Previously pursuing an arts degree, I changed my mind and chose to pursue an Associate’s degree in the Auto Service Technician Track program after deciding my passion for cars has grown more and more. Throughout my entire life, I found myself to be highly fascinated with cars and trucks, especially as my grandfather and uncle were truck drivers, and my dad is a car enthusiast, which all influenced my childhood, and I too, became interested in cars. Growing into adulthood, I learned more about cars overall, seeking information like how they work, classic cars, the car community, and even how to do maintenance on my truck. Something else I was passionate about was art, and I even began my college education pursuing an art degree and major. While I am still passionate about it, I believe I could continue art as a hobby, and I would rather have a future career in something else I am interested in. Because I was learning more about cars, I began looking at careers in the trades, which included automotive, and it caught my attention. With lots of support from my family, I changed my major and entered an automotive program at a new school, where I will start in the 2024 fall semester. After I toured the building and spoke with the program director, I felt more confident in my decision and became excited about beginning my new journey. What also made me interested in this specific field of study is the small representation of women in the trades. While women make up a small chunk of trade workers, they do not get the same appreciation as men and usually are discouraged from working in those fields. That’s why becoming a part of this program is important because we need more women who will make that change by challenging gender roles and stereotypes. I hope to meet other girls in my program who follow that same mindset and goals as I do. I am not too entirely sure where I envision myself in five years, but I would like to have finished my program by then and hopefully be working in the automotive industry. This might include becoming a mechanic at an automotive store or even possibly opening up my own business. I would like to have been successful in obtaining a career that fits my interests, supports my lifestyle, and continues to challenge me to learn and move forward.

I believe that taking care of your mental health and ensuring that you do what you need to feel good is crucial. Having stability in your mental health will motivate you to keep pushing forward in life and to maintain a path to success. Whether it’s getting a new job or simply cleaning your room, your life will be much better once you start focusing on your mental health. Previously, I used to struggle with my mental health during my early teenage years due to some unfortunate situations in life, and then trying to fit in at a new middle school was difficult and put me through some negative emotions. As a teenager, the topic of mental health wasn’t something that people would openly discuss nor would they help us find ways to take care of our mental health. It wasn’t until high school once I changed my relationships with people and started to feel more comfortable with who I was and wanted to be, that I began to feel content and happy with my life. I would enjoy music often and read, as well as begin to journal in order to express my emotions and to calm myself from any stress I was possibly feeling from school or other things in life. During the beginning of adulthood, I was able to discover different techniques that would support my mental health, and I learned a lot more about other peoples’ stories of battling mental health and what they did to overcome it. I found myself a lot happier when I started to find different hobbies that I would enjoy and started working on strengthening the current relationships I had with my friends and family as they became huge supporters of my school and career choices. While I may find myself in times where I feel down or frustrated, I try to find solutions to work through it and not let it ruin my day. I will take breaks and ask for help when I feel like I could use support, something I would have been afraid to do years before. I have seen myself grow over the last couple of years and have challenged myself to do things that I would not have done in the past or would have given up on. This type of mindset has helped me better my mental health and has influenced me to help others who also want to change their mental health for the better.

The consequences and effects of drunk driving are detrimental, not only for the person who caused this unfortunate situation but also for those directly affected, such as the victim and the victim’s family and friends. Too many people are killed because of the action of someone’s reckless behavior and carelessness of safety for themselves and others when they decide to go behind the wheel under the influence. For the person who receives a DUI, it can cause harsh consequences for their lives, including jail time, fines, license suspension, and programs, as well as living with an immense amount of guilt for endangering other people or even taking their lives. However, these do not justify their actions and do not equate to the amount of damage caused to other people, but it is a great way to deter further reckless behavior and discourage people from drunk driving. No matter the severity, I believe they deserve some sort of sentence as they should take full responsibility for their actions and the problems they have caused. While these consequences are in effect and exist, drunk driving still occurs regardless. The reason why people decide to drink and drive varies from person to person, and there should be more options to help them avoid driving while drunk. These options could include cheaper or even free carpooling, since some businesses prefer not to take drunk customers or increase their fees, making it more difficult for people to choose these options. Ultimately, it is the person who is drinking to make that decision not to drink and drive, and taking larger actions to prevent this would take more enforcement and action from the government or businesses themselves to find a solution, which is something people have been fighting for years. Avoiding drunk driving is a very preventable situation, yet it still happens. People should become knowledgeable about the effects and dangers of drunk driving and what to do if they or someone they know decides to drive under the influence. Knowing the signs and preventable options could save someone’s life.

For my future self, I envision a joyous life as an inspiring art teacher, traveling the globe, and creating memories with my loving husband and the delightful company of my feline companions.

