Words are powerful things. They can bring life or death to a person's mind, heart, and soul. That's why I believe that the books we read influence us far more than we realize. If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, I would pick the Bible. I realize that this is a choice that many will not like, but that's precisely why I think it's important. The Bible is for everyone, and I don't say that flippantly. It has different stories that different people will relate to. The words within the Bible are life-giving and uplifting and refreshing to the soul. There have been many times when a verse or chapter in the Bible stood out to me or spoke to me in a way that I needed to hear that day. When I'm having a bad day, week, or year, the Bible never fails to be a consistent presence in my life. Another reason I would like everyone to read the Bible is the fact that it's the direct source. So many people have been hurt by the Church or by other Christians. While that breaks my heart, I know that the Church and the other Christians are also human. They will make mistakes and mess up, and sometimes that will hurt others. If everyone read the Bible, they would know the truth for themselves. Even if some people don't believe what the Bible says, they would have that knowledge for themselves. Most of all, I want people to leave feeling uplifted and encourage whenever they read a book. There are way too many harsh words being spoken by people, but all it takes is one little positive spark to set off a wildfire.

Once upon a time, in a time a little more than 10 years ago, there lived a girl. Well, obviously this wasn't the only girl that lived on earth. But that's beside the point. Anyway. This girl loved to write. From the moment she learned how to write her name, walls were suddenly labeled, "HANNAH." The mom was very annoyed. But the mom generously provided the girl with notebooks that she kept filling with stories and journal entries. One day, this girl decided to write a novel. A grand idea came to her and she ran to grab a fresh notebook. With her pen in hand, she began to write. As soon as she started to write, scenes flowed from her. This potential best-seller was titled "The Vegetables." The main character was an apple. And the side characters were cucumbers. Alas, this certain girl didn't fully know what was a vegetable and what was a fruit. Nevertheless, the apple and cucumbers began as enemies! They raided each other's houses just to spite each other. This drama continued until a revelation occurred, forgiveness from both sides. From then on, the apple and cucumbers were best friends. They did everything together. The little girl, having just gone camping with her family, decided that her characters needed to go camping too. These "vegetables" went camping only to get rained on, but it was okay because they played cards in the tent! While on a hike, they saw an injured and lost fawn. Rescuing the fawn, they brought it to the veterinarian. It would be safe to assume that these "vegetables" were life-sized. Returning from their camping trip, the friends were closer than ever before. The apple had a brilliant idea. Rather than let the fun stop with the camping trip, why not do something that would be even more fun and lasting? They would plant a garden! The little girl got excited and drew out what the garden would look like. She began listing all the fruits and vegetables that they would plant. Everything was going smoothly. Until she listed cucumbers. The girl slowly looked up from her notebook. Her eyes were wide as she realized what she had done. How were the cucumber characters supposed to plant their own kind? Even worse, how were they supposed to eat it? This little girl solemnly closed her notebook. She walked over to her drawer full of other notebooks and placed "The Vegetables" at the bottom of the drawer. She closed it and never took it out again. That was the end of the potential best-seller novel. True story.

A healthy life leads to a higher quality of life. Three years ago, I was living what I thought was a healthy life. I had some health issues, like allergies to most raw vegetables and fruits, allergies to pollen, and hives. It had been slowly building up to the point where it was severe enough that my parents decided to do something. So I went to a health specialist and did a food sensitivity test. After that, my life was never the same again. I couldn't eat the foods that I tested sensitive to for six months. Some foods that I was sensitive to were wheat, cheese, milk, eggs, tomatoes, and garlic. It was the hardest lifestyle change I ever had to do. But because of that change, I discovered a new kind of lifestyle, one that had incredibly nutritious and healthy foods such as chia seeds, quinoa, and goat cheese. Since making that adjustment, a staggering improvement was seen in my body. My allergies to pollen and most raw vegetables and fruits were gone. I was finally able to eat avocado without developing a reaction. My hives had dissolved, meaning I was able to exercise and run without having the symptoms appear. But what I consider the greatest improvement was how I felt with my body. My whole being felt amazing because I was fueling it with the good and right things. Not only did I avoid the foods that I tested sensitive to, but I also avoided all processed food that had preservatives and artificial things in it. Real food and being active was so much more crucial to my quality of life than I realized. I have a cousin who has the same allergies as I do, and I can see how my life is different than her life now. At family gatherings, we both would always have to exclude certain foods. Now, however, I am able to eat the foods that she can't. That was one visible difference that even my extended family noticed. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is hard—but not impossible. Our nation is constantly, at least slowly, improving in the area of nutrition. It's important because a healthy lifestyle will enable you to do so much more. Even my grandparents, in their old age, try to stay healthy and it shows. They are able to join us in some trips and adventures without getting too fatigued or exhausted. You are never too young or too old to have, or start to strive towards, a healthy lifestyle.

