A memory that stuck out the most about the ocean were the coral reefs. As a kid, I played a game that took place in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. To me, that was probably the most magical place that could exist in real life. Fast forward many years, and when I see pictures of these same reefs, bleached and lifeless before my eyes, I am horrified. These past few years on earth have been the warmest on record. The summers are hotter than ever, the storms even more dangerous– and both humans and wildlife have been paying the price. The effects of climate change have been especially prevalent in our oceans. The oceans are essential to cooling the Earth, and are the habitat for countless species of animals and plants. They are the livelihood for countless people all around the world, and a haven for people looking to escape their busy lives. To me, the ocean represents both the mystery and wonder that the Earth has to offer. From its crystal clear lagoons to dense seaweed ‘forests’, the sea is worth everyone banding together to protect it. For such a long time, we’ve been discussing climate change–and despite the valiant efforts of scientists, there’s more work to be done. Is the degradation of our planet inevitable? Is the effort to stop climate change futile? Ensuring that the oceans can be protected is one of the first steps that we can take to tackle global warming. It is important that the oceans can be at a place where future generations can benefit from it and enjoy it as much as we do now. Each of us can take steps to help reduce our environmental footprints. Being able to pay for college can provide me with even more confidence, courage, and knowledge to make a positive impact on climate change during and right after my undergraduate years. Many colleges around the country are known for putting sustainability at its helm and developing great minds and fearless innovators. Ecology is the area of interest I am pursuing at a university. I look forward to being challenged in my thinking, and I’m excited at the thought of sitting in an Ecosystem Ecology, or Sustainable Urban Development class and debating about the future of our planet. I believe that being able to confidently be able to pay for college can give me the tools and skills to be at the “front lines” of our fight to stop climate change.

1. My journey to fanhood with TXT is an interesting one! I have a twin sister, who got into kpop before I did. She became a casual fan of TXT in 2021, and would play their music out loud at home. I really resonated with their songs. After Temptation came out, I finally decided to learn the member’s names and by July of 2023 I became a MOA! 2. I think one of the most important characteristics of being a MOA is acceptance. I’ve found by interacting and seeing other fans engage online that MOA are so kind and respectful of everyone, regardless of their age, race, sexual orientation, etc. As a Black fan myself, I was surprised seeing how open everyone was, especially in these turbulent times. 3. My bias in TXT is Soobin, it was a no brainer! After watching some videos, it clicked that we have a lot in common: both introverts who have to stretch themselves to do well in certain situations. I also admire how even though he isn't the loudest member, he is able to lead the team so well. He is the emotional “glue” of TXT, and I strive to be able to have friends and family lean on me like the members do Soobin. 4. My ult bias is Soobin as well! TXT is my ult group, so it just made sense for me. Some runners up are Dayhun of Twice and Kazuha of Le Sserafim. 5. That’s such a hard question! The first song I think of is “9 and 3 quarters (Run Away)”. It was one of the first songs I heard from TXT, and it always made me feel emotional even without knowing the lyrics at the time. A very close second is “Skipping Stones”. It came out during my senior year of high school, and the lyrics were very comforting for me during a hard time for me mentally. I also love when TXT incorporates rock in their songs. 6. I am so fortunate to have seen TXT twice–first in 2024, and the second time in 2025. Seeing my ult group was genuinely one of the best things to happen to me, and in 2025 I almost didn't go to the concert because I couldn’t afford to. I could write a whole essay on how great they were! 7. My favorite concept from them is Minisode 3: Tomorrow. I loved how the story of The Little Prince intertwined with the lore of TXT, and I loved the styling in all of the concepts! The concept of finding the little bits of magic in our young adult life was executed so well. 8. For my school tuition, I am lucky to live in Georgia, where it is covered if you have a GPA above 3.2. However, for my housing, food, and textbooks I have to pay out of pocket. We have to take on student loans every semester. 9. As I mentioned earlier, I have a twin sister, so the financial burden of college is even higher. Additionally the breadwinner of our family, my mother, lost her job a year ago, and we have been struggling to make ends meet since then. This scholarship would go to paying for my housing for the semester, as I live too far to commute to campus. I would also be able to pay for food and textbooks, and not have to live on edge during the school months. 10. The biggest way TXT has helped me is by helping me better transition from a child to an adult. I was struggling with self identity, but TXT has helped me calm down when I feel so incredibly confused with the future. Just listening to their songs helps center me and get ready to face the day. 11. In college, I’m an Ecology major. I’ve always been interested in the natural world, and want to do anything I can to protect it. I intend to go to law school and become an environmental lawyer, to protect people and businesses from those who want to do harm to the world.