As a nature and animal lover who adores the winter seasons, I would create my Barbie House as a cozy cabin home in the breathtaking Colorado mountains, such as Vail, Telluride, or Breckenridge. This modern two-story log cabin with its big glass windows will be atop the mountains overlooking the small town below and will serve as a perfect retreat for Barbie and her friends. Not only will the cabin house a total of ten people who can enjoy the options of five rooms with their very own bathroom and a very large bed, but there is a wraparound porch on the second floor decorated with comfortable chairs and fuzzy blankets for guests to sit and enjoy hot chocolate. The master bedroom will feature a king-sized bed covered in neutral-colored linens and throw blankets to provide extra warmth, and a jacuzzi bath to indulge in bubble baths while taking in the beautiful mountain views through the window. Along with that, the living room would be a great room to socialize and relax since there will be a warm fireplace surrounded by snug couches and chairs. Connected to the living room is the kitchen, both rustic and modern, with beautiful wooden cabinets and marble countertops adorned with black hardware and plants. Inside the fridge and cabinets are comfort foods such as soups and pasta that will help Barbie and her friends stay warm during the cold winter nights. During the winter season, a pine tree covered in bright white and gold ornaments and garland will up the space in front of the living room’s large windows, reaching the high ceilings. Outside of the cabin, there is a designated area to house the caribou and horses. The animals’ enclosure will be spacious enough to roam and graze in the greenery freely, yet will be securely fenced to ensure their safety. On one side of the enclosure, a cozy wooden stable stands, which will provide shelter for the animals with its individual stalls filled with soft bedding and feeding troughs. Barbie and her friends will be able to interact and connect with the animals by taking them on rides through the mountains, as well as finding activities to bond with them that will help them learn more about wildlife and connect with nature. For those looking to have fun and relax, the hot tub on the first floor outside on the patio is perfect to unwind, especially when it’s snowing outside, and there is a game room that includes a pool table and a big TV to watch movies in, creating memories for Barbie and her guests. For guests seeking outside activities, the mountainous area will allow adventures including hiking, skiing, camping, sledding, and wildlife observation. In this dream Barbie house, every detail has been thoughtfully designed to offer comfort, relaxation, and new adventures. The home and its surrounding area will be a place for Barbie and her friends to create unforgettable memories and experience the true beauty of the Colorado mountains.

I believe that taking care of your mental health and ensuring that you do what you need to feel good is crucial. Having stability in your mental health will motivate you to keep pushing forward in life and to maintain a path to success. Whether it’s getting a new job or simply cleaning your room, your life will be much better once you start focusing on your mental health. Previously, I used to struggle with my mental health during my early teenage years due to some unfortunate situations in life, and then trying to fit in at a new middle school was difficult and put me through some negative emotions. As a teenager, the topic of mental health wasn’t something that people would openly discuss nor would they help us find ways to take care of our mental health. It wasn’t until high school once I changed my relationships with people and started to feel more comfortable with who I was and wanted to be, that I began to feel content and happy with my life. I would enjoy music often and read, as well as begin to journal in order to express my emotions and to calm myself from any stress I was possibly feeling from school or other things in life. During the beginning of adulthood, I was able to discover different techniques that would support my mental health, and I learned a lot more about other peoples’ stories of battling mental health and what they did to overcome it. I found myself a lot happier when I started to find different hobbies that I would enjoy and started working on strengthening the current relationships I had with my friends and family as they became huge supporters of my school and career choices. While I may find myself in times where I feel down or frustrated, I try to find solutions to work through it and not let it ruin my day. I will take breaks and ask for help when I feel like I could use support, something I would have been afraid to do years before. I have seen myself grow over the last couple of years and have challenged myself to do things that I would not have done in the past or would have given up on. This type of mindset has helped me better my mental health and has influenced me to help others who also want to change their mental health for the better.

As an inspiring art teacher, I will make it my responsibility to help inspire and support my students who are creatively expressing themselves through art. My decision to become an art teacher was heavily influenced by my mom, who was also an artist and introduced me to creating art, as well as my art teachers both in high school and college. They have all taught me a variety of skills, familiarized me with different materials, and supported me through my creative ideas but also taught me to accept criticism. I hope I can do the same for my future students as my teachers inspired me to take the educational route I’m on. Not only do I plan on using my art to help my students, but I am also hoping to contribute my art to help others, such as doing commissions for animal portraits or scenery. Animals and nature have played a big factor in my art pieces, and I have found an appreciation for them even more when they’re included. I first experienced this idea when I was showing a friend of mine the art pieces I created of my cats, and she wanted me to draw her pets. This touched me deeply as I realized the opportunity I had. The idea of someone taking the time to draw someone’s pet whose owner loves them so much is a good feeling that I hope I can feel if I take on this opportunity. Overall, I believe art can do a wide range of things, from bringing awareness to simply making someone smile, and my own art could possibly do one of those things for someone else.

