I deserve this scholarship because my boyfriend says I do and he's always right(or so he says). He says I'm gonna need the money so I can focus more of my time on school and him(but mainly him) instead of trying to pay for my education. Academic and career wise, I aspire to walk across that stage, folder in hand, twice, and into that office with my name displayed across my desk. I mean c'mon. How cool would it be to see my name written in gold letters? Make my boyfriend proud, you know? Getting to that point won't be easy. I remember one time I was stocking shelves at my first job at a grocery store, and me having the short arms and small hands that I do, I constantly almost dropped boxes. Instead of letting the boxes hit the floor, I'd catch them by moving my body in ways I can only move it because of destroying it from dancing for 14 years. The boxes never touched the floor and I only broke a nail a couple of times. If you don't believe me, you can ask my boyfriend. He was always there to laugh with me through those trying times.

Everything stopped. I was numb, yet shaking fiercely. My cries lodged in the back of my throat that must not breach the surface. It was over. She wanted to take control of me and end everything, but I couldn't let her prevail. I had to be stronger than her desires to leave. For way too long, I've struggled with my mental health. It took over my daily life and made it hard to do anything normal. While other girls my age were out having fun with their friends, I was sitting alone in my room battling with my demons. I never asked to have these problems. I just wanted to be like everyone else. That way, I wouldn't feel shut out and maybe have a sense of belonging. From having a personal understanding of mental health, I've begun to see people differently. Now that person who smells a little and sits at a lunch table by themselves isn't the "weird kid" to me. Instead, I wonder what they must be going through in their personal lives and inside their mind for them to respond in that kind of fashion. It might make me look "uncool" for caring about them, but those are the people who deserve to be cared about, not the ones saying to stay away from them just because they wear the same clothes every day. I've had to break friendships because my so called friends didn't understand what I struggle with on a daily basis. They would just say, "You're so awkward" and, "We feel bad for you". Never lifted a finger to help or even ask how I felt. At the same time, I've grown more compassionate for those in my life who are clearly going through the same things I struggle with and don't speak up. For example, my boyfriend was trapped in an extremely toxic relationship for two years and it took me becoming his friend and treating him like a human being to realize he was worth more than what she gave him. Unfortunately, she severely scarred him and he recently broke up with me because he didn't want to burden me with his problems. I'm still there for him every minute of the day to make sure he's ok and to help him get through this because that's what he deserves. The fashion industry can be an extremely toxic environment, both inside and outside. Its full of body shaming, gender, racial, and sexual orientation inequality, and high standards that most people cannot reach. This in return hurts the consumers who "don't fit the mold" of today's standards. While things are improving, there's still much work to be done. As a fashion marketer and merchandiser, I will work on promoting how all walks of life are beautiful in their own special way and should be happy just the way they are. When my boyfriend first suggested to me that I should see a therapist because of how bad my mental health was at times, I immediately said I shouldn't need one because only crazy people need a therapist. That's not true. The society we live in might say they accept people who struggle with their mind, but truthfully, there's still stigma associated with having these problems and reaching out for help. More than ever, I want to break these chains for me and the millions of people just like me who all want a chance to live a normal life. Of course it's not going to be easy; people are stubborn. But so am I.

