Throughout my adolescent years, I was always the tallest girl in my classes. My mom is 5’10” and my dad is 6’1”, so naturally, my sisters and I acquired their height. Standing above all of my friends (both girls and boys) lead to many insecurities as I felt like an outcast. My pants almost never touched my ankles, I would always have to stand in the back row for pictures, and I was the first one to call when something needed taking down from a high shelf. And with the requests and attention, came the nicknames and the jeers. Classmates and even adults would (and still do) make comments about my height and body overall. It seems like everywhere I go I get asked, “Do you play basketball?” While some of these jokes are lighthearted and well-intentioned, they still cut deep. My peers make fun of me for having a lean frame and encourage me to “eat more.” I have been told that I do not have the right to complain about my body because I am skinny. Hearing these words in school, and while going through puberty, left me feeling disgusted and angry at myself for having the body that I did. Throughout my high school years, I have gained self-confidence as body positivity has spread throughout my community and on the internet. I have been exposed to other women with tall and thin statures that embrace their physique. I find these women empowering and influential. Now, I am not afraid to wear a skirt for fear that it makes my legs look too long, or wear a tank top that exposes my ‘noodle’ arms. My insecurities, while still present, have drastically diminished and I have learned to love and appreciate my body and the opportunities it gives me.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering, and it is my favorite way to help others. During those hot, sunny childhood summers, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. After my parent’s divorce, my single mother struggled to provide for her four daughters. We were forced to move houses, as we could no longer afford our mortgage. My mother tried to hide it, but my sisters and I knew the status of our finances when we had Kraft Mac and Cheese for dinner for the third time that week, or we had to re-wear clothes to school. We did have a happy childhood, nonetheless. I remember waking up on Christmas morning to see a bunch of presents on our doorstep that had been donated from New Hope Ministries. I was brought to tears because others within my community cared enough to provide us with a Christmas. Just this past year, I was able to volunteer with my school’s Key Club and help customers shop at New Hope Ministries for Christmas gifts, just as someone once did for me nearly a decade ago. It was incredible how full-circle everything became. Since then, I have completed over 150 hours of service and plan to continue to help my community in any way that I can.

Looking back on my childhood years, I realize that they were not the lighthearted, innocent, play-date, and giggle-filled times that you would expect for a young girl from a small town in Pennsylvania. Rather than visiting friends and creating forts, I would draw pictures to accompany the letters I sent to my eldest sister who was inpatient in multiple mental health facilities restricted for child visitors. I was more familiar with the concepts of suicide, hallucinations, purging, and medication than I was with hashtags, contour, ZhuZhu pets, and Steven Universe. While they were beyond frightening, the traumatic experiences (witnessing my sister’s episodes and suicide attempts) that I endured did provide me with the strength and courage to seek help for my own mental health struggles (anxiety and depression.) Despite my worry for my sister, I had to keep getting up every day and keep living life. I had to be strong for myself, my sister, and the rest of my family. I am a strong advocate for reducing the stigma around mental health and believe that everyone should have access to the help and support they need in order to be physically, emotionally, and mentally stable. I plan to major in sociology and hopefully become a Family Attorney to provide resources to others that may be struggling in any of these areas and make a difference in others’ lives.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering. During those hot, sunny childhood summers, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. I decided to join my school’s service organization (Key Club) freshman year. Serving my community has been of greater importance over the past few years than perhaps ever in my life because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the general loss of resources worldwide. Over the course of four years, I have completed over 150 hours of service through my involvement in Key Club. A few of my most memorable volunteering experiences include serving dinner for a picnic at a nursing home, staffing my school’s blood drive, serving dinner at my local fire hall, helping low-income families shop for Christmas presents, and wearing an Elmo suit to entertain kids at our town’s Easter Egg Hunt Celebration. On a daily, I strive to have a positive impact on the world by keeping a cheerful attitude and lifting up the spirits of others. I hope to spread kindness and make the day a little brighter for my peers, family, friends, teachers, and even strangers. I work to provide an act of kindness or even a smile to spread a little positivity. I hope to leave a legacy of kindness and selflessness that I hope to spread to others.

