For the past two summers, I have had a chance to be an intern for my State Representative. My time in the office requires me to give back to the community daily. Most days, some constituents call the office asking questions about specific programs that they're eligible for such as getting free tickets at museums for their families. Some meetings are more serious. Constituents facing evictions. Constituents facing unemployment due to questionable business practices. Constituents struggling with their passion in life. Constituents fighting day to day due to mental illness. Although we might not be able to solve all of their concerns, it is our job to do the best we can to help them. We direct them to the right state agencies and law firms. We research current laws and laws in other states. Much of the legislation drafted at the representative's office is because of constituents! One of my greatest accomplishments was getting the chance to write two bills that will be proposed in the next legislative session! These bills were designed to make current processes in education and utility payments more equitable so that Illinois communities can thrive to the fullest extent. I had the chance to participate in numerous community events. We partnered with a local nonprofit and collected constituent's personal documents so that they could be safely disposed of (shredded). We hosted a Mental Health Fair where we partnered with 30 non-profit organizations to provide food, fun, and much-needed mental health resources to one of my town's more underserved communities. There was so much time, effort, and planning put into putting on these kinds of events, but it was all worth it. To see people enjoying themselves, having fun, and finding resources to help them and their families made it all worthwhile. Currently, I am a member of my State Representative's campaign staff. Although our focus is to collect signatures, our focus is so much more than that. We are there to connect with the community and see if the representative has positively impacted their lives in any way. We are there to register voters regardless of the political party they belong to. It doesn't matter if you support the representative or not. If you are a Democrat or a Republican. It's truly all about service. In the future, I want to go to law school. My dream is to practice constitutional law. From working in a constituent office, I saw firsthand how the law isn't applied the same to everyone. Because of your race, class, or the language you speak, you do not have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. I believe that this is utterly and morally wrong. I want to be able to impact my community, my state, the United States, and maybe even the world by fighting to protect people's rights. Hopefully, by connecting with people and continuing to address the needs of constituents, I can give back to my community, and work to make the world a better place.

When you think of leadership, what comes to mind? A political figure? A teacher? How about a boss at your job or a college president? Someone with a title? Someone without one? Are they an activist? Someone who inspires you? Someone who pushes you to become a better version of yourself? The last time I was asked this question, I was a freshman in my first semester of college. Last year, I took Social Change Leadership 100 (SCL 100) to fill a "culture & domain" credit for my general education requirements. The class was focused on social justice work, the seven C's of change, and how someone becomes a leader. We had to dig down deep and question our values. We questioned our opinions of leadership and if we were leaders ourselves! Leadership is a process, not something you strive to complete. Leadership is always changing. Leaders can be political figures or people with power. To be a leader means you have power. However, that power isn't negative or malicious. That power isn't meant to demean anyone or make them feel like they can't express themselves. I think of power as the power to push someone to be better. The power to have people rely on you for advice in times of hardship. The power to make a difference. That is power. I like to think that a leader lives by the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated. A leader exhibit their values in any leadership role and in any space they are in. For example, as an individual, I value inclusivity above all else. In any leadership position I am in, I always want to make sure that I am aware of the people around me. Are they enjoying themselves? Do they feel valued? Do they feel like they don't have to hold themselves back? Do they feel like they can truly express themselves? Do they feel included? I never want anyone to feel what I felt when I wasn't included. A leader inspires others to be leaders too! As one of the captains of my high school's soccer team, I truly learned what it was like to be a leader. We lost almost every single game that season but continued to have fun. The sidelines were filled with love and support. We lifted each other through every win and every loss. I may have had a captain band on my arm, but on the field, we were all leaders—just in different moments. We communicated and told each other when to shift and who to mark. We cheered each other on when someone would make a great play. Even a shot on goal was met with “Shake it off!” and “It’s ok, let’s keep pressing!” Leadership to me is everything. It inspires me to do better. It pushes me to be my best in any space I'm in. Who would have known that the general education class I took in the fall semester of my freshman year would inspire me to pursue another minor, Social Change Leadership? To use my past leadership experience to reflect and learn how to become a better leader in my community, within internships, and even in my future career. If we want to build better leaders, we have to know how to become great leaders ourselves. We all have the power to become leaders, it's just a matter of time.