Helping spread mental health awareness Ambassador for the National Society of High School Scholars Love to create art in the form of music, pastries, and dance Excel in my honor and AP courses Years spent studying multiple genres of dance: 14 Sister of seven Theatre kid and proud to be one Realized I can be more than who I've been told I have to be Overcame my debilitating mental illnesses Committed to serve my drama club as the secretary Cares about activism and supports change Has a purpose in this world Interested in studying fashion merchandising and marketing Addicted to K-pop

Many people today feel confined by stereotypes and change who they are in order to "fit in". If they don't fit the social standards, they don't feel loved. Even if they do "follow the crowd", they're not as happy as the could be. Life isn't about making others like you, especially if that means becoming a new person in order to satisfy those around you. It's about being brave to be who God made you to be. If you be yourself, you'll be much happier and find all the love you feel like you're lacking from others. The song "Idol" by BTS is all about choosing to be yourself instead of listening to others. The group has faced much ridicule for being themselves and for a long time had a hard time getting started. They didn't let the oppression deter them and are now on top of the world. They made their debut in 2013 but didn't start gaining momentum until 2016. In 2018, they released their LOVE YOURSELF album, which was when they really took off. Many people needed to hear their message of "love myself" because it's very hard to do so today. For a very long time I couldn't love myself because I was told it was wrong to think of yourself that highly, so I lived surrounded by despicable thoughts day and night. After a good friend introduced the group to me, I saw a major turn around in my mental health and the way I approached life. This song helped me realize that it was ok to be myself and I shouldn't care so much what people think about me as long as I'm happy with who I am. Now, I live the life I want without caring how others view me. I'm happy now.

"Real wealth is not about money. Real wealth is: not having to go to meetings, not having to spend time with jerks, not being locked into status games, not feeling like you have to say 'yes', not worrying about others claiming your time and energy. Real wealth is about freedom."-James Clear. Financial freedom has a different meaning for everyone. To some, it means they no longer have work. For others, it means they can do what they love and not have to worry about how much money they'll make. For some, it just means having a roof over their heads. For me, it means being able to enjoy my life without having to worry about my finances. I want to be able to live my life to the fullest and at the same time be financially stable. Enjoying the benefits of being financially free when I'm older means I must be disciplined now. I must learn the best ways to use money so that I can grow my wealth. The best way to start is by spending money on what I really need and straying away from unnecessary purchases. This doesn't mean I can't have fun or spoil myself every now-and-then. I just can't make a regular basis of it. That means no clothes shopping once every two weeks or eating out every night after work. I buy what I need and turn my eye from what I don't. Instead of spending my money on physical possessions, investing will help me generate more wealth. Investing in businesses will allow me to help the economy grow while making my bank account grow at the same time. Purchasing stock will help the business I invest in be able to expand, so both parties will benefit. After I successfully grow my wealth, I'll be able to live financially free as long as I continue to be smart with my money. This means continuing to invest in the economy and not buying the designer purse I really don't need. While being financially free, I'll be able to enjoy more time with my family, friends, and loved ones and show them how much I appreciate the support they've given me over the years. I'll also be able to help give back to my community and improve the lives of my neighbors. Wealth isn't meant to be locked away in a vault. It's meant to be used to improve the world. But first thing's first: You must gain control over your money. Otherwise, the lack of it will take control over you.

"WHERE IS MY KNIFE!!" That's all I hear over the sound of my music and the buzz of shoppers going about their day as I stock bags of pet food at my local grocer. I slowly turn my head to the guy I'm stocking with. Our gazes meet and we both know exactly what's going on: one of our coworkers is having anxiety attack and wants to cut herself. For privacy reasons, let's call her Rachel. Earlier that day, Rachel had come over to me and asked me to hold her knife for her and not give it back to her no matter what. I automictically realized why and told her I would keep it safe. I've only worked with her for about a month at this point and I had to calm her down while she was having an anxiety attack the week prior. Thankfully she didn't try to harm herself, but I wasn't so fortunate that night. My coworker, let's call him Ryan, and I rushed over to see what had set her off and found her pacing in the isle she was supposed to be stocking. There were three carts in her isle; all three almost completely full and stacked as high the shelves. Her face was bright red and you could tell she was trying hard not to cry. I asked her what was wrong. "I can't find my knife," she stammered. "I don't know where I put my knife". "Where was the last place you saw it?" I asked her, trying to keep her from remembering she gave it to me. "I don't know but I need my knife". I knew it would only be a matter of time before she remembered so I said, "You might have left it over in pet. You should go check". She immediately did. While she checked, I slipped the knife to Ryan. He went off to give it to a manger and inform them on what was going on. Rachel came back over, flustered that she couldn't find it. That's when she remembered I had it. "You have my knife!" She yelled. "Give it to me! I need it!" "That's right. I completely forgot I had it," I lied. I checked the pocket she had watched me put it in and acted confused when I couldn't find it. "I think I lost it". I explained. "You're lying!" she screamed and checked my pockets. She became even more anxious so I asked her why she was so stressed. "I have so much work to do and the person who is supposed to help won't". "I'll help you if you need, but standing around won't get your work done". It took some coaxing but I was finally able to get her to calm down and start her work just as Ryan came back with a manager. Thankfully, everything turned out okay. Rachel has had to deal with severe bullying in the past and lives in a toxic household. She is also in an abusive relationship. She has dealt with suicidal thoughts and actions for years and hasn't had anyone to tell her that her life isn't worthless. Although I've personally dealt with those thoughts and actions, it's completely different to see it from the other side. Seeing how much pain someone else is experiencing really hurts. Watching her suffer made me stop caring about what my other coworkers think about me and although no one likes her, I try to go out of my way to spend time with her to make sure she knows her life isn't worthless.