Looking back on my childhood years, I realize that they were not the lighthearted, innocent, play-date, and giggle-filled times that you would expect for a young girl from a small town in Pennsylvania. Rather than visiting friends and creating forts, I would draw pictures to accompany the letters I sent to my eldest sister who was inpatient in multiple mental health facilities restricted for child visitors. I was more familiar with the concepts of suicide, hallucinations, purging, and medication than I was with hashtags, contour, ZhuZhu pets, and Steven Universe. It all started around Christmas-time of fourth grade. I remember returning home from school to find my grandparents, mom, and step-father in a circle around my visibly-distraught eldest sister. I do not recall much of what occurred after that scene. Perhaps my brain repressed the memory to protect me from that traumatic time in my life. What I do remember is spending the night at my grandparents’ house. There, they told my two other sisters and I that our sister would not be home for a while and that she went someplace to help her brain become healthy. They told us she had an illness that needed to be treated and assured us that her absence was nothing to be scared about. Regardless, I cried all night and wondered if I’d ever see my sister again. The first time that my family and I visited my sister will be forever engraved in my brain. I remember entering a prison-like building and being asked many security questions. After being checked in, we were ushered into a long dining hall where numerous families sat. I caught a glimpse of my sister walking up to our designated table. In just a few months, she had changed so drastically. Her gaunt-like appearance, pale face, and sunken eyes were not what I remembered, nor expected. I immediately became agitated and concerned. Other patients around us were crying, shouting, and having breakdowns. Having never experienced or learned about mental disorders and their symptoms, I grew extremely overwhelmed and had to leave the room without even saying “Hello” to my sister. As a child, I did not receive an adequate amount of attention or love from really anyone. Being a middle child with three sisters was isolating enough, let alone when one was in and out of mental hospitals. It sounds selfish to say that I am angry at my parents for focusing their time on my eldest sister rather than me. There was much confusion, fear, and worry that stemmed from my sister’s sudden treatment. I felt pushed to the side and worthless at times. These feelings of abandonment remain unresolved in my psyche and I struggle with a negative self-image and self-value to this day. My family would continue to visit my sister throughout her transfer to and from various facilities. I grew more comfortable with age, and as I became more knowledgeable of my sister’s conditions. I realized that mental health was nothing to be scared about and that treatment is effective. Our family’s support was essential in making sure my sister knew she was not alone during her road to recovery and it was amazing to see her grow into a strong, intelligent woman over the years. While they were beyond frightening, the traumatic experiences (witnessing my sister’s episodes and suicide attempts) that I endured did provide me with the strength and courage to seek help for my own mental health struggles (anxiety and depression.) My sister struggled and continues to struggle with bulimia, anxiety, depression, auditory and visual hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. I am a strong advocate for reducing the stigma around mental health and believe that everyone should have access to the help and support they need in order to be physically, emotionally, and mentally stable. I always try to put myself in others’ shoes before judging them and recognize that you never know what another person is going through. Because of this realization, I treat everyone I meet with respect and compassion. For my future plans, I plan to major in sociology and hopefully become a Family Attorney to provide resources to others that may be struggling in any of these areas and make a difference in others’ lives.

I actively listen to those around me by maintaining open-mindedness and paying attention throughout the conversation. I believe it is important to treat others with respect and provide them with your undivided attention while they are speaking. I am genuine, empathetic, and accepting as I take in and process the information being given to me. I strive to make others feel welcomed and appreciated by thinking entirely about my ideas and thoughts before responding. It is important that speakers know that you care about their words and what they have to say matters. I may take notes, depending on the conversation and consider the feasibility of the speaker’s ideas, before offering advice, suggestions, and/or constructive criticism. I keep eye contact to show my engagement and and resist any urges to let my mind wander mid-conversation. I make it my goal to appy the speaker’s words to somethin in my life in order to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of the conversation and to personally relate to the topic at hand. By being a considerate, friendly listener, I am able to provid a shoulder to cry on, creative advice, or intelligent questions depending on the nature of the conversation.

