Attending college can be an exciting yet challenging phase in one’s life. The demands of academic coursework, social engagements, and personal responsibilities can take a toll on anyone's well-being. However, by adopting various strategies to manage personal wellness, my peers and I can enhance our overall college experience and pave the way for academic success. First, maintaining good physical health is crucial for college students. Regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and a nutritious diet form the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Engaging in physical activities like jogging, swimming, or joining sports clubs not only keeps the body fit but also releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress. Adequate sleep revitalizes the mind, enhances concentration, and promotes efficient learning. Moreover, a balanced diet provides the necessary nutrients for optimal brain function, improving cognitive abilities and academic performance. I personally exercise daily through dancing, running, and lifting to release stress. I also make sure to always eat at least one fruit or vegetable at each meal and reduce highly-processed foods to ensure a good diet. College life often comes with academic pressure, deadlines, and social challenges, leading to stress and anxiety. To manage these challenges effectively, students should incorporate various practices into their routine. These include practicing mindfulness or meditation to alleviate stress, engaging in hobbies or creative outlets for relaxation, and seeking support from friends, family, or campus resources. Additionally, maintaining a healthy work-life balance by managing time effectively helps prevent burnout and allows for personal growth and self-reflection. Attending counseling services or joining support groups can also provide valuable guidance and a safe space to address any emotional concerns. I personally avoid burnout by reminding myself to take breaks and take up my hobbies, such as reading. I also make sure to socialize and catch up with friends to create a great support network. Building and nurturing positive relationships play a vital role in personal wellness. Connecting with fellow students, forming study groups, and participating in campus activities foster a sense of belonging and create a support network. Moreover, maintaining healthy communication with family and friends outside of college helps alleviate feelings of homesickness and provides emotional support during challenging times. In the midst of busy college life, self-care practices are essential for personal wellness. Setting aside time for self-reflection, engaging in activities that bring joy, and practicing self-compassion contribute to overall well-being. This could include hobbies, reading, listening to music, or simply taking a walk in nature. Understanding personal limits, setting realistic goals, and celebrating achievements, no matter how small, contribute to a positive mindset and motivation. Managing personal wellness is vital for college students as it promotes a balanced and fulfilling college experience. By prioritizing physical health, nurturing mental and emotional well-being, cultivating relationships, and embracing self-care practices, students are better equipped to succeed academically, maintain a positive mindset, and thrive in various aspects of their lives.

I’ve always wanted to be a superhero. The superhero genre was my childhood: a source of comfort and inspiration. Witnessing these characters protecting others enlightened me of my potential to benefit society. I wanted to provide empowerment, much like Mike Baron’s Flash and Alfred Gough’s Superman, leaders who use their unique abilities to inspire. Sadly, my dream would not manifest exactly as hoped, for I lacked superhuman powers. Therefore, I contribute to society the best way that I can: through public service. Albeit divergent from my original vision of heroism, my efforts are still aligned with the intention of superheroes: supporting others. Like every hero, I aspire to impact others through greater acts of service. Luckily, Mr. Rob Russell, my friend and a veteran, recently informed me about the mental health challenges faced by veterans, most notably increased susceptibility to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Taking note of the unsatisfactory manner in which the needs of our veterans, especially their mental health struggles, were being addressed, I immediately researched methods to aid them. One solution was gardening; there were dozens of research reports illustrating positive therapeutic effects on former service members. However, I found that, unlike those of other states, Alabama’s Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide any gardening programs. This was the inspiration for my proudest service accomplishment: my Eagle Scout Service Project, for which I built two large box gardens benefitting over thirty partially and fully disabled veterans in the greater Montgomery area. With over two hundred hours on the project, it was well worth it. I designed the gardens myself, and while building, I instructed over twenty volunteers on leveling the ground, cutting lumber, and connecting planks. After construction, the gardens were made accessible to a PTSD support group; this was important because they were built at such a height that nobody had to bend over to tend to plants, a difficult movement for many disabled veterans. More importantly, it provided a means of gardening therapy and a local source of organic produce. Despite the success, it is still an ongoing project; I contacted Alabama Veterans Affairs representatives who have agreed to evaluate the gardening therapy and consider instituting a similar statewide program to help more veterans. Although I have only worked with these veterans for a few months as I regularly check on them and maintain the gardens, my relationship with the group has been rewarding. I witness the veterans reduce stress levels and feel more content as they come to garden with a community of other veterans. One veteran, Mr. Russell McKinney, told me with a smile, “This gardening project has helped my mental health a lot, and my doctor seems to agree. Thanks for creating this,” and when he happily shows me his eggplants and explains how harvesting them helps him, I feel that this project is worthwhile. My dreams of heroism feel accomplished, not because my service may have a statewide impact, but because I can directly interact with those benefiting from my service. I wanted to be a superhero, yet I found myself serving true heroes, veterans who sacrificed their health for our nation. In this way, the gardens represented not just my desire to serve, but a tribute to heroism, as well. As I learned to appreciate the heroes around me through this project, I gained experience in leadership, planning, and engineering. I learned how much preparation goes into any project and am now extra grateful for others’ service. I may lack superhuman abilities reminiscent of fiction’s greatest superheroes; however, inspired by these characters, I feel empowered to continue serving others.

