Volunteers who give their time to help those in need, teachers who dedicate their careers to molding young minds into the next generation of great thinkers, and even those kind individuals who hold the door open for others as they enter a store- leadership comes in many forms and it is needed to make the world go round. From small acts of kindness to ruling a country, anyone can demonstrate leadership skills or acquire a leadership title, but true, effective leadership means that one demonstrates the ability to treat others as equals and use their strengths to improve the environment around them. Treating others as equals is imperative to true leadership. When a person with a certain title uses their position to get an upper hand or put others down they are not a true leader, they are just a bully using their perceived power to get what they want. Someone who truly cares about their cause and the people they organize will try to see someone eye-to-eye and treat them with unconditional positive regard. The comfort level of the people around you is the most important thing about being a leader. You need to make people feel like they are not judged and can come to you about anything so it can be fixed. The next thing a true leader needs is a deep understanding of their strengths. There are several ways a person can be a leader depending on their personality: quiet, bookish people can analyze a situation from afar and make notes on how it can be improved in the future and loud, outgoing individuals can easily connect with and direct team members. Knowing one’s self well enough to achieve a goal in an individualized way is extremely important as it takes all types of people to make a team function- it is called a team in the first place because everyone relies on each other- because everyone leads in their way. Leadership is everywhere. It is present in every workplace, passion project, charity, and even in every individual. Without leadership, our world would fall apart at the seams and we as a society would lack passion, drive, and vision in everything we attempt. Everyone has a leader in them, even if they have not realized it or simply do not believe they are. Finding one’s leadership is not an easy task, but doing so leaves a lasting, positive impact not only in the mind of the leader but in the environment they find themself.

If I could have everyone in the world read one book, I would choose one of my favorites: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. The Metamorphosis follows the story of ex-salesman Gregor Samsa, who has woken up to find he turned into a giant cockroach while he was sleeping. Samsa faces several difficulties with his new bug-like body. The people around him have become disgusted with his appearance, including his family whom he must watch fall into poverty as he can no longer provide for them in his current state. Eventually, Gregor becomes more in tune with his bug body, enjoying being able to climb on walls, but he never feels truly fulfilled because he can no longer do the things he used to love, and he eventually believes that he has become so much of a burden to his family that he eventually decides to die. The Metamorphosis may not seem like it is for everyone due to its strange premise and occasionally dark tones, nor does it seem that meaningful, but after sitting down to think over what the book is trying to say, it becomes an important piece of literature to the reader. Gregor became a roach during his sleep, not for any reason specified within the text. Despite this tragedy, he adjusted overtime to life as a roach, but he never really felt content because in many ways he lacked the support or understanding of the people around him during his toughest moments, causing him to eventually take the path toward death. Although the book has many interpretations, I like to believe that it is trying to say that tragedy happens by chance, and one simply must play the hand they have been dealt through perseverance. The path towards recovery is adaptation and people cannot always adapt without the support of those they care most deeply about. The Metamorphosis is a delightful read as it shares insight into the fact that life is not a fairytale and it can turn for the worse in the blink of an eye, a fact that everyone will learn eventually if they have not already. It shows that everyone needs support in life, especially during the cruel moments it has to offer.

I grew up watching animated Disney movies. As a young child, I loved the stories and characters but as I got a little bit older, I started to appreciate the skill and dedication that went into the animation itself. The colors, the artistry put into the backgrounds, and the fluid motions of these cartoon characters, all began to stand out to me as I viewed these films again but through the artistic lens I acquired through years of loving to draw and sculpt. I began to research and take inspiration from the fundamental concepts that Disney put into its animations, applying them to my works. One of the most influential things that Disney taught me about art is the concept of character design, something that revolutionized how I draw as an artist. I was fascinated by how a character could show up on the screen and before they even had a line of dialogue, I could tell what kind of a character they would be. After I investigated this, I learned that this was because of a concept called “shape language,” something that not only communicates a lot about a drawing subject to the viewer but also makes for a much more streamlined and visually appealing design. Shape language as a concept is using shapes on the character's clothing or in their body type to convey different things about them with round shapes showing approachableness, sharp angles showing intensity, and square shapes showing strength. Examples of this in Disney are quite rampant, but my favorite film that highlights this concept perfectly would be Emperor's New Groove, showing the physical strength of Kronk through his square design and Yzma’s cruelness through the sharp angles present in her face and outfit. Another concept I learned from Disney movies was the concept of drawing dynamic poses. In my artistic journey, the subjects of my pieces became sound after researching character design from Disney, but my pieces seemed still and lacked direction, so I looked to Disney’s animation again for inspiration. This time around, I discovered something called a “line of action.” This was a concept where most figures' movements can be simplified into a simple line that follows the pose of a character, with a more curved line showing more movement. This concept was difficult for me to understand at first but after seeing animated shorts like the old Mickey Mouse cartoons where characters had very exaggerated movements and poses, the concept clicked in my mind, and I started applying it to my art. Although I may not have a Disneyesque art style, Disney’s animations taught me several fundamentals of art that I have benefited from. I have a deep appreciation for all the care and attention the animators and artists at Disney put into their work and without it, I would not be half the artist I am today. It is the concepts I learned from Disney that have allowed me to be accomplished in one of my favorite crafts and I will never forget my roots.

