As for public service, I have always had a drive to help others. I accumulated over 400 hours of volunteer service in high school in a variety of locations and activities. I tutored in both math and science, with concentrations in algebra and chemistry. I also did work in our local football stadium, completing various tasks for and around the concession stand. Whether it was tutoring, set building for the drama club, or designing a multi-level game day for our local elementary school, I tried to get involved in my community as much as I could. I loved providing assistance to all in any aspect. In college, I have continued to do the same. My first semester of university was a challenging one; I had to discover that the major I had previously chosen to pursue was not really of my truest interest. A shift from Biochemistry to Psychology was a big one but overall, I am very happy to have made the switch. I now get to focus on Psychology, with a concentration in Counseling, to further my strive for public service in mental health therapy. I am also minoring in Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking in order to supplement my certification to perform art therapy if I so choose to. My chosen career path highlights my strive to give back to others in unique and enjoyable ways for both myself and those I connect with. My specific degree will be vital in my learning of some of the brain processes and how I can assist those who may be struggling either mentally or emotionally. Mental health is important, especially in this day and age. New knowledge crops up all the time to allow for more effective treatments and potential cures for common and dangerous mental illnesses. My assistance will focus heavily on providing resources to people struggling with mental health by providing a safe space to talk about their experiences or by referring them to the proper facilities to handle their needs medically if necessary. With my selected degree, I will have the competence to urge people to seek additional care if my services are not sufficient but also be a source to talk about difficult feelings or experiences. I want to give back to my community by spreading my love as far as it can reach. In my selected career path, I want people to feel welcome and accepted when they need someone to come confide in. I want to provide guidance and support to those in emotional distress.

I have been in love with the Stranger Things series ever since it came out. I have stickers, shirts, posters, and even mugs dedicated to my collection of memorabilia for the show. I have rewatched the earlier seasons up to 10 times each and love discussing my interests in the story with others. I have also discussed with my friends who my favorite characters are and why. The first character I would choose to face a new supernatural threat with would be Dustin. He has always been a comedic relief throughout the series and provided emotional support for his friends throughout each and every difficulty. He served as a buffer when it came to emotionally or physically demanding circumstances and watching him on screen often helped take the edge off of a lot of extremely stressful scenes. I would appreciate having him with me to face any other disasters as I know he would most likely continue being a great friend to everyone despite the dangers. However, Dustin is also insanely intelligent, helping build a radio with his friends at school, and engaging in science camps where he met his girlfriend, Suzie. The second character I would want on my squad would be Jim Hopper. He often brought a level-headed and determined perspective to the table and helped the gang get through a lot of issues they were facing. He is a police officer and has a lot of training required for not only that position but also, in handling high-stress environments overall. He was also a source of comedic relief at times, though typically, his stern and rigorous demeanor was a means of getting important tasks done. He treats the people he cares about with much respect and I know in times of dire emergency, he would be able to step up and help my team out of trouble. The final person I would gravitate toward in recruiting members for my alliance would be Scott Clarke, the main gang's science teacher. He accurately taught the gang how to build a sensory deprivation tank over the phone and had the capability of explaining a lot of other difficult and complex concepts. When discussing portals and other dimensions to the gang, he used an elementary pictogram on a piece of paper to demonstrate how some of those details work together and made a difficult topic a lot easier to digest. I would want him on my squad because of his intelligence and readiness to work through challenging problems. He would provide a liable asset for planning our courses of action and figuring out our next steps in dealing with whatever events come next.