I was alone in that dark room, with only my tear saturated pillow, my thoughts, and an enormous burden on my shoulders to keep me company. A stack of homework a mile high sat on my desk, waiting for me to come to my senses to complete them before their deadlines came. A tornado of cries flew through my head, wishing to come to the surface, but remained hidden in order to keep my parents from hearing my suffering. I was tired. Tired of longs nights spent sitting under lamp light. Tired of feeling alone in the hallways when I was surrounded by the people I loved most. Tired of being afraid of people judging my every move. Most importantly, tired of pretending to be someone I wasn't in order satisfy my parents' rigorous religious beliefs. I spent four years pretending to be someone I wasn't, which ended up taking a big toll on my mental stability. It was easy enough for the first year and a half. I'd go to school and work hard, then come home to my parents and be a good little Christian girl. Things started to go downhill halfway through eighth grade. I started to forget who I really was. All this pretending had gotten me mixed up with who I was and who I pretended to be. As a result, I became very self-conscious, depressed, anxious, and became scared to go to church in fear that someone would see I was a fraud. Some people even said they thought I was demon possessed. Eventually, I became suicidal and tried to take my own life. This was my wakeup call. For years I hadn't felt the warmth of love. I thought that was because there was something wrong with me. And there was. I wasn't me. The reason I didn't feel love was because people were interacting with Haley Strocchia, not me. How was a 15 year old girl going to find someone to love her for who she was when she didn't even know herself? Answer: by loving her reflection. If I could learn to love myself, I could become happier. Becoming happier would make me more approachable so people would be able to start loving me for who I was. Then life wouldn't be so much of a burden anymore. Who knows? Maybe I'd actually enjoy it. It wasn't easy at first. Self-love is looked down upon by Christianity because you're supposed to love God first, then family, friends, and lastly those you meet in life. No where in Sunday school did they talk about it being okay to love yourself. If you did, people thought you were self-centered when God was supposed to be at the center of your life. In order to stay alive though, I had to give God the back seat. At least until I got better. After a hard year being isolated due to Covid-19, I could finally look in the mirror and say, "Girl, you are beautiful. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise". I can't tell you how much those words impacted my life. Just being comfortable as who I really was dramatically changed me. Although some days are still hard, I'm now able to walk around the halls without looking at the ground. I feel so empowered with this new ability I've gained. Being able to love myself has made it so more people could love me. My parents have even excepted who I am to an extent and although I'm not the perfect eldest daughter, they love me. I see that now. Here I am on the other side of this debilitating illness at the age of 17. I'm able to look back on these hard times and use my experiences to help others find the light at the end of the tunnel like I was fortunate enough to find. Living through what I did has given me a new perspective on life. Now, when I see someone people try to avoid because they're "different" or "not okay", instead of thinking they're weird and walking the other way, I think about what they could be dealing with and try to approach them and brighten their day. You can't tell what someone is going through just by looking at them. They could seem completely normal on the outside and go home later that day and take their life because of how much they were suffering internally. This why I try to be the best me I can possibly be. I might end up being the reason someone