Whenever I cried or was having a bad day, I would see my dog looking at me with sad eyes. I would hug her and bawl into her furry neck. She would always be patient and stay with me until I felt better. She was my support animal. I love going on walks to watch the sunset. Sometimes I would be the only one in my family who wanted to go on a walk, but my dog would always want to go with. I walked with her, and I was always reminded to see things from her perspective. Instead of just rushing to get the walk over with, she would take the time to sniff each blade of grass and to sniff the wind. It reminded me that the best things in life are really quite simple. I love pets because they always have a story. Quite often, the pets can tell a lot about their owners. Statistics show that pets reflect their owner's eating habits. For example, I know of a friend who absolutely loves eating fruits and vegetables. As a result, her dog will choose a stick of celery over a piece of meat. I think that it can be beautiful when a pet teaches you to appreciate life more, and to slow down enough to enjoy it.

My dog taught me to live in the moment. She's 13 years old now, and I can hardly remember a time without her there. From when she was a tiny, adorable, white labradoodle—to now as an elderly, calm dog, her life gave me a new perspective on my own life. 1. As a puppy, my dog, Blessy, was the most energetic, crazy, hilarious puppy I'd ever met. Some of my favorite pictures are ones where she fell asleep on her food dish, full and content. The way she ate her food, and watched me eat my own, taught me to be thankful that I have food, and to eat it contentedly. 2. Her continuous desire to be outside encouraged me to be outside too. To take in every blade of grass, bloom of flower, and bird or squirrel that crossed my path as something amazing. Blessy noticed every single detail that was outside, and I learned to take notice of the small things and to appreciate them as best as I could. 3. Every time someone from my family came back home, Blessy would rejoice as if she hadn't seen them in over a year. It reminded me that we can take our family and safe travels for granted. To be honest, my dog made me a better host and to practice hospitality more. 4. I have grown a love for sunset walks because my dog absolutely loves to go on walks. My neighborhood isn't the prettiest scenery to go on walks, but I've learned to appreciate it in ways that my dog appreciates it. Sidewalks instantly become the most interesting paths to my dog, and I find it hilarious sometimes. Oh the stories and adventures I could tell! Now, my dog is much older and can't be as mobile much. It makes me sad to see how difficult it is for her to get up stairs or to even lie down. But I can see that all she wants to do is to be near my family. Her life now looks very simple. She is easy to please, as long as we are all close to her. It reminds me that she is at peace, and that people can find that peace too. Blessy lives in the moment, focusing only on today. Because today is a beautiful day.

One of the definitions for optimism is this: "the belief that goodness pervades reality." I think that's a wonderful way to put it because of how some people may perceive optimism. When I think of the word optimism, I think of the ways some people have fake optimism. If I'm having a bad day, and someone tries to be optimistic, I always feel like it's completely unwarranted. That's not what optimism is. It's "the belief that goodness pervades reality." Whenever I go through a tough time, being positive and optimistic isn't exactly my first response. That's when my family supports me and encourages me to see the goodness that is still around in reality. In the mornings, I wake up and I thank God for another day to breathe and to see the sunrise. Even just being grateful for one good thing in the morning changes my whole day. And I continually remind myself that I have so much to be grateful for. There is so much goodness in my life that I take for granted. One story that never fails to make me incredibly humbled is the life story of Desmond Doss. His story always makes me realize that my tough times are nothing like what Desmond Doss went through. Even after going through so much in WWII, he was amazingly optimistic. Life is beautiful, and there is goodness. You just have to open your eyes to it.

