I can clearly hear the crack of bowling pins after a strike. Since before my freshman year of high school, bowling has been my life. When it comes to something I'm passionate about, bowling is the first thing that comes to mind. I've read about "flow state", which is when you become so focused on an activity that you aren't thinking about anything else except what you're doing at that moment. Bowling puts me in a flow state. While I'm bowling, none of the anxiety or worry I constantly feel is there. It's as if the bowling alley is a drug. When, as soon as I walk in, all of the pain and stress I'd been feeling melts away. This flow state allows for me to succeed tremendously in this sport. Bowling gives me a feeling that nothing else ever has. A feeling of euphoria, like a runner's high, ignites in my brain and continues for the rest of the day. There is nothing compared to bowling. I can't imagine not bowling for the rest of my life. It really is my passion.

The biggest problem the world is facing is global warming. As the world ages and populations increase, the world's climate is changing. Although global warming may not be the most imminent threat such as a military war, nothing can happen without the Earth. There are all kinds of problems on Earth between people, but they don't matter if there isn't an Earth to have them on. To fix this problem, stricter regulations need to be placed on businesses and governments on how much pollution they are allowed to contribute to the planet. Between greenhouse gas emissions and microplastics, there are so many ways the issue can be helped. Many businesses are promising to go "net zero" by a certain year. This is a great step up the massive staircase that is global warming. For a company to be "net-zero" means that they don't have an excess amount of carbon emissions over what they can recover. Using solar panels or other types of renewable energy aids this solution. As a person on this planet, I want the best for Earth. Through stricter regulations and guidelines on pollution limitations, we will be able to stop the advancement of the Earth's warming. I know it's something that is possible, it just needs to be done. I believe in my fellow earth-inhabitors. We can tackle this monstrous beast that has gotten way too out of hand already. It's not too late, yet. If we wait too long, it will be.

Persian rugs, authentic Mexican tacos, an overflowing travel blog, a Japanese kimono, the freedom to go anywhere on a whim. My dream life consists of walks on Moroccan beaches, conversations with Bavarian natives, and eating Bulgogi on the streets of Seoul. Journals filled with phrases heard from passing strangers and stories I've authored sprinkled with places and people I know. My dream life is to be an ever-growing and expanding experience. It's not every day that you get to witness Oktoberfest or Holi or the Running of the Bulls. I want to see these traditions in the flesh of the people who have lived them every year of their whole lives. It's inevitable that I will never see the entirety of Earth's beauty. However, I want to encounter all that I can before I'm gone. My education will give me a kick-start to my dreams. Studying abroad while taking language courses exhilarates me to my core. Studying linguistics will allow me to get inside of the head of the body that is humanity. Language is at the center of every culture, country, and individual. I want to study linguistics and language to learn more about the people I share this earth with. There is nothing I enjoy more than learning about people and the way they have lived, do live, and will live. My idea of culture is different than every other person on Earth. I want to see what culture is to everyone else.

I first heard the words "carpe diem" in my sophomore drama class. We watched Dead Poet Society in class one day, and those words stuck with me. I thought about seizing the day for the rest of the week. Yet, like watching most movies, that feeling dissipated after only a couple of weeks. So I got on with my life. I understood what carpe diem meant, but I wasn't exactly doing anything about it. Until, the following year at my high school bowling practice, our coach gave everyone silicone bracelets to wear. And of course, the blue one I picked up said, you guessed it, carpe diem. I'm not entirely sure why, but I knew I had to wear it. It was meant to be. The message on that bracelet planted itself in my head and it stuck. The next day at our first match, I aimed to just bowl my heart out. I didn't worry about my score or what anyone else thought, I was just going to do my best. With that, I bowled a new personal record. This message completely changed my mindset. Instead of getting upset over a split, I just shrugged and attempted to pick it up. I can't control the pins, I can only control myself. There's no reason to get upset over one small occurrence. And while this phrase helped my bowling, it also helped me in other ways. It taught me to take risks. It led me to tell someone I had a crush on them, not caring if I got rejected. Which, I did. But it doesn't matter. I put myself out there and I wasn't afraid of the outcome. While I was a little sad he didn't feel the same way, I got over it. Now, I'm proud of myself for doing it. I did something that I never would have done if it weren't for the idea of seizing the day. We only live one life. We have to choose how we spend each day. I don't want to be full of regrets on my death bed. I want to be full of joy and laughter that I can revel in for the rest of my life. Carpe diem has taught me that I should do the things I want, even if I'm scared. Fear only holds me back. While I don't do outstanding things every day, I think that's the beauty of seizing the day: doing exactly what you want in the time that you have. Carpe diem has been so beneficial to my livelihood, and I encourage everyone to listen to its call.