I figured the best way to organize my thoughts was to make one, extremely long list of my favorite little things in life that motivate me to get up every morning, stay positive, and continue to spread kindness to everyone I meet: Fresh air, making others smile, seeing old couples in public, when a crowd shouts the lyrics to a song together, receiving compliments from strangers, fall scented candles, warm baked goods, finding loose change, looking up and seeing a plan or jet fly past, slurpies, warm knit sweaters, winning even a few dollars off a scratchoff, baby animals, silly romcoms dew in the morning, snow that hasn’t been stepped in yet, weighted blankets, poetry that is exactly what you needed to hear in that moment, home-made jewlery, minty gum (when it first hits), paying ahead for others and watching their shock as their waitress tells them, watching Jeopardy with grandparents, “text me when you get home”, when your favorite artist drops a new song, sitting next to someone and not saying a word but connecting, walks by yourself, feeling cold water on a hot day, looking at people’s old treasures at thrift stores and yard sales, seeing others open gifts you got them, reading the last page of a book that you know will stay with you forever, finishing a whole album front to back in one sitting, flowers starting to bloom, making a wish on a dandelion, seeing little kids set up a lemonade stand, petting a friendly dog you see in public, when someone lets you go in traffic or at a 4-way stop, deep belly laughs where you think you might pee yourself, and rekindling with an old friend and picking up right where you left off.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering. My three sisters and I would go to my grandparent’s house every day in the summer while our parents were at work. During those hot, sunny days, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. After my parent’s divorce, my single mother struggled to provide for her four daughters. We were forced to move houses, as we could no longer afford our mortgage. My mother tried to hide it, but my sisters and I knew the status of our finances when we had Kraft Mac and Cheese for dinner for the third time that week, or we had to re-wear clothes to school. We did have a happy childhood, nonetheless. I remember waking up on Christmas morning to see a bunch of presents on our doorstep that had been donated from New Hope Ministries. I was brought to tears because others within my community cared enough to provide us with a Christmas. Just this past year, I was able to volunteer with my school’s Key Club and help customers shop at New Hope Ministries for Christmas gifts, just as someone once did for me nearly a decade ago. It was incredible how full-circle everything became. Since then, I have completed over 150 hours of service and plan to continue to help my community in any way that I can.

I think that the best way to live a long, healthy life is to feel sincere peace and happiness, with complete contentment and appreciation of where one is in the present. Stress can leave chronic impacts on the body and mind, so eliminating any unnecessary pressure will result in a healthier physical and mental state. Physical exercise is also important in releasing serotonin and keeping the body active. Mentally, I believe that the ability to understand and advocate for yourself by explicitly communicating your emotions with others can also lead to a clearer mind and healthier life. I feel that pursuing one's passions leads to fulfillment and ultimately a happier life. Regrets and thoughts of disappointment toward one’s abilities can lead to feelings of depression and an unhealthy mind. Overall, I feel it is important to have a group of trusted and loved individuals who support you during your best and worst times One must take care of themselves and identify their values to gain a further understanding of who they are. Staying true to oneself and listening to one’s heart leads to a life of happiness, adventure, and contentment.

My dream life is one of peace and happiness, where I feel complete contentment and appreciation of where I am in the present. I hope to be influential and spread kindness to those around me by making an impact in my community, whether it be through volunteering, donating, innovating, etc. My ideal goal in life is to help others and to feel like I have achieved a meaningful purpose. A dream career of mine is to be a family attorney and assist families in the processes of adoption, divorce, custody battles, etc. I want to be a trustworthy, passionate advocate for families that do not have access to necessary resources, or struggle financially, mentally, physically, etc. when it comes to caring for themselves. I want to come to work each day and leave feeling that I have made a difference, despite the emotional burden and challenges that may come with being a family attorney. In terms of my personal life, I want to settle down with a partner and potentially have a few children (biologically and/or adopted). I hope to live comfortably and not have to stress financially. I dream of continuing to pursue my hobbies of reading, hiking, baking, and journaling in my free time, while also picking up new skills. I dream of teaching my children the importance of helping others. I plan on involving my family in volunteering opportunities within our community such as donating unnecessary clothing and toys, serving meals at a food kitchen, donating to local charities, sponsoring a family for Christmas, or potentially fostering children and/or animals. I dream of traveling and exploring new places. I want to learn about the cultures of other countries and appreciate unfamiliar traditions and values firsthand. Overall, I want to leave a positive impact on the world.

