I spent most of my life watching and listening rather than speaking. I avoided starting conversations, worried that my words would come across as foolish or I would seem awkward. Throughout my early years of highschool, I kept to myself and focused on my schoolwork, making only two friends during my first three years. While those friends were great, I still wasn't very social. In my senior year, I decided I wanted to break out of my comfort zone and become more involved with my community. being from Xenia, Ohio, there weren't many options, so I joined a volunteer club at my school called Chemistry Club. We put on a science themed play for all the elementary students to show that science is fun. This year our theme was Toy Story, we dressed up as the characters while performing experiments and teaching the kids how to make fog, slime, and teaching them various science concepts. I played a significant role in the play as Rex. My character was taken and the rest of the characters had to rescue me using the power of science. Having multiple speaking lines in front of a large group of elementary students pushed me far outside my comfort zone. I was nervous about being laughed at. The lines such as "Roarrrrrr! guys help im in here" I had required energy, confidence, and a willingness to appear a little foolish the very thing I have always been scared of. At first I said the lines with no confidence and no energy, but the support from my fellow cast mates helped me keep going and get comfortable to say the lines with the required energy and ease. Getting help with my lines allowed me to connect with my classmates and I've even made some good friends that I don't think I would have if I hadn't join. When the day came, we went into the classrooms we did hands-on experiments, showing the kids how to make slime, create fog, and make elephant toothpaste. We explained the chemical reactions behind each experiment and taught them about states of matter and elements. Afterward, a couple of students came up to me to ask questions, it felt amazing to teach them about something I'm passionate about. Finally when it was time to preform, everyone nailed their roles. I even got laughed at when I said my "Roarrrr!" instead of feeling foolish or embarrassed, I felt proud. For the first time, laughter wasn't something I feared, it was something to be proud of. Knowing I gave those kids something to laugh at and enjoy made every uncomfortable step worth it.

Math has always been my favorite subject. In 6th grade I had math 7th period throughout the school day, I would sit in class and watch the clock, waiting for 7th period. Later I realized why I loved math class because it matches the way I think. I am a logical thinker, and math just clicks with me there are rules to follow and you can self check rather your right or you wrong unlike other subjects where the teacher just tells you to "follow your heart" when writing a essay. I tend to think logically and step by step, my thinking matches match perfectly which has always allowed me to be good at it. I enjoy the clarity that comes from taking a huge complex problem and breaking it down into a small simple one. Each step connects and builds on to the previous one and when you finally find the answer, it feels earned like a misson accomplished. Unlike other subjects, math rewards effort and reasoning over memorization, Which makes it more meaningful. Math has also taught me wonderful traits I can use in everyday life such as perseverance. Some problems do not yield answers the first go around, I don't know how many times I've gotten error in a calculator, but failure is only the first step in learning. Working through my mistakes and changing my approach has showed me the value of persistance. The moment when you get the answer to a difficult problem is incredible satisfying because it represents growth rather then luck (English).