Feeding the hungry, educating children, donating to the unfortunate, is it really that hard? Every day, humans like me live our wonderful lives with the blessed families and environments we were born into, but in reality, not everyone gets the same fortune. Treating others in my community with hospitable comfort and support has opened up so many doors for not just them but for myself as well. I choose to volunteer every month, if possible, to help towards a good cause. Whether it be helping package food at the Houston Food Bank, setting up events at my local church, coaching little league baseball players, or just giving that homeless man on the end of my street an affirmation that he is cared about and loved in this world, I dedicate my life to serving my community in any way I can. I do this because I only hope to reciprocate the same love that I have received in my community since I was born. I now have taken a step forward into serving my community by completing the Nation Honor Society program. In NHS, I practiced the values of service and worked at the highest degree of volunteering I could.

Mid-July, summer of 2018, is when that nightmare phone call rang, a terrorizing ringtone that will never escape my brain. A night that lives in my head forever; an alter to my brain's chemistry. Phillip Isaiah Bernal, who I knew would be the future marine biologist to find the rarest species of oceanic animals, or the paleontologist who would uncover mysteries of the Earth and discover dinosaurs we never knew existed- was dead. One call is all it took and my heart was destroyed, hearing about what had happened to my best friend, biggest supporter, and the person who made my life radiate with happiness and comfort. It took weeks, months, years, to find solace in such a horrible tragedy, and yet I still feel that scar in my heart that I know will never go away. So, as tribute to Phillip, who has been the only friend in my whole life who I could trust with anything and count on as being there for me every step away, I dedicate my life to the both of us and pay it forward to others. I carry a picture of him, hidden in the back of my phone case, so that maybe in some spiritualistic way, he would stay with me forever. Everyday, I dedicate any chance I get to pay that mutual friendship forward. Whether it be respectfully communicating with students at school, tutoring friends for a test, spending quality time with people away from school, or simply just giving out a smile, creating the world a better place for people is what means the most, which is exactly what Phillip did for me. My academic journey has been a frightening, yet rewarding experience and it has opened me up to many challenges, conflicts, and harships in which I have learned to overcome. One way in which I have paid Phillip's kindness forward outside of school was through my experience at the United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Upon the grateful acceptance, I went to the USNA Summer Seminar because it was where I would learn how to be a leader, grow physically and mentally strong, and build moral values like character, discipline, and respect towards others. Through demanding challenges from anywhere to rowing boats and crawling through sand, I made some amazing friends throughout my experience who have changed my life just like how Phillip has. I went to the USNA Summer Seminar throughout June 2023 and yet I still remember the first and last names of all the members of my squad, their hometown, because the way they've all treated me throughout the entirety of the seminar was like family. The remembrance of these people will stay in my heart forever, as they have made me the person I am today. They've been by my side in times when I needed it most, morally and physically, and they gave me the inspiration to take on any challenge that comes my way in life and they've displayed the effectiveness of teamwork. Ultimately, it's them, Phillip, my academic journey, and overall my blessed life that gives me the roots I need to pursue excellence in college. It created the story of who I am and who I strive to be. Pain and challenges ironically create love- they shape us, like a fire burning a storybook. They change who we are. Our story. So with that engraved love I've been given, I dedicate my life to paying it forward to others and reaching out far for a lost star in the sky of unforgiving society.

Mid-July, summer of 2018, is when that nightmare phone call rang, a terrorizing ringtone that will never escape my brain. A night that lives in my head forever; an alter to my brain's chemistry. Phillip Isaiah Bernal, who I knew would be the future marine biologist to find the rarest species of oceanic animals, or the paleontologist who would uncover mysteries of the Earth and discover dinosaurs we never knew existed- was dead. One call is all it took and my heart was destroyed, hearing about what had happened to my best friend, biggest supporter, and the person who made my life radiate with happiness and comfort. It took weeks, months, years, to find solace in such a horrible tragedy, and yet I still feel that scar in my heart that I know will never go away. So, as tribute to Phillip, who has been the only friend in my whole life who I could trust with anything and count on as being there for me every step away, I dedicate my life to the both of us and pay it forward to others. I carry a picture of him, hidden in the back of my phone case, so that maybe in some spiritualistic way, he would stay with me forever. Everyday, I dedicate any chance I get to pay that mutual friendship forward. Whether it be respectfully communicating with students at school, tutoring friends for a test, spending quality time with people away from school, or simply just giving out a smile, creating the world a better place for people is what means the most, which is exactly what Phillip did for me. One way in which I have paid Phillip's kindness forward was through my experience at the United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Upon the grateful acceptance, I went to the USNA Summer Seminar because it was where I would learn how to be a leader, grow physically and mentally strong, and build moral values like character, discipline, and respect towards others. Through demanding challenges from anywhere to rowing boats and crawling through sand, I made some amazing friends throughout my experience who have changed my life just like how Phillip has. I went to the USNA Summer Seminar throughout June 2023 and yet I still remember the first and last names of all the members of my squad, their hometown, because the way they've all treated me throughout the entirety of the seminar was like family. Ashlyn Newberry from Huntsville, Alabama. Samara Burts from Atlanta Georgia. Aaron Kim from Sandusky, Ohio. Jordan McDonald from Long Island, New York. Alexa Hill from Charlotte, North Carolina. Talmage Kanistras from Orlando, Florida. Rodney Briggs from Seattle, Washington. The remembrance of these people will stay in my heart forever, as they have made me the person I am today. They've been by my side in times when I needed it most, morally and physically, and they gave me the inspiration to take on any challenge that comes my way in life and they've displayed the effectiveness of teamwork. I bounced that encouragement back to them by being a person they could all trust to help them in times of need. For example, when Ashlyn fell behind in the race through the forest, I slowed down and put my arm around her shoulders and motivated her to finish. And she did. Pain and challenges ironically create love- they shape us, like a fire burning a storybook. They change who we are. Our story. So with that engraved love I've been given, I dedicate my life to paying it forward to others.