I grew up with a couple of allergies, but it was only recently that I discovered I had a number of food sensitivities. For most of my life, I was always allergic to most raw fruits and vegetables. That allergy was connected with my pollen allergy. For me, not being able to eat most raw fruits and vegetables was normal. I also struggled with hives anytime I was hot or sweated. This was getting progressively worse. Almost two years ago, my parents decided that this needed to change. I went to a specialist who decided that a food sensitivity test would be the best course of action. I had absolutely no idea what would happen next. I ended up testing sensitive to 30 different foods including wheat, milk, cheese, eggs, garlic, and tomato. I wasn't allowed to eat those foods for six months. My whole world changed. At first, I was miserable. Suddenly, I couldn't eat pizza, pasta, and all my favorite foods. The first three weeks were incredibly rough. As my mom and sister tried to help me find other things I could eat, I realized that it was hard when this was completely new for us, and we didn't have anyone else to help us. Slowly, but surely, we found other options. After completing my prescribed six months, I was in the best place of my life. I felt amazing and my body was healthy! I could eat all raw fruits and vegetables, my pollen allergy was reduced to almost nothing, and my hives were completely gone. This was a real-life miracle. My world changed for the better in more ways than one. I discovered that there are so many healthy, alternative options. Because of my breakthrough, other people in my family got their food sensitivity test done, and they were able to have an easier time adjusting. My future looks different now, and it looks so much better. My career hopes is to be an author and publish books. Some evidence of my transformation is already apparent in that. I am making healthier food options that will nourish and support my body. And any time I write food in my stories, I always add some unique foods that I discovered in my journey, like chia seeds and quinoa. As a college student, it is incredibly hard to find good, nourishing options in the school cafeteria. And I can definitely feel my body suffering from the poor food choices that are served there. This scholarship would help pay for my tuition, and that would enable me to have more of a budget to buy healthier food that doesn't come from the school cafeteria. Because of my journey, I have been encouraging and recommending other people to get their food sensitivities checked out. I didn't realize that the food that I eat affected so many underlying health issues that I had. Though it was challenging at the beginning, I would do it all over again because life is too short to make poor choices when it comes to our food!

Having a mentor, especially through my teenage years, was more impactful than I had ever expected it to be. I grew so much, and I didn't realize how much I needed a role model. I am a great believer in having people who are older than me being my mentor because I needed someone to look up to. As a result of that, I am praying that I will have the same positive impact on girls who are younger than me. There are some girls in my Bible study small groups that I try to be a role model to. I try to say words of encouragement to them, but not just empty filler words. I pay attention to what their insecurities are and what their struggles are, and then I direct my affirmations and encouragements specifically to those areas. Their strengths and their beauty is also something I try to mention. Words are useless with actions, so I do my best to do things that will uplift the girls. Even though I want to do more, I know this is a start. I strive to follow the examples of my own mentors, and I try to be the person I needed as a teenager.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ~Nelson Mandela Life can be scary. But that's okay. The quote by Nelson Mandela shows that you can be brave while still feeling afraid. Right now, my future is uncertain. I have no idea what to do after I graduate. I spent the last couple weeks stressing about that fact. Like this quote says, I don't have to have zero fears. I just have to conquer it and persevere through it. So with my future, I'll try the things I want to do, even if I'm afraid. I'll live life to the fullest I can, and I know that will be more rewarding than if I had been too afraid to try. To me, bravery doesn't mean being fearless. It means that I tried, even when I was afraid. And that is the greatest reward of all.

Elderly people have so much wisdom and so much more in them than we might realize. They've seen years of life and they've met different people and heard different stories. I strive to learn all I can from them. Currently, I help an elderly lady with different chores around the house. I'll clean her bathroom or anything else that needs to be cleaned. One thing that I have noticed is that it is extremely hard for elderly people to let go of their things. The elderly lady that I help wants to keep everything because she has a story for everything she owns. When I help her, I find myself listening to her stories and being amazed that she has stories after stories. My grandparents are moving out of their house that they've lived in for years. And they have the same problem. I do my best to try and help them live a simpler life, one that isn't filled with stuff and clutter. At the same time, I like listening to their stories. Elderly people are often lonely and just want someone to talk to. That's another way I try to improve their lives. It's a win-win situation! I get to hear their stories, and they get to talk and have company.