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A memory that stuck out the most about the ocean were the coral reefs. As a kid, I played a game that took place in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. To me, that was probably the most magical place that could exist in real life. Fast forward many years, and when I see pictures of these same reefs, bleached and lifeless before my eyes, I am horrified. These past few years on earth have been the warmest on record. The summers are hotter than ever, the storms even more dangerous– and both humans and wildlife have been paying the price. The effects of climate change have been especially prevalent in our oceans. The oceans are essential to cooling the Earth, and are the habitat for countless species of animals and plants. They are the livelihood for countless people all around the world, and a haven for people looking to escape their busy lives. To me, the ocean represents both the mystery and wonder that the Earth has to offer. From its crystal clear lagoons to dense seaweed ‘forests’, the sea is worth everyone banding together to protect it. For such a long time, we’ve been discussing climate change–and despite the valiant efforts of scientists, there’s more work to be done. Is the degradation of our planet inevitable? Is the effort to stop climate change futile? Ensuring that the oceans can be protected is one of the first steps that we can take to tackle global warming. It is important that the oceans can be at a place where future generations can benefit from it and enjoy it as much as we do now. Each of us can take steps to help reduce our environmental footprints. Being able to pay for college can provide me with even more confidence, courage, and knowledge to make a positive impact on climate change during and right after my undergraduate years. Many colleges around the country are known for putting sustainability at its helm and developing great minds and fearless innovators. Environmental Science is the area of interest I am pursuing at a university. I look forward to being challenged in my thinking, and I’m excited at the thought of sitting in an Ecosystem Ecology, or Sustainable Urban Development class and debating about the future of our planet. I believe that being able to confidently be able to pay for college can give me the tools and skills to be at the “front lines” of our fight to stop climate change. To reduce carbon footprint, the biggest advice I would give my friends and family is to consume less overall. Instead of buying something new, think about whether it is actually necessary. I know that college is an environment I can thrive in, and make real change to benefit the world.

A memory that stuck out the most about the ocean were the coral reefs. As a kid, I played a game that took place in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. To me, that was probably the most magical place that could exist in real life. Fast forward many years, and when I see pictures of these same reefs, bleached and lifeless before my eyes, I am horrified. These past few years on earth have been the warmest on record. The summers are hotter than ever, the storms even more dangerous– and both humans and wildlife have been paying the price. The effects of climate change have been especially prevalent in our oceans. The oceans are essential to cooling the Earth, and are the habitat for countless species of animals and plants. They are the livelihood for countless people all around the world, and a haven for people looking to escape their busy lives. To me, the ocean represents both the mystery and wonder that the Earth has to offer. From its crystal clear lagoons to dense seaweed ‘forests’, the sea is worth everyone banding together to protect it.For such a long time, we’ve been discussing climate change–and despite the valiant efforts of scientists, there’s more work to be done. Is the degradation of our planet inevitable? Is the effort to stop climate change futile? Ensuring that the oceans can be protected is one of the first steps that we can take to tackle global warming. It is important that the oceans can be at a place where future generations can benefit from it and enjoy it as much as we do now. Each of us can take steps to help reduce our environmental footprints. Being able to pay for college can provide me with even more confidence, courage, and knowledge to make a positive impact on climate change during and right after my undergraduate years. Many colleges around the country are known for putting sustainability at its helm and developing great minds and fearless innovators. Environmental Science is the area of interest I’d like to pursue at a university. I look forward to being challenged in my thinking, and I’m excited at the thought of sitting in an Ecosystem Ecology, or Sustainable Urban Development class and debating about the future of our planet. I believe that being able to confidently be able to pay for college can give me the tools and skills to be at the “front lines” of our fight to stop climate change. Specifically, I plan to work at either a conservation NGO, working directly to protect our Earth, or in public policy, helping policymakers put climate change at the forefront. I know that college is an environment I can thrive in, and make real change to benefit the world.

