The best lesson my PawPaw ever taught me was to pursue my ambitions regardless of what those around me might say. When I was around four years old, I wanted to learn not only how to cook but learn how to have my own cooking show. He worked with me in finding the correct spices and ingredients for my so-called “recipes”, as well as helped set up the camera to film the process of me creating my dishes. Watching back the videos of my very short lived cooking show career always brings back my favorite memories of him. Further on in my childhood, I expressed an interest in going fishing. The very next day he bought me a little Barbie fishing rod and taught me how to cast. Once my lessons were over, I had made it to the big leagues and got to go out on the Gulf and actually cast my rod for real that time. Together we accumulated many fishing stories, but as all fishing stories go, there is no photo evidence to back up our claims. My mom still denies that a manatee swam under the dock we were casting from, but my PawPaw and I remember it clear as day. When I brought up that I was interested in shooting at a range, my PawPaw sat me down and created a seven day course which included all things surrounding gun safety, cleaning the weapon, and how to shoot. Upon my graduation of his course, I was finally able to go to a range and test out my marksman abilities. To me, my PawPaw was never scary Colonel Buckles, the armor officer, Airborne, Ranger, to me he was the tender-hearted man that inspired me to do whatever I set my heart out to try. I was to pick a goal, understand it, and achieve it, and I attribute all progress that I have made in life to him. Without the higher thought out processing of a goal that he taught me, I may have never pushed myself to try new things or tryout for sports or teams that I would have never even dreamed about trying out for. While in high school, I decided that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and became an ROTC cadet like he was many moons ago. My PawPaw taught me to follow my goals, little did I know that one day those goals would be the ones he himself once followed.

Math has been a subject that I have never been the absolute best at, but my struggle is what made me come to love math. It gave me a challenge and had me reevaluate the way I look at things. I think the part about math that resonates with me the most is that unlike many other subjects, math will always have a right answer. It is getting to the answer that may not always be the same way twice. Each problem requires creative and complex thinking, I may not have the same approach to solving an equation as the person next to me. I believe that it is beautiful to be able to collaborate with the person next to me and share our different processes with us both ending in the same conclusion. Math is not a one size fits all subject, everyone has their own niche strategies that lead them to their answer. What I love most about math is that I can be as creative as I want in the solving process and still find the correct answer. I mention the "correct answer" quite a few times, this is because I am a chronic perfectionist, finding the answer satisfies me to a level that is inexplainable, knowing that I can achieve this "right answer" while developing my own ways to get there is something I find amazing, this is why I said it isn't a one size fits all type of subject, because many people who also think the way I do, have their own strategies. To love math is not to be simply good at it, loving math is reveling in the struggle and coming up with your own ways to find the oh so satisfying answer.

From a very young age, I always knew I wanted to be a part of something, something that would be bigger than I was. As I grew older and was more aware of the job opportunities I had in life, it became clear to me what that something was. The United States Army. After doing my research on the disciplines that are found in the Army I decided that I wanted to focus on Human Intelligence. How would I get there, was the question I asked myself everyday until I came up with my plan to reach my career goal. Upon my research, I felt that the best way to obtain the job I want was to be awarded an ROTC Scholarship to a 4-year institution. Receiving this scholarship is very competitive and no easy task. I felt that joining my school’s JROTC would propel me as a candidate. After 3 years of hard work in the JROTC program I achieved the rank of Co-Captain in Raiders, CyberPatriot, and the Drill team. Not only was I the Co-Captain of these teams, but I was the Executive Officer of the entire battalion. Walking into JROTC I wanted a micro experience of military life, instead I found lifelong skills such as leadership, organization, and dedication. All good skills that boost my abilities of getting my scholarship. On top of being a member of JROTC, I was a member of NHS, Science NHS, and English NHS, as well as a Varsity member of the Track and Field team for throwing shot put and discus. I was also a staff selected member of a team that directly advised my county's superintendent. Throughout all of my extracurriculars, I have accumulated over 250 hours of community service. It is quite safe to say that I have mastered the skill of time management. As important as the leadership skills I’ve acquired are, education is the most important. My studies are something that I have always been quite dedicated to. The dedication to my learning has earned me numerous awards focused on my academics. I keep my course rigor quite high as well, this prepares me for the workload that will be expected of me not just in college, but in the working world as well. My education is important in general, but it's more important to me. With scholarships I will be able to earn a higher education along with my commission. Why human intelligence? Human intelligence aligns with many of my skills such as analytical and critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership capabilities. This field will give me the opportunity to help stop bad people before it is too late, thus causing harm to my country, my people. Human intelligence will enable me to use the full capacity of my thinking in a productive way that will help people one day. At the end of the day, my goal is to be someone bigger than myself, scholarships allowing me to go to college and commission will get me there. Ultimately my goal is to help people find solace and safety when they sleep at night. To help prevent immoral acts from harming not only my country but my country’s allies as well. I hope that with my commissioning that I will make the world a better place and it starts with scholarships. Overall, I felt a strong connection to Ms. Kalia's drive and work ethic and hope to carry on in her footsteps.

