There are times when I am down, and there are days that are normal. My friends are always willing to offer me some words of encouragement. Those small words or even (on occasion) impressive speeches can turn a bad day, or even a normal day into a special day. I want to give that to my friends, because even a simple "hello" or "hey buddy, how's it going?" in the right tone can still be positive. I know that much from an employee at my school cafeteria, who always puts a smile on my face with his cheerful attitude. I take inspiration from that, because people can use encouragement even when they aren't down in the dumps. Every day, small acts of encouragement or reminding people that they do a good job can make a difference. Why? Because a smile, even a small one, is a powerful thing. And because of that, I do my utmost to say hi to people and to compliment them on good work. Because sometimes, a little gratitude, even from a stranger, can be the difference someone needs.

Friends are there for each other. It doesn't take a lot to make a friend, but empathy is one of the best ways to make a friendship that lasts and runs deeper than just casual conversation. All of my best friends became my best friends after opening up to each other, each of us sharing our problems and trying to come up with a way to make life better. Sometimes an ear is all someone needs. People often only speak out when they believe someone will hear them. I have had many times with many friends where I simply sat down and talked to them. I listened to their problems, whether I could help or not. Because whether or not I could change the problem, I could at least give my friend a shoulder to lean on. That simple action was enough to help my friends, and it helped me make many. Because that is what it takes, empathy is what brings people together. Only a small amount of empathy is needed to create a bond that can last a lifetime.

Most people would assume that it is an exciting time to study international relations and the impacts on global security. It is exciting, and our rapidly evolving world challenges security students to adapt and overcome new challenges. Everything from supply chain issues, pandemics and even war demonstrates the need for professionals who understand those relationships. But this creates an immense feeling of pressure, that students need to keep up on every little detail in order to be right or even helpful! The best thing I can do to relax, is to fly. I may not be a bird, or even a pilot. But the ability to play some music and play a game about flying sets my heart at ease. The ability to try racing the sun or chasing clouds is calming, where there isn't a worry. In the air, even using a videogame, it is possible to let go of other worries and simply enjoy the world as it is; without the need for violence or strife. Even using a videogame can be satisfying though, as I become free to go where I please, to explore the sky and roam freely without any concern for weather or time. Even in our rapidly changing world, I can take care of my mental health using the sky. The world is a beautiful place. Simple pleasures are how people can combat stress and promote their mental health. They don't need to be expensive, even cooking a good meal can be an act of relaxation! I certainly cannot afford a plane. But that still doesn't stop me from finding relaxation among the clouds.

A policy must be effective to invoke change. However, many policies are made without informed decisions, particularly by modern policymakers in national governments. Admittedly, the pace of the modern world makes it difficult for a single person to monitor all the changes in the world and understand the current global situation. This is where intelligence comes into the picture. An intelligence analyst does more than research on foreign nations and their military capabilities. Analysts can and do monitor the emissions and environmental initiatives used by other countries to promote climate change. By becoming an intelligence analyst myself, I am more likely to contribute to effective policy than simply writing regulations, mandates and laws. To create policy, policymakers need to have information that can indicate the potential effectiveness of a given strategy. To counter climate change, this can be done through looking at the success of climate change initiatives in countries outside of the United States. For example, Russia intends to meet climate change goals through reforestation and the suppression of forest fires. In doing so, the Russians anticipate to actually increase carbon emissions from their industry but decrease their net contribution to greenhouse gases. Every country is unique, therefore they utilize different strategies to ensure they successfully stop (and hopefully reverse) climate change. As another example, an intelligence analyst could look to Brazil for opportunities to reverse climate change in their own country. Rather than creating new forests like Russia, Brazil has a greater focus on preserving the Amazon Rainforest and protecting the existing wildlife before working to reforest destroyed areas. The successes and failures of this Brazilian effort can be closely monitored by an analyst in order to ensure that there aren't as many failures in the analyst's home country. After all, there is no progress if trees are planted on one side of a forest and the other side is ablaze with forest fires and logging efforts. The advantages intelligence analysts can afford policymakers are especially important in this regard. Domestic efforts to prevent and reverse climate change must constantly be monitored for improvement and protection. What use is a regulation if it is not enforced? At the same time, there must not be efforts that undermine or sabotage climate change reforms. In this regard, valuable insights can come from other nations dealing with setbacks to their own climate change initiatives. These insights can then be applied to domestic efforts, ensuring their success and effectiveness in preventing climate change. Any initiative used by a policymaker is only as good as the information that fuels it. An improperly targeted effort to stop climate change can even accelerate the destruction of the environment. To avoid this, intelligence analysts will be invaluable to policymakers and ensuring that meaningful policies are created and carried out. That's why I want to be an intelligence analyst, there is never any sense in doing a project if it was never done right.

Depression is not unlike a plague. It starts at a source, then spreading like a virulent miasma that attempts to taint anyone it can reach. My mother fell into depression after her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. The disease took her ability to work, drive, be independent, and to remember. This happened when I was still young; like a virus, it easily spread to me. To make up for my mother’s disease, I often had to pick up the slack around the house. By the age of 10, I was cooking most of the meals in my house. This responsibility of preparing food—combined with other household responsibilities—made me endure more stress than a typical child. I also had fewer outlets for my stress; I didn’t do sports or extracurricular activities in order to make sure that my mother was being fed and cared for. With the help of great friends in the latter half of middle school, I eventually came out of my depression and regained motivation to succeed. I learned that my mother’s depression didn’t have to be my own and that I could live my own life, becoming more than what I was. There is always opportunity. I learned how to weld during the school day, becoming certified in basic GMAW welding when I earned my high school diploma. But the more important thing that I learned was that giving up, while easy, is not the right way to live life. Other people should know that too. That’s why I want to use my experience to talk to people with depression and other mental illnesses. Giving up seems easy—it is the path my mother chose—but it doesn’t fix anything. People can always learn, improve, grow and develop. It is possible to achieve goals, I will always be there to help remind someone of that and do my best to help them get there. While depression is like a plague or virus, friends are like a vaccine. It may hurt a little initially, making worthwhile friends. But if someone succeeds, positive friendships inoculate an individual from the pox called depression.

Chemistry is a challenge to many people. But chemistry’s inherent complexity is not what made it a challenge for me. My challenge arose from inexperience. Being the first person in my high school’s history to attempt Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry without any prior chemistry knowledge was my challenge, one that pushed me to try harder. My teacher first doubted my chances, making it difficult to even have hope for success. Despite this lack of faith, I told Mr. Schweitzer that I would continue to take the course. While he feared for my grades and my ability to pass the course, he made me one promise: that I would “learn more than anyone else in the room.” This was because I would have to build the foundations of knowledge the other students had, while keeping up in coursework. From day one, I knew that I was making something from nothing. This was a tall order; after school I took care of my sick mother and cooked meals for my family. Despite these long odds, I knew that I would gain more than just knowledge of chemistry from this experience. Mr. Schweitzer wanted to prepare us for college and develop our logic and reasoning skills. It was never enough to know an answer or how to get there. To truly understand something, a student had to be able to get to the solution without memorization. This required knowledge of the underlying principles and realities that made concepts and equations in chemistry work. It was these principles that taught me how I should learn other concepts. While this new approach to learning would help me succeed in chemistry, it was still an uphill battle. Everything discussed in the class occurred at an accelerated pace. After all, it was made for people who had one or two years of chemistry classes. This left me at a severe disadvantage, one that my teacher sought to end. If I was serious about learning, Mr. Schweitzer was serious in helping me succeed in his course. To that end, he offered me the ability to have tutoring every morning before school. Even an extra 20 minutes of exposure to the content would dramatically improve my odds of comprehending and learning the material. Mr. Schweitzer was also eager to direct me to additional resources to find information if his teaching was not working for me. This would range from websites to YouTube videos—anything that would help me succeed. Ultimately, this uphill battle to learn chemistry—against all odds and expectations—was successful. I had managed to earn an “A” in the class through two of the three methods Mr. Schweitzer offered. The first way involved scoring a passing grade in every area of chemistry on a series of tests. The second way I had earned an “A” was by being in the top 10% of students regionally on the Science Olympiad exam created by the American Chemical Society. I placed eighth; above the 10% goal. But chemistry was not the most valuable thing I learned from AP Chemistry. I learned about determination and commitment. I discovered better ways to apply and learn information. Most importantly, I found the value of hard work when it is combined with determination. AP Chemistry may have been a challenge at the time, but it has prepared me for the challenges of the future—inside and outside of the classroom.

