To me, paying it forward means giving back to your community so others can experience success too. Growing up in the ghetto in the inner city has shown me what a dream deferred looks like. When Langston Hughs said, “Does it dry up/ Like a raisin in the sun?” He was right. People who are stricken by poverty and debt don’t get a chance to go after their dreams. They must settle for jobs they aren’t passionate about just for the sake of paying bills and putting food on the table. These people break their backs for companies who only see them as another number on a spreadsheet. They dread going to work every day and suffer the consequences of an unfulfilling life while barely making a livable wage. Their children don’t get the childhood they deserve, they don’t get to go to a good school with proper funding, they don’t get to go to college or generate generational wealth, and the cycle begins again. They must rely on generous people who are willing to give them resources to support their dreams. Once my writing career takes off, I want to donate money to the Rochester City School District, the Rec-centers, the Youth groups, and any other programs that support students and bring them closer to their goals. It’s true that education is the key to success and if we improve the school curriculum and environment to make them more flexible, welcoming, and encouraging, kids will do better. Graduation rates will go up and more doors will open for students. Also, the activities they’re involved in, the lessons they learn, and the friendships they make at community programs will give them the motivation to improve in school as well as become well-rounded individuals. The money I donate can be put towards art classes that encourage creativity, new sports equipment, school supplies, new books by contemporary authors, better school lunches, updated technology, more counselors/ social workers, more accessibility for students with disabilities, engaging field trips that expand on the lessons in the classroom, diversity and inclusion training for teachers and administrators, updated playgrounds, and funding for afterschool clubs. However, I am already paying it forward by volunteering at my local Red Cross blood donation center. As a blood donor ambassador, I check in donors at the front desk, answer any questions they may have, monitor them after their donation for any negative side effects, and refill the snacks in the recovery area. I am the first and last person the donors interact with which means I can be the reason whether or not they donate again. So I do everything in my power to make them comfortable and maintain a welcoming environment to make sure we don’t have another blood shortage in Monroe County. Also, I founded a gardening club at my high school so future students can learn how to live sustainably and grow their own food to help both our planet and their families who are mostly low-income. I am passing down all my knowledge and gardening skills to students so they can continue teaching others and creating an environmentally conscious school. Overall, paying it forward is a responsibility we should all share to make sure there is a brighter future for the next generation.

In 2020, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and my world was turned upside down. Suddenly, I was giving myself multiple shots a day, waking up at 3 am with low blood sugars, and counting my carbs after every meal. At fourteen years old, trying to keep a body alive that didn’t love me back was exhausting. I went into a dark place for a while. I constantly worried about my health, but at the same time, I didn’t have the energy to take care of myself. I became extremely self-conscious of my diagnosis and quit my volleyball team because I thought my teammates were judging me. I isolated myself from my friends and family because I felt like they couldn’t understand what I was going through. I suffered in silence instead of asking for help because I hid behind the excuse, “Other people have it worse off than me. I have no reason to be unhappy.” But when I started going to therapy and hearing the stories of other diabetics who were living perfectly normal, happy lives despite their illnesses, my mindset changed. I started proudly wearing my insulin pump in public and educating my peers about diabetes. I began to find pride in being a part of the disabled community. This experience made me realize that a chronic illness doesn’t have the power to control my life unless I give it the ability to do so. It’s up to me whether I find a way to overcome the everyday challenges of diabetes or continue to stay in this never-ending cycle of self-pity. I decided to do the former by focusing on the positives diabetes has brought into my life rather than what it has taken away. I’ve become more empathetic and compassionate toward differently-abled people now that I understand what they’re going through. And I’ve formed many friendships with people I wouldn’t have spoken to otherwise if we hadn’t bonded over our shared disability. Overall, I learned that I am the master of my own happiness, and nothing can change that. Now that I am more confident in myself and my own abilities, my college education will be put to good use because I will go after my dreams no matter what. I won’t let anything stop me from reaching my goals, especially not my condition. I am going to study creative writing for my undergraduate degree and become a published author. When I’m not writing my own novels, I will write scripts for television and craft storylines for video games. Also, I will offer creative writing classes to people all over the globe. Many people have strayed away from reading and writing, so I want to inspire a new love for literature in children and adults. My classes can be a safe place where art and creativity are celebrated. In addition, I will travel the world and study different cultures to write more authentic stories. Once my career takes off, I will give back to my community by donating money to the Rochester City School District and making sure other students like me have the opportunity to explore the arts. In conclusion, I have overcome one of the biggest challenges in my life and I will use it as fuel to drive my journey forward and make a difference.

