An activity my father and I both enjoyed during my visits was exploring the nearby woods. One Sunday morning in late spring, I held tightly to Dad atop a four-wheeler as we ventured from our suburban cul-de-sac. The air shifted from stale to pure as we raced through the grand wooden entrance of the forest. Finding a grassy opening, we dismounted the four-wheeler with a mesh bag in one hand and a long wooden stick in the other. Tiptoeing around the understory, I attempted to preserve this integral part of the forest I had grown to appreciate through our many trips. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves beneath my boots, the scrape of my stick on the greenery, and a sudden crunch. I turned around to see Dad smirking. When I glanced down, I noticed the understory stomped over—along with my efforts to preserve it. He merely wanted to hunt mushrooms, but I wanted to observe nature’s captivating inner workings: from the geometric construction of spider webs to the metamorphosis of tadpoles to frogs. I truly loved and appreciated the intricacies of nature.

I first encountered the concept of climate change through a fun fact poster in 8th-grade science class. Captivated by the extensive research, I spent hours delving deeper. After discovering that my city was not taking any climate action, my friends and I organized our school’s first climate strike. Through the strike, I realized I could make an impact by writing policies for city-based climate solutions. I succeeded in declaring a climate emergency, setting a carbon neutrality date, and establishing a youth city council position. To increase climate literacy in my community and engage kids directly, I developed a STEM-based, climate literacy campaign called Climate Kidz. The campaign educated local youth on sustainability topics through hands-on projects that spanned vertical gardening, composting, and native plants. I was inspired to ensure that kids in my community had access to climate education resources no matter their geographical location, economic status, or individual needs. To create an equitable resource, I thought of little free libraries, but with a twist: purely climate-related topics were included. I received grants to fund building materials and over 100 books, mapped out seven ideal locations in the city, and spent months constructing the little libraries. Now that the libraries are installed, they make climate education materials more accessible, as they are within walking distance of anywhere in the city. Through engaging kids in my community, I have helped guide and prepare them with the necessary information to save our planet. However, I knew more than just my city needed to join the fight against climate change, so I co-founded the statewide campaign Confront the Climate Crisis (CTCC) to fight for climate justice in Indiana. Through CTCC, I have expanded to creating policy on a state level by collaborating with state senators on climate legislation for the 2022 legislative session. As an Executive Director, I have organized events declaring a climate emergency at the statehouse and publicly announcing our legislative initiative in a press conference. I also coordinated meetings with the Indiana congressional delegation in Washington D.C. to lobby for our legislation federally. Even though CTCC is just over a year old, I am proud of how far my climate activism has grown—from a climate strike in my small town to a legislative campaign fighting for statewide climate action. My strong foundation in climate extracurriculars taught me how to engage with my community and interact with people on a personal level. Additionally, climate activism has provided me with crucial critical thinking skills necessary for succeeding in school. I continue to dive deeper into climate activism through my senior year courses—AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP Government, and a college environmental policy class—all curated towards better preparing me to pursue a career in policy. I am eager to continue my climate activism at Northwestern University: from diving into the dialogue of sustainNU to pushing the university to join Evanston’s commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2050. By organizing with Fossil Free Northwestern, I will strengthen my leadership skills. I envision myself strategizing the campaign’s next steps in the 1838 Chicago Ave. courtyard, painting The Rock to spread a message of sustainability on campus, and striking outside the Jacobs Center to demand that the Board of Trustees divests from fossil fuels. All of these experiences will prepare me for a successful future in writing policy. Whether I decide to pursue a career creating sustainable growth strategies for developing countries or writing the next Green New Deal, I look forward to tackling the world’s problems through asking why, seeking solutions, and being a leader.