For centuries, sailors have been reliant on one tool above any other: the compass. At sea, there is simply a sailor, the ship, the crew, sky and a vast, open ocean. When there are clouds blocking the stars and there are no other reliable means of navigation, a compass is invaluable for sailors to know that they are traveling in the right direction. Often, compasses help sailors find their way home. Even with modern systems like GPS, a compass is still necessary for accurate travel. It is because of this, that my father gave me a compass with the following words engraved on the back: “Never forget your way home, proud of you son. Love, Dad.” My response was simple, upon reading this: “leave it to a sailor to give his son a compass,” before giving him a tight hug. My father honorably served in the United States Navy as a “pit snipe”—he worked in the forward engine room—on the USS Saipan (LHA-2). In addition to helping operate the gas turbine engines of his ship, my father was also a firefighter aboard his vessel. Because of this, the most danger he faced while in the Navy was flying in the rear-most seat of a helicopter with the back open and sailing through the minefields of Kuwaiti harbor to deliver marines during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. But the most important thing about my father’s words, engraved on the compass, is that I will always have a home. There will always be somewhere I can go in times of need, especially with the help of friends and family. As my father grows older and I go forward in my own life, he always wants me to remember that his door is open to me and that he will always be willing to offer me a helping hand or words of his wisdom. After all, home isn’t just a specific house, town, state or even country. Home is a place where someone knows they are loved, appreciated and valued. I know that my father recognizes this. He wants me to know that I will always have a home, be it with him, friends, or the family I make for myself in the future.

I do not want to be a doctor or lawyer; I will be satisfied with just a bachelor’s degree. But that does not make my pursuits any less specialized. I am pursuing my first degree—a Bachelor of Science in Global Security and Intelligence Studies—to become an intelligence analyst or intelligence officer after graduation. However, not many schools—none close to home—feature degrees that help me towards this goal. Instead, I am traveling from my home in Wisconsin to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Despite my sophomore academic standing for the fall 2021 semester, I am only 2 years from graduation. I intend to graduate in spring 2023, taking 18 credits of classes for 3 semesters and 15 for the last semester. This advanced workload will save me the costs of an extra semester, a greater savings than working a job during the school year. This is possible because I currently possess 52/121 required credits and a 4.0 GPA. I did this so quickly because I graduated high school with 37 credits towards my college degree. I even earned a Basic GMAW Welding certification through a dual-credit program with Fox Valley Technical college and my high school. This certification and training will still benefit me as an intelligence analyst, as I will be better at studying the equipment of foreign nations. I performed good enough that I became a “millwright” at my high school during my senior year, where I served as a teacher’s assistant in the metal shop. This meant that I would perform demonstrations, assist the instructor and independently work on projects. This metalworking experience allows me to assess the ease of production for foreign weapons that can be used against civilians and peacekeepers. This is experience most other intelligence analysts will lack. However, I also want to earn my degree to honor my mother. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications; however, she is unable to work or remain home alone. Her disease has been hard on the family and made it unable for her to contribute financially. This also makes me ineligible for financial aid awarded to first-time students even though she cannot use her degree. My father, while a veteran, does not have a bachelor’s degree to his name. I know I will make them proud by earning my Bachelor of Science and making the most of it. Salary is not as important as doing a job I love. While my education will be an investment, I believe it will be worthwhile to pursue a career I will enjoy. Any scholarships will allow me to minimize my debt and give me the opportunity to pursue my dreams of being an intelligence analyst. While the numbers for college costs are mind-boggling, I know that I will be able to succeed after graduation. As an intelligence analyst, I will be able to create a long-lasting legacy. Failed terrorist plots, civilian lives saved and soldiers coming home alive will become that legacy.

My father already has a reputation for having an answer to any question or problem. As I am going into the intelligence field, this is something I want to be remembered for. However, that would not make it my unique legacy or my trademark. I have the capacity to do more than that. My personal trademark will be my ability to find not just one answer, but several. This is invaluable in the intelligence community and my career as an intelligence analyst. The world is not binary, where there are only two options. Instead, there are many solutions to problems. Often, these different solutions can lead to widely different outcomes and will have varying degrees of success. While analysts often make decisions and promote specific options and solutions, having a wide array of options is more likely to contain the best solution than a narrow selection. This can encourage intellectual and professional discussion and debate, increasing the likelihood of the best resolution for everyone involved in an ongoing situation or crisis. Considering the scale of many issues studied by the intelligence community, my potential solutions could have wide-reaching effects that can improve life everywhere on the planet. After all, the goal of the intelligence community is to supply leaders with information on all topics. This includes everything from agricultural information on other countries to manufacturing capabilities. While war and terrorism may be the most prominent side of the intelligence community, it is not the whole. I know my ability to provide or find numerous solutions will help policymakers and leaders solve global issues. This means that I will be able to directly influence the lives of many people around the world. By supplying information and insights, I will have the privilege of influencing powerful leaders. I can use this to rally support for humanitarian causes and creating a more peaceful future. My ability to find alternative solutions will prevent wasteful death. After all, accurate intelligence can prevent collateral damage seen in war and conflict. Simultaneously, I can gather information on other issues facing humanity like climate change or pollution, bringing problems and solutions to world leaders. A scholarship to make college more affordable will ease my integration into the intelligence community. My current program, a B.S. in Global Security and Intelligence Studies will give me the experience I need to obtain a position within this competitive field. At the same time, honing my analytical and problem-solving skills will ensure that I can develop practical and effective solutions that will make a positive change in our world. Everyone can find a solution in a crisis. I know I can develop many solutions and find the best one among them.

People forget that code is still a relatively new development. Earlier computers were entirely mechanical, not needing processing chips and digital assets. I want to become an intelligence analyst after graduating college, working with world leaders and military personnel. I know I can use the no-code movement to decrease military expenditures without reducing effectiveness and safety. With the United States-China trade war of the Trump administration and the coronavirus pandemic, electronics have become increasingly rare and expensive. In part, this is because most computers and electronics today require rare-earth metals that are exported primarily by China. Designs that require no code will often feature less electronic components, reducing the need for these increasingly expensive components. This is especially important today; future United States-China relations do not appear to be calming anytime soon. However, many people will argue that computer components offer unparalleled precision over their mechanical counterparts. This is not true. During Operation Desert Storm, to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein, the Iowa-class battleships were used. Despite the existence of modern electronic gun control systems, the World War Two battleships retained their original, mechanical computers. Why? A digital computer offered no meaningful increase to accuracy or performance. At the maximum firing range of 24 miles, the guns can consistently hit inside a 25-yard target. When a shell spends a minute and a half flying, enduring the drift of wind and other environmental factors, this is an immense amount of accuracy. Unless a new, modern weapon was built from scratch, there is no way to improve the accuracy of battleship guns. Digital solutions are not always the best. In many cases, they can even add additional complications, particularly in troubleshooting phases. After all, pulling a machine apart can sometimes be faster than unravelling long code and programming. As an intelligence analyst, I intend to promote options that are cheaper and do not rely on computers and code to function. While bad parts can be quickly replaced, rebuilt or refurbished, code is often far more difficult to troubleshoot. Not every problem needs code as a solution.

I do not want to be a doctor or lawyer; I will be satisfied with just a bachelor’s degree. But that does not make my pursuits any less specialized. I am pursuing my first degree in Global Security and Intelligence Studies to become an intelligence analyst or intelligence officer after graduation. However, not many schools—none close to home—feature degrees that help me towards this goal. Instead, I am traveling from my home in Wisconsin to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Despite my sophomore academic standing for the fall 2021 semester, I am only 2 years from graduation. I intend to graduate in spring 2023, taking 18 credits of classes for 3 semesters and 15 for the last semester. This advanced workload will save me the costs of an extra semester, a greater savings than working a job during the school year. This is possible because I currently possess 52/121 required credits and a 4.0 GPA. I did this so quickly because I graduated high school with 37 credits towards my college degree. I even earned a Basic GMAW Welding certification through a dual-credit program with Fox Valley Technical college and my high school. This certification and training will still benefit me as an intelligence analyst, as I will be better at studying the equipment of foreign nations. I performed good enough that I became a “millwright” at my high school during my senior year, where I served as a teacher’s assistant in the metal shop. This meant that I would perform demonstrations, assist the instructor and independently work on projects. This metalworking experience allows me to assess the ease of production for foreign weapons that can be used against civilians and peacekeepers. This is experience most other intelligence analysts will lack. However, I was not able to work or save money during my high school years. Since I was eight years old, my mother has been sick with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that has damaged a quarter of her brain. In fact, she needs an infusion every five months—just one costs more money than my parents make annually. By the age of ten, I had already taken up numerous responsibilities. These responsibilities included cooking almost every meal for myself and my parents. To keep my family together, I have been taking care of my mother and my home instead of working a job and saving money for college. Salary is not as important as doing a job I love. While my education will be an investment, I believe it will be worthwhile to pursue a career I will enjoy. Any scholarships will allow me to minimize my debt and give me the opportunity to pursue my dreams of being an intelligence analyst. While the numbers for college costs are mind-boggling, I know that I will be able to succeed after graduation. Failed terrorist plots, civilians saved and soldiers coming home alive will become my legacy as an intelligence analyst.