I am attending the University of Alabama and majoring in Computer Science and German. Computing is perfect for me because it allows me to address complex problems with creativity and challenge myself through constant learning. Specifically, I will study the intersection of computing and automotive engineering. My primary career goal is to become an automotive engineer; I have a deep interest in both technology and cars because today's cars are becoming more and more integrated with other technologies and are essentially turning into computers on wheels. I believe that I can move this automotive trend forward by helping to make cars more energy-efficient and autonomous. I aspire to work in the automotive sector and develop software to integrate electronic systems with vehicles and make cars more autonomous and energy-efficient. I will accomplish this goal by participating in my university’s International German Student Exchange Program (IGSEP), which would involve me taking German classes during my undergraduate years and then going to Esslingen, Germany for one semester of study abroad and one semester of an automotive engineering internship. Although the program will be rigorous, I believe that it will provide technical knowledge of mechanical systems and exposure to state-of-the-art automotive engineering technology. Moreover, IGSEP excites me because I will gain cultural skills to work in multinational companies and the opportunity to intern at a reputable company, such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, or ZF, in a country renowned for its engineering prowess. Additionally, learning German to fluency in about two years and then applying that language knowledge to designing electric motors for a top automotive company would provide me with a newfound confidence in my automotive engineering skills. Furthermore, the work of an automotive engineer interests me because it will benefit society in multiple ways. By making cars more autonomous, automotive manufacturers will improve automotive safety, efficiency, and convenience for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Given that automotives kill over a million people annually, the transition to autonomous vehicles may reduce that death rate substantially. Moreover, by making cars more energy-efficient, there will be less gas emissions, thereby helping to combat global warming. Many automotive companies have gone one step further and pledged to engineer their cars to become completely electric in the future. Given that the average vehicle emits about five metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, the transition to engineering more energy-efficient vehicles will be vital to a cleaner and more sustainable future. This scholarship would be instrumental in helping me reach my career aspirations because it would fund this IGSEP program and instill in me the skills to become a great automotive engineer. I currently carry IGSEP’s financial burdens, making this scholarship very valuable to me.

