Why am I worth the dreams that I aspire to achieve? I’ve been sitting here, staring at this question for what feels like hours. How do I even begin to answer a question like this? I guess I’ll try starting from the beginning… I didn’t grow up in a traditional family. My dad left when I was young, and since then it’s just been me, my mom, and my two sisters. My mom is an Army veteran, and she learned resilience at a young age, so she was strong during that transition, learning how to support all three of her young daughters on her own. It was tough for all of us, especially since my siblings and I were so young, but we persevered and found a way through. Some time later, my mom began working for the Coast Guard as a civilian and they offered her the opportunity to work in Germany for a few years. Imagine for a moment, you’re six years old, going on a plane for the first time to live in a whole other country for the formative years of your life. Most might view this as a scary experience. Me, I viewed it as an adventure, like the ones I read about in books. Five years in Germany taught me many important life lessons that I have come to value today. I developed an appreciation for other cultures and ways of life. I learned to be thankful for what I had and for a loving family. I began to appreciate everything that was around me, and the unique opportunity I had been given. Throughout my entire life (through the challenges of adjusting to life without a father and moving to a new country), there was one activity I did to ground myself, to escape whatever might have been troubling me, if just for a few minutes- and that was reading. Every week, I would be reading a new book, at one time battling pirates with Peter Pan, and another playing Quidditch with Harry Potter. And in each book, I would glimpse a familiar challenge the main character was going through. I would see how they persevered, and that would inspire me to do the same. Books weren’t just my refuge- they were my mentors, encouraging me to try again and to keep moving forward. Today, I aspire to become a librarian and children’s book author, inspiring young children to face their battles and persevere, like I have. So, back to that question: Why am I worth the dreams that I aspire to achieve? Well, I think my worth is what I make it. I have had so many challenges and setbacks in life. But despite so many voices telling me I couldn’t succeed, telling me I couldn’t possibly win, I ignored them and kept going. I didn’t stop fighting for what I believed in, and I think that is what makes me worth the dreams that I aspire to achieve. I won’t give up on my goals just because they’re difficult. I will work that much harder to get to where I want to go and achieve the dreams I aspire to reach.

I’ve only ever known a household with one parent. At a young age, my father left. I can still see it clearly in my mind. His bags, his keys, his shoes gone from where they always sat. I remember the confusion I felt, the sadness. I never truly understood why he, or anyone, would decide to walk out on their family. Since then, it has just been me, my two sisters, and my mother. Those first few years were tough on her. Even being young, I could tell that. She was under a lot of stress, because now she had three daughters to care for all by herself. However, now that I think back, that was kind of how it had already been. I am immensely grateful that I had two amazing grandparents, my mother’s parents, that immediately stepped in to help. They would watch me and my siblings when my mother had to go to work and helped to take care of us occasionally. I will always be forever grateful for the time they took to make sure my mother resituated to the way our life would be from now on. However, it did not take long. My mother is a resilient, determined person, and within weeks she had everything sorted out. She seemed stronger, braver, more confident. A few years later, my mother’s job in the military gave her the opportunity to work in Germany for a few years for a promotion. I can still remember clearly the day she asked me and my sisters about it. She sat us down on the couch in our living room with grow-up mugs full of milk, hers full of coffee, and asked us what we thought about moving to Germany for a while. I think back to that memory with a smile. Even then, she treated us as grown-ups, capable of making our own decisions, our own choices, our own mistakes. She made us feel like our opinions mattered, even as young kids. Germany was definitely not a mistake, though. I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to travel to another country. I came back with a sense of just how big the world was outside of my small town. When we finally came back five years later, I had a newer, fresher perspective on life. I realized my ultimate passion was reading and literacy, and since then, I have been pursuing a degree in Library Science so that one day I may become a librarian (and possibly write a few books of my own). As I was cycling through the normal uncertainty of what I wanted to be when I grew up, my mother was always there, comforting me when I was scared of the future or whether I would choose the right career, guiding me to make my own decision and to follow my heart. She encouraged me to do my best, and to learn from a bad grade; not to see it as a setback but as a stepping stone. Without her support, I would not be where I am today. In fact, without her, I wouldn’t even be here. I owe a lot of my success to my mother. It is because of her that I have grown into the strong, independent woman that I am today. And without her constant support, love, and guidance, I don’t know where I’d be.

