According to the website Cradles to Crayons, around 20 million Americans cannot afford basic essentials such as clothes. When I heard this, I knew that I had to make it my mission to donate as much as I could during high school, because I know that people's well being is just as important as mine. I started out by donating things such as socks and shirts, which turned into donating food items because I also realized that many people in my community don't have access to food like I do. Donating during high school made me realize how much better I have it than other people. I have so much more empathy now than when I used to not donate regularly. Not only do I donate, but I also started volunteering as well. I volunteer to help out cleaning the school or to help out with a school meet, because helping out with anything that I could is beneficial for all. In the future, I want to give back more to the world if I could, because there are so many people that are in need of items right now.

From the second I found out what a mitochondria was, I knew that biology was going to be my first love. Biology is something that I have always wanted to learn more about, and is a topic that really has my heart. I could go all day listing facts I know about biology, since that is just how much fascinates me. From prions to protozoans, biology has many different topics that I can discuss and research for hours. In my microbiology classroom, I am the main one answering the questions the teacher asks because biology is the number one thing I know the most about. I am constantly taking notes and researching about biology since it is a topic I can not get enough of, especially since there is so much we have yet to learn about it. Biology is like a freshly baked sweet cake that I can not stop having, it is just that good to me. I love biology so much that I see myself working in a biology lab someday, conducting research about biology and getting to know more of the hidden secrets of it. I have already done one research project about microbiology, and I was even able to get to state. But I wouldn’t have been able to get to state without the person who inspires me, which is my microbiology teacher, Mrs. Lopez. Mrs. Lopez does everything in her power to make sure that her students are learning everything that they need to know about microbiology. She would reteach a lesson over and over again just to make sure that aloof her children understand it. Everyday she shows us an example of what it is to be an amazing teacher who would never let her students down, and I look up to her for that. She prepares us all for the real world and what it would be like to work in a microbiology lab, which gives me confidence to work in an actual laboratory when I graduate college. I already feel prepared for college research because she has worked that hard to make sure that I am. She inspires me to be a hard worker just like she is, and hopefully one day I will be able to guide someone in a laboratory just like she once did to many future microbiologists. Apart from learning about microbiology, something I would like to learn about in college is theater acting. Since the 10th grade, I was in an extracurricular group called prose and poetry. We would act out poems or prose with our voice and I was able to get really good at it, even placing at a district meet. I have grown a love for acting out with my voice and I would love to actually act out a play in university one day. I have a dream of getting a lead role and becoming well known for my acting, maybe even becoming famous for being so good at it one day.

When you think of childhood nostalgia, what comes to mind? What comes to mine and many others mind is disney. Whenever I think of Disney I see vibrant memories of happiness and comfort. My love for Disney is not only based on nostalgia, but also influenced my way of life. To start off with, Disney’s TV shows from the late 2000’s to the mid 2010’s is what gives me the most nostalgia and joy. They were the shows I grew up watching, shows that left a print on who I am today. One of my most favorite Disney shows was “Shake It Off”. Shake It Off left a big imprint on my dance life. It helped me realize that I have a true passion for dance. Some of my elementary school memories are of me dancing to shake it off in my room. I remember wanting to audition for their dance competition so badly, but I couldn’t because I was too young. Whenever I watch shake it off now, I get vivid memories of me dancing in my room as the little girl I once was. Another show was Jessie. Jessie is my number one show to watch if I want to be hit with nostalgia. Watching Jessie nowadays gives me the same sense of comfort as 8 year me once felt. I still laugh at the same jokes in the show as well. Jessie’s Ravi has also influenced me to be more “nerdy” as well. I took note of how obsessed he was with school and put that into my life. It really helped me achieve high grades as well. Jessie has been my comfort show for years, so much that characters from Jessie have been able to influence my life. Furthermore, Disney movies from the late 2000’s and mid 2010’s left a nostalgic impact on me. More specifically, Disney Princess movies. For example, Tiana has inspired me to be a hard worker. Tiana set a strong example of what a hard worker truly is. She had a dream and she didn’t stop pursuing it no matter what anybody told her. That set the tone for the rest of my life. If Tiana was able to pursues her dreams, then I can do it too. No matter what anyone else says to me. Tiana not only inspired me to become anything I want, she also has created her own nostalgia corner in my mind. Tiana was my all time favorite Disney character in elementary. If someone were to ask me who’s the best Disney character l, automatically I would yell out Tiana. I can’t even count on my fingers how many times I watched Tiana as a kid. If I want a trip down memory lane, Tiana is the movie I would watch. Tiana has inspired me to better myself but also provide a sense of comfort. Disney movies and TV shows have been able to lay out a path for my future life. Younger me being able to find these shows that give me hope and comfort means the world to me, and I wouldn’t trade Disney nostalgia for anything.