When I was younger, I did not consider myself to be a “numbers person.” I had a challenging time understanding concepts that my peers seemed to get easily, and my strengths always were in the arts or humanities. I eventually went to math tutoring, allowing me to comprehend the concepts I needed to catch up with, and eventually surpass my peers, but math still did not stand out to me until I started learning more about the basic concepts of adulthood and took a closer look at the world around me. I realized through this process of learning that the truth is that math is necessary for life no matter what path a person takes. If a person does not have at least a basic amount of proficiency in math, they cannot independently survive in a society whose core systems are based upon it. From budgeting to feeding a pet the proper amount, basic math is used every day and is the foundation of everything one does in adulthood. Because of this truth, knowing math gives me a sense of comfort and allows me to recognize that I have skills that will help me when I take my first steps on my own. Math also has profound applications besides my sense of security, however. Math has been fueled by generations of the greatest minds that humankind has had to offer. Einstein, Pythagoras, Tesla, Newton, and Euclid, to think little of math is to think little of them and humanity’s greatest achievements. Without math, we would have never built skyscrapers that pierce the clouds, we would never have perfected medicines to cure diseases that were previously known as death sentences, we would have never set foot on the grounds of other planets, and there would be no possibility of continuing to make the impossible possible. I enjoy math because it helps me understand the world much better and the innovations it allows us to create keep me hopeful about the future. Because of math, I am excited for the wins that will be seen far after my lifetime. I do not stray away from math because it is hard, rather I see its value and beauty and chase it anyway.

Growing up, I sang, hummed, and whistled, I would tap out rhythms on pots and pans, and I would mess around on the piano without really knowing what I was doing. It was all just silly things I used to keep myself occupied when I was bored to me then and nothing more. Growing up, I also was timid, stuck in my head, and underconfident. Little did I know that music, that silly thing I messed around with when I had nothing else to do, would change that all for me. I never really considered myself to be “musically inclined” before middle school. During elementary music class, my attempt at singing was more comparable to squawking than actual music or any pleasant sound for that matter. Due to my lack of experience with this singular form of making music, I never considered myself to be a musician. But then middle school came. I joined the school’s band class, simply because my friends were joining, and I chose to play the flute since it was the first instrument I tried where I was able to make a proper sound on the mouthpiece. However, when my sixth-grade year began and I started to attend band class, I soon came to realize that I was a fast learner and that music would become something so much more dearer to me than I realized. Through my six years of being a flute player, I have had the pleasure of learning so much and building myself up as a person along the way. The flute has given me an avenue for not only self-expression but a way to be proud of tangible progress. Through excelling in my performance as a player, my eyes have been opened to a side of myself that I could not see before, a side of me that is confident, dedicated, disciplined, and talented. My playing, my achievements, my awards, and even just hearing the notes that flow out of my instrument have truly allowed me to see what kind of a person I have the potential to be and apply this newfound confidence to other aspects of my life. Music has transformed me from a quiet, timid, and unsure person, to being able to speak when I need to and having more confidence in myself. Band class has shown me the world in an entirely new light by allowing me to see an entirely different version of myself. The world is so much less scary because of the friendships I have made and the avenue of self-expression I have gained. Music has allowed me to express myself in ways that I could not before. I may make music, but music has truly made me into who I am.