Looking back on my childhood years, I realize that they were not the lighthearted, innocent, play-date, and giggle-filled times that you would expect for a young girl from a small town in Pennsylvania. Rather than visiting friends and creating forts, I would draw pictures to accompany the letters I sent to my eldest sister who was inpatient in multiple mental health facilities restricted for child visitors. I was more familiar with the concepts of suicide, hallucinations, purging, and medication than I was with hashtags, contour, ZhuZhu pets, and Steven Universe. While they were beyond frightening, the traumatic experiences (witnessing my sister’s episodes and suicide attempts) that I endured did provide me with the strength and courage to seek help for my own mental health struggles (anxiety and depression.) My sister struggled and continues to struggle with bulimia, anxiety, depression, auditory and visual hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. I am a strong advocate for reducing the stigma around mental health and believe that everyone should have access to the help and support they need in order to be physically, emotionally, and mentally stable. I plan to major in sociology and hopefully become a Family Attorney to provide resources to others that may be struggling in any of these areas and make a difference in others’ lives.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering. My three sisters and I would go to my grandparent’s house every day in the summer while our parents were at work. During those hot, sunny days, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. I decided to join my school’s service organization (Key Club) freshman year. Serving my community has been of greater importance over the past few years than perhaps ever in my life because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the general loss of resources worldwide. Over the course of four years, I have completed over 150 hours of service through my involvement in Key Club. A few of my most memorable volunteering experiences include serving dinner for a picnic at a nursing home, staffing my school’s blood drive, serving dinner at my local fire hall, helping low-income families shop for Christmas presents, and wearing an Elmo suit to entertain kids at our town’s Easter Egg Hunt Celebration. I plan to major in Sociology with Criminology with a potential minor in Psychology in hopes of becoming a Family Attorney. I am passionate about aiding others that may be struggling financially, mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. I hope to be able to achieve and build upon my passions professionally as a Lawyer.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering. My three sisters and I would go to my grandparent’s house every day in the summer while our parents were at work. During those hot, sunny days, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. On a daily, I strive to have a positive impact on the world by keeping a cheerful attitude and lifting the spirits of others. I hope to spread kindness and make the day a little brighter for my peers, family, friends, teachers, and even strangers. I work to provide an act of kindness or even a smile to spread a little positivity. I plan on majoring in Sociology with Criminology with a potential minor in Psychology, with the hopes of continuing my education in law school and becoming a Family Attorney. I am passionate about aiding others that may be struggling financially, mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. I hope to be able to achieve and build upon my passions professionally as a Lawyer.

Looking back on my childhood years, I realize that they were not the lighthearted, innocent, play-date, and giggle-filled times that you would expect for a young girl from a small town in Pennsylvania. Rather than visiting friends and creating forts, I would draw pictures to accompany the letters I sent to my eldest sister who was inpatient in multiple mental health facilities restricted for child visitors. I was more familiar with the concepts of suicide, hallucinations, purging, and medication than I was with hashtags, contour, ZhuZhu pets, and Steven Universe. What seems like immediately after my parents’ divorce, my mom was forced to file bankruptcy and we moved into a tight, unflattering townhouse. My sisters and I received free lunches and typically wore the same outfit at least twice a week to school. I may not have realized the extent of my family’s financial insecurity as an eight-year-old, but looking back on the situation, I recognize how poor we had become. Even today, my parents are struggling to afford bills, my future college education, and unexpected expenses with surgeries and home repair. It is not uncommon for them to take money out of my account to cover such expenses. I am very much aware of my family’s financial situation and I feel like a burden and added expense to my parents’ already tight budget. I hope to earn this scholarship to relieve some of that anxiety. Except for my maternal grandparents, I have never really witnessed what true love or a healthy relationship looks like. My parents divorced when I was five, roughly four years before my sister went inpatient for the first time. I remember waking up one day and Daddy wasn’t home. Neither were any of his belongings. No warning. Lucky (is that the right word?) enough for me, my father is still present in my life and we have been able to develop a close bond and a shared deep appreciation for Baltimore Sports and Sweet Baby Ray’s Buffalo Sauce. I guess what I’m trying to say is, as a child, I did not receive an adequate amount of attention or love from really anyone. Being a middle child with three sisters was isolating enough, let alone when one was in and out of mental hospitals. It sounds selfish to say that I am angry at my parents for focusing their time on my eldest sister rather than me. There was much confusion, fear, and worry that stemmed from my sister’s sudden treatment. I felt pushed to the side and worthless at times. These feelings of abandonment remain unresolved in my psyche and I struggle with a negative self-image and self-value to this day. While they were beyond frightening, the traumatic experiences (witnessing my sister’s episodes and suicide attempts) that I endured did provide me with the strength and courage to seek help for my mental health struggles (anxiety and depression.) My sister struggled and continues to struggle with bulimia, anxiety, depression, auditory and visual hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. I am a strong advocate for reducing the stigma around mental health and believe that everyone should have access to the help and support they need to be physically, emotionally, and mentally stable. I plan to major in sociology and hopefully become a Family Attorney to provide resources to others that may be struggling in any of these areas and make a difference in others’ lives.