Many families cherish past accomplishments and major events by recording memorable photos in scrapbooks. My family’s penchant is similar but with a creative twist: each scrapbook page is themed around a “slip of the tongue.” I understand this phrase might seem a little confusing, so here is an example. December 18, 2008: The “Aerobics” Cube My mom started to return to her room after tucking me into bed. I was almost asleep when I realized exactly what I wanted for Christmas. I bolted out of bed and sprinted down the hall. Nearly trampling her in the hallway, I exclaimed, “I know what I want in my stocking!” “Okay, and what’s that?” she asked. “I would like an aerobics cube,” I said. My mom looked baffled, so I explained, “It has different colored squares, and you can twist it to mix it up.” “Oh, I gotcha. A Rubik’s Cube?” my mom said with a smirk. “Yes, that’s what I said,” I responded, glad that she was finally getting it. The 2008 Christmas page in our annual scrapbook was themed around the “aerobics” cube. Over the years, I enjoyed the simple pleasure of scrapbooking with my family. Each page starts with a silly slip of the tongue. I then gather all of the photos, scatter them across the floor, and handpick the ones that suit the feeling of the page the best. I fill up the remaining white space by accessorizing the page with washi tape, shiny markers, glitter, and stickers for pops of color and passaz. The final step of the process is adding a fancy cursive title to pull it all together. Growing up with this tradition, I am fortunate to not only have an outlet to express my creativity, but also to reminisce precious, happy moments of my childhood.

I distinctly remember starting the summer after seventh grade by listing one goal. 1) lose weight At this point in my life, I was having issues accepting myself both physically. I wanted to feel comfortable going to the pool, to feel free enough to wear a tight dry-fit shirt to school, and to visit the doctors without being berated about how much weight I had gained. Everyone told me that it was simple. All I needed to do was eat less and work out more and all my problems would be solved. This issue was unfortunately not that simple for me because I had developed emotional eating habits after my parents’ divorce. When I was sad or something was not going right, then I would turn to food. I was never too concerned about my weight until I received my results from a blood test that indicated that I had exceptionally high triglyceride levels, which are the number one indicator of heart attacks. I was extremely shaken by this. The thought of having a heart attack terrified me, and all I wanted was to be healthy, so I decided to tackle my pudgy stomach first. After maintaining a calorie deficit through an intense workout regime, the numbers on the scale steadily dropped. As the weight came off, I felt in control of myself and identified more with the person I saw in the mirror. I felt myself becoming stronger and faster each day, which drove me to go further. After months of hard work, I received another blood test that indicated everything was normal. And while I never achieved rock-hard abs, I was still so proud of how far I came, giving me more confidence in myself and having a lifestyle that means I can live a long, healthy life.

Many families cherish past accomplishments and major events by recording memorable photos in scrapbooks. My family’s penchant is similar but with a creative twist: each scrapbook page is themed around a “slip of the tongue.” I understand this phrase might seem a little confusing, so here is an example. December 18, 2008: The “Aerobics” Cube My mom started to return to her room after tucking me into bed. I was almost asleep when I realized exactly what I wanted for Christmas. I bolted out of bed and sprinted down the hall. Nearly trampling her in the hallway, I exclaimed, “I know what I want in my stocking!” “Okay, and what’s that?” she asked. “I would like an aerobics cube,” I said. My mom looked baffled, so I explained, “It has different colored squares, and you can twist it to mix it up.” “Oh, I gotcha. A Rubik’s Cube?” my mom said with a smirk. “Yes, that’s what I said,” I responded, glad that she was finally getting it. The 2008 Christmas page in our annual scrapbook was themed around the “aerobics” cube. Over the years, I enjoyed the simple pleasure of scrapbooking with my family. Each page starts with a silly slip of the tongue. I then gather all of the photos, scatter them across the floor, and handpick the ones that suit the feeling of the page the best. I fill up the remaining white space by accessorizing the page with washi tape, shiny markers, glitter, and stickers to add pops of color and passaz. The final step of the process is adding a fancy cursive title to pull it all together. Growing up with this tradition, I am fortunate to not only have an outlet to express my creativity, but also to reminisce precious moments of my childhood.

Myths and misconceptions about climate change are often more prevalent than truths, and despite solid scientific research and findings, much of the population cannot understand or access these expansive resources. I sought to change this in my community, so I created Climate Kidz: a climate literacy campaign for my city with the mission of engaging kids within the community through climate education materials. With my first endeavor, I sought to educate kids directly, so I organized a vertical garden program with the local library: Gardening Up the Walls. After learning about food insecurity and the importance of plants in climate resiliency, participants left the program with a better understanding of how vertical gardens can combat the climate crisis and how to organize around a community issue that they care about. I was inspired to ensure that kids in my community had access to climate education resources no matter their geographical location, economic status, or individual needs. I realized that not everyone has access to electronic devices and that a virtual format may not be the most accessible for kids in my community. To create a more equitable resource, I thought of little free libraries, but with a twist: purely climate-related topics were included. My team and I received grants to fund building materials and over 100 books, mapped out seven ideal locations in the city, and spent months constructing the little libraries. Now that the libraries are installed, they make climate education materials more accessible, equitable, and within walking distance of anywhere in the city. Whenever I see one of the little free climate libraries I built, I feel a sense of pride for all that I have accomplished. Through engaging kids in my community, I have helped guide and prepare them with the information necessary to save our planet.