Have you ever been called "the therapist friend?" If you said yes, you may have found your calling in a very similar way I have. Growing up, I loved providing people with a safe space to talk about their feelings and they would often request advice on how to handle some of their hardships. I was often described as very wise for my age. I understood, especially as I have forged my way through university, that my ultimate desire is to continue this trend of helping others in any way I can. I am currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking to supplement my major. My career(s) of choice are generalized counseling and art therapy. I say "and" in the context that art therapy is not as in high demand as mental health counseling tends to be and I would love to be able to engage in both if my time allows. I am deeply passionate about both helping others and art. With counseling, I would be able to give people a listening ear and someone to talk about difficult happenings with, and in art therapy, I can combine my love for people and art into a single career. I have made both financial and mental sacrifices in my endeavors to pursue my major and selected career field. Pertaining to the financial aspects, I had to spend weeks planning my course of action upon making some of the most challenging decisions I had come across in my experience in college. Having already accumulated a large number of credits in my previous major, Biochemistry, I felt almost trapped. I thought I would have to continue toughing it out in a major of disinterest and was met with feelings of dread and anguish when pondering my future coursework. Upon consulting a multitude of academic advisors and even my friends, I decided to first, withdraw from some of the science courses that were causing me mental harm. I paid the price for this--literally--as withdrawing from those courses cost me a lot of money. However, I did not only face financial burdens. I also had to conclude that I really did want to change courses completely and adapt my educational plans to something I had the determination to focus on. I came to the realization that my passions would be fulfilled by changing my major and adding courses that would benefit me in the future with counseling. I have taken social welfare courses to broaden my knowledge of the outside world even more and am always trying to find ways to improve my worldview in any aspect. My purpose is to help. My purpose is to love. I want to create everlasting happiness in others and truly believe that will manifest itself in due time.

My personal college experience has been one of many challenges. Adjusting to life at a new university has been complex and challenging, which is to be expected. I have made friends, lost friends, declared my major, changed that major, and so much more. Of all of the different services and programs I have visited or utilized at my university, one of the services I have found myself using most frequently is the counseling center. I have always had a passion for mental health services and appreciate my campus's initiatives to implement services for the student body to utilize but even that can sometimes not be enough for students to feel truly satisfied. Some of the actions I would love to take to further advocate for mental health would include creating a complete, overarching educational event talking about the mental health counseling services my campus offers. It was difficult for me to find the counseling center on my own because for a while, I really just did not know it existed! I wish my campus did a better job of advertising the programs offered around because I would have jumped at the opportunity to utilize this service so much sooner. I am also a firm believer in the power that a simple conversation can hold. Informing people about the various aspects of mental health can make the concept much easier to discuss in the future, as familiarizing people with the topic can spark their interest when it is brought up in later discussions. There is so much to be learned about a variety of mental health issues, strategies, and health services that people might not even realize. Another thing I would like to do to create a positive impact is organize events geared toward people who are also interested in mental health. I am a huge advocate for shared interest groups and love connecting with others to hear their perspectives on the things I am passionate about. Destigmatizing mental health as a whole is greatly important so people can always feel welcome to discuss their mental health. A final way I think I will be able to not only make a positive impact, but a lasting one, is my degree/occupational choice itself. I made a huge decision to switch from Biochemistry to Psychology as I realized my calling was not necessarily from a scientific standpoint, but that of an emotional one. I love helping others. I love providing a listening ear or someone to just spend time with. I love forming bonds with others and engaging in what they have going on in their lives. I find human lives to be quite beautiful. I am pursuing a degree in Psychology to potentially move into counseling in the future. I have become inspired by some of the counselors I have spoken with in the counseling center at my campus and intend to hopefully shed light on people's lives in the same way they have done mine.