I want to pursue higher education because it will bring me closer to my goals. I want to become a full-time writer who writes scripts for television and crafts storylines for video games, while also publishing my own novels and poetry collections on the side. Also, I want to teach online creative writing courses to people worldwide to inspire a new love for literature in children and adults. Many people have strayed away from reading and writing as more technology is invented, and I want to change that. I want to give people a safe place where art and creativity are celebrated and encouraged and show them that their words matter. In addition, I want to travel the world and observe different cultures, so I can write more authentic stories and expand my global perspective. This is important to me because I’ve always been passionate about writing, and I can’t imagine myself doing anything else for the rest of my life. Also, people in my family have often settled for jobs simply because they paid the bills, not because they were passionate about what they were doing. I want to break this cycle by going into a career that I love, so I don’t have to wake up every day dreading going to work. This is also important to me because I want to provide a positive representation of the black community in the media. A lot of the stories we hear about ourselves are drowning in stereotypes and based on our trauma. As a little girl, I often wondered why all the protagonists in my books were white, and I started to believe that our stories didn’t matter. I want to write literature that uplifts black people and depicts us as heroes, royalty, and scholars rather than villains, impoverished, and imprisoned. I want to give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves and educate the masses. Although a bachelor's degree isn’t required for this career path, being a part of a college community will open doors for me. I will be able to form relationships with professors who may have connections with people in the industry who could offer me internships/ job opportunities. The experience I will get will build my resume and make me a more qualified job applicant. I will be able to collaborate with other students on projects that I can add to my portfolio and impress future employers with. The classes I will take will give me the skills I need to be successful in this field. Lastly, pursuing writing or any kind of art can be rewarding yet unpredictable, so having a college degree will give me something to fall back on if my books don’t sell right away. Overall, I am confident in what I want out of life, and higher education will help me accomplish this.

I want to pursue higher education because it will bring me closer to my goals. I want to become a full-time writer who writes scripts for television and crafts storylines for video games, while also publishing my own novels and poetry collections on the side. Also, I want to teach online creative writing courses to people worldwide to inspire a new love for literature in children and adults. Many people have strayed away from reading and writing as more technology is invented, and I want to change that. I want to give people a safe place where art and creativity are celebrated and encouraged and show them that their words matter. In addition, I want to travel the world and observe different cultures, so I can write more authentic stories and expand my global perspective. This is important to me because I want to provide a positive representation of the black community in the media. A lot of the stories we hear about ourselves are drowning in stereotypes and based on our trauma. As a little girl, I often wondered why all the protagonists in my books were white, and I started to believe that our stories didn’t matter. I want to write literature that uplifts black people and depicts us as heroes, royalty, and scholars rather than villains, impoverished, and imprisoned. I want to give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves and educate the masses on important issues facing our community today. Working as a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador has inspired me to make a difference in our world because of the work we do every day. The Red Cross blood donation centers are supplying life-saving blood and platelets to people all around the globe. They’re giving cancer patients a second chance at life and helping make major surgeries possible. Although I am only working behind the front desk, dedicating my time and effort is making a significant difference in this complicated yet rewarding process. For example, I check in donors on the computer and answer any questions they have about in order to make them feel comfortable. Then, I monitor them after their donation to make sure they don’t experience any side effects. So, I am the first and last person a donor interacts with, which means I can be the reason whether or not they donate again. I do everything in my power to create a welcoming environment to keep them returning and referring us to their friends and family. Overall, being a part of this change-making organization has motivated me to give back to my community.

In 2020, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and my world was turned upside down. Suddenly, I was giving myself multiple shots a day, waking up at 3 am with low blood sugars, and counting my carbs after every meal. At fourteen years old, trying to keep a body alive that didn’t love me back was exhausting. I went into a dark place for a while. I constantly worried about my health, but at the same time, I didn’t have the energy to take care of myself. I became extremely self-conscious of my diagnosis and quit my volleyball team because I thought my teammates were judging me. I isolated myself from my friends and family because I felt like they couldn’t understand what I was going through. I suffered in silence instead of asking for help because I hid behind the excuse, “Other people have it worse off than me. I have no reason to be unhappy.” But when I started going to therapy and hearing the stories of other diabetics who were living perfectly normal, happy lives despite their illnesses, my mindset changed. I started proudly wearing my insulin pump in public and educating my peers about diabetes. I began to find pride in being a part of the disabled community. This experience made me realize that a chronic illness doesn’t have the power to control my life unless I give it the ability to do so. It’s up to me whether I find a way to overcome the everyday challenges of diabetes or continue to stay in this never-ending cycle of self-pity. I decided to do the former by focusing on the positives diabetes has brought into my life rather than what it has taken away. I’ve become more empathetic and compassionate toward differently-abled people now that I understand what they’re going through. And I’ve formed many friendships with people I wouldn’t have spoken to otherwise if we hadn’t bonded over our shared disability. Overall, I learned that I am the master of my own happiness, and nothing can change that. Now that I am more confident in myself and my own abilities, my college education will be put to good use because I will go after my dreams no matter what. I won’t let anything stop me from reaching my goals, especially not my health condition. I plan to study creative writing for my undergraduate degree and become a published author. When I’m not writing my own novels, I wish to write scripts for television and craft storylines for video games. Also, I would like to offer creative writing classes to people all over the globe. Many people have strayed away from reading and writing, so I want to inspire a new love for literature in children and adults. My classes can be a safe place where art and creativity are celebrated. In addition, I would like to travel the world and study different cultures to write more authentic stories. Getting a higher education is the best way for these dreams to become a reality. In college, I will gain the skills necessary to be successful in this industry. The internships and hands-on experiences available on campus will boost my resume and make me a better job applicant. And the connections I make with professors will open doors for me and take my career to the next level. I wouldn’t have these opportunities at my disposal if I weren’t a student at a university. Overall, an investment in my future would guarantee outstanding results.