As an individual, I value inclusion above all else. There once was a time when I didn't feel included in spaces I had once loved. I felt left out. I felt worthless. I felt like I had no support. I felt like I had no one to fight in my corner. I felt like a less version of myself. Now, in any space I'm in, I always try to ensure that I am inclusive. I want to ensure that I am building spaces filled with warmth, love, and support. At times, I put other people's feelings and opinions above my own. I never want anyone to feel like I did only years prior. In high school, I was required to have a certain number of service hours each year to stay in the National Honors Society. As a group, we had several activities that were done at meetings. Making dog beds for a local animal shelter. Creating meaningful cards for those in nursing homes, struggling during the holiday season. Decorating impactful messages for teachers across the school. I decided over spring break to volunteer at my local food bank, packing and sorting food for the open market. It was a small act, but so impactful. Together, with the help of fellow volunteers, we packed and sorted hundreds of pounds of food. Food that provided nourishment. Food that alleviated hungry bellies. Food that put a smile on people's faces. I even volunteered at the open markets. I restocked the shelves. I wanted to provide individuals with the most normal shopping experience possible. I saw children light up when they saw that cheese sticks were available. I saw adults happy to get different kinds of bread for breakfast and lunch. Two summers ago, I interned at my State Representative's constituent office. I enjoyed the experience so much and the joy it brought to others, that I have since come back to intern yet again for another summer. We put on community events like "Super Shredder Days" and the "Mental Health Fair." We got to connect with constituents, provide them with resources, and even provide them with a hot, filling meal. I sat in on constituent meetings and watched as people broke down in front of us, unsure of what to do or where to go when faced with the unimaginable. We supported them and vowed to do everything in our power to make sure that the problem would never happen again in the state of Illinois. Recently, I have joined the campaign team for the upcoming 2024 election. Although campaigning is aimed at getting enough signatures to put the Representative on the ballot, door-knocking is so much more than that. It is connecting with constituents. Listening to their concerns, regardless of political beliefs. Registering them to vote, so that they can use their voice to create change. Informing them of upcoming events and free services at the office. I am pursuing a bachelor's in Political Science, a minor in History, and another minor in Social Change Leadership. In the future, I hope to go to law school. Later, I want to practice constitutional law and protect people's rights all over the country. I want to dedicate my life to activism and social justice. To fight against the injustices within our society. To help others to build an inclusive world. I try to embody selflessness in any action big or small. Whether that be volunteering at a food bank, or drafting legislation with a State Representative, I try to create an impact in people's lives in any way that I can.

Imagine a story with large estates and winding driveways. The buildings are arched and contain rows of windows with room for plenty of natural light. Women pass by in corsets and large skirts. Their curls are tights and they wear extravagant floral hats to cover their pale skin from the sun. The men wear suits with long suit coats. They never leave home without a top hat. Some, if lucky enough, carry around a cane and stroll along the promenade. Wealth and respect are everything. The world is filled with young women like Lydia, Charlotte, and Jane looking for a husband, and men like Mr. Wickham, looking to expand their wealth. This is the story of Ms. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. This is Pride and Prejudice. If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, that book would be Pride and Prejudice. Although this book is more than 200 years old, it is a classic for a reason. I am a sucker for romance novels. Of all of the romance novels I've read, Pride and Prejudice has been the best. The tension between the characters. The dislike they have for each other. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are the original enemies-to-lovers trope! I also love Pride and Prejudice due to its feminist themes. Elizabeth Bennet is a feminist icon. She is bold and intelligent and unwilling to settle for less. She values her happiness above all else, not wealth or respect from her family or those around her. Even though Mr. Darcy is initially arrogant, cold, and aloof. As the story progresses he changes himself for the better and exhibits feminist qualities. He learns from Elizabeth's actions. He learns how to be a better man and a better lover, but most importantly, how to respect women’s decisions. The feminist qualities in Pride and Prejudice may not be as radical today, but they are still radical nonetheless. In a time when women were forced to marry for wealth and had little say in big decisions in their lives, Elizabeth was the complete opposite. For readers today, I suggest Pride and Prejudice not only because it's a classic, but because of its feminist themes. You will find yourself questioning the character's choices. Growing angry at many male characters. Most of all, you will be rooting for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth (because Pride and Prejudice IS a romance novel).

I have always loved playing in creative mode. The ability to do anything. To walk. To sprint. To even fly. The endless materials and color schemes. The ability to build a structure as tall as I wanted without having to worry about falling to my death. To build a garden just like the villages I came across in survival mode. To create my own mountains and waterfalls. Beaches and forests. Lagoons and deserts. Playing in creative mode resonates with me so deeply because of the memories it holds. When my cousins and I got together to sleep at my Grandma's house, all of us would bring our devices so that we could all play Minecraft together. At this age, all of us played Minecraft religiously. The Minecraft Pocket Edition App was a staple on our respective electronic devices. We would sit on the floor of my Grandmother's living room all looking at our devices. First, someone would create a world. Usually, that was my eldest cousin. Once everyone was logged in, we would divide up tasks. I was usually in charge of the scheme of the house. Cobblestone and oak wood plants. Sandstone and oak wood planks. Spruce wood planks and spruce blocks. The possibilities seemed endless. My brother and one cousin were in charge of building the house and filling it in with glass blocks and glass panes. They would create a walking path and light it with torches to prevent monsters from spawning after we switched back to survival mode. My other cousins would build the garden with all of the food and animals we could ever need. After building the outside of the house, we would focus on the interior. Each of us decorated our rooms and filled them with a bed, a chest, picture frames, and of course, a dog (or cat). Then, we would focus on the fun parts of the house. There would be an indoor swimming pool with a glass bottom and glowstone all around it. A movie theater with plenty of seating. A big stage to watch my cousins run around in various Minecraft skins, crouching and sprinting around. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. If we were playing in survival mode things would start fine until we decided to go mining and someone lost their way. One by one we would each die until finally, we'd lose all of our stuff and give up all hope of surviving in the create world and make the executive decision to delete it and start over. If we continued playing in creative mode, the fun would end when one of us would play a prank on someone else. This ultimately led to the utter destruction of the house we spent hours creating. Or my grandmother would tell us to get off of our screens and go outside to enjoy the sunshine. Even though our worlds wouldn't last more than a few hours, it didn't matter to us. With two of my cousins living more than an hour away, sleepovers at Grandma's were the only time when we were all together. Playing together in creative mode allowed us to let our creativity shine and genuinely have a fun time. We could all collaborate and communicate with each other our most elaborate designs. Most importantly, we could all spend time together. And so, even today, when my cousins and I are all "grown" up, I look back at our previous worlds and smile at all the memories we created. Know that at the touch of a button, we can do it all again.

