If I could have every person in the world read one book, I would choose A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. This short book is the antithesis to the dystopian narratives often found in futuristic fiction. It is a hopeful vision for a bright future wrapped in an examination of human nature. Our intrepid adventurer, Dex, is a tea monk. They travel across Panga, hosting tea ceremonies and acting as a listening ear for the day-to-day troubles of the people they meet. The world they move through was once similar to our own. Before Dex was born, Panga was crowded with cities coughing industrial smog into the sky. Cities full of manufacturing plants in which labor was automated with the use of robots. That is, until one day, when the robots left, disappearing into the forests. The world deindustrialized after the robots' sudden departure, trading cities for small villages and replacing highways with walking paths. For Dex's generation, manufacturing plants and robots are nothing but stories. Dex is thrust head-first into these stories when, as they are traveling between villages, a robot appears from the woods. The robot has been sent to check on humanity after the abrupt departure of its kin. They have only one question for Dex: what do humans need? This seemingly simple question leads Dex on a journey of self-discovery, and the lucky reader follows, discovering themself alongside our hero. I found this book to be moving as someone living in a world wracked with fear and pessimism. Surrounded by political, social and environmental insecurity, it can be easy to feel like we are moving inexorably towards a dark, dystopian future. This book reminded me that there is hope for a brighter future, one we can work together to create. It may take a shock to our system, but we are capable of changing for the better. I hope that everyone who reads this book is filled not only with a sense of hope, but also with an urgency of purpose. A brighter future is possible, but it won't happen on its own, and it won't appear overnight. This book is a warm hug and a swift kick in the pants in one; I believe everyone should read A Psalm for the Wild-Built so that we become collectively driven to create the best future we can.

Hello! My name is Hazel Abrahamson-Amerine, and I am going to save the world. I am a first-year chemistry major, environmental studies minor, at the University of Washington. Outside of classes, I am the principal cellist for a University Orchestral ensemble. I've been playing cello since fifth grade, and was lucky enough to perform at Carnegie Hall last spring with my high school ensemble! I am also a member of UW's triathlon club, and plan to complete my first triathlon this summer. My athletic background is in martial arts: I started training at age five and continued until leaving for college. In that time, I earned my junior and adult black belts. I also became an instructor, teaching students aged four to adult. Taking on this role revealed my passion for teaching, something I hope to continue doing throughout my life. My practice has shown me that I am capable of amazing things, and given me confidence in the power of my mind and body. I haven't always been confident, however. Throughout middle school and high school, I felt unsettled in my body. My skin felt like an ill-fitting glove, hugging tight in all the wrong places. I tumbled head-first into an eating disorder, and exercised obsessively, trying to regain control of my body. Discovering the term 'gender dysphoria' in online LGBTQ spaces allowed to describe my discomfort, and finally talk to others about what I was struggling with. Recovery wasn't easy, but I slowly re-cultivated trust and acceptance between my mind and body. I also fell back in love with martial arts, and discovered a love for cooking! The social transition that occurred alongside my recovery was intimidating, but I had friends and family in my corner as I started living as the real me. Back to the saving the world thing. That seems a lofty goal — a Sisyphean task, possibly — given the many issues we face today. No one person can face these issues alone. If I've learned anything from orchestra, it's that we make something bigger than ourselves when we work together. This is how I will make change: by bringing people together to address big issues. The issue of choice? Climate change. Climate change is the most important issue my generation faces, and its impacts are already felt world-wide. One of the most pressing consequences of climate change is the loss of agricultural land. As global populations grow, the demand for food will rise. Current agricultural practices will be unable to meet rising demand. These practices compromise long-term soil fertility, stripping soils of nutrients and contaminating crop land with pesticides. Factor in erosion, flooding, and drought caused by climate change, and our agricultural systems are doomed to fail the populations that depend on them. Scientists are working to create sustainable agricultural systems resilient to climate change. Working to maximize crop yield without compromising long-term soil fertility, and cultivating crops resistant to drought and flooding. Working to minimize agricultural carbon emissions, and finding ways to mitigate global warming using soil's carbon-storage capacity. I plan to join these scientists on the front line of the climate crisis, implementing systems that ensure food security without harming the environment. I also plan to spread awareness of agricultural, environmental issues, applying my passion for teaching to get people invested and involved in climate action. I believe that a strong foundation in chemistry alongside a deep understanding of environmental science will situate me well to tackle these big goals. The generous assistance from this scholarship will help me continue to pursue my education, and leave college ready to make change.

