When I converted to Catholicism two years ago, I did so due to the convincing logical, historical, and theological arguments that substantiated the Church. However, I missed a vital component of the Christian experience, which was namely a relationship with Jesus. While this is undoubtedly a lifelong journey that one embarks upon rather than a feat accomplished within the span of a conversion experience, I still yearned for some "feeling" that Jesus knew and loved me. I yearned for a confidence. There seemed to be a staggering divide between my reason that led me to this faith and the emotional side that this faith likewise required. Therefore, when I read Father Luigi Giussani's book "The Religious Sense", my entire outlook altered almost immediately, as he proposes a drastically different perspective to the Christian experience. As can be deciphered from the name of the book, Fr. Giussani opines about how the utilization of reason can help one understand that every person desires, in some universal manner cross-culturally, the supernatural, whether consciously or subconsciously. While this theory would require much more than the 600-word limit available, as this book is the first in a trilogy exploring this idea with research and basic logical principles, one can extrapolate from this certain key concepts. Namely, the idea that God's thumbprint, so-to-speak, is imprinted on the soul of every human being. This naturally allows each individual to pursue that which Fr. Giussani deems the religious sense, which is a reference to the five senses. God's love surpasses everyone's capacity for reason, and He calls us out to the unknown in order to discover our fulfillment in Him. As someone who was sheltered growing up and was protected even more so following a near-death experience with a drunk driver, the unknown is still a daunting concept to me. However, understanding that the very idea of faith, in other words trust, constitutes such a reliance upon God despite full knowledge, or capacity to reason, is such an enlightening experience. The unknown beckons every individual, and everyone's unknown differs from other's. It could be a physical location, or it could reveal itself through the relationships one cultivates. This revelation bridged the once-previously thought divide in my mind between the reasonableness of faith and the emotional aspect of faith. My reason leads me to understand my faith, which allows me to explore and trust God, even when I do not always experience a particular emotion. This is true faith. This shaped my goals because the knowledge gained from this dense book helped me overcome a massive hurdle in my spiritual life. In a more concrete way, however, it helped me understand the importance of outreach and relationships. Encountering new people, backgrounds, and experiences is incredibly frightening for someone who is very conditioned to the familiar. However, knowing that God speaks through these individuals via their words, actions, passion, and love they display towards others is motivation to embark upon such a scary journey. My goal is no longer to be shy in the midst of new people; instead, it is to dive into the abyss of humility and learn to understand and love people as God loves them. This simple act may not seem like a lot in writing, but in a world seemingly devoid of compassion, in which it permits every action yet forgives none, this is foundational in the evangelization of Christianity and the betterment of my community, country, and the very world itself. The education I gained from this book helped me understand that God loves the world and people He created and invites me constantly.

Success acts as an elusive agent. Ever since the dawn of time, every individual has sought this concept, and many tragic stories, plays, and movies culminate in the demise of the hero due to their reckless pursuit of what they deem "success". However, while history books may contain dozens of different successes, whether that be in a political game of thrones, wars, or a social movement's message becoming mainstream, I view a different kind of success that does not root itself within the confines of these particular compartments. Success does not derive itself from an income, nor does it generate as a result of popularity. If this was the case, then the millions of depressed celebrities remain an anomaly. Moreover, success cannot be pigeon-holed into the criteria of the logical maximization of one's personal ideology. If this held true, then politics would hold the key to success. Truthfully, many find their purpose in life within politics and can be considered successful in a very specific vein, but the very nature of politics demonstrates a contradictory premise to how individuals with this belief may define success. In this instance, people may not want to concede any ground on their beliefs; after all, they are correct. However, politics is the art of compromise, and if one cannot learn this, politics will become a succinct failure before much success ever arises. Therefore, upon learning what does not constitute success, this leads to my definition of success. Success is one's fulfillment in light of tragedy. Two key components constitute this definition, which is integral to understanding this thoroughly. The first part lies in fulfilling oneself. For myself, this would come in the form of my career, community, and family. I intend to become a lawyer, as law, debate, and argumentation have always been a great passion of mine. Performing such a job, either in a written or verbal format, would result in an immaculate fulfillment that another job simply would not accomplish. However, this alone cannot fulfill the heart. On top of a career, I would need friends and a community with which to relate to. This is fundamental, as humans are necessarily social creatures, meaning we cannot be expected to dredge through life's mysteries alone. Due to this almost biological need for social interaction, a life without such seems not just incomplete, but incapable of fulfillment. Thus, I would love to find a group of friends, individuals, and people with similar interests and hobbies through the variety of activities that I participate in. Particularly, religion harbors an immense opportunity for this, since that is an intentional community of individuals that think in some foundational manner similarly to oneself. As a result, I intend to become deeply involved in my church and help in any way I can, as my faith has always been a foundational part of my journey as a person. Lastly, family remains an integral goal. My chief priority ever since I was younger was to raise a family and find love. I adore the idea of raising kids, cultivating a microcosm of a generation with a loved one over the course of their lives. Not only does this elicit great and profound meaning to my life, but it would grant an immeasurable joy to their lives as well. After all, what greater gift is there than life itself? However, there is a secondary component to this definition of success. Enduring tragedy and hardship is a necessity for human nature. Living in a world such as this means one cannot avoid this reality. Therefore, despite accomplishing these three critical acts of fulfillment for myself, a career, community, and family, if the hardships of life diminish my hope in a dramatic way, that eliminates true fulfillment. Thus, it is imperative that, for this true definition of success, that one continue to feel in some manner fulfilled despite tragic events. A waning rollercoaster of fulfillment does not eliminate the feeling as a whole, and I have been no stranger to such in my short life already, having enduring a near-death experience at 17 years-old at the hands of a drunk driver. Learning how to cope with this has bettered my life and those around me, resulting in a greater fulfillment. This scholarship would advance my definition of success as college is incredibly expensive, and law school's application process is grueling when it comes to financials alone. Not only does one have to pay to take the LSAT, they must pay for the service to send scores, and then pay to send scores, and then pay to apply in and of itself. College is expensive, and the process for law school only accentuates this. This scholarship would help me cement a central part of success and embolden me on a future path of success.