I didn’t have what you might call a “traditional” childhood. I didn’t grow up in one place, but instead, many different places. My mother worked for the military and became an honorably discharged veteran sometime before I was born. She then worked for the government as a civilian. So, I grew up in Pennsylvania for about six years. Then, my mother got a promotion opportunity that required us to move to Germany for a few years. As a young child, I was excited at the prospect of being able to fly on a plane and live in a whole other country. So, I spent five years in Germany, learning the language and the culture, and adopting some of the traditions into my own life. Thinking back, I wouldn’t have traded that experience for anything, because it opened my mind up and helped me to see that the town where I lived in Pennsylvania was not all there was to see in the world. The world is a big place, and I intend to visit as much of it as I can and discover just how vast and beautiful it is. I recently learned that there is a term for someone like me who has grown up in two different cultures. They are referred to as Third Culture Kids. And I am one of them. I went to Germany feeling as if I did not truly belong there and came back to America feeling the same. But being a Third Culture Kid has given me a unique perspective on a lot of things. I am now more aware that there are other people in other countries who have lifestyles and experiences similar to ours here in the United States. That there are people in other countries who are, in fact, just like us. And I learned more about how things were done and traditions that don’t differ much from ours. Through it all, I developed a passion for traveling and learning as much as I can about other cultures and ways of life. I love to see the subtle differences and similarities between two seemingly different cultures. And I feel moving to another country has taught me a sense of responsibility and accountability. In Germany, it was just me, my sisters, and my mom. We had to take care of each other because we didn’t know anyone else or anything about Germany. I began to learn how to do things on my own and to take responsibility for anything I may have done wrong or made a mistake on. Now, back in the United States, I still continue to take responsibility for my own work and strive to do my absolute best on any task I am given. And when the situation arises that I may have done something incorrectly or made a mistake, I hold myself accountable, and work to fix it. I do this not just in school, but in everyday life as well. Because of this, I have strived to achieve and maintain a 4.0 GPA, in high school and in college. I like doing my best and receiving a grade that reflects my hard work; and I feel this will lead to my success in my future career. I am a Third Culture Kid. It is who I am, and I wouldn’t change that or my experiences for anything. Because they taught me responsibility, accountability, and even how to ask for help when I know I need it. And I am grateful everyday that I got to experience another culture at such a young age.

I LOVE playing the NYT Connections game. Whenever I see one or find one in the paper, I am drawn to it and have to figure it out without any hints or help. So, you can imagine how excited I was to find a scholarship dedicated to this amazing game. Some time ago, when I first started playing this game, I noticed that you have to really think outside of the box to find the similarities. Some of the groups are more abstract than others. But once you take a step back and really look at each option, then you begin to see the links between a few of the words. So, in honor of those more abstract and outside of the box categories, I decided to create one in a similar fashion, but with words that relate to me and my life in some way. For the first category, I chose to title it “Book Classics.” In this category, I would include the words “Little Women,” “Emma,” “Peter Pan,” and “Alice in Wonderland.” These are all books that I have come to cherish. I have grown up reading these timeless classics, and I feel this list best shows my love of reading and classic literature. I also chose to include this category because I plan on becoming a librarian in the future, and these books are just a few of the ones I have read that helped to shape my love of reading, and that helped me to see how important libraries and librarians are to the community to foster this growth of knowledge and reading. For the second category, I chose to title it “Characteristics/Personality Traits,” and these are all words that I feel describe me in some way. In this category, I included “Adventurous,” “Caring,” “Courteous,” and “Dedicated.” I love to try new things and am always looking for the road less traveled, so I felt “Adventurous” was a good word to describe me. I am also always looking for ways to help others and to volunteer wherever and whenever I can, so “Caring” and “Courteous” were words that I chose for this. And I always have a good work ethic with anything I do, and always strive to do my absolute best, so I feel the word “Dedicated” best describes me as well. For the third category, I chose the title “Constellations.” Now, this one seems to have almost nothing in common with the first two categories or with my intended career field. However, it is something that is a part of who I am and a major interest of mine. I love to look at the stars and find it so calming to see the many brilliant bright lights in the sky. Over the years, as I have continued to stargaze, I have come to find four persistent constellations that I am always looking for and can spot right away. So, the words in this category are “Ursa Major,” “Draco,” “Cygnus,” and “Cassiopeia.” Last, but certainly not least, is another category I named “Travel Destinations.” I love to travel and visit new and exciting places, see the cultures there and the different ways of life. I currently have an ever-growing bucket list of places I want to go in the future, places I would love to see and experience firsthand. So, on this list, I have included “Machu Picchu,” “Yellowstone,” “Greece,” and “Ireland.” Hopefully, this list shows you just a little bit about who I am and the things I want to do and become (and my love for NYT Connections). Thank you for reading.