I do not want to be a doctor or lawyer; I will be satisfied with just a bachelor’s degree. But that does not make my pursuits any less specialized. I am pursuing my first degree—a Bachelor of Science in Global Security and Intelligence Studies—to become an intelligence analyst or intelligence officer after graduation. However, not many schools—none close to home—feature degrees that help me towards this goal. Instead, I am traveling from my home in Wisconsin to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Despite my sophomore academic standing for the fall 2021 semester, I am only 2 years from graduation. I intend to graduate in spring 2023, taking 18 credits of classes for 3 semesters and 15 for the last semester. This advanced workload will save me the costs of an extra semester, a greater savings than working a job during the school year. This is possible because I currently possess 52/121 required credits and a 4.0 GPA. I did this so quickly because I graduated high school with 37 credits towards my college degree. I even earned a Basic GMAW Welding certification through a dual-credit program with Fox Valley Technical college and my high school. This certification and training will still benefit me as an intelligence analyst, as I will be better at studying the equipment of foreign nations. I performed good enough that I became a “millwright” at my high school during my senior year, where I served as a teacher’s assistant in the metal shop. This meant that I would perform demonstrations, assist the instructor and independently work on projects. This metalworking experience allows me to assess the ease of production for foreign weapons that can be used against civilians and peacekeepers. This is experience most other intelligence analysts will lack. However, I also want to earn my degree to honor my mother. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications; however, she is unable to work or remain home alone. Her disease has been hard on the family and made it unable for her to contribute financially. This also makes me ineligible for financial aid awarded to first-time students even though she cannot use her degree. My father, while a veteran, does not have a bachelor’s degree to his name. I know I will make them proud by earning my Bachelor of Science and making the most of it. Salary is not as important as doing a job I love. While my education will be an investment, I believe it will be worthwhile to pursue a career I will enjoy. Any scholarships will allow me to minimize my debt and give me the opportunity to pursue my dreams of being an intelligence analyst. While the numbers for college costs are mind-boggling, I know that I will be able to succeed after graduation. As an intelligence analyst, I will be able to create a long-lasting legacy. Failed terrorist plots, civilian lives saved and soldiers coming home alive will become that legacy.

Even before flight was first achieved by the Wright brothers, it has fascinated the human imagination. This profound fascination and wonder is something I hope to inspire through my volunteering efforts in the local community. By volunteering at the Experimental Aircraft Association, I can contribute to the distribution and advancement of human knowledge while inspiring others to dream bigger dreams. Only a few months after my birth, my parents began the tradition of taking me to EAA's AirVenture convention. There, I was exposed to thousands of aircraft and beheld jaw-dropping spectacles that defied gravity. After attending the shows and visiting the museum regularly, it was easy to choose an organization to volunteer for. I know that my work at the Experimental Aircraft Association will inspire others as I enable this spectacle and share my own knowledge and experiences with others. I know that I have already made an impact in the lives of others in my community by contributing to this organization. By making AirVenture possible with my efforts as a volunteer, I have been able to significantly support the local economy. The aviation convention attracts individuals from across the entire world! This means that my efforts help the local tourism industry thrive while perpetuating the dissemination of knowledge, experience and wonder while I work at the association. Countless displays share information about the history of flight and science, often accompanied by individuals ready and willing to spread their knowledge and wisdom. By sharing my own knowledge and enabling this convention, I know that I am inspiring and educating future generations. The Experimental Aircraft Association is not the only place where I have made significant contributions to education. In high school, I fabricated and installed numerous items in my school’s metal fabrication shop. I mounted brackets to the walls to hold tools and gas canisters. My shelving holds hundreds of pounds of steel for student projects. On several occasions, it would be my job to troubleshoot and even repair some of the machines. I have even produced hundreds of “coupons,” pieces of steel used by students to practice welding joints. I know that my contributions will last for years, helping students be safer and more efficient in the metal shop. In turn, they will be able to learn and further develop metalworking skills. However, I have also been able to make a significant contribution to the community by helping my mother. Oftentimes, many people forget that the people closest to them are still part of their community. My mother has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis for the past decade, a disease which has made it impossible for her to remain home unsupervised, have a job or drive a vehicle. My mother’s Multiple Sclerosis is more advanced than most cases, having affected over a quarter of her brain and parts of her spine. Because of this, I have spent most of my time outside of school or volunteering caring for her. This has included cooking meals since I was eight years old. Even though she is family, she is still a valuable part of my community that I can personally impact and support. While my mother is sick, I still make sure to do extra work to support my father. He was honorably discharged from the United States Navy after 8 years of service. During that time, he worked in the engine room and was trained as a firefighter. This hard, physical work took a toll on my father’s body, particularly on his back and knees. In my high school’s metal shop, I fabricated a steel dolly to assist him around the house. However, I am also there to help him with home improvement projects like adding extra insulation to the garage and house. That, coupled with helping in the yard has kept me busy through my youth, despite not having extracurriculars or a paying job in high school. Like my mother, even though my father is family, he is still part of my community. I can make a large impact on the community at home, in school, and at the Experimental Aircraft Association. By continuing my commitments in these places, I can put smiles on people’s faces as I fill them with wonder, inspiration and hope. At the same time, I have the privilege of sharing my experiences with others as I contribute to their learning and understanding of the world. While the Wright brothers started self-propelled aviation, I can build on their legacy in my local community. I know that my efforts will also inspire a new generation of curious and innovative souls, soaring us into an even brighter future.

I have never had a new phone. My current smartphone is at least eight years old, but it is still capable of doing everything I need it to. I received it from my father when he upgraded his own phone—still years ago. That being said, I believe it has a moderate impact on my day-to-day activities. However, I do my best to ensure that my smartphone has the smallest possible impact on my driving. Like many other people, one of my nightly rituals is plugging in my smartphone to charge. With its age, a full charge only gets me a day and a half. Despite this, my phone is suitable for my needs. I use it to communicate with my family, use social media or look up information. After all, even an old smartphone can readily talk, text and run google searches. Because of this, I do not use my smartphone as often as many other people my age. Instead, I use my computer to accomplish tasks like keeping up with social media and entertaining myself. When I drive, I never have my cellphone louder than vibrating. It is enough to know that my phone is ringing or notifying me, but easy enough to ignore. If I am expecting a message on the road, I keep my phone in my pocket. Ideally, I find a parking lot to pause my travel and check out the message. If not, I locate a quite place to pull over without much, if any, traffic. In doing so, I avoid being distracted and becoming a hazardous stopped vehicle. This minimizes the impact of my smartphone even when I am behind the wheel. After all, most messages can afford to wait until someone has completed their journey. Smartphones are everywhere today. Most Americans have one of their own, especially college students. While I am among those students, I still have an outdated phone. But it still fulfills all my needs. While that mediocre nature may reduce my phone’s role in day-to-day activities, it is still a valuable tool throughout my day. But my phone is not important enough to have a significant impact on my behavior while I am driving. It may make life easier and be a valuable tool, but having an old phone made me understand that a phone is not special. I can survive without a smartphone, but being irresponsible with my smartphone can cost me my life.

Chemistry is a challenge to many people. But chemistry’s inherent complexity is not what made it a challenge for me. My challenge arose from inexperience. Being the first person in my high school’s history to attempt Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry without any prior chemistry knowledge was my challenge, one that pushed me to try harder. My teacher first doubted my chances, making it difficult to even have hope for success. Despite this lack of faith, I told Mr. Schweitzer that I would continue to take the course. While he feared for my grades and my ability to pass the course, he made me one promise: that I would “learn more than anyone else in the room.” This was because I would have to build the foundations of knowledge the other students had, while keeping up in coursework. From day one, I knew that I was making something from nothing. Despite these long odds, I knew that I would gain more than just knowledge of chemistry from this experience. Mr. Schweitzer wanted to prepare us for college and develop our logic and reasoning skills. It was never enough to know an answer or how to get there. To truly understand something, a student had to be able to get to the solution without memorization. This required knowledge of the underlying principles and realities that made concepts and equations in chemistry work. It was these principles that taught me how I should learn other concepts. While this new approach to learning would help me succeed in chemistry, it was still an uphill battle. Everything discussed in the class occurred at an accelerated pace. After all, it was made for people who had one or two years of chemistry classes. This left me at a severe disadvantage, one that my teacher sought to end. If I was serious about learning, Mr. Schweitzer was serious in helping me succeed in his course. To that end, he offered me the ability to have tutoring every morning before school. Even an extra 20 minutes of exposure to the content would dramatically improve my odds of comprehending and learning the material. Mr. Schweitzer was also eager to direct me to additional resources to find information if his teaching was not working for me. This would range from websites to YouTube videos—anything that would help me succeed. Ultimately, this uphill battle to learn chemistry—against all odds and expectations—was successful. I had managed to earn an “A” in the class through two of the three methods Mr. Schweitzer offered. The first way involved scoring a passing grade in every area of chemistry on a series of tests. The second way I had earned an “A” was by being in the top 10% of Northeast Wisconsinites on the Science Olympiad exam created by the American Chemical Society. But chemistry was not the most valuable thing I learned from AP Chemistry. I learned about determination and commitment. I discovered better ways to apply and learn information. Most importantly, I found the value of hard work when it is combined with determination. AP Chemistry may have been a challenge at the time, but it has prepared me for the challenges of the future—inside and outside of the classroom.