When I was little the books I read were small and simple. "Goodnight Moon," "Many Moons," and "Frederick" were staple books in my house to read before going to bed. I loved story time, so I remember rushing home after getting on the bus and setting up all of my stuffed animals so that I could have an audience to read to. I'd read aloud just like my teachers would, showing my stuffed animals every picture. Many of my best "book" memories were at the library. The day I owned my first library card was magical. I had a card that allowed me to check out whatever book I desired. Every summer, my parents signed my brother and me up for the summer reading program. Once a week we would stop by my local library to return the books we checked out and run to the prize counter to get stamps on our summer reading packets. I was in middle school when our library introduced digital books. From the start, I was hooked. I found Jenny Han's "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," series and read all three books as fast as I possibly could (or at least as fast as the digital checkout system would let me). I read my father's "Harry Potter" collection and my mother's "Little House on the Prairie" series. Books with series became my newfound obsession. In high school, the books I read were often for class. I read "The Andromeda Strain" for a book report in 9th grade. “To Kill a Mocking Bird" in 10th grade. I read "The Art of War" in 11th grade. I read “Love Medicine” in 12th grade, a book I would soon analyze and use as a literary example on my AP test. However, my perception of books changed. Before, I had read for fun. I loved to read. I couldn't wait to finish all of my homework so that I could read. Now, reading felt like a chore. In college, I've read many books most often for my history classes. One semester I read ten books alone filled with information about the complexities of the American Revolution and the varying independence movements across Latin America. I read so much, that by the end of the semester, I vowed not to touch a book again for many MANY months. Recently, I’ve gotten back to enjoying books due to my local library. I've explored classics like "Pride and Prejudice." Romance books like "Twisted Love." Biographies from women I look up to like "I Am Malala," and "Becoming" by Michelle Obama. Although I've gone through fazes of books, the books I've read have always had a few things in common: enjoyment, knowledge, and inspiration. I've learned to read for enjoyment and encase myself in the world of fiction. I've learned to read for knowledge. To learn about topics and theories from long ago. I've learned to read for inspiration. When I need a pick-me-up to feel supported, I can always count on strong female leads and real-life leaders in our own world. As far as goals go I've completed a lot of them. I got into college. I found my passion in life. In the future, I hope to go to law school. My ultimate goal is to practice law. Even in times of struggle, my books like "Many Moons," "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," "To Kill a Mocking Bird," and "Becoming" will inspire me to enjoy my life and do something bigger than myself.

As a kid, I grew up watching Zendaya. The first show of hers that I saw was "Shake It Up!" I loved her bold and funky character, Rocky. Then she moved on to "KC Undercover” and portrayed KC, a character who was a teenager by day and super spy by night. In 2017, she joined the Marvel Universe as M.J. and made audiences fall in love with the character yet again. As Zendaya has grown up, so have many of her roles. One of Zendaya's most "grown-up" roles was playing Rue in Euphoria, a 17-year-old teenager struggling with mental health issues and addiction. As a sister to someone with mental health and drug abuse issues, her portrayal of Rue really stuck with me. There was a lot of backlash on Euphoria regarding Rue's struggle with addiction as well as the drug use by other characters. Some activists claimed that the show glorified drug use. This couldn't be more wrong. Zendaya's portrayal of Rue (most importantly, the dynamic she has with her sister Gia and her mother) completely encapsulates what addiction and mental health issues do to a family. The screaming fights. The slamming doors. The crying. The pain. The hope that somehow, someday, things will get better. Every day is an uphill battle. There will be good days. There will be bad ones. How active addiction hurts families. How getting clean and going through withdrawal is a struggle within itself. Euphoria also showcases how prevalent drug use is in teens today. Although graphic and at times hard to watch, the show raises awareness about drug use in teens. How those struggling with their emotions or their mental health turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. How mental health is the crisis of our generation (Generation Z). How we need to find ways to alleviate the issue and support those currently struggling. Her decision to take on Rue's character only exhibits her dedication to activism and issues she is passionate about (mental health and drug abuse). When Zendaya won her second Emmy in 2022 for her portrayal of Rue in season two of Euphoria, it didn't feel like she was winning: it felt like we were winning. Her dedication to those like Rue, struggling with mental illness and addiction, and to people who also love those in active addiction gave me hope. Hope, that someday, today’s youth won't feel tempted to introduce themselves to drugs. Hope, that someday everyone will have access to the proper mental health resources. Hope, that someday my brother will beat his addiction and find a healthy way to cope with his ongoing struggles with depression. Even when Euphoria is done and Rue's story is finished, I will still think about her and her own struggles with mental health and addiction and hope that one day, she will be clean and happy.

