When I was nine years old, I learned how fortunate I am to come from a stable household. My mother was an elected member on the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education when I was in elementary school. We didn’t quite have the resources at the time for someone to babysit me in the evenings, so I would often join her at the board meetings. One day, young girls about my age were giving a presentation. They came from Rosa Parks Elementary School, which is a dedication to its namesake’s legacy by Toledo Public Schools. I knew that they couldn’t play with me because they were busy, so I decided to just listen to what their teachers and the girls said to members of the board. As I was listening, I noted certain things about the other girls’ clothes. Afterwards, I asked my mom, “Why did the girls have holes in their tights, and why were their clothes too small?” I grew up in the South End, on the opposite side of Toledo from the students at Rosa Parks; I had a roof over my head at all times, and I never went to bed hungry. I was even allowed to participate in YMCA gymnastics classes. That evening, my mom taught me one of my most valuable life lessons: I am privileged to have tights without holes and a roof over my head, and that should never be taken for granted. I still vividly remember the conversation with my mother; I use it as a reminder to keep myself humble and appreciative of the opportunities presented to me. A few years ago, I wrote a testimony to the Ohio School Boards Association about standardized testing. I knew from the lesson my mom taught me that keeping food on the table is what plenty of families struggle with. Kids facing adversity on a daily basis don’t have the resources to test well; it is never as important as food and shelter. I wrote the testimony in hopes of helping young students, and, after years of pending, a bill was finally signed to eliminate the specific standardized test in question. In my sophomore year, I joined my school’s Youth Creating Change club. We represent a multitude of cultures and backgrounds, bringing awareness to different causes. I know that I am in a position to help others, and I intend to keep doing so. I educate myself on different stances for justice and equality in hopes of being able to further these approaches during my lifetime and contribute to the bigger picture. I know I am meant to be a part of something larger, a movement which can help the people who need it most. In college, I will continue this passion and encourage my peers to join me.