"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence." — Abigail Adams The wife of President John Adams, Abigail Adams, isn't a popular historical figure, but I consider her to be a hidden gem. Many of her quotes are still relevant today, and her ideas were quite ahead of her time. As a First Lady, Abigail was never afraid of sharing what she truly thought, especially when it came to the matters of women and education. She was very resilient, having married a President and raised another future President. Even her husband listened to her advice during his presidency. Her passion for women and education came from her own upbringing. She didn't receive education, so she educated herself. I admire Abigail because she saw a need and did her absolute hardest to fill it. The title of 'First Lady' wasn't just a title. She used all the resources that were given to her and she not only made a difference in the community, but in national affairs as well. The things we know of her are written down in history. I can't help but wonder what she was like in person. She was a hard worker, and I have a feeling that she was even more amazing in person than she is on paper. The quote from her is the quote that encourages me through my journey of college. Her story reminds me that I am incredibly blessed to be receiving a higher education. And her words inspire me to work at my education with passion and dedication!

Anne of Green Gables. Hands down. However, I have to admit something. As a little girl, I used to ridicule it, saying that it was old and wasn't relevant anymore. Boy, was I wrong. Having read Anne of Green Gables several times, I've noticed that my love for it has only grown. The older I get, the more I understand and the more I can relate to it. One of the things that I hope for and pray for the current and next generation is that we won't forget. We won't forget to be outside in nature, to enjoy the little things, to disconnect from our phones and social media, to connect with real people, and to explore more. That's kind of what Anne Shirley does. In the whole book, Anne is someone who doesn't care what other people think or what they say. She wants to learn and see for herself. She wants to discover the world for herself. Now that I'm older, I can appreciate it more because of the author, L.M. Montgomery, and her story. She didn't really have a good, happy life, but she wrote something that was so wholesome and positive for the heart. Anne of Green Gables has that innocent, pure childhood feeling to it, and I think that's because the author put all of her dreams and hopes in Anne Shirley. Every time I read it, I always find a new favorite quote. And I'll end with my current favorite one, "It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will."

Dogs do weird things. Dogs make me laugh with the things they do and the expressions they give me. That's not the only reason I love dogs. I truly do think that dogs teach people to be a better person. There are many common sayings about dogs: "A dog is a man's best friend" and "You can tell a person by the dog they own." Those sayings exist for a reason. If you are an owner, a lover, or a friend of dogs, you know that a dog becomes part of your life and a part of you. And I have seen that in action, in good ways and in bad ways. My dog is a 13-year-old white labradoodle. I honestly don't remember a time without her cause I basically grew up with her. Having a dog taught me different things and lessons. You are responsible for this dog and his/her wellbeing. They depend on you for food, water, bathroom necessities, exercise, fun, and love. Specifically, my dog has influenced my life in a positive way, more than I could have imagined. For example, I'm an introvert, but I live in a large family. So sometimes I want to get away from all the people, but I don't exactly want to be completely alone. In those situations, I'll take my dog out for a walk, and I always feel rejuvenated after that. Watching my dog on walks has been one of my favorite things because she takes delight in the smallest things. She'll be able to bask in the sun with her pearl white fur for hours. I'm always reminded that she wants to go places and move her body, and that encourages and motivates me to do so too! Currently, things have been extremely hard for my dog because of our neighbors. The neighbors' dog is not well-trained or behaved, and he keeps attacking my dog when she's outside. Because of that, my family has had to take extra precautions, like going out with her every time to protect her. But now my dog is terrified of our neighbors' dog, and she doesn't really have any peace of mind while outside. I never realized how we take our safety for granted until it's taken away from us. It breaks my heart because she's much older now and deserves to have the best life she can. I want to end with this quote by Josh Billings, "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." When I thought about it, it was true. My dog's whole world is my family. She always waits so patiently when we go somewhere. And, without fail, she will be over-the-moon excited to see us. Even with all that she's been through, she still comes up to me with her favorite tennis ball, tail wagging, wanting me to play with her. Writing this essay made me realize that I am extremely blessed with and grateful for my dog!