decides to give life another chance all because I said "hi" to them in the hallway. Although I still identify as a Christian, I've had to alter my beliefs in order to be able keep myself alive and encourage others to live as well. The only way to get people to not want to take their life is to help them learn to love themselves, which goes against Christianity. It's very difficult to show someone they're valuable when they feel worthless because they either have been told over and over again that they don't matter or they just haven't been shown the level of love they require. I want to be the person that tells them they exist for a reason and help show them their purpose. One of my favorite quotes is, "Your life might seem repetitive. But no one really knows what could happen tomorrow. Who knows? Your boring life might turn into an exciting one"-Park Seroyi. All those who struggle with a mental illness are trapped inside this bubble of repetitiveness. Days all feel the same and its hard to breathe sometimes. The only way to breathe is to pop the bubble, but it provides a sense of "security" to those it encloses. If someone would come along and pop the bubble for them, they would see just how clear the world really is and finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Throughout history, women have been told to stay within a man's shadow. That they must be seen and not heard. That they are only good for staying home and spending their husband's money. They could only do what their husband would allow and if for some reason they didn't have a husband, they were looked down upon by society. Very few women thought of breaking these "silent rules" and even less successfully did so. Thankfully, women are no longer chained to the wrists of man nor have to bow to every command, but our wrists are still chafed. We all hold the societal scars of our servitude. It is still hard for women to enter the workforce for careers other than a teacher, cook, caretaker, or nurse. Why? Because society still sees women as only being good in these areas. If I told you to imagen a teacher, you would most likely picture a woman. Same goes for a cook, caretaker, or nurse. It's not your fault, though. That's just the kind of society we live in. But it doesn't have to be. Instead, when I ask you to picture a firefighter, mechanical engineer, or a chief executive, I want a woman to be the first person you think of. In order to empower women, we need to rid the world of these stereotypes. To rid the world of these stereotypes, we change the way people think. The best place to start is with our children. I know when I was a kid, the only women I knew were teachers or stay-at-home moms. In return, that's what I thought I had to be when I grew up. As I got older, my mom kept telling me that she wanted me to be an art teacher, and I thought, "Well, I guess I should since that's the only job I can have". It wasn't until I got to middle school when I was told I could be anything I wanted when I grew up. Now I'm studying to go into fashion marketing and international business. Children need to be brought up knowing they can be and do anything they set their minds to right from the start. Not just girls, but boys too. They also need to learn that their sister can grow up to do work that is currently seen as work "only fit for men". It won't be easy, but nothing in life is. Some households still believe that men were created to be the head house and make money, women to support the man and raise the children, and the children to believe every word their parents' tell them, right or wrong. Because of this, our children need to be exposed to these new ides more while out in society. Whether while attending school or just taking a bike ride around their neighborhood, they need to learn that we are ALL equals and can ALL follow our dreams, no matter what they might be. If we can teach our children that brother and sister are equals, applying the ointment on our wrists won't burn as much and one day, our scars will have healed.