Even before flight was first achieved by the Wright brothers, it has fascinated the human imagination. This profound fascination and wonder is something I hope to inspire through my volunteering efforts in the local community. By volunteering at the Experimental Aircraft Association, I can contribute to the distribution and advancement of human knowledge while inspiring others to dream bigger dreams. Only a few months after my birth, my parents began the tradition of taking me to EAA's AirVenture convention. There, I was exposed to thousands of aircraft and beheld jaw-dropping spectacles that defied gravity. After attending the shows and visiting the museum regularly, it was easy to choose an organization to volunteer for. I know that my work at the Experimental Aircraft Association will inspire others as I enable this spectacle and share my own knowledge and experiences with others. I know that I have already made an impact in the lives of others in my community by contributing to this organization. By making AirVenture possible with my efforts as a volunteer, I have been able to significantly support the local economy. The aviation convention attracts individuals from across the entire world! This means that my efforts help the local tourism industry thrive while perpetuating the dissemination of knowledge, experience and wonder while I work at the association. However, I have also been able to make a significant contribution to the community by helping my mother. Oftentimes, many people forget that the people closest to them are still part of their community. My mother has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis for the past decade, a disease which has made it impossible for her to remain home unsupervised, have a job or drive a vehicle. Because of this, I have spent most of my time outside of school or volunteering caring for her. Even though she is family, she is still a valuable part of my community that I can personally impact and support. I can make a large impact on the community both at home and at the Experimental Aircraft Association. By continuing my commitments to both places, I can put smiles on people’s faces as I fill them with wonder, inspiration and hope. At the same time, I have the privilege of sharing my experiences with others as I contribute to their learning and understanding of the world. While the Wright brothers started self-propelled aviation, I can build on their legacy in my local community. I know that my efforts will also inspire a new generation of curious and innovative souls, soaring us into an even brighter future.

Time is finite. This is a fact that everyone learns with wisdom and experience. 2020 has been a year that exemplifies this reality, particularly with my education and plans for the future. Everything from my education to my plans to work in the summer had been drastically altered from my original plans and goals. I had graduated from high school online after being removed from my in-classroom education at Hortonville High School. This was because of the pandemic, something that came rapidly and suddenly into everyone's life. Taking multiple advanced placement classes, I was under further stress to ensure that I could pass these rigorous courses while adapting to a new and alien online format. I remember taking exams with a high degree of uncertainty, knowing that it would also be more difficult to express any questions and concerns with my teachers after the tests were over. However, my commitment to my education wouldn't waver during the pandemic. That being said, I had to be careful as my mother's multiple sclerosis treatment has left her with a weakened immune system. Once again, I found myself taking online classes. Being stuck at home with my parents, both of which were more vulnerable to COVID-19 than usual, I remained within my home for much of the pandemic. Naturally, this made it difficult to find a break from school and some time alone. Online school has, in my experience, been just as rigorous as normal education (sometimes more so) while also taking place during every minute of every day. I needed to find ways to relax and cope with the stresses of constantly writing essays, discussion board posts and presentations. This lead me to games like Dungeons and Dragons, where some friends and I would play online to have some fun without using our computers to constantly work on schoolwork. At the same time, it lead me to other distractions like books which can stimulate the mind without staring at the same screen every day. However, the pandemic and my decisions have continued to affect my plans for summer work. I had intended to use my welding certification to find a place to work, but welding is not a field where mask-wearing is often required. A mask protecting people from the coronavirus will often fog up the safety glasses required in most metal fabrication shops, leading most people to avoid wearing masks in favor of being able to see. With my vulnerable parents, the coronavirus has made welding a risky business. Sure, I could wear a mask and chew on ice to ensure I could see, but this wasn't a practical solution. I got vaccinated at the earliest possible opportunity, to once again make this a viable option. That being said, I now have to take the rest of my education in-person. I know I can use coping mechanisms like Dungeons and Dragons or even simple books to cope with the stresses of my education and that continuing my education is still the best possible decision. I may look back on those countless hours writing with distaste, but I also know they prove my capability to provide quality work even after writing for hours, sometimes days on end. While 2020 has been difficult financially and emotionally, I know that I have the wit and resilience to weather the storm, I know that I can face another 2020 and build brighter, better years in the future.

It was cold and dark. I was alone, shaking in my bed. It was past midnight, but it was not fear that caused my quaking. It was strange to be so cold though, it is nearing summer after all! In Wisconsin, the place where I grew up, it is not uncommon for people to wear short-sleeves and T-shirts in the middle of winter. With snow on the ground, people would enjoy their light clothing outdoors. To be freezing in summer, shivering in blankets, was unnatural. I had a friend who stayed awake with me, even though we were each in our own homes. Having someone to talk to as I desperately tried to get warm lifted my spirit and helped me through my struggle. Being able to keep in touch via phone made the experience more bearable, especially as I shook and shivered. A friend willing to stay awake and offer support, even if only through words and encouragement, is truly kind. After all, nothing forced them to stay awake beyond my suffering. I would not have held it against them for choosing to sleep. After all, sleep was the very thing I sought myself. My condition was not wholly unexpected though, I had just received my second dose of coronavirus vaccine earlier that day. The side effects hit me hard, making me exhausted the next day. It seems like I had only spent 4 hours of that entire day awake, trying to sleep off the side effects. Through all of that, my friend was there to talk with me. Just talking to someone made the periods of wakefulness bearable, despite the haze of exhaustion. They did not have to be there, especially when I was asleep most of the time. But my friend was. And that friendship made all the difference. I recovered from the vaccine a day later, no longer as exhausted as I had been. Ironically, my friend received their second dose 3 days after my own. I made sure to repay their kindness by being there for them, even if their symptoms were milder. But I became their person to talk to and help, just like any good friend should. It may have been cold and dark when I endured the side effects of the vaccine. But some kind words and conversation can make anything brighter and warmer. With a friend, someone is never alone. Words of encouragement can come from anyone, bringing about fast and comfortable recoveries. I have realized this, and that I can help people who are strangers too. All it takes is a few kind words.

A welder can produce blinding flashes and loud pops. Flash-bangs too, create blindingly bright flashes and deafening noise. But that innocent welder, something which makes things whole and make new creations can bring back haunting memories of destruction. The pops can be reminiscent of gunshots, pulling even an innocent bystander or passerby back into the battlefield that has become entrenched in their soul. This was not something I had considered when I first began working on my welding certification. It was an optional program in high school that I believed could help me get a better job in the future. If not, it would at least allow me to have better jobs while I pursued my college education. The idea that the lights, noise and flying sparks could be enough to haunt someone was not in our minds. After all, my father now works in manufacturing and helps produce circuit boards—somewhere he sees no welders. His Navy service was years ago, before I was born and the new Post-9/11 GI Bills. My father served on an amphibious assault ship during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. His ship sailed directly into the mine and trap-ridden Kuwaiti harbor to deliver marines on shore. At the same time, it launched sortie after sortie of helicopters and planes heading, just like the men, straight into the fighting. I do not know much about his time in the Navy—largely from his silence—but my father served honorably aboard his ship, the now scrapped USS Saipan (LHA-2). The experiences I have with post-traumatic stress disorder have helped me realize how crippling the condition is. Not only is a person forced to live in two separate times, the present and a terrible past, many are often prevented from being able to enjoy the same pleasures, hobbies or jobs as the rest of the population. If a welder can be enough to trigger a PTSD attack, that prevents someone from being able to work in construction, metalworking and in many manufacturing jobs. But welders are not the only potential source of a PTSD attack, even simple pleasures like movies can trigger PTSD in the right circumstances. I have found that I cannot help people when I do not understand what ails them. I want to help people with PTSD by getting close to them and understanding the source of their trauma. During an attack, it is my understanding that people need something to ground them in reality and bring them back to the present. I hope to be that person, that friend or that loved one who can help someone realize where they really are, before they can do more damage to themselves or others. Sometimes, all it takes is a friend or loved one to bring someone back to the present and away from a traumatic memory. PTSD can be trigged by commonplace things like welders, but it can also be helped by someone who cares. Even if I cannot fix the past, I have the power to give people catharsis, hope and guide them to their own peace. War cannot hold a soul forever.

Loneliness. Darkness. Emptiness. Those three words characterized how I felt during a part of my youth, one that had been pockmarked by stress and depression. Unlike most children, I found myself having to care for one of my parents before I had reached the age of ten, let alone becoming a teen. But I have learned that depression and darkness is not the way to live my entire life, that there is life, hope, happiness and friends. It was not easy, especially when so much of my time was occupied by caring for my family. It was impossible for me to attend extracurriculars when I would have to make dinner for my mother every single night after getting home. The alternative was risking her cooking, something that has involved unsafe chemicals and even mold on several occasions. But this extra responsibility was something that made it impossible to visit people or do anything after school. However, I learned that those responsibilities of mine also had their own ways of allowing me to make friends. Food, for example, is something that unites all people. Good food, or even the discussion of good food is something that everyone can relate to. I learned that even though I had been given stress because of my responsibilities, those same responsibilities could help me out of the darkness I had found myself in. But cooking was not my greatest passion. It merely made it easier to talk to people and get to know them using a relatable topic. I love aviation, science and military history. But I had finally had a breakthrough, getting through my shell of depression and begun talking to people in spite of how alone in my problems I had felt. Over time, I was able to learn that I could help others through their own issues merely by talking to them. Conversation is a powerful thing, something that can bring people together. While my skills in this area were stunted by depression, I have been able to grow beyond that weakness. It is people who have been through depression, who become the best people to help others through that vicious state. It has inspired me to help others, be they friends or strangers. No one should have to endure the hardship caused by their own mind, especially when the sources of depression are often outside of the control of the victim. I may have once been a victim of depression myself, but I intend to use my experience to help guide others out of that dark hole. With the pandemic raging, I have done everything in my power to keep up with friends and family to ensure that they are not falling into that dark grasp. However, I now know that the world is not as terrible as it once seemed. There is friendship. There is life. There is hope.