I am blessed to be getting a higher education. There was a time when that wasn't possible. The fact that there are resources available to help me towards that is amazing. I am passionate about receiving my education because of two reasons. 1. My skills and knowledge has grown so much through my education. I take classes that are relevant to my major, making me a better writer and editor. Through my education, I learn to work with people from different backgrounds and stories. Professors, classmates, and people that I meet around campus. I get to learn alongside other people who have the same passion and desire as I do. The classes that I take challenge me and encourage me to think in creative ways. 2. Someday, I want to homeschool my kids. That's why I want to get the best education I can to teach my kids. I believe that education is all about the next generation. We are educating ourselves so we can educate the ones that come after us. We are educating ourselves so that we can make the best decisions that will impact the future generation. I am passionate about this because I want my children to love learning new things. Education has gotten a bad reputation recently, with all the social distanced learning. My goal is to instill a love and passion for learning in my children. 3. Education educates me. That might seem obvious, but I don't mean simply that. For me, education isn't only about learning through classes. It's learning through your life experiences, your professors, your classmates, your leadership capabilities, and your work ethic. How I treat others with respect, those at lower class years, how I do my work, and how I treat myself through it all will define me. All of that is education. What other classmates and professors can teach me is education. What I learn from my journey in college is education. That's why I'm passionate about education. I feel like people think education can be dry and full of boring homework. And it can be. But it all depends on what you put into it. You'll get out whatever you put into it. All too often, we don't see the blessing and the privilege of receiving a higher education, let alone education in general. As I am learning, I realize that having a higher education is such a benefit. In the classroom, i

1. I take a break. This may seem contradicting and out of place in an essay about study strategies. In reality, I have found that this is a crucial step that many students overlook. By taking a break, my mind is refreshed and I'm able to breathe. What that break may look like varies. Sometimes it means responding to text messages, reading a book or article, taking a walk, watching an episode of my favorite TV show, etc. That small break allows me to disconnect from homework and then come back to it with fresh eyes and a clear mind. 2. I plan my study times. How I achieve this is through a planner. A physical planner. One that I can pull out of my backpack and have the satisfaction of crossing off an assignment that I completed. Procrastination may be the greatest enemy of students' academic success. By writing all the due dates and deadlines for my classes, I am able to see what needs to be done and what has the highest priorities. 3. I make it fun, interesting, cozy, and exciting! I change my study areas frequently to avoid feeling stuck. Sometimes this looks like going to a coffee shop, a library, a park, or different spots around campus. If I really want to make it interesting, I can host a study party right within my own dorm room. The people I study with influence my study habits, so I make sure to surround myself with people who are able to stay focused and still have fun! My number one strategy is to never compare my study habits with anyone else's. Whatever works for them may not work for me. Study strategies can look different and still produce amazing results.

When I was around nine years old, I wrote a story where all the characters were literal vegetables. They went on many adventures together and became best friends. That story ended when I wrote of them planting a garden...thankfully, my passion and love for writing didn't end there. Writing has always been a way for me to express my imaginations and dreams. As a naturally quiet and shy girl, it's never been easy for me to explain my thoughts to other people. Because of that, I struggled with a lot of negative thoughts that pulled my self-esteem and confidence down. I even stopped writing for a while. Slowly, with the help and support of family and friends, I started to grow and change my thoughts. My outlook on life also changed. The experience that I went through reflects in what I write. When I write, I write for teenage girls who are going through what I went through. My ultimate goal is to help those girls grow too. I want them to know that they are not alone, and that there is still hope and goodness in the world. The characters I write aren't perfect, but so are the people in this world. Yet, the characters exhibit strength, grace, and love. That's what I want readers to see in themselves. I want readers to be inspired by the characters I write, and I want them to realize that they have so much potential and worth. Studying creative writing is something that I take seriously because writing has helped me to become a better person. I believe that words have power to tear someone down or build them up, and there are far too many negative words in today's society. I know that studying creative writing will help me gain more knowledge and build more skills to better elevate my writing. I can't wait to learn from professors and teachers who have years of experience under their belt. I know that they will help mold and shape my writing to be the best it can be. Lastly, I have many dreams and goals when it comes to my writing. The biggest one is to publish a book (or books!). I've had this dream since I was a little girl, and it's never faded. Books hold a special place in my heart, and I'm an avid reader. It would be an absolute dream to see a book written in my own words on a shelf at the bookstore or library! I hope that, even if I don't ever get to publish a book, my words will affect people for good and uplift them. It's like C.S. Lewis once said, "We read to know we are not alone."