In 2019, I joined the Red Cross Youth Leadership Program. It’s an afterschool program that teaches high school students how to effectively communicate with others, find out-of-the-box solutions, collaborate with people from different backgrounds, take initiative in difficult situations, improve their financial literacy, build healthy relationships, write resumes, interview for jobs, and more, all in fun, interactive activities. One day, a Red Cross emergency responder came in as a special guest to teach us how empathy plays a huge role in helping others. He started off by telling us a story of the time his team responded to a house fire. They were able to safely evacuate the family, but the parents experienced a lot of smoke intake, so they needed to be checked out by the paramedics. The son was shaken up from his brush with danger, worried about his parent’s health, and mortified to see his home burning down before his eyes. When he started to cry, the emergency responder went over to comfort him. He listened attentively to his concerns, reassured him, and started cracking jokes to distract him from the situation. The next thing he knew, the boy was laughing. Just that little act of kindness was enough to make the boy’s night a little better. And it made me realize that I don’t have to do something extremely heroic in order to make a difference. It can be as simple as offering a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or checking in a donor at the front desk of a blood donation center. Which is exactly what I did. This story inspired me to become a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador and dedicate my time to saving lives. Even though I’m not on the front lines, the role I play is just as important. I answer any questions the donors have about the process and make them feel comfortable. Then, I monitor them after their donation to make sure they don’t experience any side effects. So, I am the first and last person a donor interacts with, which means I can be the reason whether or not they donate again. I do everything in my power to create a welcoming environment to keep them returning and referring us to their friends and family. This is important because there is a blood shortage in the Rochester community and many life-saving surgeries have been put on hold. If we don’t attract as many eligible donors as possible, innocent lives can be at risk. Now, I am a part of this change-making organization to make sure this doesn’t happen. Overall, this touching story drew me to volunteer because it made me realize my ability to create change.

In 2020, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and my world was turned upside down. Suddenly, I was giving myself multiple shots a day, waking up at 3 am with low blood sugars, and counting my carbs after every meal. At fourteen years old, trying to keep a body alive that didn’t love me back was exhausting. I went into a dark place for a while. I constantly worried about my health, but at the same time, I didn’t have the energy to take care of myself. I became extremely self-conscious of my diagnosis and quit my volleyball team because I thought my teammates were judging me. I isolated myself from my friends and family because I felt like they couldn’t understand what I was going through. I suffered in silence instead of asking for help because I hid behind the excuse, “Other people have it worse off than me. I have no reason to be unhappy.” But when I started going to therapy and hearing the stories of other diabetics who were living perfectly normal, happy lives despite their illnesses, my mindset changed. I started proudly wearing my insulin pump in public and educating my peers about diabetes. I began to find pride in being a part of the disabled community. This experience made me realize that a chronic illness doesn’t have the power to control my life unless I give it the ability to do so. It’s up to me whether I find a way to overcome the everyday challenges of diabetes or continue to stay in this never-ending cycle of self-pity. I decided to do the former by focusing on the positives diabetes has brought into my life rather than what it has taken away. I’ve become more empathetic and compassionate toward differently-abled people now that I understand what they’re going through. And I’ve formed many friendships with people I wouldn’t have spoken to otherwise if we hadn’t bonded over our shared disability. Overall, I learned that I am the master of my own happiness, and nothing can change that. Now that I am more confident in myself and my own abilities, my college education will be put to good use because I will go after my dreams no matter what. I won’t let anything stop me from reaching my goals, especially not my health condition. I plan to study creative writing for my undergraduate degree and become a published author. When I’m not writing my own novels, I wish to write scripts for television and craft storylines for video games. Also, I would like to offer creative writing classes to people all over the globe. Many people have strayed away from reading and writing, so I want to inspire a new love for literature in children and adults. My classes can be a safe place where art and creativity are celebrated. In addition, I would like to travel the world and study different cultures to write more authentic stories. Getting a higher education is the best way for these dreams to become a reality. In college, I will gain the skills necessary to be successful in this industry. The internships and hands-on experiences available on campus will boost my resume and make me a better job applicant. And the connections I make with professors will open doors for me and take my career to the next level. I wouldn’t have these opportunities at my disposal if I weren’t a student at a university. Overall, an investment in my future would guarantee outstanding results.

