Unfortunately there are so many important issues that I want to address. Gun control is the one major issue I am currently trying to solve. I went through 12 years of public school and numerous safety threats. The panic and fear that would run through me and my peers bodies is something no one should feel, especially in a place of learning. This issue also hits close to home because both of my parents are teachers. We have seen the catastrophic effect of loose gun regulations directly in schools. A place where children, teenagers, and adults should feel safe to learn and grow. I know it is a daily stressor for my parents in worrying about the safety of their classes but also themselves. When the second amendment was introduced, the right to bear arms, it took minutes to fire off just one round. Now, with the advances in technology and introduction of semiautomatic rifles, we can fire off thousands of rounds in the time it would take to load and fire one bullet. This is why this amendment should not hold true today. There is no need for a civilian to have an automatic rifle that is used for military purposes. Those type of rifles are meant to kill and we don’t need them on the streets. One huge argument pro gun people have is that they have their guns for protection. Texas being a state that has a majority of people carrying weapons. This defense of “protection” didn’t help the students and teachers of Uvalde did it? A state that has always been pro gun couldn’t even protect their own children. Trained officers who are supposed to protect the public sat around waiting while children were being massacred. Officers, plural, that have automatic rifles say around waiting while children were being slaughtered. To protect ourselves, our children, and our country, we need gun laws to be more restrictive and regulated. This is why I am working toward more gun control. Although I am starting small, I plan to make a big impact. I am working to address the issue of gun control by working with members of my school, community, and elected representatives of my town. I decided to start small and work up from there. I am not only writing to officials but am also meeting and actively working with members of the community. We are trying to work toward more intensive background checks and stricter gun enforcement so that we can work to get automatic weapons off the streets. I am also talking with people that are pro gun to see their points of view. This brings important insight into our fight for gun control. We need to get guns off the streets to protect ourselves, our communities, and our nation. Which is why I am constantly working with people in power to ensure that guns are more regulated.

Lacrosse was the piece that I was missing in my life. It became a major part of my life the minute I started playing it. I was originally playing softball, but I needed a more competitive and active game. My dad pushed me to try lacrosse and I have never gone back. From the minute I played my first game, I fell in love with the sport. I played lacrosse through middle school and high school. I committed to play D3 lacrosse at Ursinus College during my senior year of high school. I am number 29 on the team and I am a low attacker. I am loving it here at Ursinus and with all my teammates. My teammates are my closest friends and I know they will always have my back. Ursinus College is in a very competitive conference, the Centennial Conference. We compete in conference play against top 10 teams such as Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall. We recently got a new coach, so we are trying to build up our program. I was not chosen as a captain this year, but I still am a leader on and off the field. I don’t believe that titles make or break you as a leader. I make sure that everyone is always safe and comfortable whether during the week or on the weekends. I always offer my support to anyone that seems to be going through a rough time. I struggle with mental health myself and understand the hidden struggles people have. One of my teammates was going through a tough time mentally and I reached out to her to offer my support and any advice that she may want. I ended up helping her get on the proper medication and helping her through the initial side effects. I shared my experience with different medications and how they affected me. I reassured her that everyone’s body and chemicals are different and not to get discouraged if one doesn't work. I started last year and had a great season with the top number of assists on the team. This year my coach didn’t start me which has been frustrating. Instead of shutting down, I thought that every opportunity for me to get on the field was an opportunity to show what I can do. I persevered through the season and was a key draw taker and helped change many games around. I didn’t get the statistics or playing time that I wanted but I put the team over my personal feelings. We have had the best season since being in college and we made it to the Centennial Conference playoffs for the first time since 2012. I am constantly working hard on the field through every practice, game, team lifts, and team runs. I not only push myself to be better but push the ones around me to be better. Whether that’s being game-like in practice or offering my advice. I not only work hard on the field but also in the classroom. I am a student-athlete and D3 allows for a good balance between lacrosse and school. I am a biology major which is a lot on top of lacrosse, but that has taught me a lot about balance. I put my schoolwork first and get it done first. This commitment to school has led me to earn deans list for 4 out of the 5 semesters I have been at Ursinus, which means a GPA of 3.5 or above. My current grades are also looking promising for deans list for this spring.

I know that eating healthy affects not only your body but also your mind. In college, it is vital that you have a healthy and well balanced diet to perform your best. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, or in a social atmosphere, eating healthy is of upmost importance when trying to succeed. As a lacrosse player in college, I can feel the benefits of eating healthier in my performance. I have more energy, more endurance, and I feel better after working out. Eating healthy also means making sure I get the correct number of meals in during the day so I can reach my peak performance. Fruit is my go to breakfast and salads are my go to lunch. I try and incorporate lean protein, like chicken, into my dinner. I also try and have a good serving of vegetables. Sometimes good chicken is hard to find as school but quinoa is a great complete protein that I use to supplement, Mentally, I am more alert during the day. I don’t feel as groggy or feel the need to take a nap. I am also more focused and am able to go for longer periods of time studying. Overall eating healthy makes me a happier person. I’m not as sluggish and I actually feel like my normal self. Eating healthy also improves my athletic performance which helps with my mental health. As a health and physical education teacher, my dad has driven into me the importance of eating a healthy and well balanced diet. He always has taught me that the best way to eat is the way that nature has provided it, like fruits and vegetables. He encourages me and everyone around him to eat healthy and stay away from processed or high sugar foods. Eating healthy doesn’t always mean only eating vegetables or fruits. It means having a well balanced diet and limiting the bad stuff like refined carbs, sugars, or processed meats. I always practice moderation when I do occasionally splurge. I try to eat healthy even when it’s hard due to accessibility and cost in college. Salads are always available and are not super expensive. They also come with lean grilled chicken which adds protein to my diet. Fresh roasted veggies are also one of my favorites. While it may be difficult to eat healthy in college, you can always find a way to work around the costs or accessibility. Whether that’s finding the healthiest dining hall food or going to the store and finding inexpensive healthy options. It’s so important to eat healthy, especially in college when stress levels are high. It only benefits you, your performance, and mental health.