I love sharks and I always have. I thinks it’s interesting how everyone thinks they are so scary but are fine with dolphins. I’d love to work in the field with them and help out their community. My community is a lot like sharks. Looking at my family on paper, I’d be scared too. My eldest brother Brandon, passed away from a drug overdose my freshman year of high school. After the incident, a girl at school told me the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and i’d fall the same fate to heroin too. She’s apart of the dolphins. My middle brother lives in California and I’ve only met him 3 times, because his mom ran away with him from my mom and dad. My youngest brother got his girlfriend pregnant in high school, but they stayed together and now have a second kid and run a bounty hunting business. Neither of my parents went to college but make it by. Sharks always look bad on paper, there’s not as many shark attacks as people think. Dolphins are much more heinous, being cruel to sea creatures and humans alike. I knew my freshman year, after my brother passed away, I wanted to study Biology. It was the only class I enjoyed going to when the whole world felt like an ocean that I was going to drown in. Through high school, I took 4 years of dual credit Biomedical Science classes. These classes furthers my love for the stem field and drive me to take the AP BIO exam at the end of my senior year without taking the course. In doing so, I passed. This solidified the fact that I made the right choice in declaring Biology as my major. My parents work hard to allow me to swim out of the shark tank. They want me to go farther than any of the rest of them could before the hook hit their lip. I am a first generation college student, I am nothing less than extremely grateful for an opportunity for a scholarship like this. This would change the game in affording school and swimming further. My family may look like sharks but they taught me to swim.

Three weeks before my big brother Brandon’s birthday, I was in the hospital with him watching south park and talking about life. I thought he was gonna die the week before. Brandon told me he loved me and he was so proud of me and my archery. He told me that in a couple weeks when he gets out of the hospital we will go to range together and shoot. I was so excited to shoot with my big brother. Two weeks later he was out of the hospital and back at his grandma’s house. One week later I called him to tell him happy birthday and that I loved him. Five days later my brother overdosed and passed away. We never made it to the range. We never got to celebrate his birthday. He knew I loved him though. Brandon passed away my freshman year of high school. This accident took a massive toll on my life. As someone that was always a straight A student, I found myself to have no desire in school or even getting out of bed. Then I started skipping practice and fell deeper into the tunnel. The light that saved me was archery. Brandon would have not wanted me to waste a talent that was taking me somewhere new. I threw all of my energy into learning and mastering my niche. My grades quickly changed to reflect my growth and I started to become more active again. The loss of my brother still hits hard in my heart, nearing the four year anniversary, but I know he would want me to go the lengths he never could. Through my hard work and struggles, I have had many national placements, one national title, and had the opportunity to compete in the 2024 Olympic Archery Trials. Although I never made it to the range with my big brother Brandon, I know he is with me wherever I shoot.

I am a first-generation college student. Finding motivation to pursue higher education is easy for me. I am the first of my 3 brothers to graduate high school and the first of my family to go to college. I want to become more educated. I want to pursue science. I want to make a difference. When I started my freshman year, I enrolled in year one of a four-year biomedical science course. And, I fell in love with it. Now in my senior year, I am currently taking the fourth year. When I go to college, I plan to major in biology. I have yet to decide what pathway to go with my degree. I love all things nature but I also want to help people with their health. It is a tough decision. The thought of spending each day outside, helping the environment would be a dream come true. But, I also love sharks! I have had a passion for learning about them for years and being able to pursue further education and help our marine friends would also please me greatly. These two fields make my decisions tough for a career path as I would also enjoy pursuing something medically. In my biomedical classes, we learn lab skills and learn about everyday medical issues, and learn about cancer. Having a job where I make an impact helping people daily would bring me joy. These three paths would make me feel fulfilled and make me proud of all of the hard work it would take to get there. As a woman, I know my path to success will not be easy. I always work to empower women to succeed in all fields. As an archer, I am currently teaching an elementary school girl how to shoot. She fell in love with the sport and nothing makes me happier than her getting excited after having a good arrow. I also like to encourage the younger kids to pursue science. Recently, another girl and I traveled to the local middle school. Our trip was to talk to the science classes there about what the 4-year biomedical sciences are and the pathways that open up for you. As two women we wanted to show the girls present that they can do it too! When it comes down to it, I want to help our world and bring joy. Spread love not hate!