I will succeed in college because I am a hardworking student who takes responsibility for my own education. For example, during the pandemic, I was able to motivate myself through zoom classes and complete my assignments without a teacher looking over my shoulder, and will continue to exhibit this level of worth ethic in college. Also, I am involved in many extracurricular activities like the Black Student Union, Gardening club, and Speech and Debate, and taken on leadership roles within these clubs. I volunteer at my local Red Cross blood donation center and work part-time at Wegmans as a cashier on the weekends. I’m also applying to several scholarships a week and still keeping up with my homework. This proves I’m a well-rounded individual who’s always willing to take on new challenges and can juggle multiple responsibilities at once, so the stress of college life won’t phase me. Although a bachelor's degree isn’t required for a career in writing, being a part of a college community will open doors for me. I will be able to form relationships with professors who may have connections with people in the industry who could offer me internships/ job opportunities. Also, I will be able to collaborate with other students with similar interests as me on projects that will build my resume. For example, I want to work with film production majors and turn one of my scripts into a blockbuster film. In addition, the classes I will take will give me the skills I need to be successful in this field. For example, I can take marketing and publishing classes that will show me exactly how to sell/ advertise my books to readers and get my work on the shelves. Lastly, pursuing writing or any kind of art can be rewarding yet unpredictable, so having a college degree will give me something to fall back on if my books don’t sell right away. Overall, an investment in my future would guarantee outstanding results.

A Tan Hua flower is a unique plant in the cactus species. It blooms in the moonlight, and by morning its petals have wilted, and just like my father, it’s here for a moment and gone the next. Its long vines crawl across my middle school gymnasium floor to find me. The room is decorated in bright pink, soft purples, and blues. The tables are covered with punch and chip bowls, balloons litter the floor, and for a moment, you can forget the faint stench of dirty gym socks. It's the annual daddy-daughter dance. The first slow dance begins as my friends and I run around, laughing and popping balloons underneath our feet. Under the strobing lights of the disco ball, I see fathers take their daughter's hands and lead them out to the dance floor, and suddenly, I’m a lone ship lost in a sea of spinning girls. I look to my right and see a girl lay her head against her father’s chest, and he looks down at her like she is the only thing that matters in the world. My teacher volunteers to dance with me, and we do an awkward two-step, and I can’t help but wonder if the man in the dusty photographs were here, would he look at me the same way? Now, there is no reason to dwell on it because if there is one thing my single mother taught me in my seventeen years of life, I don’t need anyone else to feel whole. When my father wasn’t around, I always felt like a piece of me was missing. My heart split right down the middle, but my mother showed me all the love I will ever need is right under our own roof. A few days after I was diagnosed with diabetes, I broke down in our kitchen, and she held me even as our breakfast burned on the stove, the bacon sizzling and popping in the greasy pan. She taught me that it’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay that way. The next minute, we were cracking jokes, and the house swelled with smoke and laughter until it felt like it would overflow with love. After a tough day at school, I would drag my bookbag to the front steps to be greeted by my mom on the porch, humming to nothing but the music in her head. I would crack a smile, and then we would dance for the whole neighborhood to see. I wonder if drivers passing by ever craned their necks to witness it. My mother showed me how to live, celebrate the good with the bad, and not let the bumps in the road stop me from going down the path I am meant to travel. I used to think: how can I possibly pursue my passion if I can’t even win my father's love? I have written many poems about him, pouring my heart out onto the page, and at that moment, I didn’t realize how I was turning that pain into something beautiful. I started submitting my work to literary contests, and as the awards and recognitions rolled in, I realized my experiences have the power to touch the hearts of complete strangers. So, I will go after my dream of becoming a writer and produce stories about little black girls from single-parent households who succeed despite their hardships. I will provide positive media representation to inspire the people of my community and remind them that they can persevere too.

How To Ask Your Black Mother for a Therapist I. Sit her down, preferably in a car going full speed down a highway, so you don’t have to look her in the eye when you’re calling her a terrible mother, strutting across sidewalk cracks, and throwing salt into the womb that brought your ungrateful ass into this world II. Don’t hesitate. If you let her hear the quiver of your tongue as it retreats back into your throat, she’ll never take you seriously III. Bring an attorney: a sibling, a friend, anyone who can back up your case, for the nights you spent crying on your bathroom floor, running the shower water for the days you lost yourself in fantasy books, willing to carry the pain of characters that don’t even exist, rather than your own because the load didn’t feel as heavy Let your alibi, the I’m fine’s, the Nothing’s wrongs finally crumble IV. Remember, she is still learning Remember, she had to take off her sadness and leave it by the door, so she wouldn’t track it through the house Remember, Be quiet was beaten into her behind closed bedroom doors Remember, her wings have been pinned down for a long time but you will teach her, you will break out of this perfect cacoon your family has spun for you, together, and you will rise, together, and your children will rise, together, and your grandchildren will rise, together, little black butterflies, a flapping black swarm that will block out the sun, but never again be left in the dark