The best art has a purpose. Whether that purpose is simply to be admired, shared, teach or provide catharsis, art must have a purpose. My career of choice may be in the intelligence community, but that does not stop me from making or using art. My own camera has taken thousands of pictures of aircraft in action, soaring through the skies in calm, relaxed ways and during energetic maneuvers. I take these pictures of planes in part because I enjoy looking at them, but also because of the information they can provide. Getting a picture for intelligence purposes involves its own form of art. A picture cannot simply be from any angle, it involves getting everything just right. Everything from timing to positioning is critical. Thus, taking those photographs transitions from being a science or procedure into an art form, one capable of making a difference. To me, these photographs have the power to not just make a difference or have an impact, but these photographs can save lives. The information gleaned from a picture, whose quality was honed through practice and artistic aviation photography can be critical to defending nations. At the same time, taking these images gives me peace of mind and an opportunity to create art that I value and admire. These photographs provide an outlet to create something more than just an image or data. Art should have a purpose, my art gives me catharsis while serving to protect others.

Art isn't just for looking at, it can serve a purpose. My favorite artist is Sabaton, for that very reason. By combining history and knowledge with their powerful music, the band creates stories that can be shared by individuals and nations. Sabaton makes sure that stories are heard and shared using their art, music.

In high school I was given the opportunity to work with one of the most straightforward, down to earth teachers I have ever had. I had entered Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry as one of the least experienced students to ever attempt the course in my high school. My success was only possible with the help of Mr. Schweitzer, who inspired me to take on greater challenges and take on new heights. On the first day of class, he was explaining the rigor and difficulty of his course, one which has made many students struggle. There I was, in the front of the room and asking myself what I had just gotten into. I haven't even had normal chemistry! Most of the other students in the room have had honors-level chemistry before starting this course. I was in uncharted territory, not just for myself but also for Mr. Schweitzer, as no one with my level of inexperience had attempted the class. I spoke with him as soon as class ended, I needed to know what I was really getting into! At first, he didn't even believe me, it shouldn't have been possible for a person on the general science track to be able to take this course without any prior knowledge. But after explaining everything, he nodded. His first suggestion was that I consider dropping the course and take a study hall instead. But to me that wasn't an option, not when I had already signed up for this class and said I would do it. But Mr. Schweitzer understood my commitment to my word and understood my desire to succeed. He promised me one thing, "I have no expectation of seeing you succeed, but I can guarantee you will learn more than anyone else in this room." But because I was going to attempt this, he was willing to offer me aid. Mr. Schweitzer held a philosophy that any student deserved help so long as they asked for it and were willing to put forth effort to learn the material. He came to school an hour early every single day to tutor students on material that they were uncomfortable with, a time he offered to me. If I was exposed to even a little bit the class material early, I was more likely to retain that day's lesson. At the end of each day, I could always speak to him to find another source I could use to get the answer to any question I had. It was never enough to get a solution, it was more important to know how to get the solution. Mr. Schweitzer taught me what I needed to focus on, when learning any course material. Wrote memorization would never carry me through, instead he taught me that connections, applications, making the content relatable to me and my life. There was no point in memorizing a formula if I knew the relationships between concepts, the actual science behind why those formulas worked. It was this critical set of learning and test-taking skills that Mr. Schweitzer gave me. Much to both of our surprises, I continued to push myself through the course. I refused to give up and throw in the towel. In fact, of the three ways that Mr. Schweitzer offered an "A" in his class, I had earned 2. But I learned more than just chemistry, I learned how to succeed in all future classes. But more importantly, I now knew that I could. A true teacher will help as long as the student wants to learn. Mr. Schweitzer was a true teacher.

Since my mother became ill, I had been responsible for most of the cooking in my family. This made food important to me and made me eager to learn more about where my food comes from. However, my pursuit of a career in the intelligence community can be vital in securing the environment and food of the future! After all, it is members of the intelligence community that supply information to high-level decisionmakers and the media. Importantly, the United States is not the only country that needs to be considered when matters of food sourcing and the environment are concerned. For example, dams in China are attributed to destroying the ecosystems of southeast Asia. My studies emphasize more than just the United States and it's allies, but also the economies and cultures of other nations. This emphasis, in combination with development of my analytical skills, encourages me to draw connections between the causes, effects and potential solutions to environmental and nutritional issues. By being able to make these connections on a global scale, I can provide accurate intelligence that can be used to support effective change. After all, one poor analysis can exacerbate problems with nutrition and the environment around the world. After my education, I plan on being an active member of the intelligence community. Doing so, I will be working with decisionmakers in government, business, non-profits and even the military to help solve global issues. This career will allow me to influence the world and the responses of powerful individuals. After all, people in power need to have information to make effective decisions and formulate responses. By pursuing my dream career in intelligence analysis, I will be able to encourage courses of action that can support and improve the environment in places beyond my own residence. Not only that, but I will also be able to increase support for humanitarian goals that improve global nutrition through natural, quality food. By pursuing my dream career as an analyst in the intelligence community, I will be providing key individuals with information and interpretation of information. In doing so, I will be able to influence decisions being made at multiple levels in a variety of areas, beyond just government only a handful of organizations. Through pursuing this career in the intelligence community, I will be able to have a positive impact not only within the borders of the United States, but also in other countries.

Chess is one of the few things I remember, from before my mother became sick. But learning chess was something that I have been able to hold onto. However, it has taught me some value about planning ahead. Not only that, but sometimes it is wise to make moves that do not immediately contribute to success. For example, I learned how to weld steel even though I want to pursue a career in intelligence. However, that move allowed me to get a better understanding of manufacturing and how products are made. While it doesn't directly relate to me becoming an intelligence analyst, it does give me insight into manufacturing processes and practicality. It is unreasonable to field equipment that can't be produced in a meaningful quantity. At the same time, planning ahead has helped me. This chess-honed skill was used by me to be 2 years into my degree by the end of my first year of college! And I had deferred a semester due to COVID-19. My planning ahead in high school led to applying myself in numerous advanced placement and dual-credit courses, which I succeeded in. Through these planning and strategic skills, chess has made me more successful. But the wisdom of making moves that plan ahead, have given me insight that my future peers are unlikely to have. It is that extra insight, that will make me a successful intelligence analyst.

I hope to write about matters of national security. To that end, I am pursuing a Global Security and Intelligence Studies degree. I want to write about foreign weapons and technology, so that I can provide the military, government officials and civilians with information that can help save lives. To stand out, I hope to be able to provide consistent information that draws on a variety of fields. I have some experience with manufacturing and chemistry that many other people pursuing my degree lack. In fact, I hope to apply my knowledge of being a certified welder in the information I analyze and distribute. After all, a piece of technology is often ineffective if it cannot be produced on a meaningful scale. I want to bring some of these deficiencies and realities to light with my work. With my insight, I hope to provide accurate information to the world about the weapons of dictators and despots. Information that will make a difference and save lives.

My all-time favorite film is "Finding Nemo." Considering my intent to join the intelligence community and possibly the military, this may seem like a strange choice. But this movie has been something that has made me feel good since I was extremely young. The movie had partly inspired my appreciation for fish. My parents also kept pet fish for a very long time. They are a great way to relax and calm down, to watch them swim carefree in the water they reside in. Many often have their own personalities and traits that make them memorable in any family. Finding Nemo is all about family, something that is important to me. The story of Finding Nemo also speaks to me, as my mother became ill and in some ways disappeared just as Nemo's mother died. She wasn't able to help around the house and support family after all. So when nemo was lost, it reminded me of myself. I was still able to make friends, but I would always want the support of family. So when Marlin went to those great lengths to save his son, even after Nemo spited him, it reminded me of my own father. Even when I make mistakes, he still tries to be there for me. That is why Finding Nemo is my favorite movie. It reminds me that no matter what mistakes I make, family will be there.

Few children have to take care of their parents, at least not when they are young. In middle school, I watched my mother become diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and became partly responsible for taking care of her. This set me aside from fellow students and made me a misfit. I couldn't do play dates anymore and I didn't go to any after school activities. I didn't even join any clubs or organizations during my time in high school. But I was taking care of my mother, making myself a misfit for her sake. And I don't think that is a bad thing. Making myself stand out as being smart, yet not in any of the "smart people" clubs my school had, I stood apart. I became to some, an inspiration and motivator to try and improve their lot in life and their aspirations. After all, if I could take care of my mother and take rigorous courses, why couldn't they? These experiences have made me want to be an inspiration to others throughout my life, and guide them onto a better path. It also helped me understand that people who are successful can still feel alone or be outcasts. They need support too. Having been there myself, I want to be the person who approaches and tries to get to know misfits of any kind, to help them be more successful in their futures. In doing so, I have found that I make long-lasting connections with others. There is nothing stronger than a connection between misfits who find a place side by side.