We’ve heard it all before, right? Global warming is possibly the most pressing environmental concern facing us today. And about how we’re contributing to the downfall of our planet. And you know what? They’re right. When I was younger, I was not aware of climate change and its impact on the world. I had not learned about the subject yet, though later I was faced with the truth: The climate was changing, and drastically. I remember feeling confused. Why was nothing being done about it? Was there even anything we could do to fix it? These questions occasionally fill my head these days, though I have more knowledge about climate change now than I did in the past. I now know what can be done to combat climate change, and what is currently being done to do so. But just how does something as huge as climate change be solved? Is there even any way to solve it? I believe there is, and it starts with each and every one of us. Think about it. If it was just one person doing all of the work, then it would take a very long time for progress to be made, and even then, there might not even be any progress. But if everyone did something, anything, even if it was as small as recycling or taking the bus instead of driving to work, then just think of the impact that collectively could have on the environment. Climate change is a big subject. But small steps today could lead to a big impact tomorrow. And while it may feel that you might not be able to do anything significant about it, just taking the time to ensure you are a part of the solution and not a part of the problem could help tremendously in the efforts to reduce climate change. You could drive less often, take public transit, or even carpool. You could also recycle more and switch to more sustainable and renewable resources. These are all steps that I have taken to reduce my carbon footprint. I am an avid recycler. I strive to recycle whenever it is possible. I also reuse certain items that might normally be thrown away. My family and I often bring our own reusable bags to grocery stores so we do not have to use disposable ones. Through all these efforts, I am decreasing the amount of waste that is going to landfills, which could contribute to climate change and global warming. Recycling, reusing, and reducing the amount of materials I use are only a couple of ways I am working on fighting climate change. The fight to combat climate change is not an independent one. It requires the efforts of many people working for the same cause and towards the same goal. We can all work to combat climate change together and leave a positive impact on the environment and the world we live in.

Technology is everywhere. Whether we notice it or not, it is a common presence. I almost always notice it. Being an online student, my whole educational career revolves around technology. It’s what I use to learn, to submit assignments, to connect with peers and my professors. However, I have recently come to see technology as more than that. More than just something I use to get good grades. Technology has helped me become more efficient and organized, as well as to learn something new. My major goal at the end of my college career is to graduate with a master’s in Library Science to become a librarian. And, well, I have come to terms with the fact that everything, including books and the library, are turning digital. Ebooks are now readily available to patrons, and people can simply search for where a book is and be able to locate it themselves, without the help of a librarian. However, I plan on using this to the library’s advantage, instead of seeing it as an obstacle or a negative. And a few things I have learned about technology so far in my college education will allow me to incorporate innovative changes to the library. On the educational side of things, I use technology as a study tool. I find any and all resources online that can help me to learn the material to the best of my ability, and fully grasp the content. But anyone can access these materials. Anyone can do a simple search and find what they are looking for, right? So, I have been using technology in a different way. I have used sites like Gimkit, Kahoot, and Quizlet to create study tools where I can learn in a fun way and retain the material. But technology’s uses go far beyond that. I have used technology to become more efficient and organized. I have used calendar apps to keep track of important due dates in my courses. I have also learned more about the many various and unique uses of software like Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Excel. I have used all of these resources to perform tasks like organize information, create study guides, enhance speeches and presentations, keep track of names and assignments, see similarities in data, and find relations between different sets of data. This has all helped me to become a better student, but I know that it is more than that. All of the resources and software I have used, and the content I have created, has prepared me for my future career and opened me up to a whole new list of possibilities and ideas for how to move the library into a new age. The age of technology. I have plans to implement new technological advancements into the foundation of the library. As reading has become more digital, so too should the library to account for this change. And moving into more digital content does not necessarily mean that we have less opportunity to reach readers. Quite the opposite. It means that we have that many more resources available to us to use to reach a wider audience. I plan on creating flyers, updating the website and the catalog, and introducing new ways to obtain and distribute books, all by using technology. So, while this new age of technology may seem dauting, I know that everything I learn about it and all of its uses will help prepare me for a future career as a librarian, and will help me to be a more productive, innovative, and valuable librarian.