The sirens blare and the lights flash. Bloody towels litter the metal floor. A patient lays on top of a gurney. Wires stuck to their lifeless body as a paramedic puts pressure on a gushing gunshot wound. The heart monitor slowly beeps. The patient's chest rises with every pump of the bag-valve mask. The ambulance comes to a halt as it reaches its destination: Cohen Children's Medical Center, a children's hospital in Queens, New York. The doors fly open. The gurney is rushed into the hospital. Surgeons surround the patient as vitals are read off. He is declining rapidly. The patient is rushed into surgery. A heartbroken mother stands outside and quietly prays for her son to stay alive and open his eyes. This isn't a movie, nor is it fictitious. This is real life, and it's documented on Netflix's Emergency NYC. This past March (2023), Emergency NYC came to Netflix. After its premiere, the show trended on the Top 10 List in the United States for weeks. If you haven't heard of Emergency NYC, maybe you've heard of its sister show Lennox Hill. Lennox Hill is another medical docuseries on Netflix filmed just before the COVID-19 Pandemic. It focuses on Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City. For people obsessed with medical dramas and the medical field without doctor romances, this show is for you! If you enjoyed spending a weekend binging Lennox Hill, then you will definitely enjoy binging Emergency NYC. With eight episodes at 38-45 minutes long, you can easily binge Emergency NYC in one weekend (and demand for another season soon after finishing season one)! In every episode, I found myself rooting for the patients. I wanted them to be able to live their lives. To start families. To finish high school. To go to college. To succeed in their careers. I reflected on COVID-19 and how gun violence and health issues didn't just stop over the pandemic. Just when I thought a patient was getting better, they faced a setback. Doctors saved patients. Fellow doctors became patients! The twists and turns in the show are seemingly endless. Never have I been so invested in a series and eager to move on to the next episode. Emergency NYC is exciting, but it's also raw and addresses a larger issue of problems that are connected with the United States healthcare system. The show addresses homelessness in New York City and the lack of healthcare for people on the streets. The show addresses gun violence in children and how often the right people are at the wrong place at the wrong time. The show addresses healthcare burnout and the stress that COVID-19 puts on the healthcare system. Regardless of the sadness and struggles this show exhibits, Emergency NYC encapsulates the goodness of people. The determination of doctors to be truthful to patients and fight to do everything in their power to allow them to live normal, happy, and healthy lives. The compassion of others to become donors and save those in need. The support of colleagues who are more than just co-workers. You will laugh, cry, and jump for joy while watching Emergency NYC but it's all worth it by the end of the last episode!

My bookshelf is small but mighty. It is filled with the books of a hopeless romantic. Enemies to lovers. Friends with benefits. Books that are only 250 pages long. Books that are over 500 pages. Before jumping on the #BookTok trend, my library consisted of incomplete stories by authors on Wattpad. Enemies to lovers. Arranged marriages. Mafia romances. College sports romances. Opposites attract. Name the troupe, I had a story that fit the description. After starting the story "Offsides,” I became obsessed with reading. I couldn't wait to get back to my dorm room after class, finish my homework, and curl up in a warm blanket on my bed to continue where I left off. I would drag my finger across my phone, absorbing every word on the page. Before finishing the story, the book was taken down and put on Kindle Unlimited. I was annoyed but determined to read it. It wasn't until Amazon Prime Day that I finally had the chance to read "Offsides" again. I convinced my mom (a fellow book lover who sits in her bed with her iPad every night reading a book she checked out from the library) to open a Kindle Unlimited account that we could share. My ideal bookshelf is filled with romance books like Twisted Love, Twisted Hate, Twisted Games, and Twisted Lies. College romance like Offsides and Icebreaker. Rom-Coms like Red, White & Royal Blue. I joke that the reason why I have such high standards is because of #BookTok men. However, my bookshelf is so much more than that. My books have strong female leads who don't change themselves for anyone and stay true to themselves. They may be shy at first but slowly blossom into confident young women. My books have male leads who are at first arrogant and need to be put in their place. However, throughout the book, they change for the better and grow into caring and empathetic individuals. Sure some aspects of the books may be unrealistic or overdramatic but they're creative. When I'm reading I'm transformed into big cities filled with bustling traffic and people looking to follow their dreams. I'm transformed into an arena with thousands of screaming fans and fast-paced games. I'm transformed into large estates, introduced to new languages, and riches only I could ever imagine. I feel for the characters. My heart races right before the lead characters experience their first kiss. I grow weary of the upcoming problem the couple will face. I smile when there's a happily ever after and reflect on how far each character has come. Although there are vastly different genres across the #BookTok community, many of the recommendations have introduced me to authors of color and authors from the LGBTQIA+ community. Ana Huang's "Twisted" series took TikTok by storm. The perfect male leads and strong, female leads captured my heart. Casey McQuiston (a queer and nonbinary author) blended my love of politics and romance novels with their book "Red White & Royal Blue." I still hope to branch out my bookshelf to include more diverse authors. I value inclusivity and diversity, so I want to ensure that the books I read also reflect those values.