For most of my life, I struggled with my sexuality. Being raised as a conservative Christian in a rural setting, I was always taught that being gay is unnatural and shameful. My free time consisted of daily Bible study and prayer, youth group activities, and weekly church services. I felt constricted due to the lack of diverse resources. In hopes of expanding my perspective, I moved schools in eighth grade. Slowly, I began to feel more comfortable doing things I had previously shied away from, like wearing shorter shorts, painting my nails, and attending a local pride event. For the first time, I stopped fearing that I might seem “gay.” My actions made me feel more true to myself and helped me realize that being gay is an essential part of me. The most integral part of coming out for me was seeing representation in school. I was lucky enough to attend a school that prioritized making everyone feel safe and included, but education is lacking across the country with only four states requiring LGBT history to be taught. Some states even have “no pro homo” laws, which prohibit teaching lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and topics in a positive light. I dream of living in a world where the stigma around being gay is dismantled—a world where everyone has the resources to discover who they truly are. The only way to accomplish this is through extensive policy change. I want to be a part of the solution, so I dive deeper into understanding policy through my coursework and extracurriculars. Beyond high school, whether I pursue a career creating policy to eliminate “no pro homo” laws or advocating for AIDS history to be taught in schools, I look forward to tackling the stigma around being gay by seeking solutions.

Even before I knew who I was, my father knew exactly who he wanted me to be. After years of playing with Barbies and watching “girly” shows with my older sister, he saw a vision of what he wanted with the Lizzie McGuire character Ethan Craft, a dreamy but dim jock that all the girls wanted. Convincing my mom to name me Ethan was my father’s way of branding these expectations on me as a perfect son. Being raised as a conservative Christian in a rural setting, my information originated from my father and other like-minded friends at school. My free time consisted of daily Bible study and prayer, youth group activities, and weekly church services. Because of the lack of diverse perspectives and resources, I felt constricted. I yearned to learn more about myself and the world around me. In hopes of expanding my opportunities, I moved schools in eighth grade. The advanced courses and numerous clubs at my new school challenged me academically and socially. I connected with a new group of friends and saw that their sexualities were a defining part of their identity. I began to question my own sexuality and wondered if coming out could be a possibility for me. Slowly, I started doing things I had previously shied away from to hide my sexuality, like wearing shorter shorts, painting my nails, and attending a local pride event. My father disapproved, but, for the first time, I stopped restraining myself. My actions made me feel more true to myself and helped me realize that being gay is a part of me. No longer do I tether my self-worth to my father’s expectations. I’m not at all the Ethan Craft my father wanted, but I’m proud to be who I am.

I am beyond excited to further my academic, personal, and career goals by attending Northwestern University. Having recently come out, I look forward to building a community in the Rainbow Alliance and discussing new LGBTQIA+ concepts in the Queer Book Club. As a recovering couch potato, I will also continue to prioritize fitness by making use of the jogging path along the breathtaking Lakefill. And when I greatly miss my house plants, I will maintain my green thumb by tending to the vegetables at the Wild Roots Garden. I am also eager to continue my climate activism by diving into the dialogue of sustainNU and pushing the university to join Evanston’s commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2050. As an Environmental Sciences major on the policy track, I am excited to understand Earth’s fundamental systems and relate these foundations to policy. I will also collaborate with the strong community of scientists in the NU Climate Change Research Group to build on my previous experience as a research assistant studying climate change’s impacts on Indiana forests. Beyond NU, whether I decide on a career creating sustainable growth strategies for developing countries or writing the next Green New Deal, I know Northwestern will have provided me with the framework to succeed personally and professionally.