Here I am. Six years old. Standing on a huge field, facing a menacing-looking team. The ball is in front of me. I could kick it to a teammate easily. But something stops me. Several things, actually. What if I don’t kick it right? What if the other team takes it from me? Best to stay back, right? I heard raised voices around me saying things like: “Go for it!” “Kick the ball” “You got this.” But I was nervous. Never before had I scored a single goal in all my soccer practices. I was frozen in place. Before I could decide what to do, the game was over. I lost my chance. That situation taught me an important lesson. Back then, I never wanted to kick the soccer ball. Even if it was right in front of me, I still wouldn’t kick it. Couldn’t take the two steps to even try. And I can still remember clearly my thought process about it. I was so scared of doing it wrong that I didn’t stop to think about the possibility of doing it right. Despite not having scored any goals during the time I played soccer, I kept playing. I was determined to stay in the game, even though I was not quite confident enough to attempt to score a goal. Out of all my experiences with soccer, the main one that I remember is that moment in time when I could have scored a goal. But then something changed. My mother came up to me and told me that it’s okay if I don’t make it. It’s okay if I get it wrong. All I have to do is try. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I might even miss it entirely. But that is how I would learn. That is how I would become a better player and teammate, by trying my best and never giving up. And I did. I finally kicked it. Sure, it wasn’t an amazing kick that landed right in the goal, but still. I kicked it. And everything was okay. I may have missed, but at least I tried. That moment changed everything. I was capable of kicking the ball, now I just had to practice. The rest of the season went better. I was kicking more, and the team was encouraging. I was more confident in my abilities, and ran towards the ball, not away from it. I felt like I could make a difference. Like I could be the factor that leads to a win or a lose. And my mother’s words haven’t left me since. Ever since that day, I have come to realize that it doesn’t matter if you do it perfectly, or if you get it right the first time. What matters is that you tried. And as long as you try your best, there is no way you can lose. I am applying that mentality to everything I do now. My motto is: Do your best. And I am doing my best in everything I pursue. I continue to do my best and persevere through the hard times, because I can see the goal I am working towards. I am using the knowledge I have gained from that experience several years ago to remind myself that fear can only get in the way if I let it. From now on, I will strive to show bravery in the face of fear or uncertainty, because great things could happen. So, I keep trying. I keep going. And I remember that mistakes are how I learn.