During the fall semester of my senior year, I completed a mandatory course within my school curriculum known as Personal Finance. While in the class, I did activities and simulations in which I was tasked with creating budgets, choosing insurance plans, searching for a house and a vehicle, and applying for loans. Having no prior knowledge of “adult” financial skills, I found these activities extremely helpful and stress-relieving. I received the most helpful piece of financial advice from my Personal Finance teacher. She told us, “It is perfectly healthy to spoil yourself every once in a while. You can buy a coffee or a new shirt. But, the tricky part is controlling your impulses. You must keep your end goal, your ‘big dream’, in mind. What is the most important thing that you are saving your money for? Always keep that idea at the forefront of your mind when making purchases.” As a senior in high school, it is sometimes challenging for me to think long-term about my future. I can become distracted by online sales and Doordash cravings. While these short-term pleasantries can serve as health occasional rewards, I have learned to control my impulses and look for alternatives, such as making meals at home and searching for clothes that I do not wear often. Just a few days ago, I officially enrolled at Millersville University and paid my confirmation fee. The ideas of adulthood, independence, and responsibility are starting to become more realistic as I start planning for a new chapter of my life. I am more aware of my ‘big goals’ in life: attending college and hopefully earning a master’s degree in Sociology. I am now more focused on these goals as I consider my spending habits and consider, cheaper alternate ideas to resist temptations or overspending.

I am finishing off my senior year of high school at South Western High School in Hanover, PA. I am committed to Millersville University to study Sociology with Criminology in the fall of 2022. My career goals include either pursuing Sociology with a Master’s Degree in such or becoming a Family Attorney and choosing the path of Law School. All in all, I want to help others that may be struggling mentally, physically, emotionally, financially, etc. providing them with proper resources. One way I plan on avoiding college debt is by transferring some AP credits that I earned in high school to Millersville University. I have scored proficiently on the AP tests for World History, Calculus AB-BC, and Government and Politics, and hope to score well on AP Statistics and AP Psychology tests this Spring. I plan on using any credits excepted by Millersville University to avoid debt. Additionally, I plan on taking on a part-time job while in college either on campus or in Lancaster. I have retail experience from working at Tj Maxx for roughly two years, and I would love to earn extra money to support myself and aid in canceling any student debt. I am in the process of applying to any and every scholarship that I can find that I am eligible for, such as this one. I want to earn as much financial aid and scholarships as possible to ease financial stress, as my family will have three, possibly four members (including myself) that will be enrolled in college courses this fall. I have already filled out the FAFSA and am keeping a well-organized schedule for when scholarships are due in order to successfully complete as many as I can. Not only did I choose Millersville for the outstanding Sociology program, the educated professors, and the welcoming environment, but also for its affordability. Millersville is an in-state university and offers a respectable financial aid package, compared to other universities that I got accepted into. I also qualified for the Presidential Scholarship, which will aid me in affording my college education. I plan on saving money early and repaying debts as quickly as possible to avoid excessive amounts of student debt. I will borrow pre-used textbooks for my studies and budget my spending wisely. I plan on keeping my end goal of graduating college debt-free in mind when debating purchasing items that may be unnecessary long-term.