The classroom was buzzing with conversation, and as more students filed inside to take their seats, it rose to an overwhelming crescendo. My English teacher, Ms. Woodams, takes her place at the front of the room, and we all fall silent. “We have a new book we’ll be reading for the next few weeks,” she begins, “There will be a final exam, so don’t use spark notes, or you will fail.” She takes the stack of books off her desk and starts handing them out. The Great Gatsby, with its yellowing pages and the front cover missing from being passed between decades of students, falls with a thunk onto my desk. My face immediately falls. Yet another novel about rich, arrogant white people and not a single significant black character. A classic. I have this sinking feeling that comes with non-representation often in the Rochester City School District. Despite our student body being made up of minorities, we are still force-fed the same white-washed literature every year. It’s discouraging because it makes it seem like, as a person of color, my story doesn’t deserve to be told. And, I’m positive I’m not the only person who feels this way. Unfortunately, many public schools don’t receive enough funding to afford new books. So, after graduating from college, I will use my creative writing degree to bring authentic books about minorities to my community. Books that are not based on their trauma but allow them to escape into a world where people that look like them go on epic adventures and fall in love. It will remind them they’re worthy of being featured in media alongside their white peers. Since literature and television is such a massive influence on the youth, I hope my writing will encourage and uplift them to pursue their own dreams and not feel restricted by society’s expectations of them. I developed this drive to help people because I volunteer at the Red Cross blood donation center every month, and I have witnessed firsthand all the work they do to provide platelets and whole blood to those in need. As a Blood Donor Ambassador, I work at the front desk for four hours each Sunday. I check donors in at the computer as they come in and answer their questions about the process. I try to make them feel welcomed and as comfortable as possible, so they will return and recommend their friends and family. This is especially important now that there is a blood shortage in the Rochester area, and many life-altering surgeries have been put on hold. I am honored to be a part of the solution and want to continue making a difference in my community through literature with the help of higher education.

My knees were shaking as I climbed the stairs to the stage. My family was in the front row, cameras out and cheering, but I could not hear them over the pounding in my ears. I stepped up to center stage, gripping the mic stand to stop my fingers from trembling. My eyes scanned the crowd. People were milling about, collecting free samples from the vendors, standing impatiently in the food line, or sprawled out in the grass trying to beat off the heat. When I spoke, my voice cracked, and the mic amplified my insecurities, making sure everyone heard just how nervous I was. As I began my introduction, only a handful of heads swiveled my way in interest. The rest of the field continued to buzz with conversation. I couldn’t blame them. A sixteen-year-old girl reading poetry is a letdown after watching the guy before I do backflips. I stumbled through my poem, forgetting a few lines. The applause was scattered and slow, like it was only out of politeness. But when I walked off stage, feeling defeated, I was greeted by a fan club. Suddenly, everyone wanted to hand me their business cards and invite me to perform at their next event. They praised me for my talent and creativity, for transforming the experiences of the black community into beautiful metaphors. Even though it was not my best performance, my words were enough on their own. Not only was it the validation that I needed, but hearing that my work moved them enlightened something within me. I realized then that my writing is not meant to hide away in a notebook and fade with the aging paper. It’s meant to be shared. That’s why I want to study Creative Writing in college, so I can continue honing my craft and learn from professionals how to turn writing into my full-time career. While attending university, I hope to accomplish several things that will set me on the path toward success. One, I would like to collaborate with other students like film production majors or video game designers on a project. I want to turn my writing into digital media so that I can reach many different audiences. As the world turns to technology, it’s crucial as a writer to find new ways to share my stories beyond traditional publishing. That way, I’ll leave campus with a physical portfolio of my best work to show employers what I can do. Two, I want to join any student-run publications on campus and become well versed in the many different roles involved, like editing. This will make me more well-rounded for jobs, and it will be easier to get hired since I have many skills to bring to the table. Lastly, I would like to land an internship at a publishing company or a film set or shadow an established writer for a semester. This will give me the experience I need to expand my resume. Overall, I want to pursue higher education to open doors for myself, so I have the opportunity to reach people with my art as I did at the festival.

According to NASA’s global climate change data, the planet's average surface temperature has risen two degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century. This is due to the increased carbon dioxide emissions into our atmosphere and other human activities. The year 2020 was the warmest year on record! If we continue going on like this, our planet will no longer be able to sustain life, and future generations will be in jeopardy. Everyone needs to do their part in order for us to turn this around. Personally, I make a positive impact on our climate by saving water and energy, planting my own garden, and recycling. I save water by turning off the shower/sink when I’m washing my hair or hands. To save energy, I wash my clothes in cold water, so I’m not using the water heater as much. All year round, I keep my thermostat between sixty-five to seventy degrees to reserve heat. In the summer, I open windows or use low-powered fans instead of turning the AC on for long periods of time. I unplug any utilities I’m not using and rely mainly on natural light during the day. In early spring, I grow vegetables and flowers in my backyard. This attracts birds and bees for pollination and returns organic matter to the soil. This increases plant populations and carbon storage for reduced emission. By growing my own produce, I go to the grocery store less, so I’m reducing air pollution from long-distance transportation and food storage. In addition, I bury food scraps like orange peels and eggshells in my garden for compost, so I’m reducing waste and methane emissions in landfills. Lastly, I recycle plastic/ glass bottles, and cans at my local grocery store, and I donate my unwanted clothes to charity.