My experience with alcohol is a complex and short-lived one, but it was intense, especially given my age. I started drinking when I was twelve years old. At first, I did not even realize what I was doing was bad. My mother, typically preoccupied with whatever she had going on in her life, often paid no mind to what I was getting into. She was ignorant of the drinking and upon finding out I did drink; she began offering beverages to me casually. Alcohol was always readily available in our household; the fridge was often packed with a variety of drinks to choose from. A glass of champagne with dinner or a hard seltzer at random became commonplace and I began to develop an affinity for the alcohol. Not long after that, I began to deal with intense emotional traumas and had nobody to turn to. Given that my mother had never been a very good listening ear in the first place, I found myself gravitating to something I had already become so familiar with--alcohol. My early high school years were riddled with the substance. I would drink--heavily--an average of twice a week and would even find ways to sneak alcohol with me to school and other events. I went to a variety of my school activities either tipsy or hungover and felt I had no other alternative to cope with some of the issues I was facing. Deep down I knew what I was doing was wrong but sincerely felt trapped with no way out. I was frightened and often, the only thing I felt could console me was the drinking. I finally became aware of my actions when I realized how detrimental they could be. It took what felt like forever to work my way away from the drinking and it was not without difficulty. Moving into my junior and senior years of high school I started to notice my grades and overall wellbeing begin to shift. I was skipping classes, missing exams, and doing poorly in my sports and other extracurriculars. I was miserable. Even though I was not offered an alternative outlet for my mental health, I figured drinking was not going to be my ultimate solution. I assessed my GPA, messy bedroom, and often unbrushed hair, and realized I needed to make a change for both my mental and physical safety. I slowly stopped drinking and dealt with migraines, tremors, and mood swings. In these times of anguish, I relied on my support system of friends to talk to and depend on. I picked up hobbies such as crocheting to help calm my nerves. I began to write poetry to discuss some of the hardships I endured. My friends told me they observed a complete 180 of my demeanor and behavior in my day-to-day life. As I got to college, I realized how unreasonable it may be to assume I can cut drinking out of my life completely. However, I do it in moderation, for special occasions, and find this works significantly better for my well-being. I do not have constantly bad-smelling breath and I do not carry around a water bottle I have specifically designated for my drinks. I gained control over myself and created outlets to engage in fun and safe ways to express myself and reduce my stress. My friends helped me dig my way out of the hole I found myself in. I still write my poetry. I still share my stories. Drinking stole a lot from me but ultimately, I won.

I currently attend the University of North Florida and I am a first-year student. I work two jobs here on campus, both as a campus tour guide and as a facilitator on the campus's zipline/obstacle course. Both positions are immensely fun but also give me the opportunity to create deep emotional connections with those I interact with. I have always had a passion for interacting with others and creating everlasting smiles. I love telling jokes and making people laugh. In another life, I could have been a clown, as I am a firm believer in laughter being the best medicine. With that being said, I use this philosophy when in work to ensure people feel comfortable and confident not just in themselves, but in the presence of others. One of my favorite activities is ice breakers. I like pushing the boundaries of societal norms and making people just a little uncomfortable to encourage growth. I am especially good at this when it comes to my job on the zipline course. Often, I see people terrified. This is most common with those afraid of heights, as our zipline is approximately 45 feet in the air. When I observe that people are feeling frightened, I try to meet them at their level and talk them through our procedures and how the entire operation is going to occur. I want them to feel safe and secure with me in my course of work. One of the most rewarding things I have heard after a day on the course is that the people feel proud of themselves. I love to hear that they feel accomplished after completing the obstacle course. I like knowing I had a part in it. In my tour guide job, it is a similar situation. I, alongside 20 other students, had to complete a semester's worth of training, learning 10 sections of a 2-hour long script to deliver to guests when they visit our University. It was a difficult process but knowing I had a strong, supportive group alongside me made me feel more determined to get through the trainings. I am now an official representative of the University of North Florida and it such a rewarding feeling. Helping others to be their best selves does not have to be a one-way street. While I put in the effort to help others, I am receiving help, and the cycle continues. The more love and kindness you pour into your community, the more that comes back to you. I love seeing others becoming their best selves because when everyone is improving, they are more inclined to lend a helping hand to others.