My Instagram username is @gina.fiorenza

My parents always like to go to Starbucks to get one of their signature fall drinks. We would go down the street to our local Starbucks, order seasonal drinks and snacks, and sit inside at one of the high-top tables to enjoy our treats. My mom doesn't quite like the taste of coffee, so her coffee drink is always packed with flavorings like creamer, vanilla, and caramel. Her go-to order is a Salted Caramel Mocha. My dad, on the other hand, can't stand coffee that sweet. His drink was always just the basics with sugar and cream. He'd always order a Cafe Americano and get his fall fix from a pumpkin loaf. Usually, my brother and I would get one of their coffee-less Frappuccinos. I'd order a Chocolate Chip Frappuccino. My brother would order a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino. We'd always pair these rich drinks with a tasty treat (three petite vanilla bean scones and a chocolate croissant for my brother). However, my brother and I wanted something different. We wanted to try a Pumpkin Spice Latte. My brother and I had never had flavored coffee, let alone coffee. I had tried a few sips of my dad's coffee, but the taste was too bitter for me and turned me off to the idea that my parents drank it every morning before work. My brother and I didn't want coffee; we wanted to try the Pumpkin Spice flavoring in the Pumpkin Spice Latte and get into the fall spirit. The problem? We didn't think there would be any way to order a coffee-less Pumpkin Spice Latte. Ordering a Pumpkin Spice Latte without the coffee would defeat the purpose of the drink being a "latte." However, my dad was bound and determined to get us our drink. When we got to our Starbucks, we ordered as usual. My mom got a Salted Caramel Mocha. My dad got a Cafe Americano with a pumpkin loaf. I ordered three petite vanilla bean scones. My brother ordered a chocolate croissant. Then came down to the “special” order. My dad asked and we received it. It's called the Pumpkin Spice Creme. This drink is the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but it has a milk base instead of a coffee one. Between the creaminess of the milk, the cinnamon dust, and the pumpkin spice flavoring, my brother and I loved it. Until I started drinking coffee, the Pumpkin Spice Creme was my go-to drink everytime we went to Starbucks. Now that I'm older and in college, the family fall Starbucks trips don't happen as often; however, I still like to try and get a fall drink at least once during the fall semester. Last fall, after one of my classes was canceled, I decided to go to Starbucks and order a Pumpkin Spice Latte, this time with the coffee! For any college student, Starbucks coffee is another way to ease fatigue during midterms—except this time with a fall flare—but the Pumpkin Spice Latte means much more to me. It reminds me of sitting by the window and looking at the cloudy-gray sky. It reminds me of going to the apple orchard for apples and spiced cider donuts. It reminds me of sitting on the couch, watching football while a fall-scented candle fills my nostrils. It reminds me of coziness and comfort. Love and support. It reminds me of home. The Starbucks on campus may not have the high-top tables, but I can always get a Pumpkin Spice Latte to remind me of my family. To remind me of the fall. To remind me of home.