Hello! My name is Hazel Abrahamson-Amerine, and I am going to save the world. Ready? Let's go. I am a current first-year at the University of Washington, majoring in chemistry and minoring in environmental studies. Outside of classes, I am the principal cellist for a University Orchestral ensemble. I've been playing the cello since fifth grade, and was even lucky enough to play at Carnegie Hall last spring with my high school ensemble! I am also a member of UW's triathlon club, and plan to run my first triathlon this summer. My athletic background is in martial arts: I started training when I was five years old and continued to train until leaving for college. In that time, I earned first my junior, then my adult black belt. I also became a volunteer instructor, teaching students aged four to adult, and was brought on as a paid instructor in my sophomore year of high school. The impact martial arts has had on my life cannot be overstated. My practice has shown me how that I can do hard things, and given me confidence in the power of my mind and my body. Becoming an instructor revealed a passion in me for teaching, something that I hope to continue doing throughout my life. Getting to support my students as they grew both as martial artists and as people was a truly invaluable experience. Back to the whole saving the world thing. That seems like a pretty lofty goal, no? A Sisyphean task, possibly, given the scope of issues facing our society today. No one person can face all of these issues, or face any one of them for that matter, alone. If I've learned anything from orchestra, it's that we can make something bigger than ourselves when we work together. This is how I plan to change the world: by bringing people together to address big issues. The issue of choice? Climate change. Climate change is the most important issue my generation faces. Its impacts are already being felt around the world, as water sources dry up, species disappear, and communities are destroyed by natural disasters. One of the most pressing consequences of climate change is the loss of agricultural land. As the global population continues to grow, the demand for food will rise as well. Current agricultural practices will be unable to meet this rising demand due to climate-related land degradation and the unsustainable nature of the practices themselves. These practices strip soils of nutrients and contaminate crop land with harmful pesticides. Factor in the erosion, flooding, and drought caused by climate change, and you get an agricultural system doomed to fail the populations that depend on it. Scientists are working now to create sustainable agricultural systems resilient to climate change. They are working to maximize crop yield without compromising long-term soil fertility, and cultivating crops resistant to drought and flooding. They are working to minimize agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, and finding ways to mitigate global warming using soil's carbon-storage capacity. I plan to join these scientists on the front line of the climate crisis, implementing systems that ensure food security without harming the environment. I also plan to raise awareness of environmental issues through an agricultural lens, applying my passion for teaching to get people invested and involved in climate action. I believe that a strong foundation in chemistry alongside a deep understanding of environmental science will situate me well to tackle these big goals. The generous assistance from this scholarship will help me continue to pursue my education, and leave college ready to make a change.

I was never meant to become a martial artist. I only discovered Hapkido when my brother started classes, but from the first glimpse of students practicing, five-year-old me was hooked. I badgered my parents incessantly until I joined them on the mat. I loved training, but, when the studio closed four years later, I considered quitting, sure I couldn't recreate the community I was leaving behind somewhere else. Thankfully, my want to continue training overcame my doubts. The search for a new studio led to Universal Kempo Karate, where I learned new techniques and tried my hand at grappling. Months became years, and soon, my black belt exam was approaching. Earning a black belt had always been in the back of my mind, but only as a 'someday' many years in the future. Suddenly, though, I was months away. I watched my friend, Anna, pass their exam with nervous anticipation, knowing I was next. My practice was again interrupted, however, when my instructor announced that he was moving and closing his practice. This time, there was no doubt that I would continue training. My family searched for a new studio and found Alpha Martial Arts. Walking into AMA was intimidating. Universal had been a small school, and while my first studio was larger, I'd been young and confident, unworried about what others thought of me. As a hormone-filled, acne-covered seventh grader, I moved through life more cautiously, perpetually worried about how I was perceived. The one thing I felt confident in was my skill on the mat. Focusing on the training I had backing me up, I stepped out to greet my new classmates. That first class at AMA was a blur, but I do remember meeting Arden. I missed my friends from Universal, so I was glad to meet someone I clicked with so well. I quickly found my ease at his side and settled into the flow of training. Soon, I'd been training at AMA for two years, and my black belt exam was once again approaching. The months leading up to my exam were rigorous. Spending an hour or more training daily on top of homework wasn't easy. I sometimes felt like I couldn't do it, like I wasn't good enough, fast enough, strong enough. Whenever I doubted myself, though, my instructor was there to pick me up, to push me harder and show me I was capable. I will never forget standing in a community-center gym, sweaty and smiling, as I tied that thick black belt around my waist for the first time, my fingers moving with the muscle memory of a decade of training, unfaltering in my exhausted joy. I've since earned my Adult black belt, passing my second exam during the cautious return from lockdown. I've also become an instructor, able to nurture young martial artists like my teachers nurtured me. In our class of four to six-year-olds, I see my five-year-old self, channeling my fire onto the mat. In my middle school students, I see the young teenager I became, rediscovering my confidence through my practice, making my closest friends from across a sparring ring. Teaching adult students, I see the variety of people that martial arts brings together, and the diversity of opportunities that lie ahead of me as I move into college and beyond. I found martial arts by chance, but I can't imagine my life without it. My practice has shown me that I am capable and powerful. It has given me the skills to practice healthy relationships with other people, and to live in a healthy relationship with myself.