I have consulted a multitude of personality tests and career interest exams, and everything points me to one career path--mental health counseling. If not counseling specifically, a lot of my other results have to do with psychology, social work, or psychiatry, all of which appear to be a wonderful fit. I have always had a passion for helping others. I love lending a helping hand, providing a listening ear, or just being another presence in a room if someone is feeling a little lonely. I have an innate desire to help others and it makes me inextricably happy when I get the opportunity to. My future goals reflect this. I want to one day become a therapist or some branch of it. I love giving to others and will find any way possible to provide my assistance. Personally, I have a lot of experience in mental health, both regarding myself, and those surrounding me. I am one of five siblings. Growing up, money was never distributed very equally by my parents, but neither was attention nor affection. I was often overlooked by my parents, and moving into my high school years, was the primary caregiver in my household. I helped to raise my siblings, working 40 hours a week, alongside my schooling. It was grueling work and looking back on my past now, I do not think I will ever confidently return to the house my mother raised me in. Mental illness has run in my family. My mother, who is bipolar, represented a lot of what I learned about mental health growing up. She told me about her medications, and I saw how evident it could be if she did not take them. It was like looking into the eyes of a stranger. When she had episodes, I would gather me and my siblings and travel to the garage where we could not hear her screams. It was difficult to try to construct lies to tell my younger siblings so as to not cloud their positive views of our mom. I realized from those interactions how important counseling and therapy truly is. If it can, in any capacity, alleviate the pain my mother would have to go through, I would want to be a part of it in a heartbeat. Seeing someone lose who they are so quickly is terrifying and heartbreaking, but most of all, often consolable. If my mother had someone to talk to in those positions of vulnerability, I think she would have had the opportunity to be a better parent to me and my siblings. I do not resent her for the way her brain made her treat us. I do not hold grudges for how she was victimized by her own mind. I want to create a safe environment for all. I want to provide help to those in their times of confusion. I want to be a calming agent and a constant in people's lives when all they feel is chaos. I want to create the quiet.

Growing up, I was labeled as "Gifted." The expectations that fell upon me regarding coursework increased and often, my schoolwork was ridiculed at a higher degree than my peers. Given that I grew up in a small town, earning this title was not necessarily seen as a huge honor, as the overarching focus of our school system was to ensure that those falling behind were receiving additional help. I usually found myself feeling isolated and alone, struggling to understand myself and what the parameters of my title were. I wanted to know how being "gifted" was actually important. Not only was it difficult to find enriching activities to engage my brain, but, over and over, I was dismissed and rejected attention from my Guidance department, as all of their resources were being expended on those who were struggling. There were no options to help those who were seen as already too advanced. I utilized the resources I could get my hands on and forged my way up through high school, in which I learned how to apply to my standardized testing (ACT/SAT) and colleges on my own. Given the opportunity, I would want to allow gifted students to feel seen and heard. Often more than not, at least from my experience, these students' needs are overlooked, as they are expected to be so advanced to not require the same assistance as their peers. Not only would I try to direct these students to physical resources, but also, in my desired career field, give them someone to talk to if their needs are potentially not being met. It can be a daunting and scary situation when you feel as if nobody can comprehend the position you are in. My ultimate career goal is to become a mental health counselor or social worker. I have consulted multiple career interest exams and since beginning University, took the time to self-assess and understand what I believed to truly be my calling. I love providing a listening ear to those in emotional or mental distress. My deepest desire is to help others and I have a strong and unique passion for creating strong connections with others. In my career, especially in counseling, I can give gifted children the opportunity to discuss their needs and emotional desires with someone who understands. I have the experience, not only as a gifted child, but as someone who relies heavily on empathy and critical thinking, to provide a safe space for other gifted children to express themselves.