From a very young age, I always knew I wanted to be a part of something, something that would be bigger than I was. As I grew older and was more aware of the job opportunities I had in life, it became clear to me what that something was. The United States Army. After doing my research on the disciplines that are found in the Army I decided that I wanted to focus on Human Intelligence. How would I get there, was the question I asked myself everyday until I came up with my plan to reach my career goal. Upon my research, I felt that the best way to obtain the job I want was to be awarded an ROTC Scholarship to a 4-year institution. Receiving this scholarship is very competitive and no easy task. I felt that joining my school’s JROTC would propel me as a candidate. After 3 years of hard work in the JROTC program I achieved the rank of Co-Captain in Raiders, CyberPatriot, and the Drill team. Not only was I the Co-Captain of these teams, but I was the Executive Officer of the entire battalion. Walking into JROTC I wanted a micro experience of military life, instead I found lifelong skills such as leadership, organization, and dedication. All good skills that boost my abilities of getting my scholarship. As important as the leadership skills I’ve acquired are, education is the most important. My studies are something that I have always been quite dedicated to. The dedication to my learning has earned me numerous awards focused on my academics. I keep my course rigor quite high as well, this prepares me for the workload that will be expected of me not just in college, but in the working world as well. My education is important in general, but it's more important to me. With scholarships I will be able to earn a higher education along with my commission. Why human intelligence? Human intelligence aligns with many of my skills such as analytical and critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership capabilities. This field will give me the opportunity to help stop bad people before it is too late, thus causing harm to my country, my people. Human intelligence will enable me to use the full capacity of my thinking in a productive way that will help people one day. At the end of the day, my goal is to be someone bigger than myself, scholarships allowing me to go to college and commission will get me there. Ultimately my goal is to help people find solace and safety when they sleep at night. To help prevent immoral acts from harming not only my country but my country’s allies as well. I hope that with my commissioning that I will make the world a better place and it starts with scholarships.

My Pawpaw, Tony, had served in the Army for 40 years. He had told me many stories from his time serving as a tanker and his time being a leader to others. It wasn’t until his burial at Arlington National Cemetery that I realized I wanted to be just like him, my biggest regret was not realizing that sooner and telling him. The ceremony moved me in many ways, seeing his old Army friends come to see him and watching the soldiers conduct a beautiful service. This was the moment I realized I wanted what he had: honor, respect, and camaraderie. Eventually I started my freshman year of high school. I had decided to try out my school’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC). It was here that I felt that I truly found purpose, not to just better myself but to help better those around me. Through my dedication to my studies, fitness, and many hours of community service, I quickly rose through the ranks. I became a drill commander, a key member of the cyber team that made it to nationals, and worked my way up to become my battalion’s executive officer. JROTC is one of my biggest passions and I put all the hard work I could into it. While balancing my time with JROTC, I was also a varsity member of my school's track and field team throwing shot put and discus. I was also a member of the National Honor Society, English National Honor Society, and Science National Honor Society. It is safe to say that among all of these clubs and being granted the title of Summa Cum Laude, I am very good with time management. With all of these clubs I gained over 250 hours of community service throughout all 4 years of school. These hours mean a lot to me, they demonstrate the many impacts that I have had on my local community. It is because of these services that I was even more inspired to join the military. My Pawpaw gave me the inklings of military spirit, but serving my community gave me my passion. In my time in the service, I hope to work military intelligence. Human intelligence aligns with many of my skills such as analytical and critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership capabilities. This field will give me the opportunity to help stop bad people before it is too late, thus causing harm to my country, my people. Human intelligence will enable me to use the full capacity of my thinking in a productive way that will help people one day, and this is what excites me most. I am hoping that as a military officer, I show to young women everywhere that they have the bravery, the strength, and the character to follow as well. Joining the military will be a demonstration of the strength of women and forge the way for women to be equals in the military field. I want every little girl in the world that they too can be a part of something that is greater than themselves. Someone that helps their community and their people. Someone who is strong and as capable as anyone else. I want to support women empowerment by being a figure that people can look to and have women believe in themselves, even if it is just a bit more, a little belief will always go a long way.

If my year so far was a song from the 1989 album it would have to be “New Romantics”. To me the song is a representation of growth through out her life which is why it’s featured on the album with the title of the year she was born. I resonate with this song as a means of coming to terms with the hardships of the past year. Taylor who eloquently states that she took the hate she received and turned it into something new, something beautiful. To cheat just a little bit, I quote a lyric from “The Archer” on her album titled “Lover”.“ 'Cause all of my enemies started out friends”. This line has been one to stick with me due to experiencing it first hand. To hear Taylor in “New Romantics” be able to express both feelings of tranquility yet also vulnerability is something I hope to one day be able to emulate. To further add on to the point, thought I have had friendships that died and twisted into something sour I learned how to be able to live for myself and not for the pleasure of those around me as represented in the song. Another song that’s applicable to the year so far is “Clean”. To me this song is the embodiment of moving on from the grief and sorrow and taking a breath for the first time. This year has been mentally, emotionally, and even physically exhausting. “Clean” is a representation as to how the end of the year is approaching, a small wave of calm in the midst of a storm, my time to let out that one exhausted breath. The end is in sight. To be clean is to wash the pain away. The pain of supposed friends talking about you behind your back. The pain of the academic mental strain. The pain from every ounce of self consciousness flowing through my mind. To be clean is to understand what happened to you and to move on with grace. The last song from “1989” that I feel in my bones is “Wonderland”. I don’t feel it in the literal sense of falling in love with someone but by feeling it through the melody. The melody tells a story in its own right. The melody is telling me as it progresses how life webs and flows, it has its highs and its lows, but overall the melody tells me that it’s time to embrace what is my version of wonderland. Essentially whispering to me how it is time for me to be happy and let the pain from the year wash away, to be clean, and to have a new, almost romantic, outlook on what life could have in store for me.