BTS is a world famous K-pop band who is known to deliver inspiring performances through their impactful music. There is an story behind every song they produce and a powerful message they tell through it. The song Interlude: Wings has the line, "I believe in myself. My back hurts in order to let my wings sprout". The first part of the quote is self-explanatory, "I believe in myself". I used to find it very hard to believe in myself. I didn't think I was a person others should look up to and tried to be like other people. When pretending to be someone else wasn't working, I became self-conscious and introverted. My life was all messed up and it was because I was scared to be me. What was the worst that could happen if I did be myself? Maybe people wouldn't like me, but that shouldn't be what I strive to be; a people pleaser. I should just be myself. And you know what? I'm a lot happier now. I really do believe in myself. I know what I can and can't do. Whatever I can't do, I know I can learn. Being able to believe in myself has allowed me to become closer with loved ones, given me self-confidence, and provided me with the motivation I needed to get through trials. The next part of the quote is a little more deep, "My back hurts in order to let my wings sprout". This is talking about how you have to go through hardships in order to grow as a person and to get places in life. I work very hard because I know that's the only way I can advance in life. It's not always easy, but the pain is temporary and will pay off in the long run. In school alone, I have assignments that keep me up until midnight to complete. I don't want to be up that late completing school work. I just want to crawl into my nice, warm bed and let the pain from the day melt away. Instead, I continue to endure through the pain for hours more and complete all my assignments to the best of my ability before entering the security of my blankets. The following day, while my classmates are making excuses to why they haven't completed their homework, I can rest easy knowing I've put in the time and effort necessary to not only complete the assignment, but to succeed in that class. This is one of the many BTS quotes that have inspired me to live my life the way I do. It has helped teach me to believe in myself and encouraged me to work hard to achieve my dreams. It's helped me get through the trials I've had to endure in this life by reminding me that pain I'm experiencing now will one day become the wings I use to soar through the heavens and through the gates towards a happy and successful life.

The lights turn on and there I stand center stage, my friends surrounding me in their sparkly, black attire. The music starts and we all turn our heads dramatically to face the audience. We freeze as the music hits a drop, and as the beat rises again, we let the music take full custody of our bodies, deciding for us which way we turn and how we get there. When the piece is over, the lights fade and the music releases us, returning us to our senses. Dancing has always been my outlet and has opened so many doors for me. I've been dancing ever since I was three. That tiny girl in the blue and green sunflower tutu never would have imagined that she'd one day be dancing five nights a week and be recruited to join her school's musical after a Spanish dance performance where the director fell in love with the way she could move her hips. Dancing is more than just my sport; it's my life. It follows me in everything I do. I would perform for my church on some Sundays. I'd have a full dance breakout session in the middle of doing my homework. I'd even start doing time steps while standing in line for lunch. When recital season came around, forget it. I'd be perfecting my dances while making tiramisu crepe cake in cooking class! I don't know what I would do if I didn't dance. This is where I find the most happiness in life. I've made so many connections through it, learned a lot about myself as a person, and have become the leader my peers need me to be. It's taught me how to manage my time, take responsibility, and that there's no such thing as too much blush (though if you look like a tomato, you've gone too far). Not only do I dance, but as I mentioned earlier, I've been involved in my school's musical every year since freshman year. Originally, I was recruited as a dancer. I was there to teach all my castmates how to dance and to liven the performance. I've grown as an actor since then and have found my voice. Now, not only do I express myself through my body, but through the role of another person as well as my voice. The arts are meant to be enjoyed by everyone, not just the artist. For as long as I live, I intend to use my abilities to bring joy to others. I don't need to be the next Lin-Manuel Miranda in order to pursue what I love. Although performing on Broadway would be a dream come true, let's be realistic. Instead, I would be perfectly happy working at a dance studio to train the next generation of dancers. I would also love to come into schools and work with the young talent to put on a spectacular musical production. I just want to be able to share my joy and passions with the upcoming generations, so that even when I'm old and can't walk straight, I'll still be able to enjoy what I love. But while I can still use my two feet, I intend to use them as a gateway to another world for the audience. They will transport people to a world full of color, music, and happiness.