I didn’t used to think I had the qualities of a leader. Or the capability to be a leader. I was fine just sitting in the crowd, following who I thought was a true leader; someone I thought had all those qualities I didn’t have. However, it was about a month ago when I began to realize that I was wrong. That I was capable of being a leader. And it all started at a Safe & Sane meeting… I was sitting at the table, with adults all around me. I felt out of place, like I shouldn’t be there, like everyone else was more experienced and smarter than me. We were discussing our next fundraiser, a bingo event, when the topic of a raffle and silent auction came up. I knew a little bit about the subject because I had been to a few events that included silent auctions and raffles. However, I didn’t feel like I knew enough about the subject, so I stayed silent. But then they mentioned that they needed someone to be in charge of it. Despite my feelings of inexperience, I knew I wanted to help, and that this would most likely be the best place for me to start because I was good at organizing and planning. So, I stepped up and said that I would do it. I’m not going to lie, it was one of the scariest things I have ever done. I was used to being the follower, not the person other people followed. But I was determined to prove that I could do this. Prove not just to others, but to myself. I printed silent auction sheets, did more research, created a sign-up form for basket donations, and instructed others of what I needed and where they could help if they wanted. At first, I thought I was just working in a group, doing what the Safe & Sane committee needed, following them. However, when the day arrived to set up the silent auction and raffles at the bingo event, it hit me, quite literally, like a ton of bricks: I was leading. And I felt proud of what I had done. Everything came together smoothly, and we earned a lot of money that day. In that moment, I felt like I had truly contributed, like I had truly done something, made an impact. It was then that I realized that I did in fact have the qualities needed to be a leader. That everyone has the ability to be a great leader, if only they decide to try. I might not be the best leader, or great at delegating or giving instructions, but now I know that I can be a leader when I’m needed to be. It is my willingness to help others, to plan and organize, to do well, and to succeed that makes me a good leader. And I feel everyone has this ability, if only they are willing to try.

It all happened so fast, I barely had time to register what was really going on. It was a few years ago. I was sitting in an online class. I still remember it clearly. I was in science class, learning about ecosystems. There was a commotion outside my room, and I heard my mom crying. I immediately threw down my pencil, left my desk, and ran out to see what was wrong. I had never seen or heard my mom cry. She is so strong. And that’s when she told me that my grandmother had just passed away. I was extremely close to my grandmother. Even now, writing this scholarship, tears come to my eyes as I remember how it used to be, when she was here. I remember heading down to her apartment area of our house to say hey, just because I could. I would come down, and there she would be, sitting in her rocking chair, watching the Hallmark channel and eating chips or sherbet. I would join her after school to give her some company. At first, I wasn’t a fan of Hallmark. But then, I came to enjoy those times when I got to sit down with my grandmother and talk about what was going on in the movie. She loved to read, a hobby that she sparked in me. I loved being able to share that in common with my grandmother, and there were many days when I would come downstairs to read with her. It was so peaceful, and after a hard day at school, it was something I needed, something I looked forward to. She taught me to sew too. And she would make the most beautiful quilts I had ever seen. I miss the days when I could bring my sewing items to her, show her what I had made, share ideas and tips. The day I found out that I would never get to do these things with my grandmother ever again, I was… I don’t think there’s a word to describe it, but it’s a mixture of pain and sorrow. My grandmother helped raise me. When my father left, she helped my mother raise me and my two sisters. She helped shape me into the person I have become. And I didn’t know how life would be without her. I think I was in denial for a few days. I just couldn’t believe that she was actually gone, and that I wouldn’t get to see her again. A few months passed, and I was still filled with sadness and the pain of the loss. Yet, there was something new. A more uplifting feeling began to take hold. I began to think of everything that we had done together- our Hallmark-watching, story-reading, sewing days- and instead of sadness I felt… happy. Those memories filled me with joy. I began to remember everything we had done together, and how much time we got to spend with one another, and it made me happy. I began to realize that although she might be gone physically, the memories of her and the moments we spent together could never be destroyed or taken away from me. I would always have those memories, and she would live on in them. Through it all, I began to realize that it is important to live every day to the fullest, and to cherish every memory, and every moment. Because, someday, those moments will become memories. Things that I can hold on to and think back to to remember those good times. Through it all, I have learned to be thankful for the time and moments that I am given. We don’t know how much time we get, but we can spend every moment with the ones we love, doing the things we love, and living life to the fullest.