A wise woman, my mother, once told me: what someone else thinks of you is none of your business. And at first, I thought this was ridiculous because why wouldn’t I be concerned about something that has to do with me? But I realized what she really meant. It doesn’t matter what others think of me, it’s matters what I think of myself. This has changed my perspective on high school gossiping and teasing because it doesn’t bother me as much anymore. I no longer carry their comments like dead weight or lay awake at night playing the situation over and over in my head until I make myself sick. Now, I revel in them because they’re only a sign that I am doing something right. People only have negative things to say when you’re succeeding in life because they’re jealous. I stopped letting them hold me back from doing what I love. I stopped allowing them to steer me from my path with their bitterness and bring me down to their level. I stopped allowing their words to pierce me because I am much stronger than that. Unfortunately, as a people pleaser, I’m constantly prioritizing others' feelings above my own. I force myself to be polite to those who don’t deserve my kindness in an attempt to spare their feelings, even though it hurts me. These eleven words showed me that I don’t have to bend over backward for people who wouldn’t do the same for me. It doesn’t mean that I am being selfish or rude, it means I am practicing self-love and learning to be my own advocate.

According to Achieve, seventy-eight percent of college faculty believe public high schools are doing an inadequate job of preparing their students for college and the workforce. And many students, including myself, agree. Education can be improved for future generations if high school teachers change their teaching methods. If they focus on teaching students how to apply the knowledge they gain in class to the real world instead of forcing them to memorize and regurgitate random facts, they will be better prepared for their future. Most of the time, after they take the test, students forget what they learned because it’s no longer needed. The teacher moves on to the next lesson, and the cycle continues. By the time they graduate, they don’t have any useful skills that will help them be successful. The teachers should be crafting a curriculum that prepares students for their adult responsibilities. Students should be learning how to pay taxes, how to develop good credit, how to budget their money, how to buy a house or car, etc. The problem is some schools assume that students' parents are teaching them this stuff, but it’s not true for everyone. Also, students shouldn’t just be having basic common core classes like English, math, and history, but they should be taking career readiness classes too. In senior year, students are expected to choose a major and have the rest of their life planned out, but many don’t know what they want to do. If their high school offers them classes where they can explore their options, then they won’t be so lost when it comes time to choose. Lastly, teachers need to remember that students aren’t robots, and individuals learn in different ways. Some are visual learners, while others need hands-on activities, and teachers should be flexible.

According to Mapping Police Violence, two hundred and sixty-six Black people were killed by police in the United States in 2021 alone. Since 2013, Black people are 2.9 times more likely to be killed by police than white people. There is no questioning that this disproportion is racially motivated. To make matters worse, most of the victims don’t get the justice they deserve. The racist cops are let off with only a slap on the wrist, while the families of the victims suffer. Sometimes they get paid vacation for murder. This unjustified bloodshed has divided our country into black and white once again. There are many issues that our society faces today, but the biggest problem right now is our intolerance for racial, cultural, and religious groups of people. The United States is supposed to be a country that embraces diversity, a mixing pot of different cultures, religions, ethnicity, and social and economic classes. Unfortunately, we have yet to live up to the promises written by our founding fathers. Racism not only affects minorities but the very foundation of this country: our democracy. We can’t have a civil and free society if we're at war with one another. We can’t have freedom and prosperity for all if black men and women can’t walk down the street without a target on their backs. The whole system will collapse if we don’t change for the better. One way we can do this is by having those uncomfortable conversations. We can’t heal and move past racism if we don’t acknowledge it first. Many schools censor slavery, but it’s important the next generation understands the severity of it, so history won’t repeat itself. Then, we need to take action by breaking those systemic barriers that keep black people down and making equality a reality.

According to Mental Health America, sixty-one percent (1.8 million) of teenagers struggling with depression in the United States don’t receive any treatment. This can be because their parents don’t take mental illness seriously, because the child is scared to speak up, or because their family can’t afford therapy. It’s unfair that these kids don’t have an outlet or a safe place to express their emotions. Depression and anxiety can be a heavy burden for anyone to carry, especially for adolescents who are going through puberty and dealing with societal and peer pressures, and they shouldn’t have to go through it alone. The best solution would be making therapy free for all, but since that’s unrealistic in a capitalist society, the next best thing would be getting the schools involved. School counselors are not only good for making class schedules but providing emotional support. However, they often don’t do this enough. School districts should make it mandatory for counselors to meet with each individual student at least twice a month to have mental health check-ins. Of course, they can’t force students to speak with their counselor, but the option should be available. When a kid is in a negative mindset, it can be difficult for them to ask for help because they may feel embarrassed. But, if the counselors initiate the conversation, it could give them an opening. Many students may think no one will notice, but asking will show them that there is someone who cares about them. It will build that foundation of trust, so they will always come to them when something is wrong. This will prevent situations from escalating to suicide attempts or school shootings and will keep everyone safe and healthy.