At first, volunteering was something I had to do in school. I would grab my sheet for logging the hours from the guidance office, begrudgingly, and complete the tasks delegated to me in each project I participated in. I would find local organizations that could use some extra hands, including the county's little league football teams and my high school drama club. I would tally up my time spent at each outing and march my way back up to the guidance office to alert the counselors of my earnings. Over time, it became routine. Over time, I fell in love with it. I never knew how volunteering could help me in the long run. I understood that helping my community in any way I could should have felt like a reward. In many ways, it did. However, there was always a voice in the back of my head telling me it was not worth it. I ignored that voice and pushed on and I am so glad I did. One of my favorite projects I ever volunteered for was the annual Westside Elementary math day, hosted by my high school's math club, the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society. As president, I had to coordinate it all. I was happy to, however, as I enjoyed creating a bunch of different math-related games for the almost 200 third graders to partake in. To make the games even more exciting for the children, I made them all Spongebob-themed, each with its own unique rules and props for play. I spent weeks coming up with the concepts for the 11 games I created, including memory, outdoors, and "jellyfishing" games. I used my own money to buy materials to print, cut, and glue together special flash cards with different Spongebob characters on them. I dedicated my time not only to preparing for the math day but also conducting it. On the day of, I was responsible for knowing the periods and rotations for all 10 classes. I had to run from four different locations to alert the group leaders when it would be time to smoothly transition their group of students from station to station. I think that is the most I have ever worked out in one sitting! Nothing could have satisfied me more than seeing the look on all the children's faces. I was so overwhelmed with joy and enthusiasm to see them all enjoying the games I had worked so hard to put together for them. Near the end of the program, a student came up to me, hugged me, and said with a lot of pride, "This was so much fun." I knew right then and there, that I had made the right choice in signing up for that project. Financially, this scholarship would mean a great deal. I am one of five children so funds have always been loosely distributed amongst me and my siblings. Since we are all getting older, money will become even tighter as more extenuating circumstances call for more and more from my mother. Alone, my mom cannot properly put me through college. A scholarship would be the greatest asset to me in kickstarting my education and ultimately, becoming an anesthesiologist. It is an ambitious goal I have had set for myself since the ninth grade but given how expensive medical school can be, one that may be difficult to obtain.

In middle school, I, and a few other students in my gifted program banded together to form a robotics program for LEGO in which we not only created a robot, but also created solutions to proposed problems pertaining to different fields of study. For one year, the theme was the water cycle. For the other, the theme was outer space. As far as the water cycle theme is concerned, my team tried to find a problem we could conjure up to in turn, discover a solution for. We originally tried to create a water filter on a small scale, but ultimately, wanted to expand our horizons a bit further. We knew the agriculture program in the school raised chickens. From there, we figured we could create something to not only qualify us for our robotics competition, but also, help our community. After many prototypes and a lot of math/calculation, we devised a water filtration and irrigation system out of materials such as a large plastic barrel, charcoal, mesh screening, lots of valves, and a long pipe through which water collected in the barrel could flow toward the chicken coops located nearest building. Given that our largest building at the middle school collected plenty of rainwater that would otherwise go to waste, we knew that this filter could give that water a new life. Luckily for us, our math and materials lined up perfectly. I do not remember the exact number of cubic inches of rain collected, however, per rainfall, we were able to cut back on the water waste regarding hydrating the chickens. Me and my team were ecstatic to know that we were helping our Agriculture department and community. For other problems, I think communication is key. Regardless of money or resources involved, problem solving always begins with talking about what it is that needs to be dealt with. However, if communication does not immediately resolve a problem, it is also important to delegate leaderships roles and tasks to strong organizations or individuals who are capable of getting things done. Once a trusted individual or organization is placed in charge of a problem, donations or loans can help these people to begin working on the problem. Without outside help and support, problems cannot be entirely handled. Working together and getting the community involved to solve problems can help a lot. Encouraging people to volunteer within their society is critical to ensure a happy and healthy community. Social media or other communication platforms/services can relay important information to people when a problem arises.