If someone had told me nine years ago that I would be living in Germany for five years, I would not have believed them. For one, I lived in a small town, and being a small child I did not yet fully understand just how big the world was. But I remember that day clearly. It went something like this… My mother stands in the kitchen, meticulously pouring milk into four fancy mugs. She had told me and my sisters that she had something important to ask us. I have no idea what it is, but I am getting a huge glass of milk in some of our nicest mugs, so I don’t know what to expect. “Here you go girls, don’t spill it,” my mother says as she hands each of us our glasses. We file out of the kitchen, heading to the couch, a flurry of mixed emotions encircling us all. Me, I feal excitement as I wonder what is so important. After we sit down and finish half of our milk, my mother starts. “Girls,” she says. “How would you feel about going to live in Germany for a few years?” Whoa. That’s what it was. My mother was enlisted in the Army some time ago and became an honorably discharged veteran. Now, she works for the Coast Guard as a civilian. They were planning on moving her to work in Germany for a few years. My sisters and I all looked at each other. It seemed we didn’t really know what to say. I don’t remember who spoke up first, but I do remember the first thing I said was “Sure! Sounds fun!” As a child, anything that got me outside and in a new place was exciting. I viewed it as an adventure. I was excited and ready to embark on this new one. I remember telling my friends at school the day before we were let out for the year that I was going to live in Germany. They didn’t believe me. Until I came back five years later with a whole bunch of stories that I would tell to anyone who would listen. Thinking back, I realized my mother made a brave and adventurous choice in deciding to bring her three girls, aged four through eight, to live in another country. There were some struggles, like learning the language and the culture; however, my mother showed strength and resilience in the face of these challenges. Never once did she falter, and to this day that still amazes me. Five years later and we’re back in America. We all have been changed by the experience. I have learned to become flexible, adaptable, and strong in the face of adversity. I have learned all of this from my mother and the experience her job in the military has offered me and my family. I can’t even imagine how my life would be different if we hadn’t gone. I feel I have developed a sense of respect and understanding of other cultures and ways of life because of it, and have grown into a better version of myself than I could have ever imagined. And to think, it all started with a mug of milk and a question.

When I was five, I had trouble reading. I struggled to make sense of the words on the page. I needed separate help outside of class to learn. And, although it was difficult, I was stubborn, and was determined to learn this skill. This determination set me on the path to discovering a career that is just right for me: a librarian. Ever since I learned to read, I became instantly fascinated with the stories held within the pages of books. I wanted to read more and more, and the library became the place I frequently visited to find these new stories. Throughout my life, my family has encouraged me to read, and I have benefited from it. I have even attempted to write a few books of my own and eventually had the opportunity to edit a published author’s manuscript. Through all of these experiences, I have been constantly reading- absorbing information and developing a passion for it. I realized how much I might have missed out on if I had just given up. Learning to read wasn't easy, but I would not have found the joy and comfort in reading if I hadn't. When I found out that I could be a librarian and spend my time around these books I have grown to love and cherish, I knew this was the perfect job for me. I decided to volunteer at my local library to gain some experience and an understanding of the tasks involved with being a librarian. Currently, I am taking every opportunity I can to reach my goal of becoming a librarian. One of the main reasons I want to be a librarian relates to literacy. So many times I hear of children, and people of older ages, not being able to read. Reading is so important, not just because of the joy that can be found in reading books, but because reading is a life skill that I feel everyone should know how to do. I plan on advocating for literacy, especially literacy at a young age, when I am a librarian, and raising money for literacy programs to encourage children to read. I want others to benefit from reading and find joy in it, like I have. I am currently taking college courses while in high school to obtain a few college credits before I graduate. I am taking as many communication and professional skills classes to learn how to present my ideas for promoting literacy, and effective ways to implement them. I want to reach as many people as I can with these programs. I want to help people, and I feel I can make the biggest impact in my community by becoming a librarian and promoting reading skills in early ages. I want others to see how important reading can be both as a life skill, and as something that can bring them joy and comfort, just like it has for me.

