I would say "Crooked Smile" by J. Cole has the most important message to me. The song itself has a sense of empowerment, specifically the empowerment of women, which is not very common in the rap industry J. Cole is famous for. "Crooked Smile" addresses the general idea that beauty is more than just what's on the outside, and I believe this is a beautiful message that should be discussed more often. This song was crafted magnificently and deserves more attention. For a popular male artist to proudly release music uplifting women and supporting them in knowing their worth creates the community we need. The community artists create is so powerful. When artists like J. Cole release music similar to this, it strengthens the minds of the community. Music has the ability to move people, to ignite certain emotions. Having a community for support is so important, and the music community is almost always reliably welcoming.

1. My interest in pursuing a computer science degree began in my sophomore year of high school in my Intro to Programming course. The following year, I took the Java Programming course offered. I have always had more of a Math brain over English and for me, coding is like math. Each formula, or line of code, will produce a certain outcome. In my opinion, coding is quite black and white; there are minimal grey areas, which I prefer. At Virginia Tech, I am continuing to develop my coding skills and I am eager to become proficient in coding languages. 2. I don't believe I have one dream job, but I know I want to work in the Computer Science field. I want to make a difference with the career path I choose, and I feel strongly Computer Science is the route I will take to achieve that. I know Computer Science is something I see myself being very passionate about, and I want to spend my future surrounded by the things I am passionate about. 3. I feel I am the best candidate for this scholarship because of my reliability and work ethic. I know if awarded this scholarship, I will put my best foot first in everything I do. Although it sounds cliche, when I set my mind on something, I work towards it until I have reached my goal. Academically and personally, I strive to be the best. I strongly believe my academic well-being and my personal well-being go hand in hand. They are directly related; if my mental health slips, my grades will as well and vice versa. Being well-rounded is very important to me, and I work every day to maintain a good balance in my life. It took me years of struggling to get where I am. I finally feel that I am in a state of mindfulness and focus. I will use every skill I have acquired throughout my life thus far to make positive impacts anywhere I can. The hardships I have endured have led me to where I am now and that is why I feel I am the best candidate.

At age 16, my mental health was at an all time low. My severe anxiety and depression made everyday tasks more difficult than ever. My apparent diminishing mental stability caught the attention of my parents. This is where my worst nightmare came true: they put me in a program under Penn Medicine, giving me no say in the matter. After they told me about this plan of theirs, it was only a few days later that I was being forced to discuss my personal struggles with a room full of strangers. This was by far one of the most intimidating and difficult experiences of my life but also the most impactful. I knew I was more than likely not going to get out of this, so I decided to make the most of it. After several conversations pushing me out of my comfort zone, my passion for these significant topics began to outweigh my instinct to avoid participating. After only a few weeks, I became one of the most active contributors to conversations. I initiated countless group conversations and took the lead about important topics I introduced. We discussed various ways to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and other personal subjects. These are essential skills to develop, especially since they are not so openly discussed and can be quite difficult to talk about. Throughout the three months I was in this program, I effectively communicated with my peers, keeping them engaged and involved. This began as what I thought was the most embarrassing situation I could endure as a teenager. Thankfully, after keeping an open mind, I embraced my struggles and learned from myself and others in the program. By the time I graduated from the program, I had gained more knowledge regarding the topic of mental health than I have in my entire lifetime. Mental health has never been an easy topic for me to discuss, but once I realized the power my personal experiences hold, I became far more passionate about it. This exchange allowed for my peers and I to view the world and ourselves from new perspectives and create deeper relationships with each other. Not only did I notice change within my group members, I noticed personal improvement. The dialogue I was a part of surrounding mental health most certainly created change, new perspectives, and a deeper relationship with myself. Before entering this program, I felt alone in my thoughts and feelings and felt no one else truly understood. It wasn’t until I heard what others had to say and what they had been through that I realized I wasn’t alone, and there are so many people struggling out there. I am beyond thankful for this experience, even if it is one I initially dreaded, as it has taught me that some of the most uncomfortable situations result in the most growth.