I would consider myself a "Disney" kid. I grew up watching every Disney movie on DVD known to man. I had handmaid Disney princess-themed dresses. I listened to Disney soundtracks in the car. I had Disney stuffed animals covering my bed. Half of the Christmas tree ornaments were Disney-related. I went to Disney almost every summer. I have too many favorite things about Disney to count. The movies. The characters. The toys. The rides. It's too hard to choose one thing. But these "favorites" all have one thing in common: joy. When I was four years old, I went to Walt Disney World for the first time. At four, I loved Cars, Finding Nemo, and Disney princesses. My mom is an avid sewer. Before the trip, she made elaborate plans to sew numerous dresses for me. I had a blue dress themed around The Little Mermaid with shell buttons and little lobster pins. I had a red and white gingham dress for Mickey's Backyard Barbecue. I had a pink dress inspired by Aurora with all the Disney princesses on it. I might not have had the "Disney" brand dresses sold in the stores, but it was all the same to me. During summer and winter breaks, my parents loved to take my brother and me to Chicago for the day. In addition to going to Rainforest Cafe and the Sears Tower, we’d always stop at the Disney Store downtown. I would browse through the isles of toys, stuffed animals, and clothes. My dad would choose a new mug to drink coffee in (preferably a Jack Skellington one). My mom would find another reusable Disney-themed bag. My brother and I would each pick out a new pair of pajamas. My closest connection to Disney has been the characters the Imagineers and animators bring to life. I love to watch Disney movies. Between the storylines, animation, and music, the list of Disney movies I could watch on repeat seems to never end. My favorite thing about Disney is the company's ability to make me feel joyous regardless of the situation. It doesn't matter which theme park I'm in: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom. Each themed land transports me into a new reality. Even today, at nineteen years old, I still have as much fun at Disney as I did when I was four. I wear the Mickey Ears. Stand in line to meet the characters. Scream on all the rides (big or small). And I cry while watching the fireworks. When I'm stressed or anxious. Sad or angry. I can always count on Disney to make me feel better, even if it means watching Princess and the Frog and quoting it word for word or listening to the Happily Ever After Firework soundtrack! Due to my love of Disney, I have applied for the Disney College Program, a program that gives paid internships to college students at Walt Disney World. I want to take the joy I've experienced throughout my life because of Disney and spread it to other children and families. I want to make a young child's first trip memorable. I want to help the panicked parent find the sold-out birthday or holiday gift. I want to ensure that someone with a food allergy can find comfort in knowing they can enjoy the same meal as anyone else. I want to create joy. The same joy I experienced because of cast members. Because of animators. Because of imagineers. Because of Disney.

A drone light show lights up the sky. The crowd cheers their name. The jumbotron begins playing a photomontage, and their fans grow excited. Under heavy stage lights and the California heat, they take the stage. Their names are Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa, one of the biggest names in K-Pop: BLACKPINK. The first time I heard of BLACKPINK was in 2018. I was going into my freshman in high school. BLACKPINK was beginning to tap into the global market. Before listening to BLACKPINK, my only prior experience with K-Pop was Psy's "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman" (because no one could escape the dance all over Vine and YouTube in 2012). BTS's popularity grew in the States, but K-Pop was singular to South Korea. As I was scrolling through trending YouTube videos, I came across the music video for "DDU-DU-DDU-DU." The thumbnail of four girls sitting in bold outfits with confidence and swagger caught my eye. I clicked play. My music taste was changed forever. The dancing. The raps. The visuals. The vocals. I was hooked. After finishing the video, I played it again. And again. And again. Then I looked at their past singles. BOOMBAYAH. PLAYING WITH FIRE. WHISTLE. STAY. Every time I clicked a new video, the more and more I began to stan the group. Soon, I counted the days until their next comeback, "Kill This Love." I followed the group's social media platforms and each of the member's Instagram pages. I watched a livestream of their 2019 Coachella performance. I scrolled through Instagram and the many fancams from their first world tour. I watched interviews on American talk shows and numerous performances on morning shows. Late at night, I would put in my earbuds and dance around my room, imagining I was on stage performing their songs for thousands of screaming fans. Unbeknownst to me, BLACKPINK was slowly changing my level of self-confidence. Earlier that summer, I quit playing for my club soccer team. While on the team, I felt left out. My confidence deflated. I was quiet, shy, and always followed a crowd. BLACKPINK showed me how to be fierce, bold, and confident. The daring outfits, punctual dance moves, and endless concepts. I grew into a confident, bold, and ambitious person. I cut my hair short for the first time since I was a kid. I danced with power and strength in my dance classes at school. I grew as a leader and eventually became a team captain on my soccer team, the very sport that was the cause of my insecurities years prior. Even today, I still struggle with self-confidence, but with a few BLACKPINK songs and a dance party in my room, I'm given the confidence to believe in myself even when no one is watching. Since their debut, BLACKPINK has made an impact on global culture. In 2019, the group became the first Korean act to perform at Coachella, one of the most popular music festivals in the world. This past April, BLACKPINK became the first K-Pop group to headline Coachella. Not only was I excited to see so many people appreciate BLACKPINK, but I was excited to see people appreciate K-Pop in general. BLACKPINK has paved the way for K-Pop in the U.S. And so when I see a fellow K-Pop stan raving about their favorite group/artist online, dressed in elaborate outfits, and dancing around like nobody is watching, I smile. Because somehow, somewhere, they were just like me until they fell down the rabbit hole and came out more confident than ever.