One of my favorite teachers in high school posed, to me, the greatest challenge. AP Chemistry was a class where I was far outclassed by my peers. Every other student had a chemistry background, be they from normal or honors chemistry. I was able to get in with the consent of my biology teacher in high school. In doing so, I had skipped what would normally be two levels of prerequisites. On the second day of class, I confronted my teacher after he was talking about the difficulty of the course. He said that my odds were not good; that I would be better served by taking a different course instead. Refusing was among the best decisions of my life. It was during the latter half of that conversation, that the tone shifted. If I was going to go through with the class, I needed to work extra hard to keep up. My teacher offered to help me every day I came in early, before school started to receive extra tutoring. Through repeated, daily effort I was able to learn about the science of chemistry. I was learning the most about chemistry than anyone else during lectures. Everything was new! And I had no foundation. That effort ultimately yielded a great reward. I earned a "4" on the AP Chemistry exam and passed the course with an "A" through two of the three offered methods. These methods were being in the top 10% for a test offered by the Science Olympiad or to perform passably--in all areas--in two practice AP tests covering content from the entire year. This experience showed me that hard work and dedication really did pay off. Even when others initially have doubts, it is well within my power to prove them wrong and demonstrate my commitment. In taking AP Chemistry, I also learned that I loved learning itself. I don't want to have a career in the future where my intelligence stagnates, I want every day to pose new opportunities and challenges. It is that desire to learn, that has inspired my desire to work in intelligence. A career in the field of intelligence requires me to constantly learn and apply that new knowledge in ways that can preserve lives. Knowing that I have a desire to learn and apply that knowledge allows me to excel in that kind of environment. With the memory of adversity, I know that I can compete with peers that have more experience if I put forth the effort and dedication. Adversity has helped realize not just what I can do, but also what I can learn. It has taught me that I am more than what others expect. I intend to break more of those expectations in my future, saving lives in the process.

I don't want to be a superstar or famous, I want to help protect people. My goal is to become a member of the intelligence community, helping to prevent terrorist attacks and save people from the violence of wars and crime. In order to pursue these lofty dreams, I am currently in the Global Security and Intelligence Studies program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I anticipate graduating in Spring 2023, three years after graduating in high school thanks to the advanced placement and dual-credit classes I took. I am excited about this program though, as it opens the door to the intelligence community. I want to live this life because there is so much to learn! I am the type that hungers for knowledge, seeking to know and understand as much as I can. In a perfect world, I would try to have multiple degrees in areas ranging from history to aerospace engineering. But because money is a limiting factor, I must appease my wallet with the one program. Part of why money is an issue, is my mother's debilitating condition. Multiple Sclerosis isn't normally this severe, but hers has degraded over a quarter of her entire brain. Since I was ten, I had been cooking the majority of the food in the house because she could not practice food safety. Unfortunately, responsibilities around the house prevented me from being able to work during high school. It is because of that, any scholarship is meaningful. Getting my degree will allow me to help protect not just people in my neighborhood or city, but perhaps the entire state, country or world! I want to use my desire and passion for learning to save lives and make a meaningful difference on the world. My contributions will help prevent future violence in the world.

Dads are a role model that many of us are able to seek wisdom from. My father has taught me about the importance of enjoying what work I do, as well as ways for me to be self-sufficient in my own life. With my mother being unable to work and struggling to help at home, he took up the slack to make sure I had a good life. In doing this, he was able to teach me how to manage money and home on his own. Not only that, he showed me the power of perseverance. Even with my mother's illness, he managed to work hard enough to keep us fed and sheltered. Under his guidance, I learned how to cook good, nutritious food which has grown to become one of my main responsibilities at home. But it is my father's perseverance and dedication that I want to emulate, to become a better person. It is through watching him, that I know I have what it takes to achieve my goals. I am already using these lessons in dedication in my classes, pursuing extra credit even in areas I don't need it. Now isn't when I first used these lessons though, as in high school I had to cope with a heavy class load of multiple AP classes. These were enough to get me over a year and a half through my degree. To pay these lessons in dedication and perseverance forward, I plan to motivate others around me to keep trying even when things seem hopeless. I don't give up on tasks, and neither should my friends, family or co-workers. If they need some help, I plan on being there to support them just as I supported my father and he supported me.

By staying home to care for my mother and the ongoing pandemic, it is especially hard for me to stay fit. Combine that with a cold Wisconsin winter; it is even harder to remain in shape. In order to stay fit, I have been turning to exercises that don't require weight and have focused on endurance. By doing this, I have been able to keep my mind and body sharper and more capable of continuing my currently online education. In order to keep fit, I have been using time I would otherwise spend idle. For example, when cooking I now find myself doing push-ups, squats or sit-ups when I'm waiting for something to cook or sear. Considering the fact that I cook the majority of meals every day, this has become a great opportunity. Healthy food and exercise have contributed significantly to my fitness. It is more difficult to get cardio at home however, but I have been finding ways to solve this as well. "Mountain climbers" have become a good way to get my heartrate up while working out at home, increasing my heartrate without any need for special equipment, just a little space. By doing these exercises, I have found myself having more energy throughout the day and more motivation to keep it up. Not only that, but I sleep better when I am tired. This keeps me sharper and more alert when I am doing classwork and has improved my grades. Some good exercise doesn't need a lot of time after all. Making toast in the morning is a perfect opportunity for 20 push-ups; so why not?

Right now, the community I am involved with is just my hometown. But in the future, I hope to be able to contribute to the global community. I want to be involved in these communities to make them safer and promote education. It is to make the world safer and better, that people need to support their community. Locally, I have been contributing at the Experimental Aircraft Association's "AirVenture" convention. By volunteering there, I have been able to learn from and share my own experiences with people older and younger than myself. Not only that, but contributing to the event allows me to ensure it can occur every year. AirVenture isn't just about aviation though. It is about learning and sharing knowledge. Here, people share stories about flying, metalworking, coding, education and more! History comes to life, allowing younger generations to see what has been and what could be in one place. Being a part of such an important community, and contributing to it's annual success has become a significant part of my life. But in the future, I hope the community I can influence will be much greater. In my pursuit of a Global Security and Intelligence Studies degree, I plan on making the world safer. In being an intelligence analyst or other advisor, I will be able to protect the lives of people on the global stage, helping to prevent war and strife while preserving peace. Because of my future goals, I hope to influence the course of the global community for the better. In the present, I am contributing to education and supporting my community because of it. But by pursuing my goals and continuing on my current path, I am making the world safer and smarter. Through my hard work today, the future will be that much brighter tomorrow.

Inspiration is something that helps people overcome adversity. Adversity itself is rarely the source of that inspiration. For me, it was adversity that helped me find my inspiration to keep going, finding my way through life. Having grown up with a sick mother, I was faced with hardship. In school, I found the classes that offered challenge were the classes that I found most interesting. Yet every day, I would come home and care for my mother. I know that one day, I may be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the disease that has ravaged her mind. It is the possibility that I may be diagnosed, that is inspiration to make the world a better place. I want to make the most of my mind, to use my knowledge and skill to the best of my ability while I still have time. If I never inherit the disease, I will simply be able to keep going. But I want to have a strong legacy, even before things go downhill. My mother used to be an intelligent person. She made more money than my father! But after the Multiple Sclerosis, she fell into depression and confusion. My mother, in her daze, got the family into significant financial trouble. I want to do enough for the betterment of the world that I don't need to have regrets. Even though adversity gives a task meaning, it has also helped me find my inspiration. I intend to make use of a Global Security and Intelligence Studies degree to make the world a safer place for everyone, and leave a positive legacy on the world. That way, if I ever suffer an extreme illness I will be able to have no regrets. Without those regrets, I will be able to keep pushing forwards without falling into the same void that has consumed my mother.

I have few memories of my mother before she was sick. Learning chess was one of the few things we were able to do together. It wasn't anything special or convoluted. Our strategies were not complex or advanced, assuming we even had one! But it was something we could treat as our game. In high school, chess was brought up once again in my life. My friends would play games of four-way chess in order to give ourselves something to do. The strategy and friendly banter made for a great social experience that I rarely had. Taking care of my mother was something that had occupied most of my time outside of school, so being able to make friends through chess was something amazing. It is these interpersonal skills I was able to develop through chess. Those same skills now serve me every day, allowing me to make friends and have better conversations. I don't think I would have the same abilities without the help of chess and friends. I remember having debates over whether it was a good idea someone else sacrificed a pawn or other piece. But it was these debates that helped not just myself, but my friends use logic and reason while practicing these critical soft skills. Now, I want to become an intelligence analyst. I think that goal has been influenced by chess. That career relies on using logic and reason while calculating risk. In order to properly assess information, I need to be able to use logic to turn the information I have into accurate and readable information for others. Without the logic skills developed by chess, it would be more difficult to do this job. A job that can alter the course of millions of lives. Not only that, but reasoning skills developed by chess and the conversation while playing it have helped me prepare for this future. Being able to give an opinion is one thing, but being able to justify it is far more important. Enough guesses, and eventually something will be right or sound plausible. But in order to actually convince people, reasoning is a necessity. Being able to develop these thoughts and reasonings was something that chess was able to help me with, as it made me analyze things in more depth and provided a source of conversation. Perhaps most importantly, chess has helped me learn how to calculate risk. Being able to know what will likely lead to failure or success is a critical skill. Now, while I am no expert in probability or any advanced chess strategies, I have learned that certain moves are more likely to have positive or negative outcomes. Being able to understand that as an intelligence analyst, I can make better and more accurate predictions about what a threat may do, in order to save lives. Chess was something that I learned from my mother. It has been something that allowed me to bond with her and friends. But it has also given me the opportunity to grow in ways that will be able to help my future. By improving my interpersonal skills and my analysis abilities, chess has left an impression on me that will last a lifetime.