Dear Mr. Harper, the Most Wonderful Teacher in the World, I am writing this letter to express my deepest apologies for my behavior earlier today, but I think that the punishment of no recess for two weeks is a bit extreme. I mean, Daniel practically drop-kicked a kid yesterday, but somehow he gets out-of-school suspension. Are you kidding me? You let kids miss school for something as awful as that? Well, anyways, I should not have mocked you during your presentation about climate change. Even though I still don’t entirely believe in this so-called ‘climate change,’ I should have at least acted like I did. Well, at least that’s what my mom says anyway. She tells me that to really be nice, I should not talk at all or something like that. Your presentation was very well put together and all, but I just don’t get it. I want to show that I really tried to see your side. I have decided to answer the questions you asked at the end of class (for real this time). 1) Why is climate change an important issue? This is a really tough question, because I had no idea that climate change was an issue. I saw a book one time titled What is Climate Change? with an enlarged polar bear head on it. I don’t really know much about polar bears, but if climate change is causing their heads to grow like that, then I don’t really think I like that. Polar bears are scary, and if climate change is making a whole bunch of them with giant heads, then I definitely think someone would want to stop it. 2) How can you reduce your impact on climate change? This question is a toughy too since I don’t have an answer. Nothing I do causes polar bears’ heads to inflate, so I don’t see any way that I am impacting climate change. Though, I have heard other people’s ideas on the subject. Just the other day, I overheard my parents saying “climate change is a plot made by the liberals,” so I guess all we have to do is get rid of the liberals (whoever they are). I think maybe liberals are people that make up stories. Another plan could be to cut down all the trees because they produce something called carbon dioxide. I am really not sure why that matters, but all I know is that trees need to go. Another option is to become vegan. Personally, I think vegans are really annoying, and I would never want to become one. All vegans do is talk about how vegan they are helping the earth and stuff. I also love Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich too much to ever be one. Whoops, am I not supposed to talk about eating meat when I talked about veganism? That was meant to be a joke, so can you please not get mad? Speaking of which, I would like to revisit the topic of my punishment. I mean, are you really going to give me a worse punishment than Daniel who drop-kicked that poor kid? It is because I did not believe in climate change, isn’t it? My parents would say you are sounding like one of those crazy liberalists. Anyways, after reading this letter and seeing how much I know about climate change, I am hoping you will reconsider giving me no punishment at all! Sincerely, Your Most Climate Educated Student, Tommy

Even before I knew who I was, my father knew exactly who he wanted me to be. After years of playing with Barbies and watching “girly” shows with my older sister, he saw a vision of what he wanted with the Lizzie McGuire character Ethan Craft, a dreamy but dim jock that all the girls wanted. Convincing my mom to name me Ethan was my father’s way of branding these expectations on me as a perfect son. My mom’s gentleness tempered his strong expectations, but after my parents separated in third grade, my father formed an even stronger conviction of who I should become. While my mom recognized my growing passion and drive for academics, my father stuck with what he knew best—baseball. At my mom’s, the fridge was always covered with my aced math quizzes, perfect spelling tests, and honor roll awards: her way of showing she valued me. But in weekly calls with my father, the academic achievements I cared about most were glossed over with reminders for baseball practice. Partly due to his pressure, I quit baseball to focus more on academics. Being raised as a conservative Christian in a rural setting, my information originated from my father and other like-minded friends at school. Because of the lack of diverse perspectives and resources, I felt constricted. I yearned to learn more about the world around me and myself. In hopes of expanding my opportunities, I moved schools in eighth grade. The advanced courses and diverse clubs at my new school challenged me academically and socially. To explore new areas of science, I joined Science Olympiad, where I first discovered the concept of climate change. Because of my connection to nature, I quickly formed strong beliefs on the subject, and climate activism became a primary focus in my life. I committed to a vegetarian lifestyle after discovering the detrimental impacts of factory farming on the environment. I bonded with my friends because of our shared passion for protecting the earth and leading our school’s first climate strike. I invested my time into developing relationships with the city council and mayor, organizing community events, and drafting city-based climate policies. My father disapproved of spending so much time on something “useless,” but I still remember holding back joyful tears as the city council unanimously passed a climate emergency declaration I had authored. I was more fulfilled than I ever felt playing baseball, and I realized that this is my purpose even if my father did not approve. Financial freedom means having the means to support me while doing what I love with climate activism. It means being able to live a comfortable lifestyle, while still making an impact on the world. I plan to achieve this by continuing to work hard in academics and always pushing myself to achieve greater. I will also budget my funds to ensure that I can cover all of my needs and make wise financial decisions. In addition, I can achieve financial freedom by doing things I truly love, rather than trying to please others. I’m not at all the Ethan Craft my father wanted, but I’m proud to be who I am.