Unfortunately, as a society, we have decided that a piece of paper determines your livelihood, whether you have food on your table, clothes on your back, and a roof over your head. We prioritize money over love and kindness, and we can see that when patients without health insurance are denied at the door, or landlords put whole families out on the street. But the only thing we can do is adapt or be bested by the system. The best financial advice I’ve received is: Create a healthy relationship with your money. This means saving and budgeting your money and only spending on the necessities. Of course, we can’t predict the things life will throw at us, financial burdens like hospital bills, car repairs, and educational expenses are unavoidable, but we can prepare for them. When you get your check each week, it’s best to put away a certain amount into your savings. The term for this is “Paying yourself first”. It can be as little as five dollars, but it will quickly add up over time. Personally, when I got my first summer job, I saved every last dime so I could pay for my back-to-school clothes and supplies. The goal is to not touch that money until an emergency happens or non-negotiable expenses come up. Once you start saving, it’s best to recognize your priorities and what you absolutely can’t live without. This is when you start budgeting, setting aside a certain amount of money for each thing. There are fixed expenses which are your bills. For example, you might set aside two hundred dollars for water and electricity and seventy dollars for car insurance. Then, there are your flexible expenses which are costs that can differ each week. For example, groceries, phone bills, or the internet.

Everyone remembers learning about Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to give up her seat for a white man on a segregated bus, but many will be surprised to know that she wasn’t the first. There were many women who came before her who dared to sit at the front of the bus, including Claudette Colvin. She was a fifteen-year-old girl who had a lot of courage and a passion for activism. I admire her for being so young and standing up to a broken system, especially in the ’50s when it was not only frowned upon but dangerous. After disobeying the bus driver who yelled at her to move, the cops were called and she was arrested and imprisoned. I can’t even imagine the fear she felt as they dragged her off the bus, and put her in the back of the squad car. Colvin told NPR that she feared she’d be sexually assaulted because the officers were commenting on her body. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that, but it could have gone much worse. Although she knew the risks, Colvin still stood by her cause, and that’s why she is so inspirational to me. Colvin was wrongly accused of three crimes including assaulting an officer, and she was sent to trial. Luckily, the charges were dropped, but her story should have created ripples through this country. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the recognition she deserved. The leaders of the NAACP believed the community wouldn’t take a teenager seriously, so they chose Parks to be the face of the movement. Despite this, Colvin encouraged others to take action, and many members met with city officials in an attempt to gain better treatment for black bus riders. She started a chain effect that will forever change history.

According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States is in need of blood or platelets. And one pint of blood from a single donor can save three lives! Every Sunday, I commit four hours of my time to help the Red Cross reach its goal of getting blood and platelets to cancer patients and others in need. I am one of the youngest Blood Donor Ambassadors in the Rochester community. I complete three tasks at the blood drives. First, I greet donors and check them in at the front desk. If they’re new to the process, I inform them about the steps, the estimated time, and reassure them if they’re nervous. After they’re done, I keep a close eye on them to make sure they’re not experiencing any extreme side effects. I offer them snacks and drinks and make sure they stay for the full fifteen minutes to recover. Finally, before they leave, I thank them for their donation. My job is to perform great customer service so the donors feel comfortable and welcomed. This way they will want to donate regularly. This is important because few people are eligible to donate because certain health issues can affect a person’s blood quality. I wish I could do more, but since I can’t donate myself, I donate my time instead. And I believe every minute I spend talking to donors and convincing them that donating blood is worth their time is creating a positive change in my community. Recently, there has been a blood shortage in my local hospitals, and many surgeries have been put on hold. I’m hoping my volunteer work will make a difference, and I will continue to work until it does.

In a steampunk town where there are more criminals in the government than in the streets. Where tourists fresh off the boats are being swindled out of their every last dime. Where enemy gangs have turf wars, and seventeen-year-old boys run their own casinos. This is known as Ketterdam, a city in Leigh Bardugo's famous duology, Six of Crows. It’s a part of her GrishaVerse series where saints rise from the dead and magic runs rampant. This is my favorite book because it has strong character development and suspenseful storytelling. It follows Kaz Brekker, a seventeen-year-old boy on his journey of revenge and greed. He runs in a gang called “The Crows”, and he is the genius mastermind behind all their heists. He builds a team of the most cunning and powerful people in the city: a marksman, a witch, a burly brute, a spider, and a bomb smith to break into the most secured facility on the planet. They risk it all for riches and a chance to prove they’re more than barrel thugs. Leigh Bardugo has a way with metaphors and imagery that makes the story come to life. She made me feel like I was being transported into the world, and I was helping Wylan make bombs, or accompanying Inej on a stakeout. And I felt like I knew the characters personally like we were long-distance friends catching up every time I opened the book. And since Bardugo structures the story so readers are always the last ones to know the plan, I was at the edge of my seat the whole time. It reminded me why I want to write because I want my words to reach out of the page and touch a reader's soul, like what Bardugo’s words did to me.