For the past two years, I had hives which meant that I would get rashes and itches every time I exercised or was active. That frustrated me and it was so uncomfortable to the point where I just stopped any fitness activities. Finally, this past winter, I took action and went to a doctor and decided to transform my eating habits. I had a test to see what foods I tested sensitive to, and the foods I tested positive for, I would not eat them for 3 months. Within a month, I started to see results. After 2 months, I could finally exercise without feeling uncomfortable or irritated. I was finding that I enjoyed running. Running was a way for me to de-stress, to think about things, and to have my own time (especially helpful when you're an introvert!). After running for a while, I added in other fitness activities like strength training and flexibility exercises. I can feel my body respond to being active, and I notice things like how I'm able to run without being out of breath, how I'm able to reach or stretch without feeling stiff. I've been staying fit by running and doing various fitness activities like strength training. One thing I'm looking forward to in the summer is playing more sports and activities, swimming more, and going hiking and biking. These are all things that I want to do because the benefits I have experienced by staying fit are amazing. My body feels better, my mind is healthier, and even my overall mood and attitude is improved. Honestly, our bodies were made to be healthy because it is at its peak when it's in a healthy state.

I am Deaf. Some people would call that a disability, but I'm honestly so thankful and blessed. The Deaf community has their own language, their own culture, and I get to be a part of that. My family are all deaf as well. My field of study is Creative Writing. I love creating stories and my dream is to be an author. I want to write and publish books for young adults specifically. I believe that my experience as a Deaf person can show others how we might take some certain things for granted. I would write books to give young adults hope and let them know that they're not alone. I also want to inspire them and encourage them to be more than they could ever dream. Being deaf, my experience is definitely different than most. Often I struggled to make friends and I felt lonely. I think that's why I want to write stories, because it's one way to show others that they're not alone. I know that humans are so complex, but it's often the simplest message that speaks to us. The stories that I want to write are really all about the connections that we make and about who we are. My goals for the future are to write books and to be a part of people's lives. Even if I never make it as a published author, I know that there's still so much that I can do and bring to my community. There's always a heart in need out there. For me, writing books is one way to help more people and to reach more people. So I would say that my experience as a Deaf person has influenced my choice of field of study and my goals for the future. But I think it's a good influence!

Stories. There's something so alive about stories and books. My biggest artistic ambition and my dream is to write and publish books. I am a writer and I've been writing stories since I was a little girl. My first story was about a girl who was an apple. She encountered some cucumbers and befriended them. They went on many adventures together. I stopped that story when I wrote about the apple and cucumbers planting a garden. What a confusing ending. I plan to go to college this fall to study Creative Writing. I love to write, but I know there is so much more to learn. The professors and teachers at the college will help me achieve that. That being said, college isn't cheap. I'm excited to be going to college, but there is also a burden that I feel about the cost of it. Whatever happens, I don't plan to let anything stop me from putting my dreams on the page! Writing and publishing books is my biggest artistic ambition. I don't want to just write and publish books though. I want to write books specifically for young girls and teenagers like me. The stories I write will be honest and real, but it will also bring hope to them and inspire them. I want to build a safe place for girls, and I want them to know that they are not alone.

My all-time favorite film is Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. I am a big Star Wars fan, well not of the sequel trilogy, but we won't get into that. Every year in November, I watch Star Wars from 1-6, including Rogue One, with my family. It's a tradition that I love and look forward to. Why is Revenge of the Sith my favorite? It's my favorite because there's so much in there. It's kind of a sad movie, yes, but I like it because I know there is hope. The ending doesn't leave me depressed, it leaves me hopeful. The characters go through so much pain and suffering, and yet that makes me feel as if they are real characters. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is my all-time favorite film because every time I watch it, I feel something. That isn't easy to do—to make someone feel something no matter how many times they watch it. I love it because it reminds me that no matter what happens, there is always hope!