I have always been fascinated with art and the time periods in which they are made. Yet, I did not fully learn to appreciate it until I took my first Art Appreciation/Fine Art course in high school. I knew that I enjoyed looking at art and felt I was semi-good at creating it, so I decided to enroll in this course thinking it was like any other art course I had taken in previous years where we learned techniques and how to improve our art. Little did I know, this class would change my life. When I took this class, we were in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. I was a new online student, still adjusting to online classes. The day of the first online session for my Art Appreciation course, I was both excited and nervous. I didn't know what to expect. I logged on and was welcomed with a fun and exciting environment where everyone was sharing their ideas and thoughts on what was being presented and taught. More than that, I was actually being introduced to art way back in history! I learned about who made the artwork, what inspired it, the cultural background and situations during the time period, and the methods that were used to create the piece. I knew right then that this was something I wanted to learn about as much as I could. I continued to focus intently on what was being said, and my teacher was very inspiring. She welcomed new ideas and insight into what we were learning. She wanted to know what we thought about a piece and what it made us feel. She encouraged us to try the methods that were used back then in our own artworks, and even created projects where we could practice these techniques. Most importantly, she taught me that it is important to learn about art from our past and the circumstances that caused it to be created, because it can teach us a lot about the culture, experiences, and people that lived during that time. Art in history captures the real emotions that were felt by people at the time, and understanding these emotions in the form of art can teach us a lot about the time in which they were created. I now look at any piece of artwork I see with reverence and respect. I take the time to understand the artist and their emotions or experiences. Doing so helps me to see the artwork through the eyes of the artist, and it is almost like I am experiencing the artwork again for the first time.

There’s a winding path in front of me. Ahead I see many intersections where the road splits off into another. Then those roads split into more roads. This is how I envision the future. It’s a long road full of many opportunities to grow, change, and choose a new path. Success, I feel, is something everyone can achieve. By focusing on each task and going one step at a time, everyone can eventually achieve what they see as success. Success to me looks like an older version of myself, behind the checkout counter or in front of a group of kids, promoting literacy. I am a strong advocate for literacy, as books and reading have played such an integral role in my life. I want to inspire others to possess the same passion as I do for reading, and understand the many benefits it can provide in everyday life. As a librarian, I can and will work on promoting literacy in various age groups. Today, when I start to see new readers, it sparks in me hope, and I become even more determined to succeed in my career. My ultimate goal is to promote literacy in all ages. When I envision success, I envision new readers due to mine and the library's efforts. My love of books and the library ultimately led to my decision to become a librarian. However, as I learned and saw more children being left behind with regards to reading and literacy, I found in myself a new passion to advocate for this important cause. I have volunteered at my local library to learn more about the processes and tasks involved, and I now know a little more about what goes into being a librarian. It solidified my decision to work towards becoming a librarian in the future. My goals for achieving this feat are to start by working hard in my education. I aspire to continue my education in a four-year college or university. I want to get my degree in Library Science and go on to becoming a librarian myself. I plan on doing my best through my academic career and in my future career to achieve this success I have envisioned for myself. In order to reach success, however, I first need to obtain the foundation of any successful venture: knowledge. Getting a good college education is important to me because it will ensure I have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in my career, and to make a difference. I want to learn all that I can about programming, events, and successful advocacy so I can succeed in these areas later on. Any assistance I receive to help me on my journey to success will be extremely valuable, and will have played an integral role in helping me to achieve success and promote literacy as a librarian. Success can mean many different things to many different people. But to me, success means putting books and the stories they have to tell into the hands of those who wish to discover it. My path may not be easy. It may be difficult and even seem impossible at times, but I believe that if I really focus on where I want to be in the future, I may achieve my dreams and goals in the end.

I am passionate about preserving the Earth and all it has given us. We have a responsibility to protect Earth’s natural resources and use them wisely. However, at times it seems as if instead of making positive progress, we are moving backward, contributing to the decline of Earth’s natural resources and climate change. I want to make a positive contribution in any way I can, because even the smallest of actions can create the biggest change. I have learned a lot over the years about what I can do to live sustainably. And every time I learn a new method, I do my best to implement it. One of the major choices I have made is to recycle as much as possible. Any packaging or other items I use that are recyclable, I put in recycling. I know this will benefit the Earth tremendously in the long run. By recycling things such as paper products, I can help reduce the need to cut down more trees. Trees help filter out carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming, and thus, recycling can help the environment and the climate. I also strive to use less water. I use only enough water for the certain task I am completing so I can ensure I am not overusing or wasting it. Water is important for many reasons, and there is only so much of it that is available for us to use, so it is important we don’t waste the little water that we can use. Two other ways I am living sustainably involve carbon emissions and light. I carpool often and only travel when necessary, which can help to reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. I also limit the amount of energy I use at home. When there is enough light from outside, I make sure the lights inside my house are off. At night, I only turn on the lights that are necessary, and turn them off when I am done completing a task. I am taking steps to reduce my carbon footprint and hopefully have a positive effect on the environment and the atmosphere. Seeing as carbon is the main contributor to climate change and global warming, I feel it is especially important to reduce one’s carbon footprint. The less carbon we use, the less carbon we are expelling into the atmosphere, and the less of an effect we are having on climate change.

