1. I deserve this scholarship because of my ability to use self control to not touch the wenis (skin on the elbow) of every person I pass. I love the adrenaline it gives me to run up and aggressively tap the wenis of an unknowing stranger. Their discomfort brings me joy like no other. 2. My academic and career goals include developing the knowledge, experience, and tools to start an underground la croix bar where only those who can prove their passion for the flavorless sparkling water can attend. I must go to school so I can learn how to start this business and specifically learn how to dig an underground bar. 3. A time I have overcome and obstacle was when I had to sneeze in class. I could never complete the sneeze out loud. So, I overcame, persevered, and courageously came out on the other side. With my tongue to the roof of my mouth and my head tipped back I tried to control the irresistible need to sneeze. I felt it coming anyway and ran out the door. I overcame due to my fast escape skills.

Uniquely made in the image of God we are created. My life, your life, our lives begin at conception. Love does not start when that first breathe is breathed, when that first cry is heard, or when that first touch is felt. Love starts at the very beginning. Love is what created each and everyone of us. The argument that love was not involved is invalid as there is always love behind the works of God. We are all a result of God's hand in this world. As a Christian, I believe that each human was made for a purpose by God, therefore, if humans think that it is ok to remove other humans from this world in the name of convenience, they are standing in the way of God's purpose. I have always been very passionate about advocating for the unborn and have made it a responsibility of mine to become more informed so that I can accurately and productively debate my position. I recently started a Students for life club at my college campus with a friend in which I am now the Vice President of. Our leadership is working on becoming more educated so that we can lead a group of pro-life advocates in the years to come. Our club works to educate, equip, and prepare students to have informed discussions about abortion and what it means to choose life. Many of the arguments against the pro-life position hold no substance. I am not given the space to address them all, however, I do want to address a few. First, "abortion is healthcare." To that, I would say it is absolutely not health care. First and foremost, healthcare should in no case mean the removal of a living organism. Healthcare should not promote a "solution" that is proven to cause not only physical but psychological trauma to a human being. If Roe V. Wade is overturned the push for chemical abortion is going to increase in which facilities will do all they can to make this drug regimen accessible to anyone who wants it. They are making mental health problems accessible to any and all women they send this drug out to. Planned Parenthood does not care about what results of the murder of a human. All they care about is the profit made off of the mother's pain and heartache. Secondly, "the pro-life movement does not care about what happens to the mother." This claim is invalid. The pro-life movement stands for supporting women in their time of struggle. America has failed women into thinking their only option is to get an abortion so you can fulfill your dreams, or don't and risk losing everything. These are not the only options! We want to empower the almost 75% of women who regret seeking out an abortion to bring their baby into full term. Women should never be condemned for making a decision that is so forcibly pressed on them by society. Instead, we must support them in anyway we can so they can choose life. Every human has the right to life, born or unborn. My passion for this cause is ever burning and I will always stand for life. This is my way of loving my neighbor as God loves each one of us.

Rocks crunching beneath my feet, the wind whispering in my ear, and the sound of the birds chirping as I walk along nature trails that could tell stories of many travelers. Hiking, one of my all time favorite hobbies, allows me to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The calm of the trees and the warmth of the sun wraps me in a blanket of peace that I have yet to find within the confines of my daily life. I first discovered my love for hiking on a camping trip with my family. My dad and I set out to hike a trail that surrounded the lake we set up camp next to. My dad pointed out to me the many types of plants and animals that we encountered on our walk. He had always been a nature buff and being out immersed in the wilderness allowed him to showcase all that he has learned about the world. I loved listening to the excitement in my dad's voice as he described the mushroom that made a home on the rotting bark. I took this joy and enthusiasm in as my own. These moments I shared with my dad inspired my love for the earth and the many beauties the world has to offer. I went on my first real hike three days before my 16th birthday with my dad and one of his friends. I remember the drive up to the trailhead, I was so excited to reach the glacial lake we were hiking to. The pictures I had looked up the night before were magnificent and looked to be straight out of a dream. It had been my dream after all to experience all of nature and this lake had been included in that. Never once did I feel tired of walking, I was filled with so much joy and an overwhelming sense of pure awe that I had the energy to walk a thousand trails. Each night I would fall asleep feeling completely content in the small tent I bundled myself in as the evening got cold, but the warmth of joy wrapped me in the most restful sleep. Each morning on the hike I would jump right up and start breakfast. I couldn't wait for another day I got to spend traveling new trails and experiencing new views. My love of the wilderness had only just begun in these moments on my first hike. Since then, I have hiked a few times with friends and family and each time I am reminded of nature's beauty and radiance and how fortunate I am to be able to experience it. I enjoy hiking because it brings me peace and lets me forget all of my troubles and become one with nature. I can hardly wait for the day I can experience the crunching of new rocks, fresh whispers of the wind, and the singing of a new song.

I have finally thrown out every trace of the lies that filled my mind, polluting my brain of every ounce of hope and confidence I had ever struggled to acquire. Like many, I struggled with immense amounts of self doubt and hatred that stemmed from many events and took on various forms. Contaminating the mind in which I had always wished would hope and dream of bigger things than simply making it through a conversation, excelling at a school project, or even passing the test I had study hours for— my mind simply could not comprehend my own abilities. Growing up, life was hard. I had to deal with the divorce of my parents, transferring schools, moving from one house to another, struggling to fit in, and desperately seeking my purpose. I hadn’t realized until recently that I have been able to achieve all the things I have only ever dreamed of. It was just this year, freshman year of college, that I discovered that I can be myself and people will like me for me. I decided that I could either continue on the track of self doubt and hatred leaving no room for any chance of happiness, or I could be myself and become the person everyone else knew I could be. The journey to becoming self confident, happy, excited for life, and assured in my own abilities has not been easy, but it has been worth it. In showing people who I truly am I have made lifelong friends and accomplished many things in college that my younger self would be so proud of.