Caring for my mental health gives me the space to care for others. When my mind is bogged down with worries and doubts, or is in an otherwise unhealthy state, I'm not able to be the best person I can be. I can't focus on giving back from my heart because I become too focused on my own mental struggles. I have discovered that taking care of my mental well-being is a way that I can spread love and kindness to others. When I care for myself, I allow myself more freedom to care for my family, friends, and community. Here are the key things I do every day to maintain my mental wellness: 1. When I wake up before I get out of bed, I keep my eyes closed and envision myself achieving my dreams and goals and what that would feel like. This immediately sets the tone for the day and helps me center myself in my heart. 2. I then take some time to stretch each morning. Stretching is a way I take care of my body, and allow my mind to relax in the morning. 3. When the weather permits, I'll go over to the soccer field and kick the ball or go for several walks a day. The sun on my skin and the fresh air helps my mind steady and rebalance throughout the day if needed. 4. Finally, I pray before each meal. Prayer is a way for me to connect with God through my own heart and remember all the things I'm thankful for. Remembering the things I'm grateful for and being intentional about creating this sacred space each day empowers me to take ownership of centering my mind. In addition to this daily routine, I have also found it very important to stay connected with friends and family and get involved in my community. When I feel alone or isolated, my mental state suffers and I'm not able to be who I am meant to be. I make time each week to call family, visit friends, and do something in my community. Even something as simple as kicking the soccer ball with the kids at the park makes a huge difference in my mental wellness for the day, and can change someone else's day too. The best days are when I meet people who I was able to help because I've been taking good care of myself. I've found that some of the biggest contributors to my times of mental struggle have been feeling alone and not being honest with myself. By following my daily practices, I remember to be true to myself, and I'm able to stay connected with my heart and keep my mind from straying into too much negativity. By maintaining my mental health, I am able to give back to my family, friends, and community because I feel empowered to give love and attention to others. This is why I have made my mental wellness a priority in my everyday life.

I love watching the birds in my area and observing their simple beauty. I like to spend my free time keeping track of all the birds I see and practice sketching them. My favorite is the American Goldfinch. I've always loved being in nature since I was a young girl, and I think this is the main catalyst that has driven me to study and join the effort to protect our natural world. I have learned so much about restoring the land and how to live in harmony with it from Masanobu Fukuoka's works. His stories encompass everything from regenerative farming practices to the philosophy of living with nature, instead of apart from it. I was so inspired by this, and I wanted to get involved with others who believe in this way of life too. While attending Horticulture Club one day I met Tina Trout, the owner of LaLa Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado. On her small farm, I have made donations and dedicated time to learning and supporting regenerative farming techniques. These include no-tilling practices, re-introducing indigenous micro-organisms to the land, implementing Korean Natural Farming methods, and using native biochemistry to transform depleted farm soil into rich, fertile land that humans and the natural ecosystem can benefit from. I'm now ecstatic that we have supported this once-small operation into becoming a full-fledged Cooperative Association. This co-op is now working on expanding the knowledge in this field and inspiring greater political and social change in our community. It is my dream to continue to be a part of this mission and further the research in regenerative and phytoremediation practices while completing my B.S. in Biology. I've reached the top of the Mountain, and my message to the world is this: "Happiness is only real when shared." ~Christopher McCandless

From the time I was about 6 years old, when people would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up I would eagerly reply, "I want to be a marine biologist!". I am proud that to this day it is still my dream to learn and discover the biological world and give back to our precious ecosystems. My goal is to become a researcher in the field of biology focusing on contributions to phytoremediation and regenerative practices in varying biomes. The fact that sunflowers can remove up to 90% of certain contaminants in water and soil is very exciting to me. Plants have a powerful potential to transmute toxins and restore balance to the environment. In my time volunteering at LaLa Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado, I have learned how soil can be transformed from dense clay into rich, fertile loam - previously thought by many to be impossible. I have been deeply inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka's works on reversing desertification through revegetation techniques, and natural farming methods that restore the soil and indigenous micro-organisms. It is my dream to pursue these environmental solutions and further the work in this field. In addition, I dream of combining my love of sound/music in inter-disciplinary studies. For example, Calculus is a very visual subject which can pose challenges for non-visual learners and the blind. While sonification is the use of sound to represent data, what if there was a way to use sound to also enhance the way we solve mathematical problems? This is what I have begun to explore, research, and test in my spare time. I would love the opportunity to perform professional research in this area, and continue to blend my passion for music in inter-disciplinary studies. Lastly, in my experience volunteering for an educational non-profit organization, I have had the chance to witness and be a part of helping other students achieve their dreams. I value my own education dearly, and believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn and grow. It is so rewarding to help others that are in the same boat as you. I have made it my personal goal to continue to give back to those who are are dedicated to enriching their education. Some of the things I enjoy most include creating scholarships, organizing fundraising events, and getting a community together to support a cause that can change lives. Coming from a low-income family, and now being the sole provider for my family has made it challenging to pursue my passions. Despite this, I have continued to keep learning on my own, taking classes, and giving back because it's what I love. Now that I am nearing the half-way point in my degree, I am seeking support to go back to school full-time to make my dreams a reality. This journey has been a labor of love and I can't wait to see what comes next. Thank you for reading and your consideration.

From a very young age I remember always wanting to help people and be a part of something bigger than myself. I didn't really understand what "community service" meant, though. What did it really mean to serve my community? How could I contribute in a way that was meaningful? These were questions I would soon find out. When I got to high school, my Mom started a non-profit foundation called WISH (Wisdom Independence Strength and Hope). I didn't see it at first as a way of performing community service, but over time it taught me the true meaning of those words. I saw the way my Mom was able to help people and it really inspired me. I decided to join in and began to help organize fund raisers, gain sponsors, and learn all about servant leadership. My first project was helping my friend Allen that was working to build a fund for college to study computer science. With the support of my Mom, we nominated him for a scholarship, and he emerged as the deserving recipient among many competitors. I was amazed and saw the real impact before my own eyes. As I grew more confident, I realized that I could extend my reach beyond my small circle of friends. Although I felt that my dreams were ambitious, my passion continued to drive me. I embarked on a project to raise funds for our high school music program through a single event. This was a huge process and involved many moving parts. I got to experience not only collaborating with my peers but with parents, teachers, sponsors, and venue hosts. Everything from designing our flyers, to booking the venue, I had a hand in; it was such an amazing learning experience for all of us. In the end, we raised over $8000 for the music program and made it in the local newspaper. I couldn't believe at the time that I had been given this opportunity, and to this day it still brings tears in my eyes to remember all my friends and community gathering, laughing, singing, and contributing to our cause. I learned that the meaning of community service for me is about making these meaningful connections, and inspiring a real change in my community. I have performed community service simply because I wanted things to be better, and I knew if I tried I could help make things better. My firm belief is that when we help each other out, the world becomes a better place. As I now pursue my own education with a passion for Biology and Music, I remain committed to giving back through the WISH foundation by creating scholarships, student aid packages, and supporting public schools. I value my own education dearly, and believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn and grow. Additionally, it is my goal in my future career in biology/botany to contribute to regenerative practices to clean up and restore diverse biomes. Above all, I feel so much gratitude to have had these opportunities to give back to my community and friends. It has taught me so much about what it means to be a part of a community and what caring for one another really looks like on a larger scale. It can change lives, it can heal hearts, and it is one of the most rewarding experiences. Thank you for reading my story of community service and thank you for your consideration.