I am passionate about making a difference in the world with my education. Through my science coursework, I have connected with smart, committed people and honed my interests. Through my extracurricular activities, I have learned how to translate my education into work outside the classroom. While pursuing chemistry and environmental science in college, I will connect my experience and passion to make real change. I will major in chemistry in college, likely with a minor in environmental science. Chemistry provides a strong science foundation, the nuts and bolts of science if you will. Environmental science represents a jumping-off point to combine chemistry and climate science knowledge into impactful change. In high school, I sought out classes that focus on these subjects. In AP Chemistry, I found a love for the small-scale, fundamental world of chemistry. In AP Environmental Science, I saw how laboratory and social sciences can come together to inform our choices and explain the world around us. Both classes explored how science can be used to explain climate change and fight against it. Though these classes were difficult, they inspired me to pursue a career focused on mitigating the consequences of our changing climate. I have also had opportunities to apply my learning outside of the classroom. Through an internship with the University of Washington's Arboretum, I learned about and was able to participate in ongoing efforts to combat climate change. I completed restoration projects, volunteered on sustainable farms, and worked with climate educators. Since completing this program, I have sought out other restoration projects and continued working with kids by assistant teaching karate classes. I plan to incorporate education into my career and help to raise the next generation of scientists. I would also love to continue getting my hands dirty in the field. I've thought of many ways to apply my experiences and education to combat climate change. I could apply my sustainable farming know-how for example, by starting a Community-Operated farm that teaches self-sufficiency and decreases reliance on industrial agriculture. Knowledge of marine chemistry and the impacts of rising CO2 levels could be applied to offset ocean acidification and protect the livelihoods of shellfish farmers whose catches have been impacted by shell-corroding waters. I could use electrical chemistry to aid in the creation of more sustainable batteries for electric vehicles. Information on the environmental impacts of mining for minerals could also be used to minimize the impact of resource extraction for these batteries. Interdisciplinary education in environmental science and chemistry introduces many exciting ways to make change. I have worked hard to get where I am. From taking hard classes to pursuing educational opportunities over the summer, I have invested myself in my learning. With this strong foundation, I have agency over my future and can choose to pursue a career path that protects our world and uplifts others. I couldn't have gotten this far without my support system. My parents have always had my back, instilling in me the value of education and protecting our natural environment from a young age. They have exposed me to the wonders of nature and encouraged my interest in pursuing science. I've also found a group of friends who share my interests and who have helped me get involved with our school's environmental club. With the help of my support system, I have immersed myself in science in and out of school. Through my classes and extracurricular activities, I have found an interest in chemistry and environmental science. In college and beyond, I will use my education in these subjects to make a difference in our world.

I consistently make choices large and small that lessen my environmental impact. For example, I've eaten either a vegetarian or vegan diet for the last four years. My decision to start eating plant-based was motivated in part by a moral objection to eating other animals. However, another important motivator was the decreased environmental footprint of a vegetarian or vegan diet. In general, plant products take less energy and resources to produce than animal products. By not eating animals for four years, I've lowered my environmental impact significantly. I've also shared plant-based food with my family, and my dad has stopped eating red meat altogether. The rest of my family still eats meat, but they now eat vegetarian and vegan meals more often. Another choice I make to reduce my environmental footprint is limiting my purchase of new clothing - I honestly can't remember the last piece of clothing I bought that wasn't from a thrift store. Fast fashion creates vast quantities of waste in the manufacturing and disposal of cheap clothing. Manufacturing this clothing on the scale a large scale uses a lot of resources, and relies on exploitive labor practices to meet demand. Decreasing demand and making fast fashion unprofitable is one way this environmental exploitation can be curtailed. Buying used clothing reduces demand and creates a circular economy in which clothing is given a second life instead of being thrown away. To protect the environment, I have also completed multiple restoration projects over the past years. Many of these projects were through an internship I completed the summer before my senior year. In this program run by the University of Washington I, along with 10 other amazing interns, took a deep dive into environmental science. We volunteered with the Parks Department, worked at the UW farm, completed restoration projects across the city, and met with professionals from the environmental science field. Our projects ranged from removing invasive blackberries to laying down mulch to saving trees that were overrun with ivy. The impact we had was small, but I feel that this experience prepared me to pursue environmental science in college and as a career. Since completing this program, I have completed multiple restoration projects with the Seattle Green Partnership. In college, I plan to pursue a degree in chemistry. In my college education, I am excited to explore how chemistry can be applied to help our natural surroundings. How soil chemistry, for example, can aid sustainable farming efforts, and provide alternatives to the unsustainable practices used on industrial farms. How marine chemistry can be applied to study ocean acidification and protect coral reefs from heat stress. How electrical chemistry can help us find more efficient batteries for electric vehicles that don't depend on rare minerals. Overall, the environmental impact of my personal choices is small. My choice to not eat meat does very little to offset the emissions of big companies. The restoration work I've done isn't comparable to the work done by larger groups. Individual choices are important, but real change happens through environmental legislation and the application of climate research. An education in chemistry will give me the chance to become involved in this research, and in the larger effort to protect our environment. In college and beyond, I plan to stay involved, as an individual and as part of a community, in efforts to make real change and protect the environment.