I would consider myself a ‘classical music nerd’. Ever since middle school, I’ve played the violin for fun, and I enjoy immersing myself in classical music. When I have the opportunity, my twin sister and I would attend classical concerts, older people smiling at us, probably wondering why two Black girls care so much about this art. I liked classical music so much that in my freshman and sophomore years, I took orchestra as a class. I already knew how to play the violin previously, but I was not used to playing with dozens of other people. For a short period of time, I was afraid that I wouldn’t match up to my other classmates. Eventually, I found more confidence in my skills through practice, and I made friends in my orchestra. I enjoyed performing as a big group, because I felt that even if I messed up, no one would hear it, and my classmates would back me up. A particular piece that stood out to me in that class was one of Bach’s Brandenburg concertos, a piece with a lot of different rhythms and moving parts, making it hard to hear yourself. It was difficult yet fun to play in a large group. If there were any especially skilled players in my class, I would just chalk it up to them being older, or playing their instrument for more years. I didn’t start comparing myself to others until later. I joined the Chamber Music club in the middle of sophomore year, as I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue taking orchestra class due to my schedule. It is different from a normal orchestra because it is small groups of usually two violins, a viola, and a cello playing together, with no conductor. Every person is the only one playing their part, and there has to be a good amount of teamwork and trust between the players. It was very fun practicing with my small group, and experimenting on how to make the pieces sound great. Spending the afternoons goofing around and practicing with friends are some of the better memories I have of high school. One aspect of the club did worry me– we would have to perform at the concerts all by ourselves. It filled me with stress, and I didn’t want to perform. Another thing that came to light after joining Chamber Music club was comparing myself to others. In the club, we were not the only small group there, and the others were in the concert as well. After the performance, all I could think was ‘we did so awful compared to the other groups’ or ‘I wish no one heard my terrible playing’. It took some time for me to change my mindset about performing. One of my dad’s mantras that helped me greatly was that perfection shouldn’t be the end goal: it is all about progress. I stopped obsessing over what others were doing, and I practiced more to feel confident in my skills. As long as I felt like I did my best performing, I was satisfied with how I did. In the end, playing the violin in high school helped me for the better, and now I’m more comfortable performing in front of others, and I have more self-confidence. I gained more confidence in and out of school: presentations are not as daunting, I am more creative. I believe that if I had never engaged in orchestra at school, I would not be as competent in school, or active in other extracurriculars. It changed my life for the better.

A book that has a great impact on me is one that I have read three times. Things Fall Apart is a classic in African and global literature, written by Chinua Achebe. It is a novel about Igbo culture, and the impact of British colonization in Nigeria. I first came across the book when I was around 8 years old. My dad ‘encouraged’ me to read Things Fall Apart, which I was not happy about. Until then, my taste in literature was only limited to fantasy middle grade books–magic and prophecies. I despised books that were remotely serious or educational. Things Fall Apart completely changed that. I have yet to visit my ancestral home of Nigeria, but I hope I will eventually, and am looking forward to it. Things Fall Apart allowed me to experience what it would have been like to live there back in the day, and be a part of the culture– including masquerades and celebrations, the weddings and funerals that reminded me of how Igbos celebrate in America. Reading the book the first two times as a kid, the deep messages of the book flew over my head. I finished it thinking: Wow, the villagers have never seen a horse before! Did Igbos back in the day actually walk barefoot? Nowadays, I appreciate Chinua Achebe’s intention behind Things Fall Apart much more, because it connected me more to my Nigerian roots. I enjoy reading, and seeing a Nigerian write so well, and make such a big impact on literature has been inspiring. It was a reflection on Igbo culture before European influence, and a review of how things have changed for the country after their imperialization. Things Fall Apart helped me realize that African stories–my stories– can have a place in the mainstream space. I think everyone should read Things Fall Apart because it is such a great way for people to learn about a new culture, and experiences different than their own!