My mother getting sick was a challenge, especially when she almost destroyed the family finances. Her confusion caused by her illness made an intelligent person struggle with money. Credit cards ruined my mother. She took out new cards just to pay for other bills. Credit cards to pay for more credit cards! It caused my parents to file for bankruptcy. After losing her job shortly after and her ability to drive not long after that, it made finances incredibly difficult. Yet my father and I persevered. I was too young to understand at first. I was only a child, barely ten years old at best. But financial literacy was something my father wanted to make sure I knew. How else would I be successful in life if I didn't have a great understanding of personal finance? Having witnessed what my family had gone through firsthand, it was an excellent motivator to learn. It wasn't just money management that I learned though. Stress was huge for me. I had to take care of a mother at home and then work hard in class. It was hard to have friends when I was afraid of leaving home. Not out of fear of others, but for fear that my mother could hurt herself or others. I learned to manage it though. My responsibility of cooking also became an outlet for stress. It was a time where I didn't need to think much to accomplish something, where responsibility and some amount of fun could meet. These hardships also meant I was very close to my father. His time as a sailor in the United States' Navy is something I am extremely proud of. He taught me everything he felt I needed to be successful. My father helped me learn that I loved to learn. Together, we worked every day to make sure my mother had her needs met and that we could remain a family. This time together did rub off on me though. His love of military history was one of the things he passed on to me, in addition to a fervent passion for aviation. This experience was something I don't think we could have duplicated otherwise. We supported each other through the hard and the good times. On trips, I often helped be his navigator and his eyes because my mother couldn't. Through it all, we took my mother. Just because she had been sick, didn't mean we left her behind. Doing so would not be family. Even though she had ruined the family finances, we still held onto her even as her condition only worsened. That was family. The event of my mother's illness changed my life forever. It most assuredly altered the course of my life into the one it is now. But now I don't view it as a bad thing. Instead, it taught me about perseverance and determination. Having faced these hardships from such a young age and coming out on the other side better for it, I don't fear challenge. I embrace challenge whenever it comes.

How can I love myself when I fight a losing battle every day? That was a question I was asking myself when I was younger. What was the point of trying to help her and my family if the situation will never get better? At some point, I don't know precisely when, I found an answer. I could love myself again. I could appreciate what was happening around me because I wouldn't back down. I loved myself for my tenacity, continuing to try and help my mother deal with her crippling disease while pursuing my own life goals. I started to dream bigger. I started to challenge myself even harder because I knew the difficulty would keep my going. At some point, the doubt began to shrink. Still dissatisfied with how things were around the house, I began to make some of my own changes. Rather than making meals that were easy, I began to make ones that were more nutritious and healthy. It didn't feel like I had the weight of the world looming over me, waiting for one moment of weakness to swing downwards like a hammer. I had become resilient on my own. But I learned from what I went through. I strive to help my friends and colleagues if I can, to help them out of their own issues. To remind them that they are more than they see themselves. So many people seem to forget their own accomplishments in our fast-paced world today. It is a small wonder then, that they struggle to love themselves. After going through what I have; it's my mission to remind them. To help people remember their achievements. To remind them they are loved. So that one day, they can love themselves.

Growing up with a sick mother is difficult, but growing up with a sick and depressed mother is a true challenge. I've had to watch my mother succumb to depression when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It is an experience that has changed me, honestly for the better. To suffer is never a good thing. Yet trying to help her recover has been something that I have always worked towards. Even though there is not cure or reversing the effects of her disease, I always try to put a smile on her face. Even a brief moment when she can smile is a worthy goal, as it is something she does so rarely now. But even though it came at the cost of making many relationships outside of school in my younger years, it helped me come to understand more about people. Everyone is fragile. Nobody is prepared for when something traumatic comes. Everyone is resilient. Even if no one is prepared for bad things, it never has to be the end. Sometimes, the thing that a person needs most is someone to be there, to be a friend or to be family. Thanks to my experiences with my mother and her depression, I want to be sure that none of my friends, current or future ever have to endure the darkness that has swallowed her. Sometimes, one smile is all the difference.

There are legacies that have marked our world, chronicles and legends that are remembered for centuries after they occurred. To me, a legacy is something that is left behind and remembered. Be it our actions, opinions or ideals, the legacy is the past. To leave a legacy though, is a perfectly normal thing. Whether we wish to or not, people will be affected by our actions. It is because of that fact, that I desire to leave a positive legacy, one that does good to protect others. With my goal of being an intelligence analyst, I will be able to provide important people information that will influence their decisions and decide the course of history. This is a great responsibility, one that I want to shoulder with honor. By doing my job to the best of my abilities, ensuring that information is accurate and unbiased I can help bring about positive change in our world. My legacy in this way, may not be one that is only my own. Rather, I hope to leave a shared legacy that shows just, responsible actions. Shared with who? Anyone I can help along the way, be it the American people or just friends and family. If my legacy must stand alone though, I want it to be of justice, truth and action.

Growing up with a sick mother who is unable to work is a terrible thing. But it gave me the opportunity to grow in new ways and develop skills and perspectives that make college great. My father took the time on his own to teach me about skills like money management and cooking. What really helped make my college experience great was learning to talk to people. It may sound strange, but learning people skills outside of the classroom was hard for me. By helping to take care of my mother, I was often home and unable to take part in extracurriculars. Taking up videogames, I learned about teamwork and leadership in my spare time while still having fun. It helped me learn to manage my time between my responsibilities and relaxation for my sanity. It was these experiences that helped making talking to other people easier, helping me relax more around others rather than believing that a stranger was something to be constantly wary of, regardless of context. But this helps me with my career goals, as in order to become an intelligence analyst I will need to be able to effectively communicate and remain relax in tense situations. It will help me be able to accomplish tasks that others may not even be able to as well. After all, I took time outside of school to pursue a passion for learning. This means that I have been able to pursue my passions without fearing being called a nerd or other such name. Instead, I've grown to be proud of my enjoyment of learning, a desire that will serve me well in an intelligence career. Not only that, but reading about things not related to my classwork helps me relax, especially when I need a break and videogames seem too exhausting. I often find that books can help me learn without feeling like I'm always engrossed in studies. In fact, I remember being in middle school, where I read Harry Potter. There was a part where Dudley had been on a diet where breakfast was only a quarter of a grapefruit. For weeks, I had asked my dad to let me try one, just because I didn't know what it was or what it would taste like. Eventually, I was able to try one. But this showed me that there was still potential to learn even when I had been reading fiction. It is because I had been reliant on myself that I have been able to learn that I love learning. In the future, I plan to continue this trend and use it to help myself in my career. A career that I have been able to help myself be stronger in thanks to learning people skills on my own. But it wasn't just people skills, I learned things like money management and cooking! I didn't need to be in the classroom to know that I wasn't alone or could learn. It was outside the classroom where I could learn the most and ask the most questions about the world around me.

Solar energy is flawed in how it helps prevent climate change. While it is a long-term source of clean power, solar energy has a massive investment in resources before it becomes clean. Getting these resources isn't easy or great for the environment, such as mining for silica. Oftentimes, mining for silica is done with open pits that scar the environment using machines that pollute the atmosphere further. I believe that solar power can be a long-term benefit to our planet however. Some successful solar power plants don't even use solar panels! Instead, they rely on mirrors to focus the sun's energy on one point. This can be used to heat water into steam which can be more cleanly used to generate power without relying as much on mining rarer or more environmentally destructive materials. I believe that we can solve the issue that making environmentally safe to produce solar power. I look forward to being able to contribute to this end by studying how other countries accomplish this as an intelligence analyst. Understanding how other countries use their technology can better help others adapt it for the good of the planet and environment.

I looked at life with a new lens after having been talked to by my AP chemistry teacher the day after I took the test. I had skipped some of the prerequisites to the course, getting in on a technicality. Because of that, I was the first person to go directly from the general education track to AP chemistry, I was in unknown territory and he feared I wouldn't make the cut. Instead, I kept going at the class, working hard at every opportunity to keep pace with the class and retain as much knowledge as possible. But the day after the test, I remember talking with him, how he was surprised at how far I had come when the course challenged people far more experienced in chemistry than me. It was that conversation where I learned that I loved learning. It was first the desire to not be the idiot in the room that drove me to keep pushing at the class, but it was in that moment that it dawned on me. I didn't stay because I wanted to prove that teacher wrong but because I relished the challenge the course offered. I found myself relying on other experiences and learned to fill in the gaps in my knowledge on my own. It was taking the class that made me realize that I could take on challenges even though people doubted me or if I had little prior understanding and knowledge. Now I find myself being driven to continue to grow my knowledge in various areas ranging from metallurgy, history and modern technology. It was not long afterwards when I decided on the path I wanted to try to walk, to become an intelligence analyst in order to continue learning as a career about things I am passionate about. Everyone says that they will never stop learning because it is a necessity to survive and is generally a true statement. But I am proud to now say that I am not just willing to learn; I love it. To find out how much it meant to me was huge. Before I wanted to be an engineer, I love aviation and science, but history is one of my passions that isn't as well served in history. By becoming an intelligence analyst instead, I can study history, science, aviation and pursue my passions while continuously learning and exploring the world. AP chemistry may have been a difficult class that I managed to pass, but it was a course that meant more to me than just what I had learned as material. It was the extra parts that made all the difference, the learning about how to study and truly learn without memorization. But the most meaningful thing for me was that I learned more about myself by the end of the class. A good teacher can make all the difference between a boring class and an exciting adventure. I'm just glad that the adventure I had also allowed me to have a greater understanding of myself and my dreams.