I am passionate about using my education to improve our world. One topic that I am drawn to is sustainable agriculture. The idea of creating a holistic connection with farmland and balancing the need to feed the global population with the health of the natural environment resonates with me. Widespread adoption of sustainable farming will benefit the land and the people who live on it by improving long-term soil health and reducing the exposure of farm workers to hazardous chemicals. The practice of sustainable agriculture will protect the food supply and health of future generations. Throughout high school, I've found ways to translate what I learn in science class into real world-change, including the topic of sustainable farming. Starting small, I use what I've learned about this topic to help my family make informed decisions about the produce we buy. I've also volunteered on farms with sustainable practices. To scale up my impact, I plan to teach more people about the benefits of sustainable agriculture. One of my long-term goals is to volunteer at a community-operated urban farm, or even start my own. These amazing organizations share knowledge with community members and create a food supply that can be routed to those most in need. One of their most important services is childhood education. These farms create opportunities for kids to learn hands-on skills while surrounded by nature when they might not otherwise have regular access to green spaces or experiential learning. The adoption of sustainable farming at a community level is beneficial. However, the 'big bads' in the fight for sustainable farming are corporations. Industrial farms use pesticides that poison the natural environment. They over-till and over-plant, stripping topsoil of its' nutrients. These industrial farming techniques are often illogical. Planting only one crop in large quantities, for example, can lead to widespread disease and crop death. For these reasons, I also plan to work on the implementation of sustainable farming techniques at the industrial level. This means convincing corporations that sustainable farming will increase their profits and efficiency. It also means gathering community opposition to industrial farming techniques. To prepare to achieve these goals, I have consistently given my all to activities in and out of school. From my work as a martial arts instructor to my math classes, I am intentional about exceeding expectations. I have chosen to take AP science and math classes to prepare for a college-level STEM education. I've developed an interest in chemistry in these classes, and plan to pursue an interdisciplinary education in chemistry and environmental science. Outside of school, I have been involved in ecosystem restoration through local organizations. I also took a deep dive into the environmental science field as an intern at the University of Washington's arboretum. These experiences have allowed me to push myself, and my support system has been there for me every step of the way. The people in my corner have been unfailing in their support of me and are always there to lend an ear or a helping hand. I am grateful for all they've done for me, especially to my parents for instilling in me the value of education and perseverance. I know I have made them proud by pushing through the obstacles in my path and pushing myself to achieve at the highest level I can. I hope to use my strong academic foundation and my amazing support system to continue pushing myself, and make a difference with the resources I've been given.

Throughout my High School career, I have had my fair share of stress. While the events of the last few years did not create an ideal learning environment, they did provide me with time to explore new ways to improve my mental health and mitigate this stress. Over quarantine, I found that a combination of being productive and finding time to decompress is the best way for me to be a happy and healthy student. Too much of one or the other throws me off balance and can in fact negatively impact my mind set. If I do too much work, I run the risk of becoming exhausted or burned out. If I spend too long relaxing, I often start to feel pent up and anxious. Finding the perfect balance between the two is almost like choosing off of a menu. I can create a list of tasks I could do on a given day to be productive, and also a list of relaxing activities I could use to unwind. Then, I just pick one or two from each list, and I have a game plan. For example, I can be productive by finishing some homework, and then relax by listening to music while I paint. Or I can exercise and then take time to stretch afterwards. This strategy always helps me start the day off strong or hit the reset button after a hard day.