Unfortunately, this universal and life-changing disease known as cancer has made a presence in my and my family’s lives. My grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, and it was difficult for him and my family to accept it. Although I wasn’t very close to him, there are many memories of spending holidays at their home and playing in their pool during the summer during my childhood. However, my other siblings and of course, my parents, were much closer to him, and I knew this situation would impact them profoundly. Seeing how emotionally affected my family was, it brought us together as we needed each other’s support through the tough times. I found myself speaking to my parents more and more during that time, especially about how they felt and about my grandpa. Even as common as cancer is, I would not have guessed that it would have made its way into my family, but it did. This situation did alter my previous perceptions and beliefs about cancer. It made me realize how quickly someone’s life can change and that we are all susceptible to things such as cancer as we do not have full control over our lives. Knowing this, I believe early cancer detection should be easily accessible and encouraged, particularly in families who know someone in their family that has experienced cancer in order to ensure that they also don’t have cancer or catch it before it reaches a stage that is too late. This is what helped me be aware of how substantial cancer is because my grandpa was already in the later stages when he was first diagnosed, but even with all the treatments and his fighting, cancer will fight back and can win the fight. While I am not currently pursuing a degree in the medical field nor plan on seeking a job in the medical field, I am so grateful for those who are. I believe if this situation occurred early in my life instead of when it occurred while I was already an adult, it may have made me consider going into the medical field. Even if I do not end up in the medical field as my career choice, I would not think twice about advocating cancer awareness and finding ways to help others going through it regardless of my career. This experience was not at all easy on me either since I was unable to speak to him much, and I did not get to see him in person before he passed as my parents did. It made me feel a bit guilty that I was not able to help him through it. The overall experience for me was overbearingly emotional, and I wish that no one else has to experience it as I did.

The book, as well as the movie, that I believe everyone should look into is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson as it explores the inner thoughts and trauma experienced by a teenage girl in high school who was sexually assaulted. While the book covers a heavy topic, this is a topic that is not talked about because society tends to feel too uncomfortable to discuss it, but it needs to be discussed more. Having been a teenage girl, I was able to relate to the character by knowing she felt the pressure of not being able to talk about her situation and feelings or of the insecurity of being the “weird” and different girl in a high school. Therefore, there is a possibility that other girls or even boys may find reassurance that there are people who have gone through and feel the same things as them. This can bring awareness to help others in speaking up about the issue of sexual assault. It also helps to show the reality of the real world, especially how cruel other teenagers can be to each other or the importance of influential teachers so that students can build trust and find support within them. Even though the topic of the book is complex, the author, Laurie Halse Anderson, has found a way to point out real issues in a realistic, but comedic approach. Her usage of sarcasm and simple language makes the book easier to read and much more enjoyable if you are part of a younger audience. But even with that, the book doesn’t lose its true meaning.

My name is Haley Debem, and I am a current student at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and will be pursuing a BFA in Secondary Art Education in the future. Throughout my life, I have always felt connected with art and passionate about it because my mother was an artist, and she exposed me to the creative hobby firsthand, and we used this as a way of bonding. Later in high school and my first two years of college, my art teachers had a significant impact on my decision to pursue art and with wanting to become an art teacher. They taught me a lot of skills and knowledge, as well as supporting the pieces I created and the ideas I had in mind. When I was in AP Studio Art Drawing in my senior year at Cherokee Trail High School, I was challenged to create a portfolio of 10+ pieces with a common theme throughout the school year, and even though I struggled a lot, I found it to be a good experience and strengthened my time management and interest in art. I hope to become an art teacher for high school specifically since many students tend to focus more seriously on creating strong pieces, and I would love to be able to teach the skills and craftsmanship to them. Due to the accessibility of different materials in school, I have been able to experiment with a variety of mediums, therefore finding what I like and dislike, but overall learning the importance of them and how they work. Some of the materials I took a liking to were clay, charcoal, and oil pastels, none of which I would have chosen without the support and accessibility of my teachers as I was more comfortable with another material, graphite pencils. Having the chance of winning this scholarship, I would be able to continue my education and career more comfortably without the pressure of money to pursue it. As a full-time student and a part-time worker, the goal of saving up enough money to cover the costs of tuition for the remaining two years at my university has been difficult as I will be working at the same time as studying and attending classes. This scholarship will take the focus off of working at my job to be able to focus more on school to achieve my degree since I still have much more to learn and experience.