Throughout my adolescent years, I was always the tallest girl in my classes. My mom is 5’10” and my dad is 6’1”, so naturally, my sisters and I acquired their height. Standing above all of my friends (both girls and boys) lead to many insecurities as I felt like an outcast. My pants rarely touched my ankles, I would always have to stand in the back row for pictures, and I was the first one to call when something needed taking down from a high shelf. And with the requests and attention, came the nicknames and the jeers. Classmates and even adults would (and still do) make comments about my height and body overall. It seems like everywhere I go I get asked, “Do you play basketball?” While some of these jokes are lighthearted and well-intentioned, they still cut deep. My peers make fun of me for having a lean frame and encourage me to “eat more.” I have been told that I do not have the right to complain about my body because I am skinny. Hearing these words in school, and while going through puberty, left me feeling disgusted and angry at myself for having the body that I did. Throughout my high school years, I have gained self-confidence as body positivity has spread throughout my community and on the internet. I have been exposed to other women with tall and thin statures that embrace their physique. I find these women empowering and influential. Now, I am not afraid to wear a skirt in fear that it makes my legs look too long, or wear a tank top that exposes my ‘noodle’ arms. My insecurities, while still present, have drastically diminished and I have learned to love and appreciate my body and the opportunities it gives me.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering. My three sisters and I would go to my grandparent’s house every day in the summer while our parents were at work. During those hot, sunny days, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. I decided to join my school’s service organization (Key Club) freshman year. Serving my community has been of greater importance over the past few years than perhaps ever in my life because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the general loss of resources worldwide. Over the course of four years, I have completed over 150 hours of service through my involvement in Key Club. A few of my most memorable volunteering experiences include serving dinner for a picnic at a nursing home, staffing my school’s blood drive, serving dinner at my local fire hall, helping low-income families shop for Christmas presents, and wearing an Elmo suit to entertain kids at our town’s Easter Egg Hunt Celebration. On a daily, I strive to have a positive impact on the world by keeping a cheerful attitude and lifting up the spirits of others. I hope to spread kindness and make the day a little brighter for my peers, family, friends, teachers, and even strangers. I work to provide an act of kindness or even a smile to spread a little positivity.

My dream life is one of peace and happiness, where I feel complete contentment and appreciation of where I am in the present. I hope to be influential and spread kindness to those around me by making an impact in my community, whether it be through volunteering, donating, innovating, etc. My ideal goal in life is to help others and to feel like I have achieved a meaningful purpose. A dream career of mine is to be a family attorney and assist families in the processes of adoption, divorce, custody battles, etc. I want to be a trustworthy, passionate advocate for families that do not have access to necessary resources, or struggle financially, mentally, physically, etc. when it comes to caring for themselves. I want to come to work each day and leave feeling that I have made a difference, despite the emotional burden and challenges that may come with being a family attorney. In terms of my personal life, I want to settle down with a partner and potentially have a few children (biologically and/or adopted). I hope to live comfortably and not have to stress financially. I dream of continuing to pursue my hobbies of reading, hiking, baking, and journaling in my free time, while also picking up new skills. I dream of teaching my children the importance of helping others. I plan on involving my family in volunteering opportunities within our community such as donating unnecessary clothing and toys, serving meals at a food kitchen, donating to local charities, sponsoring a family for Christmas, or potentially fostering children and/or animals. I dream of traveling and exploring new places. I want to learn the cultures of other countries and appreciate unfamiliar traditions and values firsthand. All in all, I dream of leaving a positive impact on the world.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering. My three sisters and I would go to my grandparent’s house every day in the summer while our parents were at work. During those hot, sunny days, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. After my parent’s divorce, my single mother struggled to provide for her four daughters. We were forced to move houses, as we could no longer afford our mortgage. My mother tried to hide it, but my sisters and I knew the status of our finances when we had Kraft Mac and Cheese for dinner for the third time that week, or we had to re-wear clothes to school. We did have a happy childhood, nonetheless. I remember waking up on Christmas morning to see a bunch of presents on our doorstep that had been donated from New Hope Ministries. I was brought to tears because others within my community cared enough to provide us with a Christmas. Just this past year, I was able to volunteer with my school’s Key Club and help customers shop at New Hope Ministries for Christmas gifts, just as someone once did for me nearly a decade ago. It was incredible how full-circle everything became. Since then, I have completed over 150 hours of service and plan to continue to help my community in any way that I can.