1. I have always bounced from interest to interest. One of my most distinct memories was from second grade. For a while, I was very excited and determined to learn how to juggle. I went home and watched YouTube tutorial after tutorial on how to toss and catch multicolored scarves until I could finally build up the courage to throw the actual juggling balls. While I no longer remember how to juggle, I enjoy taking part in other leisurely activities. I am an avid painter, skater, crocheter, poetry writer, reader, and runner. I am particularly motivated by expanding my horizons and always being the best version of myself that I can be. I love testing my limits and seeing just how hard I can push myself to reach my goals. Knowing my interests change so frequently has made it difficult for me to pinpoint any exact career choice to shoot for. I have settled for the idea that I will be a physician (an anesthesiologist to be exact) to channel my love for the STEM field. However, if I had the opportunity to do anything with my life, I would be a zoologist. I have always had an affinity for animals and their well-being. I would love to study them and care for them on a closer level. Sometimes I wish that money was not such a big issue for me and my future endeavors because I see myself being very satisfied with a job so closely related to animals. Alas, I choose to chase my dreams of being "Dr. Carey," because, does it not just roll off the tongue so beautifully? 2. STEM is fascinating. I have especially loved the relationship between science and math. In high school physics, I would get excited to see how different trigonometry functions played into solving equations about speed or vectors. In statistics, I liked talking about probability and bell curves and how the real world all related to different mathematical expressions. This interest then became even more profound when I discovered coding. In middle school, I was a fanatic. I would hop onto Code.org every chance I got to put in new variables and see how my codes would change. I like the way things all work out so gracefully together. I enjoy watching one field bleed into the other, and how equations can reveal themselves in the real world so effortlessly. As stated in the previous question, my plans for my future include becoming an anesthesiologist, which by itself is not a "STEM" occupation, but it does involve a lot of STEM-related studies. I will have to take a lot of detailed and critical math courses, as well as sciences. I think it is essential for women to be involved in these types of courses to not only prove that they can be pioneers in male-dominated fields but also, to make names for themselves as financially independent people. I want to help prove that if one puts their mind to it, anything is possible, including being heavily involved in the STEM field. I feel I would positively impact the world through this specific career path as I care so deeply about the subjects. I would show the sheer effort and determination it takes to pursue careers like these, and do my best to inspire other ambitious girls and women like myself. 3. The greatest challenge I think I have ever had to overcome was finding my voice and confidence in the world. I grew up in a crowded household where noise was no stranger. I had to build up the courage to speak about my wants and needs. I had to fight against the opposing viewpoints of each of my four siblings just trying to gain attention from my parents. Such went for the outside world. I found that growing up shy made it almost impossible to chase after my dreams. I would be too scared to ask teachers for help on difficult schoolwork. I would cower from incorrectness. I had to learn over time that everyone is human and mistakes are bound to happen to all of us. I had to face reality and understand that to make a difference in my own life, I would have to acknowledge my strengths as well as just my weaknesses. It took a lot of time and a lot of effort for me to achieve a sense of self-actualization. I learned what I liked and what I disliked. I learned to stand up for myself even when I felt like the world had turned its back on me. I learned to accept myself for who I am, even when life gets difficult.

Growing up my relationship with mathematics has varied. In elementary school, I was hooked. I aced all of my tests and was recognized as one of the three people in my third-grade class who got a perfect score on the FCAT, my school's standardized test. This love for math continued to grow until I reached middle school. It was there that I was introduced to algebra and something just was not clicking. My sixth grade school year was a rough one, to say the least. My teacher at the time was away on maternity leave. I do not know what it was about the substitute's teaching style that I just could not grasp but everything seemed unreal. I could not make out what was going on to save my life! Test after test--I was tanking my grade more and more with every "D" I received on my papers. By the end of the semester, I had received my first ever "B." I was devastated. It seems silly looking back now but that barrier that manifested itself in my life completely shattered my relationship with the subject I used to be so fond of. I knew there was only so much I could do to regain what used to be a beautiful connection. I sought to watch YouTube videos, read books, and study up on Khan Academy until I could finally understand what on Earth a variable was. Flash forward to the present times, and I am finding it much easier to fall back in love with math. I have taken many college-level math courses and have excelled in them all. I appreciate the fundamental workings of math and how it is so exact. The most exciting part of every math problem is how certain it is. It is the only subject that everyone can always come to an agreement on one answer, unlike other subjects like English or History, in which interpretations are key. The principles of mathematics have shaped my understanding of the world not only in how they have created a sense of self-actualization for me but also in how they almost perfectly represent the balance of the world. I spent so much of my academic career feeling lost and confused and did not even realize there were so many more great things I could have been doing. Mathematics will always come to one answer, which cannot be debated upon. For math, there is no room for error, and while that is amazing in and of itself, it also provides an example of how unalike it can be from the real world. My journey with mathematics had its ups and downs, but ultimately, I found my way into the confusing world of letters that have no business befriending numbers in silly little equations. Math contains patterns, much like the real world but will never explain the complexities of life specifically. I love math because it is a grounding factor in my life. While circumstances can be a little hectic, math will always be just math, and I like it that way.