People tend to think of leaders as having a strong voice they use to direct others. Leaders are portrayed as these tall, outspoken, dominant figures with absolutely no doubt in their minds about what their next move will be, always one step ahead of the game. The truth is that leadership comes in many forms and the true way that one becomes a leader is knowing how to best put their talents to help others in the most efficient way possible. I have been able to show leadership by recognizing my talents and using them to build others up, gaining me both leadership positions in the form of titles and spirit along the way. For a long time, I did not realize that I could be a leader, always citing my tendencies to be quiet and hesitant as an excuse against it. However, as I grew older, I came to realize that I am a leader, just not in the way that fits my initial perceptions of what a leader is. I have always been the person that my peers went to for advice, help with homework, or simply a shoulder to cry on. I hesitate because I analyze the best course of action rather than jumping the gun and being careless. I realized that the very things that made me “incapable” of leading were the very things that helped others and myself prosper. I lead not in a way that directs, but rather in a way that supports. Band class is one place where I have shown exceptional leadership, gaining many titles along the way. In middle school, I was president and consistently first chair out of the entire band, a reflection of my dedication and intellectual skill. In my sophomore year, I became a music librarian due to my organizational abilities. Now as I approach my senior year, I have gained the title of squad leader as well in recognition of my talents in emotionally supporting others and positively giving others constructive criticism. I consistently help my fellow band members in any way that I can, giving my peers feedback on their solos, advising my section on instrument care, helping others with their marching technique, and even showing respect towards my environment by consistently helping with band hall cleaning and maintenance. However, my leadership does not only apply to places where I have simply earned a title. Outside of band, the school clubs I help run, or my place in the National Honor Society, I continue to lead as a leadership title is just that- a title. In my classes I help others with their homework, helping explain directions or concepts to my peers in a simpler, more approachable manner. Outside of school, I pick up trash off the ground when no one is watching, I volunteer, I help people, and I strive to become the best version of myself possible. I am a leader and I have no intention of stopping anytime soon. In the future, I want to lead by continuing to volunteer and use my strength in supporting others to become a therapist. I want to become the guide that helps others navigate the winding, rocky path that is life while giving all that I can to help the world around me. I see the light in the world that could potentially be. I see the difference I can make. All I need to do is continue to grow and continue to lead.

Many of my peers have asked me why I am so intent on studying and excelling in the math classes I take even though I am not planning to pursue a math-heavy career or a degree in mathematics. Many people find this confusing as it is typically the future engineers, architects, or otherwise mathematicians that put so much care into a simple high school class, but the people who have asked me this question do not see things the way I do. These same people commonly ask things like “How am I going to use this in the real world?” during math classes because they do not see the truth that math is the real world. Yes, I may not be planning on being a physicist or chemist, but math’s reach exceeds far beyond being in a STEM career- it is a necessary skill for everyday adulthood no matter what path you take. If you do not have at least a basic amount of proficiency in math, you cannot independently survive in a society whose core systems are based upon it. How would one pay bills if they did not know how to add or subtract? How would one budget their paycheck if they do not have a concept of division and proportions? Math is imperative for basic success in finances, the very thing that people live on, but it also can apply to much smaller, everyday things one encounters in the real world. Maintaining a proper distance from other vehicles while on the road, cutting the right amount of wrapping paper to package a gift, and measuring out the right amount of food to give to your pet, are all math. Because math is a necessary skill for adulthood, it gives me a certain sense of comfort to know it. It serves as a reminder that I have the foundation to find success as I continue to grow. However, math goes even further than just this sense of security for my future, it ensures a prospect of growth for humanity itself. Math has been fueled by generations of the greatest minds that humankind has had to offer. Einstein, Pythagoras, Tesla, Newton, and Euclid, to think little of math is to think little of them- to think little of humanity’s greatest achievements. Without math, we would have never built skyscrapers that pierce the clouds, we would never have perfected medicines to cure diseases that used to be a death sentence, we would have never set foot on the grounds of other planets, and there would be no possibility of continuing to make the impossible possible. I enjoy math because it helps me understand the world much better and its very existence, the innovations it allows us to create, keep me hopeful about the future- even makes me excited for the wins that will be seen far after my lifetime. I do not stray away from math simply because it is hard, rather I see its value and beauty and chase it anyway.

I want to be someone that helps people using my passion and knowledge in mental health to lift others as well as my self- a person who will not stop until they've truly witnessed the mark they have left on the world and their community.