum in the future. Whether sizeable or minuscule, volunteer work paves the path of the future for those you help, satisfying your intrinsic needs as well as the needs of others.

Growing up, I had a natural affinity for the subjects of science and math, scoring higher than average in every standardized test I completed. Despite being involved heavily in sports, no PE class compared to science. I was most captivated in the classroom when participating in the creation of oobleck or watching water molecules climb up a square of paper towels, an early demonstration of capillary action. Due to my natural prowess for science, I was surprised when my Molecular Geometry Sophomore Chemistry test was returned to me. "An F?" I exclaimed, startling even the teacher that held the red pen responsible for vandalizing my work. My stomach sank as I read the letter over and over again. It was my first sign of failure in any of my classes up to this point, and it shattered my reality of what my true abilities were in the classroom. The rest of the school day, my mind ran a marathon, thinking of the blemish it would leave on my future transcript rather than contemplating what I could do to fix it at the moment. It was only the day after when my chemistry teacher noticed my pure distress and sat down with me for a conversation. I begged and pleaded for a retake or corrections, but he refused. I resented his decision, but looking back, I realized that his decision provided me with insight and clarity as I traversed high school. My shortcoming taught me that I cannot use my mental gifts as pillars to hold me up when I'm feeling lazy, but rather hone them by studying the content I am already versed in, using them as tools to pave my own path of success and bear the fruits of my own efforts.

A ghastly reaper with a pristine white robe, traveling down the now lava-filled Niagara Falls on a black trolly. This may sound like a concept that is a complete stretch of the imagination, and that's because it is. Despite the outlandish concept it presents, technological advancements in video and digital art programs allow us to bring these mental experiments to life. I became interested in the Adobe suite and other programs such as Sony Vegas from a young age and became infatuated with the skills it allowed me to hone. Using these programs, I would like to create a multi-medium art piece through graphic design, video, and written work in order to create various pieces that explain the science behind mental disorders. These pieces will serve as a method to educate the populous of the world on serious issues that affect the world's youth at a disproportionate rate. I think it is vital for the world to see this creation because it offers the biological aspect of issues that may seem inexplicable. Education is essential to advancing in any situation, and if learning can be transformed into a medium that fascinates and inspires, such as art, people will be more likely to consume it, therefore gaining a better understanding of their own emotions and the mental health crisis that affects 1 in 5 teenagers.