I have always known that I should test my limits. All my life, I have made nothing but "A's" on all of my report cards, progress reports, and even tests. I have been a star student, both in and out of the classroom. I have never turned in an assignment late or incomplete. I show up to class on time. I am hard working in everything I do and I understand that into my adult years, that will only continue. I am one of five children. My mother has struggled to support all of us, as funds are limited. I know that in the medical field, I could make back the money that I was never allocated to me as a child. I could make it back and enjoy all of the luxuries I had been unfortunately denied due to the hand I was dealt. I never asked to be born into a poor family, nor did I enjoy it. However, over time I have made the decision that I will not live in poverty all my life. The health field is a way for me to channel not only my empathy and compassion for others but also to, in turn, benefit, as someday I know I could afford nice things in life. I want to help others in a way I want to help myself. I want to make the world a better place. As far as I know now, anesthesiologists make a lot of money, therefore, become rude and snobby people. I do not want to continue the reputation of healthcare workers like that. I want to make a change and allow people to put forth their full trust in someone that they can believe will help them. As an anesthesiologist, I will be able to challenge myself mentally. I appreciate work that keeps my mind engaged and focused. In high school, though I have been able to maintain "A's", it never felt very difficult to me. I have been able to do the bare minimum and still pass with flying colors. In the medical field, I could definitely test my limits. I could expand my horizons. I could meet and collaborate with new people, which is something I am always up for. I want to make the healthcare field seem more inviting and welcoming. I would choose this occupation to make a difference, not just for myself, but for everyone surrounding me.

My medical conditions, on the surface, may seem easy to ignore or not very important. However, they have impacted my schooling in many circumstances. I have lactose intolerance, eczema, and endometriosis. A school environment does not typically cater to such needs, even though they seem insignificant at first glance. At school, I am served a free lunch. Because my family typically cannot afford to send me to school with lunch, I am forced to eat it there. Not many of the options are dairy-free, so I am left to eat whatever is available to me. I experience stomach aches, general feelings of discomfort, and gassiness, which ins school, is certainly not pleasant. I feel sick and go to the restroom for long periods of time, resulting in missing an essential class lecture. As for eczema, the school air is very dry and cool, due to constant air conditioners. My hands get dry and cracked, and it becomes very painful for me to move my fingers. Without the ability to move my hands properly, it is difficult for me to write, type, or most of all, draw. I lose the dexterity and ability to participate in something I love, which ultimately, is something much worse than eczema alone. Lastly, I have endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which extra tissue grows in the uterus, causing extreme pain and discomfort. Often, I feel so much pain that I get physically ill and have to leave school. I have had periods twice a month, none at all a month, and very short bursts here and there. Not being able to regulate my period has been a huge setback for me, as I have been unable to take preventative measures for accidents, which happen inconveniently while I am at school. All of that being said, I still plan to do something great with my life. My goals are to graduate from an esteemed university, go to medical school, and eventually become an anesthesiologist. I have high expectations for myself because I know as an ambitious person, I can reach my goals and more. I can not allow the underlying issues in my life to dictate how I take on the course of the rest of my life because that would just be silly. I know my limits and I know I am far from reaching them. I hope that in the future, I can continue to put forth all of my efforts, as I have done in the past. I want to build a legacy for myself that I can look back and be proud of.