I am Deaf. Most people would consider that to be a disability, an unfortunate thing. I disagree. Most people don't know that Deaf people have their own culture, their own language, and their own way. I think it's a beautiful thing. However, it's hard when other people don't have the same perspective as I do. In social gatherings, I do feel like I don't quite fit in sometimes. People are often curious about me but they only give curious glances. In my early teenage years, I kind of resented that I was Deaf. I thought that life would be so much easier if I wasn't. Now, my perspective has changed. My dream is to be an author. I want to write and publish books for young adults. I believe that my experience can show others how we might take some certain things for granted. My perspective is different than most because I am Deaf. My dream is that I would write books to give young adults hope and let them know that they're not alone. I also want to inspire them and encourage them to be more than they could ever dream. My experiences can be hard sometimes, but I choose to use them to help and uplift others.

I grew up in a Christian household and accepted Jesus for myself when I was thirteen years old. I was what you would call a "good Christian girl". These past few years though, I have been really struggling with putting my full and complete faith in Him. Don't get me wrong, I still wholly believe that Jesus Christ is my savior and He came to die for all of our sins, mine included. It's just that my personal relationship with Jesus could be better. In addition to four brothers, I also have two older sisters, and we are seven and five years apart. They are one of my best friends and I am so thankful that God put them in my life. It's not always easy though. For a couple of years now, I've been struggling with comparing myself with my sisters. Often I feel like they are so much better than me, so much prettier and skinnier than me, and so much more talented than me. Every time they had an achievement or success, I couldn't help but think about how I'm not like that. I had some pretty negative and depressing thoughts, and this went on for two or three years. My parents constantly told me to go to Him and ask Him to help me. They said that He was the only one who could understand and be with me. As a Christian girl, I knew all that, but I didn't put it in action. I didn't want answers that said that God had a plan and purpose for me and that He made me uniquely. I just wanted to be just like my sisters, to have what they have and be who they are. Finally, I knew that I was tired and worn out from comparing myself with others 24/7. I couldn't do it anymore. So I took that step and decided to trust in Jesus and that He has a plan and purpose just for me. I put this in action by praying for the person who I was tempted to compare myself with. Slowly, I began to see God changing my thoughts. I found an amazing group of girls who I do Bible studies with, I started reading the Bible with open eyes, and I found that I had a less of a need to compare myself with others. Because I put my trust in Him and truly discovered who He is and what He can do, I can now celebrate with my sisters anytime they have an achievement or success. Of course, sometimes I catch myself having negative thoughts about myself, but I'm trying to surrender it all to Him the moment I find myself thinking about it. Once I gave it all to Jesus, He opened new windows for me to be involved with the church and He gave me new opportunities to serve. Even though I didn't have any traumatic backstory or upbringing, once I put my full trust in Jesus, He changed my life in ways that I didn't think were possible.

"One day? Or day one. You decide." This quote by Paulo Coelho was like a slap to my face when I first heard it. In school, in life, and in everything else, I was stuck with procrastinating. I would always tell myself that I'll do it tomorrow or next week. This got so bad that I started to lose motivation for my dream, which was to be a writer. I pretty much stopped writing because I would always say that I will do it one day, right? So I shouldn't have to worry. It was a full year before I actually got back to writing. I saw the quote and instantly knew that I had to change what I was doing now. Not tomorrow, not later, but right now, in this moment. It wasn't easy, and there were moments that I found myself slipping back into that mindset of saying, "One day". But now I feel like so many things are possible. I let myself believe that lie that I'll never be better than who I was, but it couldn't be more wrong. The moment that I decided that this would be day one, I realized that dreams and goals are accomplished by hard work and dedication—not by procrastinating.

I want to study in Creative Writing because I would like to be better equipped to bring my stories to the paper. I believe that college can teach me new things and further my talents. My passion is to take my imaginations and stories and share them with people in hopes that they can see and feel similarities with them. This world could use a little more hope, empathy, and joy. I believe that your talents already lie within you, but going to study in college can give you life experiences and help unlock the talents in you. Creative Writing has always been my dream and I feel that going to study in college will help me connect with people like me. My ultimate goal is not to go to college but to bring stories to people that they can relate to. College is just a step towards that!