The mold of a community The transformative power of a community is very different from many things. It can shape and mold individuals, instill hope and resilience, and even guide them toward success. Entering a community at a young age is similar to being a piece of clay. For better or worse, the community plays a significant role in shaping us during our formative years. Those around me have positively influenced me in numerous ways, a testament to the power of community in personal growth. One of the ways my community has shaped me is through hope. The community hopes that those of us attending school will make a big difference in our small town. My counselor and teachers have offered tremendous support for improving my performance. My counselor helped guide me towards George Fox University and engineering, which I couldn't be more grateful for; my weightlifting teacher helped me hit my body goals with a meal and lifting plans, and my music teacher never gave up on me even when I gave up on myself. These three people have molded me with such passion that I don't know if I can repay them enough. They have set me up for success and built me up in ways others couldn't. My generation is judgemental and spiteful, so I still have many issues within the community. My old friend group fell apart when two people in it stopped dating. Everyone needed to choose a side, and I chose my closest friend. I lost the other friends, and they began to spread rumors and attempt to break us down. Even though it was an unfortunate time, the process helped shape me into a better person. It showed me how to handle conflict, stress, and relationships and connected me more with my faith. This series of events with this friend group was where I also learned to search for a positive outlook on these situations. Things can always be worse, but they can always be better, so decide which outlook you want in life. A well-known Woman named Kristen Jones once said, "Community is the foundation to success." I couldn't agree more. Without the community I have had around me, I wouldn't be the person I am today. A community shapes the clay put into the flames that we call adulthood—the flame where you become beautiful or burn to ashes. I am confident I will leave those flames as a sign of success. All of that will be due to my community and those who have built me up. Now, the best way to give back to them is by succeeding. This way, my community can be proud of how it's molded me into who I am.

To be better for others There is a quote that has kept me going in this long and stressful process of applying for college. I want to be the change I would like in the world. It has reminded me time and time again of why I would like to pursue higher education. I will take my degree somewhere good. I will make a positive difference in the lives of those around me as they have for me. I am from a low-income family with no college experience, so I don’t have any proper guidance on what college is like. Nobody can tell me how people are, how living is, how to pay off college debt, where I apply to colleges, how to get scholarships, or anything else. In turn, I spent many hours researching how to do so. Another thing that helped me was to reach out to those I know who did or are going through college. It has given me so much insight into what career I might decide to take and how to navigate through college better. Whether it be on what I should or shouldn’t buy from the schools when to leave a party, how long to study, good ways to study, and so much more. I have also spent many days or even weeks writing essays for scholarships and improving my schooling efforts. I want to take my degree somewhere that I matter. Somewhere, I am valued, and I can make a difference. If I can give back to those who have given me reasons to keep pushing, I will do everything possible. I want to pursue higher education so that I can make a difference. I want to design a machine to cure cancer, a bridge in an impoverished town, a car that reduces emissions and costs, a new material for airplane use, and more. I aim for the stars because that’s how I see myself giving back to those who have helped me. All their effort on me should go somewhere, so I want to make it all worth it. I want to be remembered for good deeds and in a way that makes people want to be like me. I want my parents to be able to boast about me to their friends, for my name to be recognized and known as an innovator of the future, and to be better for others as they have been for me. I will become an engineer after college, so I want to do what I can now to help myself later. Later, I can use that extra energy and time to give back to others. Helping others has always made me feel better than doing stuff for selfish reasons. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

There is only one way to go after hitting rock bottom. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” (Nelson Mandela) is a quote that has forever altered the course of my life. Every time I hit a rough spot or fail at something I tried so hard to achieve, I think back to this quote. I intend to keep this in mind throughout my journey through college, and I pray that I can break the cycle of low income in my family. I have had issues with depression, anxiety, and depression for a while; especially at school. Years of bullying led to that unfortunate reality where I lost all motivation and care for the world. In turn, this led to about 2 years of academic struggle and turmoil. I remember turning to people for help and it seemed like nothing was working. The hole was so deep that no rope was long enough for me to climb out of it. That was until I turned to Jesus Christ and my faith for help. After doing so my life still had some rough spots, but it got me back on my path to a brighter future. It helped me gain more confidence, improve my grades, lose weight, put on muscle, and be better for other people. One of those rough spots was around two or three months ago when one of my childhood friends committed suicide. He moved away to Arizona during my freshman year of high school due to his father having a good job opportunity. We stayed in touch, but he never let anyone see just how bad his mental state was getting until it was too late. I would eventually get a call from his mother while she was sobbing. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing as it seemed like a bad dream that I hadn’t woken up from yet. I got a letter that he had left behind for me two weeks after the incident. It brought clarity and he left a quote by Robin Williams which was “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind”. He also said that he wanted me to follow this to the best of my abilities as he would’ve, so I intend to do so. It gave me another large boost to succeed in my goals of higher education. For me and him. Education has helped me realize what I want to do and why I would like to do it. I want to go and do something for the world with impact. I aspire to be an innovator of the future and the way I see myself doing that is through engineering. I want to help design the machine that cures cancer, a new material that is renewable and safe, a world I'm proud to call home. That way I can die happy knowing that I did all I could for my future kids, peers, friends, those that I’ve lost, and even those in need that I would never meet. Once again I would like to leave a mark that encourages others to push forward and be better not just for themselves, but for everyone.

Music Moves the World “Music is to the soul what words are to the mind” (Modest Mouse) is a quote that changed how I view music. This quote helped me to understand why music is so powerful and influential; why it has always been a safe place for me. I now understand the power music has over simple words, and how it’s led to some of my greatest achievements. I first picked up a trumpet in 6th grade and have been involved in music ever since. Music allowed me to experience wonderful memories, which I now cherish, such as my trip to Europe with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music. It was there I discovered a universal language that connected people. Music made me feel that I had a purpose by giving me a community that valued me and shared my dreams. I understand that if I hadn’t been involved in music, I wouldn’t have formed such powerful relationships with others. I wouldn’t have gazed upon the Alps in Switzerland. I wouldn’t have witnessed the beautiful blue waters in Italy or been able to laugh with my friends about how sweaty the heat made us in Austria. That trip is just one example of how music has changed my life in such a positive way. Music helps me stay dedicated and look for ways to improve. When I play something that leaves me feeling happy and excited for the future, it only adds more fuel to my ambition. This flame is what drives me to make music in the hopes of improving another person's day. Having the ability to create and innovate sparks such powerful visions for my future. One of the outlets for me to express my creativity is through music. During my junior year in high school, we had an outstanding trumpet player who everyone saw as our number one. I was the second chair trumpet player at the time and was nowhere near his skill level; however, he was a senior, so I needed to take his place during my senior year. This made me realize that if I was going to continue with my passion, then I needed to dedicate more time and effort. So, during the summer, I played until my lips were cracked and numb and sacrificed most of my free time. This has made my classmates happy and proud of me, and in turn, that made me proud of myself. We have made it to the state competition 3 years in a row now. That feeling of accomplishment made me reflect on who I am and how I can turn my passion into something greater. I can say with confidence that making it to these levels of playing is my greatest accomplishment. I will continue making music and attempting to make the world a better place until the day I no longer can. I want to make music that makes the party lively and fun. I want people to have my music to help them through tough times. Ultimately, I would like to leave a mark on this world. A mark that brings joy and encouragement to others to keep going.