As a black girl in America, I’ve faced my fair share of adversity, but my life only got more complicated when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In September of 2020, I was rushed to the hospital because my blood sugar was 615 when the normal range is between 70 and 140. My doctor said I shouldn’t even be conscious, and I was lucky to be alive. Ever since I’ve had to juggle managing my diabetes with all of my other responsibilities. The constant doctor’s appointments, insulin injections, carb counting, and sleepless nights have affected my extracurricular activities, my performance in school, and my mental health. At the time of my diagnosis, I just made it onto the Junior Varsity Volleyball team. My doctors encouraged me to continue doing sports, but it wasn’t easy. I had so much energy before, but now I get tired easily, and my blood sugar drops quickly. So, I had to sit out during practice a lot, and I felt like I was letting my team down. Also, the girls on the team were really curious about my Dexcom and insulin pump and would stare. It made me feel self-conscious and at the time I thought diabetes was something to be embarrassed about, so I quit the team. But now, I am on the cheerleading team, and I stopped letting my disability hold me back from doing what I love. I found a healthy balance while prioritizing my health above all else. Many nights I wake up between midnight and three a.m in a cold sweat from low blood sugar. Usually, my blood sugars are stubborn and stay low for a long time, and I have to force myself to stay awake because I can potentially slip into a diabetic coma. And the next day at school, I have trouble focusing. To make matters worse, many of my teachers aren’t very understanding. Some have forced me to sit in the hallway or walk alone to the nurse’s office when my blood sugar is low. Their excuse was, “It’s unfair to the other kids if we allow you to drink juice in class, and not them,” even though their pancreas works. So, I started advocating for myself by starting a 504 plan, so they have to accommodate my needs. And despite the instruction I missed, I still managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA. My self-confidence has suffered significantly from this new challenge. From the constant insulin injections and finger poking, I have developed scars all over my body, and sometimes they make me feel self-conscious, especially out in public. Also, on days when my blood sugar is unmanageable, I feel like my body is betraying me and I have no control over my life. I tried to be strong for my family, but I realized that was unfair to me, so I communicated with them about putting me into therapy. I discovered coping mechanisms that work for me, and I’m much happier now. Also, I took the initiative to raise money for a Diabetic Alert Dog that would not only help me manage my diabetes but offer me emotional support. I fundraised by reaching out to my school district, my family and friends, and gained the courage to ask for help and not apologize for it. In the future, I hope to offer resources to people like me, so they don’t have to go through what I did. I want to donate to my local endocrinology departments to pay for patients’ co-payments and insulin supplies, so it’s one less weight off their shoulders.

My family told me I was too ambitious to start a garden in the middle of the city in Upstate New York where the snow is higher than the Kodak building. And I too had my doubts, but in the end, all I needed was a little bit of sunshine and some faith. I started my garden as a homage to my grandfather. He grew up on a farm in rural Rochester, New York, and worked out in the fields as a little boy. My great grandparents pulled him out of school to support the family. He told me stories of biting into juicy tomatoes right off the stem and riding tractors through grassy fields. After he was diagnosed with dementia, I wanted to find a way to keep his memories alive. So, I created my own little farm in the backyard. The first time around, I ran into many challenges. One of them being rodents. In the city, we have raccoons, rabbits, mice, suspiciously large squirrels, and stray cats. I was working on a budget, so I built my raised garden beds myself with plywood, barely an inch off the ground. The only thing protecting my plants was a clear tarp that I draped over it. At first, it wasn’t an issue until I started burying kitchen scraps like orange peels and eggshells in my soil to generate more nutrients. The smell of citrus must have drawn them because there were burrows everywhere! I realized later that I didn’t bury them deep enough, and I needed more soil. My second challenge arrived with the rain. One week was especially stormy, and the wind blew my tarp away. The downpour completely waterlogged my vegetables, and the buds on my green bean plants shriveled up just as they were beginning to sprout. Even weeks after, they still weren’t producing fruit, so I pulled them up and planted a new batch. However, my biggest challenge was the heat. Once June came around, every day was almost eighty degrees, which wasn’t good for my lettuce. Lettuce needs cool temperatures, between sixty to sixty-five degrees or they will wilt like flower petals. I noticed this when I discovered the lettuce planted next to my zucchini plants were thriving, while the others were not. Anyone who gardens know zucchini is a monster of a plant, and the huge leaves were providing shade from the sun. Despite all these setbacks, I did have some wins! After the first few weeks of planting my seeds, I noticed my plants were slow to sprout-- either they didn’t have enough sunlight or I was simply impatient. So, I took a trip to Walmart and bought live worms in the fishing section. I buried the worms in my garden bed, and my plants started growing at a rapid pace ever since. Then, I noticed my zucchini plants got too heavy at the top and began to tilt, so I added clumps of dry leaves to give them some support, and they never fell over. Lastly, I noticed my tarp got heavy when it rained, and squished my plants. So, I hammered some nails to my fence and hooked the tarp to it, so it created an awning over the garden. They got more airflow and it no longer stunted my plant’s growth. And of course, the biggest accomplishment was the delicious produce I got to share with my family and knowing I made my grandfather proud.