I was a regular high school student on the outside; I had a group of close friends, was involved in extracurriculars, did very well in all my classes, and got along well with everyone. I should have been really happy. I wasn't. On the inside, I was a mess. I felt like my friends only "liked me" because they felt sorry for me. I didn't think I was very good at my sport (dance) compared to the others I danced with and I thought I never got a good part in the school musical because I was a terrible actor/singer. My classes also really stressed me out and I didn't really talk to any of my classmates because I felt like judged every move I made. I became very isolated my sophomore year. I wouldn't walk out of my house without any makeup on and used my hair to cover as much of my face as I possibly could thinking no one would be able to see me and that would help solve my problems. I became very reserved. I only spoke when someone else started the conversation. I was no longer able to look people in the eyes when they were speaking to me. Everything I had done that I thought would make my life better only made things worse. I made myself very depressed and anxious, causing even more problems. I had created this massive spider web of self-doubt and had gotten entangled in my own webs. I was no longer genuinely happy. I had to put on a smile everyday in front of my bedroom mirror to make sure I looked happy. Everyday was the same. Get up, put on makeup, go to school, go to dance, do homework, eat dinner, go to sleep, repeat. I don't know how I was allowing myself to live this way, but when a global pandemic shut my already horrible life down, I decided things needed to change. I just wasn't sure how. Then I remembered a Korean boy band one of my dance friends recommended to me that she used to overcome her anxiety and thought I'd give them a try. The group was BTS. Originally, I was weary of them since the boys were Korean. That meant that all their music was in a language I didn't understand so I thought that meant their music couldn't heal me. I was wrong. Even though I couldn't understand what they were saying, I could feel it. These boys put their heart and soul into all of their music and sang about their emotional states. It turns out, two of the boys had gone through what I was going through back in high school and all of them had felt these emotions after they started training. I knew I wasn't the only person going through these issues, but hearing that the most successful group in the world did too, that just hit different. Then I learned about their involvement in the UNICEF LOVE MYSELF campaign. That's when I realized that all my problems were in my head. I hadn't loved myself the way I should have and it had created this monster. By taking the LOVE MYSELF pledge, I decided I was no longer going to listen to what my head had to say but rather what my head needed to hear and believe. My life has forever changed since then. I no longer try to hide in the shadows. Instead, I put myself out there for the world to see. If they don't love me, that's their loss. I've been able to get so much closer to all those who love me and now see life in a whole new light. It's not this oppressive world I had made it out to be. People care so much for one another and push each other to be their best. That's what I want to do. I want to be able to help others like me learn that they are enough the way they are, scars and all. Who knows where I'll go. Maybe I'll foster children who have had to live an incredibly hard life. Maybe I'll get involved in a children center. Or maybe I'll just listen to that lady who comes up to me in the grocery store and tells me her life story. Either way, I want to be a light in others darkness, showing them the way to a new life.

I've been dancing since I was three years old. I've always loved the way music takes control of body and I'm able to create this beautiful piece of art for others to enjoy. What I love even more? Teaching my fellow castmates in my school's musical every year how to dance. It feels amazing to be able to give my talents back. I love seeing how everyone improves over the course of the musical season. At the beginning, there are maybe a couple of students who have have some background in dance, but I'm pretty much starting with a clean slate. Except that slate isn't usually very clean. Bent arms, sickled feet, tense hands, the first couple weeks are pretty rough. I have to correct all these habits before they become engraved in their minds. Otherwise, they will continue to do these mistakes and it isn't very pretty to watch. We work on body placement and usually about a month into rehearsals, we've been able to pretty much remove the problem and it looks like everyone has always known what they were doing. By the time the show comes around, everyone is prepared and their dancing never ceases to amaze me. Many people think being a leader means taking charge of a group of people and using a stern hand in order to accomplish the set goals. They also believe that all leaders are extroverts. I've never been comfortable being in charge of people my age; it just doesn't feel right. I'm also an ambivert, though I'm more introverted in certain public situations. Instead of leading the way most others do, I like to make everyone feel like we're all in charge. Not everyone works well with someone being over them and I want to make as many people, including myself, as comfortable as possible. Even though I'm the one doing the teaching, I like them to have a say in what we do and try to keep the mood fun. I find that we accomplish the most when we focus on having fun and not worry so much about the task at hand. I don't know what the future has in store for me, but if it involves leading others, I know I will do a very good job at it. The more I get to know those I work with, the better leader I become. I learn what works best for each group and use that knowledge to accomplish the set goals and help each person grow as an individual. These leadership skills I've learned throughout high school have helped me make a difference in my classmates lives. I will continue to use these skills to impact the lives of my future classmates throughout college, my future co-workers and employers, and of those in my everyday life. Being a leader isn't about being in charge or on top. It's about being there for those you work with and helping them accomplish what needs to be done in the best possible way. The best leaders are there to serve those they lead. When my castmates and I perform dance numbers throughout our performances, I'm not the reason the dance is amazing. We all push each other and bring out the best in one another. I'm just there to get the ball rolling.