I’ve always wanted to be a superhero. The superhero genre was my childhood: a source of comfort and inspiration. Witnessing these characters protecting others enlightened me of my potential to benefit society. I wanted to provide inspiration, hope, and empowerment, much like Mike Baron’s Flash and Alfred Gough’s Superman, leaders who use their unique abilities to inspire. Sadly, my dream would not manifest in exactly the way I had hoped, for I lacked superhuman powers. Therefore, I contribute to society the best way that I can: through public service. Albeit divergent from my original vision of heroism, my efforts are still aligned with the intention of superheroes: supporting others. Like every hero, I aspire to impact others through greater acts of service. Luckily, Mr. Rob Russell, my friend and a veteran, recently informed me about the mental health challenges faced by veterans, most notably increased susceptibility to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, he informed me of the lack of necessary assistance for veterans. Taking note of the unsatisfactory manner in which the needs of our veterans, especially their mental health struggles, were being addressed, I immediately researched methods to aid them. I wanted to help protect and care for veterans who were ignored by the United States Veteran Affairs. One solution was gardening; there were dozens of research reports illustrating positive therapeutic effects on former service members. However, I found that, unlike those of other states, Alabama’s Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide any gardening programs. This was the inspiration for my proudest service accomplishment: my Eagle Scout Service Project, for which I built two large box gardens benefitting over thirty partially and fully disabled veterans in the greater Montgomery area. As project leader, I was tasked with planning, budgeting, and directing work efforts. With over two hundred hours on the project, it was well worth it. During the planning stage, I designed the gardens using a 3D-design application and created a Python program to calculate outlays. While building, I instructed over twenty volunteers on leveling the ground, cutting lumber, and connecting planks. After construction, the gardens were made accessible to a PTSD support group; this was important because they were built at such a height that nobody had to bend over to tend to plants, a difficult movement for many disabled veterans. More importantly, it provided a means of gardening therapy and a local source of organic produce. Despite the success, it is still an ongoing project; I contacted Alabama Veterans Affairs representatives who have agreed to evaluate the gardening therapy and consider instituting a similar statewide program to help more veterans. Although I have only worked with these veterans for a few months as I regularly check on them and help to maintain the gardens, my relationship with the group has been very rewarding. I have witnessed the veterans reduce stress levels and feel more content as they come to garden with a community of other veterans. One particular veteran, Russell McKinney, told me with a smile, “This gardening project has helped my mental health a lot, and my doctor seems to agree. Thanks for creating this,” and when he happily shows me his eggplants and explains how harvesting them helps him, I feel that this project is worthwhile. My dreams of heroism feel accomplished, not because my service may have a statewide impact, but because I can directly interact with those benefiting from my service. I wanted to be a superhero, yet I found myself serving true heroes, veterans who sacrificed their health for our nation. In this way, the gardens represented not just my desire to serve, but a tribute to heroism, as well. As I learned to appreciate the heroes around me through this project, I gained experience in leadership, planning, and engineering. I learned how much preparation goes into any project and am now extra grateful for others’ service. I may lack superhuman abilities reminiscent of fiction’s greatest superheroes; however, inspired by these characters, I feel empowered to continue serving others.

The most helpful piece of financial advice that I have ever received was simply to start now and start early. Most people are quickly intimidated by powerful financial institutions and complicated concepts such as trading stocks, opening retirement accounts, and investing into new markets like cryptocurrencies. As a result, most tell themselves that they will start making new financial moves when the market is better or once they fully educate themselves. For example, one may show interest in investing in the stock market, but then could choose to hold off on entering the market until “the economy turns up again.” However, this kind of thinking can give one an excuse to not enter the market for years or even decades. Meanwhile, entering the market early on would likely provide positive annual returns and also allow the investor to gain practical experience. Regardless of how inexperienced one is at the onset of any new financial endeavor, the experience level would increase, and the time spent in the market would magnify the margin between success and failure. Letting your experience and money compound by entering financial markets early provides the potential to even retire as a millionaire. I personally have tried to live by this philosophy of “do early” and not be intimidated by the financial world. I instead educate myself on money, how it works, and how I can best gain financial freedom to fund my education. Although I am not yet an adult, I have begun studying cryptocurrencies and stocks through paid courses on Udemy, and I plan to begin investing money earned from my jobs and personal tutoring once I become of legal age. This ensures that I will gain practical financial experience while I am young and let time compound my experience, financial knowledge, and success.