The first time I volunteered, I was 12 years old, helping my church with its free Vacation Bible School over the summer. I didn’t “feel” like I was volunteering at the time. I was simply at my church, helping kids with numerous arts and crafts projects. I noticed that any of the kids attending the camp didn't go to my church; however, they returned year after year. In high school, I joined the National Honors Society. In addition to maintaining a 3.0 GPA, I had to have 25 individual service hours. During my junior year, I volunteered at my local food bank. I had to pack and sort fruit, vegetables, rice, or any other perishable/nonperishable items. It amazed me how many people volunteered with me: students from public schools and students from private schools, young children, older folks, those that used the food bank, and those that had never experienced food insecurity. After Spring Break, I continued to go to the food bank, this time participating in the open market. Although a food bank, the open market felt like a grocery store. There were rows of fresh produce, a section for milk, eggs, and cheese. Sometimes there would be juices, fun cereals, and cookies. Even during my four-hour shift, the line of people continued to grow. I'll never forget when I heard a young boy shout, "Mom, look! They have chocolate wafers.” Or when an older man exclaimed, "Yay! They have string cheese." This past summer, I interned for my State Representative and had the chance to plan and volunteer at his annual Mental Health Fair. This mental health fair brought together thirty charities and nonprofits to constituents on the west side (one of my town's more underserved communities). The fair provided mental, physical, emotional, and nutritional health resources. It ended up being a great success. More than 150+ constituents came out for food, fun, and resources. I’ve learned a lot about insecurity and need in my local community. Need doesn't discriminate. The Vacation Bible School at my church may have been a way to spread the word of God, but it gave parents a safe and caring place to drop their kids off when they went to work. It gave children, possibly struggling with food insecurity a place where they would be fed for the day. The food bank may have been an outlet for those in need, but it gave children and families a sense of normalcy, shopping for the items they want. It prevented perfectly good produce from local grocery stores from being thrown away each week. The Mental Health Fair may have been a way to promote the Representative, but for some, gave them a meal for the day. It allowed constituents to talk with Representative West and feel comfortable contacting a government office for any issue, big or small. I credit my volunteer experience at my church and local food bank with my decision to pursue political science in college. I credit my volunteer experience with my State Representative for my desire to use my degree to help those in need. As an individual, I value creativity, diversity, and inclusion. I always want to ensure that everyone can express themselves and feel included in any space. In the future, I want to go to law school. I want to practice constitutional law and ensure that everyone, regardless of race, economic background, gender, or sexuality, has the rights granted to them in our country's constitution. I want to fight for creativity. For diversity. For inclusion. Because everyone, no matter the insecurity, deserves to thrive.

When I was little and visited my cousins, I always admired the large suburban homes. They would have pristine lawns and trimmed bushes. They were two stories tall and included a connecting garage. Hanging planters with a welcome sign stood on the front porch. The blacktop driveway had not even a speck of grass on it. In the backyard, there was a deck, trampoline, and a pool. These homes seemed so expensive, so fun, so perfect. I never owned the miniature Barbie homes nor the 3-and-a-half-foot Dream House, but that never deterred me from making my own. I used to take small bowls and buckets and turn them over to create tables. I'd take pieces of fabric from my mom's sewing collection and use them as blankets or table clothes for my Barbies. My Fisher Price kitchen became my "Dream Barbie House." However, if given the chance to build my very own "Barbie Dream House," my home would be built around myself and my values. My house would be in the countryside on a hill where I could have plenty of space to create a "forest garden." The outside of my home would be covered in different flowers, plants, and trees. I'd plant hollyhock in every color. There would be lavender bushes and Aster flowers along the walkways. I'd have trees along the long and winding driveway. A few downy serviceberry trees would be planted close to the house for some color. I love to garden and grow my own food, especially in the summer, so my Barbie Dream House would have to have a greenhouse. I would plant any kind of produce available. I would grow fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and tomatoes. Herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro. Vegetables like cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots. Food insecurity is a problem in our society, so I'd donate a majority to local food banks so that people in need can access fresh produce. I love the sun and natural light. The exterior would have to be made of glass. I'm passionate about the environment, so the house would have solar panel windows. My electricity, internet, heating, and cooling would be powered by the sun. No need for fossil fuels here! I would love to have a large home to host friends and family. There would be a huge foyer with open ceilings so that I can decorate it for every holiday. The kitchen would have a long island with a lot of counter space for cooking and baking. I would have a large patio with tables, umbrellas, and plenty of seating. Connected to the patio there would be a large pool with a slide and a waterfall. Of course, there would be a hot tub because it's not a dream house without one! My Barbie Dream House may be the house of my dreams, but I hope I can create a home that exhibits some of its features. It may not have an elevator or a pool with a waterfall. It may not be made of glass windows or have a path of trees leading up to the house. But it will have plenty of hanging planters and greenery. A garden with fruits, vegetables, and herbs. A kitchen stocked with hearty ingredients and baked goods. Solar-powered lights will sit outside to light the sidewalk. It will be filled with friends and family. It will be warm, welcoming, and joyful. If anything I've learned from Barbie, it's that anything is possible, Dream House or not. It's only a dream until it becomes real. You just have to make it happen!