I am currently in an interracial relationship. I am Caucasian, while my boyfriend is African American. I am not ignorant when it comes to acknowledging the racial discrimination that is rampant in the world. I am aware of the pain that hates leaves on minority individuals, yet no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to truly relate to our understanding of the struggles that African Americans face in their daily lives. Just a few days ago, the diversity club at my high school put on our very first Black History Month Assembly in which African American culture was shared with our predominately white student body and staff. I found the assembly enlightening and impactful, as the participants strived to create a sense of appreciation within the audience members, rather than a need to appropriate. I recognized the privilege that I have as a Caucasian woman in America and felt honored that my peers and boyfriend had the strength to share their heritage and values with the student body. I felt beyond proud of every one of them and felt that they had successfully educated the students. However, some of my peers did not feel the same sense of enlightenment as I did. On the night after the assembly, I saw a post on my boyfriend’s Snapchat story: a screenshot of a conversation between him and a white student at our school. The white student asked my boyfriend if she could say the n-word around him because she “couldn’t resist it and loved the word”. My boyfriend was upset, as were his friends, and felt defeated after putting on the assembly. It was at that moment that I understood the impact of racism within my community and realized the importance of fighting for equality.

During the fall semester of my senior year, I completed a mandatory course within my school curriculum known as Personal Finance. While in the class, I did activities and simulations in which I was tasked with creating budgets, choosing insurance plans, searching for a house and a vehicle, and applying for loans. Having no prior knowledge of “adult” financial skills, I found these activities extremely helpful and stress-relieving. I received the most helpful piece of financial advice from my Personal Finance teacher. She told us, “It is perfectly healthy to spoil yourself every once in a while. You can buy a coffee or a new shirt. But, the tricky part is controlling your impulses. You must keep your end goal, your ‘big dream’, in mind. What is the most important thing that you are saving your money for? Always keep that idea at the forefront of your mind when making purchases.” As a senior in high school, it is sometimes challenging for me to think long-term about my future. I can become distracted by online sales and Doordash cravings. While these short-term pleasantries can serve as health occasional rewards, I have learned to control my impulses and look for alternatives, such as making meals at home and searching for clothes that I do not wear often. Just a few days ago, I officially enrolled at Millersville University and paid my confirmation fee. The ideas of adulthood, independence, and responsibility are starting to become more realistic as I start planning for a new chapter of my life. I am more aware of my ‘big goals’ in life: attending college and hopefully earning a master’s degree in Sociology. I am now more focused on these goals as I consider my spending habits and consider, cheaper alternate ideas to resist temptations or overspending.

During the fall semester of my senior year, I completed a mandatory course within my school curriculum known as Personal Finance. While in the class, I did activities and simulations in which I was tasked with creating budgets, choosing insurance plans, searching for a house and a vehicle, and applying for loans. Having no prior knowledge of “adult” financial skills, I found these activities extremely helpful and stress-relieving. I received the most helpful piece of financial advice from my Personal Finance teacher. She told us, “It is perfectly healthy to spoil yourself every once in a while. You can buy a coffee or a new shirt. But, the tricky part is controlling your impulses. You must keep your end goal, your ‘big dream’, in mind. What is the most important thing that you are saving your money for? Always keep that idea at the forefront of your mind when making purchases.” As a senior in high school, it is sometimes challenging for me to think long-term about my future. I can become distracted by online sales and Doordash cravings. While these short-term pleasantries can serve as health occasional rewards, I have learned to control my impulses and look for alternatives, such as making meals at home and searching for clothes that I do not wear often. Just a few days ago, I officially enrolled at Millersville University and paid my confirmation fee. The ideas of adulthood, independence, and responsibility are starting to become more realistic as I start planning for a new chapter of my life. I am more aware of my ‘big goals’ in life: attending college and hopefully earning a master’s degree in Sociology. I am now more focused on these goals as I consider my spending habits and consider, cheaper alternate ideas to resist temptations or overspending.