Since I was little, I have had a curiosity for mathematics; I would, with great effort, try to figure out the tricks and secrets behind different mathematical functions and operations. As a result, I have always been an inquisitive student. My interest in math led me to constantly cultivate my knowledge of it; in fact, I can still recall grasping multiplication in elementary school while my teacher taught addition. As I grew older, my interest in mathematics expanded further, and now, I even pursue its applications in my current extracurriculars, such as the Math and Robotics teams at my high school. My current love of mathematics was additionally augmented, however, by my freshman year math teacher, Dr. Profio, who left an indelible mark on me and helped to foster my love of the subject by challenging me. At the time, I thought he only sought to bombard me with harder tests and projects for his personal amusement, but I slowly started to admire the challenges that he gave me. The different projects that he assigned to me, despite being more difficult, became exponentially more intriguing and showed me the versatility of mathematics in its ability to be applied in a multitude of scenarios. There was one specific project that not only showed me how math could be useful but also extremely helpful to society. The assignment involved a case study using real-world data regarding the number of syphilis infections from 1986 to 1995 in South Carolina, and it demonstrated how mathematics could be used to visualize a real-life situation and even help solve it. I still remember my astonishment as I used regression lines and graphs of parabolic functions to quantify and approach the problem. As I worked on the assignment, I discovered how mathematics incorporated reasoning and critical thinking in pursuit of practical problem-solving. My teacher’s efforts to challenge my problem-solving skills ultimately bolstered my love of mathematics because he taught me that it could be used in a variety of different situations. Additionally, he always challenged me during math and robotics competitions, and he helped me qualify for global and national competitions. Thanks to his influence, I aspire to study Computer Science as I further my education in college, thereby improving my creativity and critical thinking skills. Whatever career that I will pursue, I am certain that computer science will be the best field for me to study because I am interested in both technology and mathematics, and want to use my intelligence to solve real-world problems, just as Dr. Profio taught me.

Recently, Mr. Rob Russell, my friend and a veteran, informed me about the mental health challenges faced by elderly, retired veterans, most notably increased susceptibility to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, he informed me of the lack of necessary assistance. Taking note of the unsatisfactory manner in which the needs of our veterans were being addressed, I immediately researched methods to aid them. One solution was gardening; there were dozens of research reports illustrating positive therapeutic effects on former service members. However, unlike those of other states, Alabama’s Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide any gardening programs. This was the inspiration for my proudest service accomplishment, for which I built two large box gardens benefitting over thirty partially and fully disabled veterans in the greater Montgomery area. As project leader, I planned, budgeted, and directed work efforts. I designed the gardens using a 3D-design application and created a Python program to calculate outlays. While building, I instructed over twenty volunteers on cutting lumber and connecting planks. After construction, the gardens were made accessible to a PTSD support group; they were built at such a height that nobody had to bend over to tend to plants, a difficult movement for many disabled veterans. More importantly, they provided a means of gardening therapy and a source of organic produce. Although I have only worked with these veterans for a few months, my relationship with the group has been very rewarding. I have witnessed the veterans reduce stress levels and feel more content as they garden with other veterans. One veteran, Russell McKinney, happily told me, “This project has helped my mental health a lot. Thanks for creating this,” and when he happily shows me his eggplants and explains how harvesting them helps him, I feel that this project was worthwhile.

My greatest weakness is a lack of self-awareness, or not having a conscious understanding of my own feelings and motives. This is important to address because not understanding my own desires can lead me to not make the best decisions for myself, and I’ve felt the implications of this indecisiveness as I now have to make important decisions about my future, such as what to study and how best to further my education. Being introspective and willing to better myself, I’ve picked up habits to help me become self-aware, such as daily meditation and keeping a diary. I started meditating due to my involvement with the Art of Living Foundation, for whom I teach meditation skills to young teenagers in-person and over Zoom. I find that meditation improves my mental health, increases my focus, and enhances calmness. Likewise, journaling my daily experiences and emotions empowers me to keep my thoughts organized, record ideas, and relieve stress. Moreover, I find that I am able to express myself more effectively through personal writing and thereby gain greater clarity of my feelings. Both of those actions, in addition to helping me to think clearly and gain a deeper understanding of myself, enable me to develop the mental discipline needed to pursue my true goals. By meditating and journaling everyday, I learned that growth comes from consistency; therefore, I push myself daily in pursuit of my goals. For example, with a deep interest in computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), I take online courses such as Harvard CS50’s Introduction to AI with Python. Desiring to study abroad, I independently study French with tutoring and online preparation to prepare myself for international travel. Overall, meditation and journaling allows me to gain clarity and self-awareness, empowering me to pursue my goals.