In my freshman year, my other brother passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. He died of a drug overdose. He was always the one I looked up to. He taught me to draw, which is still a skill I use today, as I am talking AP Art. His death took a toll on me, and my classes became much harder. I struggled to get out of bed and talk to my friends, and I developed an eating disorder. My struggles from freshman year carried into my sophomore year and my grades got worse. But, my athletic career started to rise. It was the one thing I had left and clung to. Before my brother passed away, we had made plans to hang out and shoot together. It was only mere days later after we made the plans that the news of his passing came to light. Because of our plans, I started to work harder in school to get better grades so my mom would let me compete in more competitions. This was my out. I was overcoming the depression that plagued my early high school years. I didn't want to be sick, but it's not that easy. It's never that easy. At the end of my junior year, I fell back into the hole I had clawed my way out of. I was stressed and had gotten dumped. To think something as simple as getting broken up with would make me spiral was silly, but my mental health is delicate, all mental health is. The summer was rough but I still had archery. I only focused on shooting. Then, when school started again I focused on school as well, it was my last year and I wanted to succeed. I realized how much I had ahead of me, and it was much different from freshman year when the world appeared so dim and dark. I started to visit my brother's grave more and talk with him. He never spoke back of course ut I know he listened and wanted me to do great things. I became more content with myself and my future. The first semester of my senior year was great. Now in my second semester, I can say that the stress of finals and my future is on my shoulders. I have more plans in place now though to help me through my mental health struggles and avoid a spiral. I feel ready to take on the world. I will live for brandon.

Two jobs, a full-time athlete, and a full-time student? I am tired just reading that sentence. My name is Danica Wiseman and that is my life currently. I am a high school senior going into my freshman year of college. I compete in archery competitively, and I have had the opportunity to compete at a national level across the USA, and I am nothing less than extremely grateful. How did it get to this point? Well, I started working in my freshman year of high school to save for a car. I ended up buying my first car, and then learned to drive it, and then changed jobs a couple of times. At the beginning of my junior year, I was working two jobs, one retail, and one food. I did this to save up my money for a newer car in the future. After a while of balancing two jobs, school, and sports, I put in my two weeks' notice to my retail job. I then started to take off in archery. I was placing at more tournaments and going places I never imagined. I always took care of my own finances like my car insurance, gas, clothes, and anything else that came up. Now I also have a car payment. I knew I had to find a better-paying job as I approached the end of my junior year, and so I did. After I landed my position, I was able to buy a newer, better car for college! I took on a 3-year payment in the process. My new job was extremely flexible with my school and travel/practice schedule. This allowed me to balance the three beautifully. I was approached in the summer before my senior year with an opportunity. I was offered a sponsorship for my hard work and success in archery. They offered to pay for all of my equipment to take that off my shoulders, in exchange for competing in tourements with their jersey and showing up bi-weekly to shoot at their store. This was the last piece to add to my schedule. I am extremely grateful to be sponsored it will help me in the future as I move through college and change equipment. I am also thankful to my current employer for their flexibility and for allowing me to still work upwards of 20 hours a week during the school year and be able to travel and go to practice. They also are allowing me to come back and work for them during the summers and winters between semesters in college. This takes off the stress of having to find work during the breaks, due to my bills. I am nothing less than a busy person who never has a day off, but I do not take it for granted. All my hard work has led me to opportunities I never could have imagined for myself. I am forever grateful.

In my freshman year, my other brother passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. He died of a drug overdose. He was always the one I looked up to. He taught me to draw, which is still a skill I use today, as I am talking AP Art. His death took a toll on me, and my classes became much harder. I struggled to get out of bed and talk to my friends, and I developed an eating disorder. My struggles from freshman year carried into my sophomore year and my grades got worse. But, my athletic career started to rise. It was the one thing I had left and clung to. Before my brother passed away, we had made plans to hang out and shoot together. It was only mere days later after we made the plans that the news of his passing came to light. Because of our plans, I started to work harder in school to get better grades so my mom would let me compete in more competitions. This was my out. I was overcoming the depression that plagued my early high school years. I didn't want to be sick, but it's not that easy. It's never that easy. At the end of my junior year, I fell back into the hole I had clawed my way out of. I was stressed and had gotten dumped. To think something as simple as getting broken up with would make me spiral was silly, but my mental health is delicate, all mental health is. The summer was rough but I still had archery. I only focused on shooting. Then, when school started again I focused on school as well, it was my last year and I wanted to succeed. I realized how much I had ahead of me, and it was much different from freshman year when the world appeared so dim and dark. I started to visit my brother's grave more and talk with him. He never spoke back of course ut I know he listened and wanted me to do great things. I became more content with myself and my future. The first semester of my senior year was great. Now in my second semester, I can say that the stress of finals and my future is on my shoulders. I have more plans in place now though to help me through my mental health struggles and avoid a spiral. I feel ready to take on the world. I will live for brandon.

I have a deep love for all of the Studio Ghibli films. My all-time favorite film from them though, is "Howl's Moving Castle." I have such a strong appreciation for the animation behind the film. It flows so sweetly. To accompany the animation, the storyline is nothing less than beautiful. "Howl's Moving Castle" tells the story of Sophie. She is a hat maker who unluckily falls to a witch's curse. It switches Sophie from a sweet young lady to an old frail woman. She leaves home in search of the wizards out west. In doing so, Sophie stumbles upon Howl's castle. With the help of a turnup man, she climbs up inside. She then spends her time cleaning and learning who Howl is. When the turning point of the movie hits, a war breaks out. There is fighting and Howl is called to participate. Sophie trys her very best to get him out of his duty but her attempts fail. As he fights for peace, they discover their love for each other. The end of the movie is beautiful. The over all cinematography is so excellent it keeps me coming back for more each time. But, hands down the best part of the whole film, is the sound track. I often listen to the classical songs from the film like "Merry Go Round of Life" in my everyday life. Overall, "Howl's Moving Castle" is by far my favorite film, but I do have a deep appreciation for all of the Studio Ghibli works.