The world is all too familiar with pandemics. Thoughts and images of the coronavirus, lockdowns, and vaccines fill the mind almost immediately. However, another pandemic has swept America, and the cure is not as simple as a shot in the arm. From President Trump to President Biden, the United States is more divided than ever before. The anonymity of social media encourages fanatic and polarizing rants against a demonized opposing side. Free speech seems like a thought of the past, with both sides wishing to silence the other. Conversely, it is by this very act of preserving free speech that America can remedy the ideological chasm that threatens to shatter the country. A common battleground for this is the college campus. Free speech is critical to the intellectual and personal development of American college students for a variety of reasons. Firstly, becoming exposed to new ideals that challenge one's personal convictions allows the individual to evaluate their position in comparison to this new information. This would mean the person can change their stance, modify it, or remain more rooted in the idea if the information does not negate its truth. This is important, since in a diverse country with even more diverse opinions, understanding what the opposing side is merely saying is more than most political pundits can claim to do. Secondly, the very act of communicating with other people associates an idea with a person. It is easy to become infuriated with a bastardized characterization of a political stance, and then take it out on those that hold that position. However, by hearing the same view from a reasonable and intelligent individual, this communication would allow one to humanize the view. Personalizing a stance reduces the chance of demonization. Thirdly, it reduces the opportunities of enforcing an echo chamber, which is intellectually dishonest as a misrepresentation of the American public. By achieving all three of these ends, the common discourse, accomplished via free speech, can not only reduce the tension this country endures, but also contributes to the intellectual and personal development of college students by broadening their perspectives and allowing them to perceive reality differently and adjust their views in accordance with that. However, free speech is fundamentally more important than its practical effects for the current political crisis. Even if the polarization in America was nonexistent, it would be imperative for free speech to remain an essential cornerstone of democracy. This is due to the fact that the identity of the human being lies in its inherent freedom to act as a rational agent and choose freely. By abridging this freedom to choose freely, the individual cannot accurately express themselves in the manner in which is important to them. Free speech is simply a logical extension of this principle, thereby assisting in its conservation for its own sake is crucial. As a Political Science student and future President of a Speech and Debate Team, I understand the dramatic importance of maintaining free speech on campus. I learn in my classes the importance of free speech and how to practice this critical right effectively and meaningfully. In tournaments, I apply this in a manner directed towards persuading individuals. After all, the very act of disseminating information and imparting knowledge is predicated upon free speech. Moreover, I have learned the most information in my debates that directly involved contentious issues, such as involvement in wars, ideologies, and other social issues. Without these important discussions, this country could not continue to claim itself as a bastion of freedom. Without free speech, this country could not continue to exist.

In a social and political climate that seems to grow increasingly more averse to the idea of Christianity and the ideals it professes, it is imperative to take a steadfast stand for one's faith. As a convert to Catholicism, I understood first-hand the effects of being immersed in such a secular climate. Depression, anxiety, and a lack of moral clarity wreaked havoc on my mental state, and thus my actions. However, after much research into the culture as a Political Science major and reading more about the teachings of Father Luigi Giussani, I deduced that the world is not lacking a mere knowledge of the Christian faith; instead, it is lacking the relational component. Millions, especially in America, lack a proper tradition, which Fr. Giussani uniquely calls a hypothesis for the meaning of life. Without first possessing a proper tradition which adheres to reality, one cannot hope to understand the tenets of Christianity, regardless of the amount of catechesis. This raises an important question: how does one propose the Christian tradition, or the hypothesis for the meaning of life? If the answer was simply to engage in apologetics, the world would have been converted a thousand times over. Instead, the individual requires an authority, which Fr. Giussani defines as someone who lives their life consistent with the ideals they profess that the aforementioned individual wishes to follow. This method speaks to the innate human desire for that which fulfills them, an apparent religious sense which yearns for its completion in God. Moreover, one last step exists in this plan to assist someone in their faith journey and is potentially the most shocking to some. After one proposes a tradition and acts as an authority for the person in question, they must allow the latter to verify this tradition for themselves against their previous, current, and future life experiences. It is the equivalent of handing an adolescent a backpack of tools. The young man will discard that which he does not need and keep that which he needs. Likewise, by criticizing the Christian tradition and applying it to the life experience of the individual, this means the individual must be allowed to freely accept or reject. The one who proposes must have a faith that all paths lead to Christ and a great trust in the Lord. There is an inherent risk in this education because it demonstrates a great sincerity and lack of control of the situation. However, it is important to note that this is the same manner in which Jesus taught his disciples. He told them to come and see. This method requires an authority, in the definition of a role model of sorts, as previously mentioned, and I would achieve this position through my future career as a prosecutor. It is easy to perceive prosecutorial work as cold, calculated, and solely focused on winning and working out plea deals without considering the feelings of the defendants and those affected. Instead, by living a lifestyle consistent with the Christian tradition, people will naturally feel attracted to imitating this. This would include praying with and for others publicly, remaining grounded in Scripture, and extending a mutual love for all brothers and sisters, regardless of background. These may seem like simple changes that have no real impact on others, but Fr. Giussani's educational model has been successfully implemented by principals, teachers, educators, and others multiple times in proper catechesis of the faith. By acting as an authority people wish to follow, the Christian proposal comes as a result of their own free will, which is how God lovingly ordained it.