"Merry Christmas!" My parents exclaimed as I unwrapped a present from under the tree. I couldn't help but smile. I took the gift in my hands and ripped apart the wrapping paper. Although I didn't know it, the candy cane wrapping stood between me and a new chapter. Within the wrapping, a black canvas bag contained a green screen and two bright studio lights. It was a new setup for my YouTube channel, Courtney's Corner. Thanks to my parents' generous gift, I improved the quality of my videos and my channel as a whole. Their support has been vital to my motivation and the continuation of my YouTube channel. And while many people may not consider posting on social media as a business, it certainly is. I've learned how to market videos, respond to comments, deal with hate, establish a posting schedule, edit videos, and all while being a student. If it wasn't for my parent's support, I could not have persevered as long as I have. Courtney's Corner has been such a blessing. I'm so grateful that I created that first video in 2015. I don't plan on being a YouTuber for the rest of my life. It has been fun making videos and posting content, but it's not what I see myself doing in the long run. I want to start a concrete organization that is not dependent on another platform for its success. Currently, I am not in a great position to do this as I have outside limiting factors such as school and my retail job. However, I'm not going to let that stop me from planning. I plan on attending a 4-year university after I graduate from high school with an Associate's degree in Business. Whether I will start a business in college or wait until after graduation, I know it's going to happen. Currently, I want to help advocate for climate change and environmental health. The planet is dying, and we as humans are responsible for nursing it back to health. I believe that it is my duty as an Earth citizen to save this planet. I want to help spread awareness and participate in actions that help Earth. Whether it's through planting trees along a stream, eating less meat, riding a bike instead of driving, using a compost bin instead of a landfill, or any other activity that aids the environment, it truly will help in the long run. As of right now, I would use this scholarship to help pay for my education. My education is important because I know I don't have the experience or the knowledge to run a successful, independent business. I honestly have so much to learn, and I think living on my own in college and being surrounded by brilliant individuals will give me the confidence to go through with my plan. I know it won't be easy, but I know it will be worth it.

In school, I'm surrounded by all kinds of people. There are introverts, extroverts, artists, athletes, nerds, and people from all other backgrounds. School has provided me with a wide range of people that I normally would never hang out with. However, besides the staff, everyone at school is relatively the same age as me. We're all within 4 or 5 years of each other. That's why I choose to serve the community by working a retail job. There are times when my job irritates me so much so that I want to quit. But then, a wonderful person comes up to my register to check out. Whether it's a senior citizen, a mom with a bunch of kids running around, or a young couple buying clothes for their upcoming vacation, they always find a way to make my day. Being able to see the diversity of people in my community is one of the best parts of my job. Helping an elderly woman pick out some clothes because she's going to go visit her new grandkids is an incredibly rewarding experience. It shows the true beauty of people that you don't usually see when walking past someone on the street. I was oblivious to the average person before working at my current job because I grew up with people my age. I wasn't exposed to these people until I started working. Sitting in a classroom all day teaches you math, English, history, and other topics, but it doesn't teach you about people. I've learned a lot about people in a way I never would have if I hadn't applied to this job. I've stayed working here because of the small rewarding experiences I get. There's nothing that can replace a short conversation with a stranger at the register. Of course, some instances leave me feeling useless, degraded, or frustrated. However, the rare incredible people I meet outway all of the misfortunes of this job. Because of the harsh reality I sometimes see in people on a daily, I want people to be more open-minded. You never know what someone is going through. We can't see what goes on behind closed doors. If people thought about this just a little bit, they would realize everyone around them is extremely similar to them. Keeping in mind that someone could be holding the weight of the world on their shoulders will cause a person to be kinder. If everyone realized this, it would create a ripple effect of generosity. Whether that is paying for someone else's order in the drive-thru, or holding the elevator door open for the person running towards it, these small acts can lead to big changes. The world would be such a magical place if everyone was kinder to those around them. I strive to be kinder to everyone I can because I know things can get hard at times. It can make a big difference in the long run. Seeing an act of kindness in the flesh warms my heart. It encourages me to do the same. I hope it encourages others as well because, after all, we are all we have.