Whenever I am down, it is this music that gives me the strength to keep going. A song doesn't need to be happy to make you feel better. Instead, these songs remind me that even though things are bad, they can and will get better. They remind me that I'm not alone, in spirit or in person. Just like heavy metal, my dreams and spirit will never die.

Education is always said to open doors, but to some it serves as a great escape. I am one of those few, who pursue learning because they love it. I learned to love learning, not only because I enjoy to apply what I learn but because I sought to have something I could focus on, aside from home. In high school, I struggled with my mother's disease, having to take care of her while pursuing my own education and life. I took harder classes, the challenge making it easier to focus on my classes while I was not home. When I was tired of sitting in a desk, I pursued classes that allowed me to move for a while while continuing to learn, still striving for that next higher level. My mother's Multiple Sclerosis is more severe than most, affecting more than a quarter of her brain. At home I had to care for her, providing meals and taking care of other housework that was necessary. Now, getting on or off of a seat is sometimes a struggle for her. Even walking is difficult on a bad day! But education gave me something to focus on aside from that. With the help of great teachers I was able to focus on my coursework and complete it at more than just a simple satisfactory level. Education gave me the opportunity to push myself more than I thought I was able. To me, education isn't simply a degree or a piece of paper. Education is the opportunity to focus on something that will help me grow into the adult I want to be, while helping me positively get through the present.

The military is an important organization, but it's technology that allows it to save lives. I am passionate about studying military technology because it allows me to contribute to the mission to save lives. With a degree in Global Security and Intelligence Studies, I can use technology and tech skills to provide information that can keep soldiers and civilians safe from harm. The biggest problem for the military today is information. We never know what the enemy has or how they use it. Being able to work with modern day technology and techniques, I hope to pursue an intelligence career that will allow me to get information for those who need it. This information can be used to ensure that bombs and missile strikes don't fall on civilian homes. This information can be used to save the lives of soldiers. The difference between knowing a town is friendly or unfriendly is astronomical in areas such as the Middle East. A soldier who is aware of that simple fact is less likely to find themselves being injured or killed. It is this critical information that I hope to be able to provide by using tech and pursuing an intelligence career. By pursuing my education, I can become aware of modern techniques that use modern tech. This can give me more accurate information to give to those who need it. Rather than relying on outdated techniques that can prove less reliable or faulty, I will be able to more consistently produce results that will actually have positive meaning and impact. With my career I will be able to work closely with many organizations, allowing me to impact many lives and continue my learning beyond college. Learning is my passion after all. By pursuing a career in intelligence, I will consistently be able to utilize some of the latest tech and continue to learn. New tools are constantly in development and I intend to make the most of them. The possibilities are almost endless for my ability to learn with a career in intelligence after all. But that is best possibly achieved by continuing my education. With the tech skills I will learn in my degree, I will be able to excel in the rapidly changing and growing world of intelligence. My passion lies in learning, this path appears to be one of the greatest opportunities to continue that pursuit. The potential to spare others from suffering and harm while pursuing my dreams is the best reward I can ask for.

My role model is a sailor, who served with dignity and compassion for his fellow man. My father joined the United States Navy after high school, leaving the military after his 8 years of service. And my father is the man who has been my role model, shaping me into the person I am today thanks to his perseverance, commitment and desire for learning. Before he could serve in the Navy, my father first had to cope with his own issues. He struggled in class thanks to his ADHD, relying on medicine and a tutor. But to achieve his dream of being a sailor, one he had from his grandfather who served in World War Two, my father had to keep his grades up while getting himself off of medication. Not so dissimilar to some of the struggles I had, helping my ailing mother during my time in high school. A testament to his perseverance, he managed to succeed. Enlisting in the Navy, he served in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. As a naval firefighter, he fortunately never had to act in a life-threatening emergency situation. But his perseverance is something that I intend to carry with me, to help me pursue my own goals. I dream to be an intelligence analyst, learning about the capabilities of nations and peoples to save lives and protect peace. With his example, I intend to pursue my dreams fearlessly and relentlessly. But it is his relentless commitment that I hold dear. My father never gave up on me when I struggled, nor when he had his own struggles. His greatest is that of my mother. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was eight years old, he continued to help me succeed while taking care of her. It wasn't easy though, working on his own he had to care for a wife who couldn't work or drive and a young son. To make matters worse, before my mother was diagnosed, we discovered she had taken out numerous loans. My father managed to succeed however, not only in bringing the family out of debt but also in keeping us fed and sheltered. My father and I learned to cook together when my mother's cooking wasn't safe. Once I was ten however, I had made the commitment to cook the majority of meals myself. Now, I look forward to some of the challenges to come, ready to commit myself in the pursuit of my goals. I plan on participating in Air Force ROTC in 2021, where I will work to become an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force. The most important thing to me however, is my dad's drive to learn. Ever since he was little, he was fascinated by airplanes. We still have the very first picture, the one that started his love for aviation. All his life, he has been collecting books and texts specifically on World War Two military aviation. Honestly, that love for planes has been passed on to me. My perfect dream job would be as an intelligence analyst specifically studying Russian aircraft. That is a career I want to pursue, because it will ensure that I am constantly learning and developing new skills. Each day will bring new challenges and opportunities that I will be able to succeed in. And so a humble sailor is the man who I consider a role model. It is his character, drive and passion that I hope to emulate. One day, I hope to follow my dreams and commitments just as well as my father.

This plane is filled with history, in the colors from it's time at Area 51. During the Cold War, it was stolen from communist hands by a Czech fighter pilot, bringing the plane to NATO and accepting a reward of gold equal to his own weight. I am one of few people who were able to sit inside of a MiG-17 in the West even to this day. But being inside of this fully-live aircraft was the last vacation we were able to take my mother on, until her condition deteriorated.

The world is more resilient than we often give it credit for. We are constantly fearing the next shift in the status quo, the next disaster or the next loss. People forget that oftentimes, we adapt and overcome any obstacles. I chose to wait a semester before starting college, out of respect for my father. My mother's medicines reduced her immune system's abilities. With the large numbers of students being sent home in the Spring of 2020, we feared that similar would happen again in the Fall. Why should I cross half of the country to go to classes only to go back home a few weeks later? It is good to see that the fear was unfounded, now being able to look back in hindsight. But it helped me realize that people are more able and willing to adapt than I previously believed. As a nation and a species we are able to adapt and overcome obstacles, even those as debilitating as a virus. It was a source of pride for me, that I was able to continue to help my mother through this time. I have been able to continue to help her thanks to my being home. Cooking is something that many students take for granted, but cleaning and working around the house have allowed me to better prepare my parents for when I must leave home in favor of my own future. Opportunity can come even from missing other opportunities. I adapted to not being at school, instead using my time at home to help better my family for the future and in the present. Dealing with COVID-19 may have changed the way in which I pursued my education, but it opened my eyes to new opportunities that were already under my nose. We don't have to go anywhere special to make a difference. Sometimes the most impactful changes we can make, are right at home.

My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an incurable and debilitating disease that degenerates the human brain. It was something that had put her into depression, as her intelligent mind was getting worse and worse. Memory failed as her balance began to fade, making things like riding a bike impossible. She went from having a college degree and career to being unable to drive and still being unfit to remain home alone. She was at the height of her life, sinking to the lowest of lows. Her depression stemmed from her lack of will to live, to go on. But that isn't something I allowed to stop me. I sought to continue my education despite the struggles at home she caused. I have had to witness and endure someone fall so far into despair that I don't want to see anyone else struggle in that way. Whenever people need help, be they friends, family or even some strangers, I am willing to at least give them an ear and some suggestions to the best of my ability. My goal is to help those suffering with mental illness to get through the moment and inspire them, remind them of what they can be and what they can really do. People can do anything as long as they don't lose heart, so if I can be there to help keep then going. I will gladly help to keep another light in this world. With some luck, I might just make another friend along the way.

Even after the fall of the Soviet Union, it's weapons are still out there. I'm currently researching and studying aircraft produced by the former Soviet Union to understand their capabilities. It's especially important to understand the capabilities of an aircraft when it was designed to contend with America's premier fighters of the time, such as when the Su-27 was made to fight the F-15 and F-16. With the help of the Amplify Continuous Learning Grant, I will be able to continue my education in Global Security and Intelligence Studies to help me achieve a career in intelligence analysis. There, I can utilize my passion for learning military history and technology to help protect and save lives.