One of the biggest struggles I endured throughout elementary up through middle school was bullying. I come from a low-income household, so I do not have the opportunity to stay up to date on fashion trends, wear name-brand clothing, or do my hair really nicely with a bunch of products. Instead, I would dress in clothing from thrift stores, Facebook marketplace, or my sister's closet--from which I got most of my style. Hand-me-down after hand-me-down is all I ever knew until I became too big to fit in her old clothes. In school, people acknowledged this. I did not have the option of hiding the fact that I was wearing stained cargo shorts. I did not have the privilege of comparing my shoes with a classmate to see "whose were newer." I was neglected and shunned by all the pretty girls whose parents could afford Victoria's Secret. I was ignored because my hair was not curled into pretty little ringlets, but rather, a messy forest atop my head. I was judged on my outward appearance for years. I cannot recall exactly the moment I decided to take action against this mistreatment. However, over time, I took it upon myself to improve my look. I watched YouTube tutorials on how to do my hair. I found cheap products at the dollar store that helped to tame it long enough to sleek it back into a sophisticated braid; the side braid became my signature look for a few years after that. I then watched other tutorials as beauty gurus knew all the secrets to apply mascara properly! It took time, and it took practice, but soon, my biggest concerns were being addressed. The only thing left to worry about was my clothes. I began selling some of my belongings. I sold my Kindle Fire (not for much because obviously, it is no iPad), my art set, my Leapfrog (remember Leapfrogs?), and some items of clothing I no longer wore. I had managed to make enough money to go and buy some nicer clothing and my first pair of Converse sneakers. I think it was that moment that specifically started my love for the shoes, as I now own over 6 pairs. I took pride in the fact that I had worked up to buy the nice things that everyone else had, and people began to take notice. I hate that the reality of my situation was that people treated me differently after I improved my look. I do not need to indulge in the idea of fake friends but for a while, it was nice to have people being kind to me. I learned over the course of my journey who my real friends were. I also learned the power of outward appearance, and how no matter how hard people try to deny it, beauty does lie skin deep. I found that I was more confident and overall a better person when I cared more about how I looked.

I am one of five children. To say my parents' attention has been unevenly distributed my whole life would be an understatement. In such a crowded household, I had only myself to rely on. When it came to my schoolwork and education, being my most prominent advocate was what helped me to get by. Now, as a senior about to graduate high school, my untainted school record is something I take great pride in. Even without guidance, I have made only A's since kindergarten. I know my dedication to my education is something I should cherish and enjoy. However, grades and test scores are not always enough to pay for school. This scholarship would help me achieve my academic goals in that it would provide a stepping stone for the long journey I have ahead of me. With ambitious goals, I know the schooling will be extensive and grueling. I wish to go into the medical field, which on its own, is already a tough endeavor. I find the problem, not in the schooling, but in the financial toll it will take on me. As stated, my parents have already been unable to provide me with all of the financial aid that I need. I am one of five, funds are not as accessible to me as they would be for students who have little to no siblings. I cannot say I resent my parents for having so many children--but it is unfortunate for me as I am now struggling to figure out how to pay for college. I am a first-generation college student. My parents know this and though they say they are proud of me, I know deep down they dread the idea of having the financial burden of sending me to university. With the help of scholarships, I could potentially create a legacy that they could be proud of. I want to one day be able to repay all of the support they have given me all my life. As for the medical field, I wish to be a doctor. An anesthesiologist, to be exact. These goals on paper sound great and adventurous, but in reality, are very taxing both mentally and economically. I am both excited and hopeful to apply to as many scholarships as I can because even the tiniest dent in the debt I will owe after my 12 years of schooling is one I would gladly spring upon.