What motivates me to become successful and pursue a higher education is because I want to prove myself more than the unique opportunities I've faced and show myself that I'm much better than the bad things that happen to me. Throughout the years of my high school career, I’ve experienced a multitude of events that have shaped who I am today. One example is the “Roller Coaster” physics project that I had to complete over a month. The challenge of this major grade assignment was to construct a practical roller coaster made of paper, tape, and glue to support a marble that would roll through the tracks and land in a cup using knowledge of Newton's laws of motion and gravitation. This daring challenge tested my ability to be responsible under pressure, time management, and ingenuity. But as I chipped away at this monstrous project, I felt something inside me change, like a light that had sparked. That's when I uncovered newfound innovation and creativity within me that I never knew existed. From that moment on, I found my passion for creativity and it made me the creative person I am today- one who hopes to pursue a career in film production and design. Although I’ve experienced many incredible opportunities and faced many positive challenges that have taught me moral values, unfortunately, I have faced physically harmful situations that have made me who I am. Despite the great experiences I have had throughout my high school baseball career, I’ve been faced with unwanted challenges. During my junior year of baseball, I suffered from a head concussion. This tragic event brought me to a low point in my physical health and state of mind. But as I worked with my school’s athletic trainer, I learned many valuable lessons. I learned that great success comes from triumph and that sometimes what may feel like a push-back, is a way to spring forward. I learned how to overcome adversity at my lowest point. This challenge developed me into a braver person and made me believe that I can get through any difficult physically demanding situation if I put my mind to it. It also changed my perspective on life and made me grateful for the optimal health I carry with me today. Lastly, the most impactful unique opportunity I’ve experienced during my high school career that has motivated me for success and an education was my attendance at the United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Shortly after the conclusion of my junior year, due to my excellent grades and honorable achievements, I was accepted to attend the USNA Summer Seminar for a week to experience what life is like as a USNA midshipman including the rigor of highly advanced academics and the physically demanding culture. I experienced hands-on activities in academic workshops ranging from high-level physics lab demonstrations to oceanic engineering and navigation. During my independent experience in Annapolis, Maryland, I learned the values of discipline, humility, service, responsibility, leadership and the importance of exploring the world as a mature individual. The support that the people I met in my seminar team shared for each other was unbreakable, and they have changed me from once a reserved individual to an individual not afraid to speak out. So, when it comes to striving for success and education, I try to work hard to put myself in the best possible position to succeed that I can do. I'm not afraid to risks or face challenges, and I believe that my motivation in not giving up has the potential to take me far in life.

I dream of staring up at that beautiful silver screen, watching the colors of my artistic impressions paint a picture for all to enjoy, holding happiness in my heart for the impact I've made in the film industry.

Music has shaped the way I view the world because it has been a guide in my life forever. As a young child, listening to Selena in my grandmother's house was part of our Mexican culture. It showed me the value of motivation to become something outstanding in life, no matter the background you come from. As I moved into my young adolescent years, I eventually found myself picking up musical pieces on a piano. With my mom's great support for my musical interests, I was able to grow as a pianist. I eventually led on to perform in piano recitals, where I would get to showcase my musical passion and fill audiences' hearts with melodies I love. After a while, I noticed that music has shaped my view of the world because it has shown me how society can bring you beautiful musical opportunities. Moving on to my young teenage years, I began to stray away from the piano. Lost in time, I unfortunately never found my way back to the piano. But the morals I've learned through my times with the piano have taught me a lot about music. I've learned about the importance of communication through lyrics, as well as the consequences that music creation can bring. I learned how artists can convey emotion and personality that tell a story for others to hear. Another musical experience in my life that has shaped my views of the world was my experience playing the recorder. My recorder teacher, Ms. Keig, was the best teacher I've ever been with. At first, I struggled to find the right notes and blow the correct air to make a cohesive piece. But she believed that no student should be left behind or unappreciated. With her thoughtful actions and bright determination, she helped me become one of the best recorder players in my class. I eventually found myself playing highly advanced pieces that no one else in my class could play. From that amazing experience, I learned that society is filled with good people who will always have your back and support you in any interest you desire. Ultimately, music has shaped my views on the world immensely. It made me realize what a dynamic and beautiful place we live, where music can change us, improve us, and teach us to grow as a person. So music has not only changed my views on the world, but it has also my desires deep within me.