Kim Namjoon is the leader and a rapper in BTS. He along with the rest of his bandmates have faced major adversity from every corner of world (even inside their own fanbase) for years because of who they are. Being a K-pop idol, every single thing he does is watched and judged by the entire world. The way he destroys or loses everything he touches, the fact that he doesn't have his driver's license, or even the way he bulges his eyes when he's eating; he has no privacy. He tries to act perfect in order to please his fans and to avoid as much hate as he can, but he's still human and he's learned to accept that. He once said, "Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday's me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that's me too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become". Although I don't have billions of people watching everything I do, I can relate to Namjoon feeling like he needs to be perfect. For I long time, I felt like I needed to be the best at everything I did in order for people to accept me. I thought that if I couldn't do something, I was a failure and that I should just stop trying. For example, I'm a dancer. I've attended four different dance schools over the past thirteen years due to the fact that the ones I attend keep shutting down. Anyway, at the schools I used to attend, I was one of the better dancers. Truth was, I really wasn't that good. When I started attending the school I'm currently in, I learned that I had been taught wrong. In fact, they said I didn't have enough time left before I graduated to correct all my mistakes. After hearing this, I really wanted to quit. What was the point of doing something I would never be good at? I'd spent at the time eleven years of my life doing this and even though it turned out I wasn't very good, I still loved it. After much thought, I decided that it didn't matter that I wasn't very good at dancing as long as I was happy. The best part? I was able to catch up to my classmates and now I can do just about everything they can. Thanks to Namjoon's inspiration, I've been able to learn love myself in all my flaws and have realized that I can use those flaws as motivation to achieve my goals. After all, if I had never learned I wasn't good at dancing, I never would have had a reason to improve my skills and actually become good.

I come from a family where almost every female is either a teacher or a stay-at-home-mom. Not that these jobs aren't important, but I feel like I'm called to do more than just let my husband bring home the majority of the paycheck. Pursuing a higher education means obtaining a more successful future. Being well educated in your future career sets you up for success that will impact not only your work abilities, but your day-to-day life. It teaches you how to balance your work and social lives and be the best you in both environments. A higher education also helps you transition into the adult world. By pursuing a higher education, I'm paving the path that will set me up for a successful career and a happy future. I've always been a performer. The lights, the costumes, the makeup, everything about performing fills me with a happiness I haven't been able to find anywhere else. Being able to perform in my school's musical productions has only made my passion for the arts burn brighter and has me working extra hard to make sure I can help make these performances even stronger by becoming a Drama Club Officer. I take dance lessons in a highly trained school so that I can teach my fellow classmates not only how to dance, but how to use music to express themselves and to show them that they can be more than who they were told to be. Lots of these kids, myself included, are looked down upon because we don't meet the world's standards of "cool". It has hurt a lot of us mentally, but my extracurriculars have given me back my self-confidence and is helping me give that back to my classmates as well. I've always cared very deeply about what people think about me, but I've learned to care more about how I feel about myself and how others feel about themselves. I want to be able to help others feel comfortable in their shoes and show them that even if they walk around every day in a pair of beat-up tennis shoes, they should feel like they strut around in 5 inch heels, holding their head up high. I'm also very passionate about equal rights and opportunities for all. Even if you know you can do anything you set your mind to, you still won't be able to get very far if the world doesn't support you. That's why things need to change, and the only way things are going to change is if we stand up for what we know is right and fight for it. In the words of Paul the Apostle, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus". In other words, it doesn't matter what color skin you have, what your sexual orientation is, what it is you believe in, or who you support, all that matters is that we are all human and we all deserve to be seen as human. Everything I've gone through in life has made me into the human being I am today. It's all shown me my passions for success in life, for the arts, and for human equality.