I finished in the top 5% of my class in high school, yet I had to attend my safety school for my second-choice major. I have always enjoyed school, maybe even a little too much! I challenged myself and took six AP classes while in high school. I was in a performing arts program. I participated in numerous musical and dance productions. I played club soccer year-round and was a team captain my senior year. I joined an Honors Society and served on my Church's council as a youth representative. I worked almost every day after school and spent most of my weekends working 15-17 hours and finishing piles of homework. When it came time to apply to college, I was confident in my applications. I chose to apply to only four universities: the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC), the University of Chicago (UChicago), and Northern Illinois University (NIU). Then decisions came out. I faced the biggest challenge in my life. Accepted to NIU. Waitlisted and later rejected from UChicago. Accepted to UIUC. And finally, accepted to UIC. Four different decisions stood at my disposal. However, these decisions were decided for me before I could form my own. UChicago was easy. I didn't take the rejection personally. After all, the acceptance rate is only a measly six percent. Even being waitlisted felt like an honor. UIUC was my top school and the easy choice, but with a rejection to both my first and second-choice majors, a $100,000 price tag looming over my head, and the idea of having to re-apply to get into a major of my choice, my dream school was out of the picture. At least with UIC, my first-choice major was accepted; however, with no financial aid or scholarships offered and the price tag twice as much as UIUC, the decision became easy. And so, the only affordable decision available was to go to NIU and obtain a degree for my second-choice major. Although disappointed, I decided this "setback" wouldn't be a defining moment. I was going to make the best of the outcome. I applied (and was accepted) to the NIU Honors Program. I finished all my general education requirements. I’ve completed my History minor. I decided to take on two additional minors: Social Change Leadership and Women and Gender Studies. I applied and was accepted into the Political Science Honors Program. I joined two honors societies on campus (the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the National Society of Leadership and Success) and serve as executive vice president for my NSCS chapter. I have been honored with academic excellence awards from the Honors Program and the Political Science Department. Next year, I plan on becoming an Honors mentor to help incoming honors students and serve on the Political Science Student Advisory Committee. I've completed outside internships, written two bills for the Illinois House of Representatives, and have plans to apply to NIU's Congressional Internship in Washington, D.C. Throughout the college application process, I’ve learned a lot about making decisions. I’ve learned about which decisions will feel good and which ones will hurt. I’ve learned about which decisions will close doors and which will lead to amazing opportunities. Most importantly, I’ve learned that the order of decisions doesn’t matter. You are your own person. You have the power to change your history. You can succeed. My current major and school may have originally been my second choice, but I’ve slowly learned that it was the right one all along.

My favorite character was (and still is) Hermione Granger. She exhibited many of my values and qualities. I could relate to her dedication to her studies and her determination to get the highest marks. I admired how she stuck up for her friends regardless of the names Draco Malfoy called her. She always wanted to do the right thing, even if it meant getting in trouble with Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall. Although I love Hermione's character, I don't feel like Gryffindor would be the perfect fit for me. I'm determined in school and my job, but I don't like to be in the spotlight. I may have small bouts of courage, but I doubt myself and second-guess my decisions. If my peers and teachers were to sort me into a Hogwarts House they would probably say Ravenclaw purely because of my dedication to my studies. In elementary school, my teachers suggested I test for the gifted academic program. In middle school, I was always the go-to person outside of class for questions. In high school, I took numerous Advanced Placement (AP) Courses and maintained a 4.3 GPA, graduating at the top of my academy. I was involved in the dance and theatre programs and participated in many musicals and other performances. Even in college, I'm a year ahead and am involved in the University Honors Program and the Political Science Honors Program. School is a huge part of my life and it has been for the past 16 years of my life. However, even with my dedication to academics, I don't think I am a perfect fit for Ravenclaw. Sure I do well in school, but only in certain subjects. I could hold my own in honors science and math classes but struggled in the respective AP courses. I am creative, but I don't think outside the box to solve issues. School is important, but it isn't the defining factor of my life. Looking back on the opinions of my peers and teachers I would counter that my dedication to my studies isn't the only trait I possess. I didn't test into the gifted academic program because I wanted to stay in school with my friends. I wasn't a leader in the classroom due to my grades, but because of my willingness to help others. I was an active student in high school, but I participated in a performing arts program and collaborated with others to create extravagant performances. If I were a student at Hogwarts, I would be sorted into Hufflepuff. Hufflepuffs are hardworking, loyal, kind, and have a strong sense of justice. They are humble and kind and most of all, inclusive. Like fellow Hufflepuffs I am hard-working in school, my job, and my internship. I am friendly to others and I'm always willing to help those in need. I'm loyal to my friends. I always support them no matter how big their dreams may be. I have a strong moral code and I strive to do what is right. In the future, I want to practice constitutional law so that I can protect people's rights and ensure that I can contribute to a more just and inclusive society. I may be as intelligent as a Ravenclaw and as determined as a Gryffindor, but I value my friends and peers even more. I want to use my talents to help others and ensure that everyone has a chance to thrive.