My name is Danica Wiseman. Currently, I am a senior at Plainfield High School achieving an academic honors diploma. After school, I plan to shoot colligate archery at Union Commonwealth University. In college, I plan to major in biology and minor in Spanish. Besides archery and school, I enjoy working part-time, going to the gym daily, and frequently hiking. I love helping out my community by assisting at the range when needed and helping out our new youth shooters. After high school, my dream is to pursue science, specifically biology. When I started my freshman year, I enrolled in year one of a four-year biomedical science course. And, I fell in love with it. Now in my senior year, I am currently taking the fourth year. When I go to college, I plan to major in biology. I have yet to decide what pathway to go with my degree. I love all things nature but I also want to help people with their health. It is a tough decision. The thought of spending each day outside, helping the environment would be a dream come true. But, I also love sharks! I have had a passion for learning about them for years and being able to pursue further education and help our marine friends would also please me greatly. These two fields make my decisions tough for a career path as I would also enjoy pursuing something medically. In my biomedical classes, we learn lab skills and learn about everyday medical issues, and learn about cancer. Having a job where I make an impact helping people daily would bring me joy. These three paths would make me feel fulfilled and make me proud of all of the hard work it would take to get there. As a woman, I know my path to success will not be easy. I always work to empower women to succeed in all fields. As an archer, I am currently teaching an elementary school girl how to shoot. She fell in love with the sport and nothing makes me happier than her getting excited after having a good arrow. I also like to encourage the younger kids to pursue science. Recently, another girl and I traveled to the local middle school. Our trip was to talk to the science classes there about what the 4-year biomedical sciences are and the pathways that open up for you. As two women we wanted to show the girls present that they can do it too! When it comes down to it, I want to help our world and bring joy. Spread love not hate!

When I look back at my life, the hardest thing I've overcome is an easy choice, my brother's passing. In my freshman year of high school, my mom walked into my room one morning. She came over and sat on my bed, and looked at me solemnly. She spoke quietly and said, "Brandon passed away last night." This was nothing less than a shock. His passing took a massive toll on me. I was only 14 and my role model was gone. My dad is the strongest person I know, for he is ex-military of the Army and National Guard. He lost both of his parents in the year prior and I've never seen him more upset than when he lost his son. This was hard for me and my whole family. Going back to life as if nothing happened, and everything is normal, was the hardest thing for me to do. My heart hurts every day. I knew though, Brandon would want me to keep going. He would want me to work harder every day. He would want me to succeed and do everything he never could. That is my goal. Talking with him at his gravesite every so often is what got me through. This was nothing less than a setback for me, but I will use it as a stepping stone to push myself forward. I learned so much about myself and life in the last four years. I learned to appreciate every minute you have with the people you love. This is because one day you can wake up and they are just gone with no goodbye. I learned to appreciate my own life and live it to the fullest. I could be the one that doesn't wake up one day. This is why I want to go to college. Neither of my parents nor any of my grandparents attended. I'll be a first-generation college student this year. I want to attend and further my education because they did not have the chance and my brother never had the chance. When I look back at my life and I examine the struggles I faced, I am proud of my growth. I grew from situations no one would want to be a part of, but I did not have the choice. My situations were put on my shoulders and I adapted. My goal is to make my parents proud, and if nothing else, make my brother Brandon proud.

In my freshman year, my other brother passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. He died of a drug overdose. He was always the one I looked up to. He taught me to draw, which is still a skill I use today, as I am talking AP Art. His death took a toll on me, and my classes became much harder. I struggled to get out of bed and talk to my friends, and I developed an eating disorder. My struggles from freshman year carried into my sophomore year and my grades got worse. But, my athletic career started to rise. It was the one thing I had left and clung to. Before my brother passed away, we had made plans to hang out and shoot together. It was only mere days later after we made the plans that the news of his passing came to light. Because of our plans, I started to work harder in school to get better grades so my mom would let me compete in more competitions. This was my out. I was overcoming the depression that plagued my early high school years. I didn't want to be sick, but it's not that easy. It's never that easy. At the end of my junior year, I fell back into the hole I had clawed my way out of. I was stressed and had gotten dumped. To think something as simple as getting broken up with would make me spiral was silly, but my mental health is delicate, all mental health is. The summer was rough but I still had archery. I only focused on shooting. Then, when school started again I focused on school as well, it was my last year and I wanted to succeed. I realized how much I had ahead of me, and it was much different from freshman year when the world appeared so dim and dark. I started to visit my brother's grave more and talk with him. He never spoke back of course ut I know he listened and wanted me to do great things. I became more content with myself and my future. The first semester of my senior year was great. Now in my second semester, I can say that the stress of finals and my future is on my shoulders. I have more plans in place now though to help me through my mental health struggles and avoid a spiral. I feel ready to take on the world. I will live for brandon.