Recently, Mr. Rob Russell, my friend and a veteran, informed me about the mental health challenges faced by veterans, most notably increased susceptibility to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, he informed me of the lack of necessary assistance. Taking note of the unsatisfactory manner in which the needs of our veterans were being addressed, I immediately researched methods to aid them. One solution was gardening; there were dozens of research reports illustrating positive therapeutic effects on former service members. However, unlike those of other states, Alabama’s Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide any gardening programs. This was the inspiration for my proudest service accomplishment, for which I built two large box gardens benefitting over thirty partially and fully disabled veterans in the greater Montgomery area. As project leader, I planned, budgeted, and directed work efforts. I designed the gardens using a 3D-design application and created a Python program to calculate outlays. While building, I instructed over twenty volunteers on cutting lumber and connecting planks. After construction, the gardens were made accessible to a PTSD support group; they were built at such a height that nobody had to bend over to tend to plants, a difficult movement for many disabled veterans. More importantly, they provided a means of gardening therapy and a source of organic produce. Although I have only worked with these veterans for a few months, my relationship with the group has been very rewarding. I have witnessed the veterans reduce stress levels and feel more content as they garden with other veterans. One particular veteran, Russell McKinney, told me with a smile, “This project has helped my mental health a lot. Thanks for creating this,” and when he happily shows me his eggplants and explains how harvesting them helps him, I feel that this project was worthwhile.

If I was a highly influential figure, I would stand for mental health. Recently, Mr. Rob Russell, my friend and a veteran, informed me about the challenges faced by veterans, most notably increased susceptibility to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Taking note of the unsatisfactory manner in which the needs of our veterans were being addressed, I immediately researched methods to aid them. I found dozens of research reports illustrating gardening's positive therapeutic effects on former service members. This was the inspiration for my proudest service accomplishment, for which I built two large box gardens benefitting over thirty partially and fully disabled veterans. As project leader, I designed the gardens using a 3D-design application and created a Python program to calculate outlays. While building, I instructed over twenty volunteers on cutting lumber and connecting planks. After construction, the gardens were made accessible to a PTSD support group; they were built at such a height that nobody had to bend over to tend to plants, a difficult movement for many disabled veterans. More importantly, they provided a means of gardening therapy and organic produce. Although I have only worked with these veterans for a few months, my relationship with the group has been very rewarding. I have witnessed the veterans feel more content as they garden. One particular veteran, Russell McKinney, told me with a smile, “This project has helped my mental health a lot. Thanks for creating this,” and when he happily shows his eggplants and explains how harvesting them helps, I feel that this project was worthwhile. This project taught me that anyone can make a positive impact on mental health, but those in positions of power do not give enough effort to addressing mental health issues. If I were highly influential, however, I would stand for mental health.

Recently, Mr. Rob Russell, my friend and a veteran, informed me about the mental health challenges faced by veterans, most notably increased susceptibility to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, he informed me of the lack of necessary assistance. Taking note of the unsatisfactory manner in which the needs of our veterans were being addressed, I immediately researched methods to aid them. One solution was gardening; there were dozens of research reports illustrating positive therapeutic effects on former service members. However, unlike those of other states, Alabama’s Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide any gardening programs. This was the inspiration for my proudest service accomplishment, for which I built two large box gardens benefitting over thirty partially and fully disabled veterans in the greater Montgomery area. As project leader, I planned, budgeted, and directed work efforts. I designed the gardens using a 3D-design application and created a Python program to calculate outlays. While building, I instructed over twenty volunteers on cutting lumber and connecting planks. After construction, the gardens were made accessible to a PTSD support group; they were built at such a height that nobody had to bend over to tend to plants, a difficult movement for many disabled veterans. More importantly, they provided a means of gardening therapy and a source of organic produce. Although I have only worked with these veterans for a few months, my relationship with the group has been very rewarding. I have witnessed the veterans reduce stress levels and feel more content as they garden with other veterans. One particular veteran, Russell McKinney, told me with a smile, “This project has helped my mental health a lot. Thanks for creating this,” and when he happily shows me his eggplants and explains how harvesting them helps him, I feel that this project was worthwhile.