Currently a senior, I have been involved in numerous organizations within my high school for four years, most of I serve in as an officer. Through my executive board positions, I have had the opportunity to assist middle schoolers and underclassmen in developing their leadership skills and boosting their self-confidence. I have been a friendly face for new and returning members of school organizations and I am always willing to answer any questions, offer advice, or just have a conversation. I am welcoming and introduce myself to new members to ensure that they feel comfortable. I hope to inspire underclassmen to run for officer positions and simply step out of theri comfort zone. I wish to encourage othersto lift others up instead of pushing them down and to be the positive light in what seems like a dreary situation. I hope that my kindness proves to be contagious and I leave behind a legacy of inclusivity and goal-oriented teamwork. I hope that I have motivated others to be the best version of themselves. With my organizations, I am very vocal about struggles I have. While I do not go into detail, I acknowledge mental health issues and reinforce the idea that one person can not do everything and it is okay to ask for help. I work to create safe, comfortable spaces within clubs to share any feelings, whether it be anonymously or in front of the entire group. I hope that my actions have been impactful and my peers feel safe enough to set boundaries with themselves and know their limits when it comes to their workload.

My passion for aiding others within my community was a foundational part of my childhood and has strengthened as I have continued to grow and experience volunteer opportunities. My grandmother first introduced me to volunteering. My three sisters and I would go to my grandparent’s house every day in the summer while our parents were at work. During those hot, sunny days, my sisters, my grandmother, and I would go to New Hope Ministries to sort clothes and food, collect food for a community food drive, and go through our closets to donate unneeded clothes and toys. My grandmother instilled in me the importance of giving back to others and being kind to everyone you meet. After my parent’s divorce, my single mother struggled to provide for her four daughters. We were forced to move houses, as we could no longer afford our mortgage. My mother tried to hide it, but my sisters and I knew the status of our finances when we had Kraft Mac and Cheese for dinner for the third time that week, or we had to rewear clothes to school. We did have a happy childhood, nonetheless. I remember waking up on Christmas morning to see a bunch of presents on our doorstep that had been donated from New Hope Ministries. I was brought to tears because others within my community cared enough to provide us with a Christmas. Just this past year, I was able to volunteer with my school’s Key Club and help customers shop at New Hope Ministries for Christmas gifts, just as someone once did for me nearly a decade ago. It was incredible how full-circle everything became. Since then, I have completed over 150 hours of service and plan to continue to help my community in any way that I can.

I am currently in an interracial relationship. I am Caucasian, while my boyfriend is African American. I am not ignorant when it comes to acknowledging the racial discrimination that is rampant in the world. I am aware of the pain that hate leaves on minority individuals, yet no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to truly relate to or understand the struggles that African Americans face in their daily lives. Just a few days ago, the diversity club at my high school put on our very first Black History Month Assembly in which African American culture was shared with our predominately white student body and staff. I found the assembly enlightening and impactful, as the participants strived to create a sense of appreciation within the audience members, rather than a need to appropriate. I recognized the privilege that I have as a Caucasian woman in America and felt honored that my peers and boyfriend had the strength to share their heritage and values with the student body. I felt beyond proud of each and every one of them and felt that they had successfully educated the students. However, some of my peers did not feel the same sense of enlightenment as I did. On the night after the assembly, I saw a post on my boyfriend’s Snapchat story: a screenshot of a conversation between him and a white student at our girl. The white student asked my boyfriend if she could say the n-word around him because she “couldn’t resist it and loved the word”. My boyfriend was obviously upset, as were his friends, and felt defeated after putting on the assembly. It was at that moment that I understood the impact of racism within my own community and realized the importance of fighting for equality.