I have always been fascinated by the evolution of communicating across long distances. From the telegraph to the telephone, communication has come a long way. The telephone is one piece of technology that inspires me about the way in which technology can make the world a better place. In my history classes, I learned about what life was like before telephones. News did not travel very quickly, and information was often received far after an event or situation took place. I remember hearing about a specific instance in which a treaty had been signed to stop further conflict, but the news of the treaty did not travel fast enough, and another battle broke out because they were unaware that the conflict was over. If the telephone had been invented prior to that battle, the news might have traveled quicker, and that battle may have never taken place. Those lives might not have been lost. The telephone has made the world a better place in several ways. It is working to connect people from around the globe. Friends can keep in touch even if they are on another continent. Businesses may also be able to operate more efficiently because of telephones and communication over long distances. Telephones have made it easier for more people to receive current information as well. People can stay up to date on events occurring where they live. This can help to increase awareness of what is currently going on in a certain area. The telephone is an inspiring piece of technology that is helping to make the world a better, and more connected, place. It is helping to bring people together and allows information to travel faster than it ever has before.

Mental health is important for many different reasons. It can impact your relationships with others and your overall attitude. Mental health could be impacted by stress or negative things in a person's life. Staying mentally strong in these situations might require a lot of strength, but it is possible, and there are several things I do that help me stay mentally strong. Just like it is important to take care of yourself and your body, it is also important to take care of your mental health. Mental health consists of your mind, thoughts, and attitudes. If most or all of these are negative, then your mental health may not be in good condition. Talking to others and sharing your thoughts and opinions may be one way you can improve your mental health. This is one thing I do to stay mentally strong. Maintaining good, strong mental health is important. You can work on this by staying positive, focusing on the good things in your life, and building good relationships with others. By working on these tasks, you may be able to have a more positive attitude toward aspects of your life and feel happier overall. Maintaining strong mental health may be a challenge during tough times, like college stress, but I am able to stay resilient. I practice techniques to keep my mental health strong. One technique I use is spending time outdoors among nature. Seeing the natural beauty of the world allows me to remain calm and refocus my thoughts and my mind. Some advice I would give to others is to spend time with family. Being around the people I love enables me to stay happy, calm, and hopeful, thus strengthens my mental health. I also remember to take time for myself occasionally. I am able to do the things I enjoy, like reading, which can help me maintain my mental wellness. College and careers may be stressful at times, and I want to maintain strong mental health during them. I am informing others about how important mental health is and what I am doing to stay happy and mentally strong. In doing so, I am hopefully providing more awareness to others about mental health and its impacts. I can tell them that reading can help lower stress levels and that enjoying nature improves my own mental health. By informing others of the importance of maintaining strong mental health, I am able to leave an impact in people’s lives and hopefully aid them in improving their own mental health in turn.

As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to help people. I love helping others. The best gift I could ever receive is a smile from someone I am helping or even a simple thank you. It shows I am making a real difference in their life. And that matters. I have grown to realize, especially now in today’s world, that it is important to help others for many reasons. It can help them feel better, alleviate stress, and maybe even improve their mood. Most of all, it could help them feel the need to pass on that kindness to another person. All of these factors contribute to my love of helping others. I love my community as well. I live in a small town that reminds me of the small towns in movies, with a main street that has small businesses lining it. It is quaint, but it is home, and it is exactly how I like it. My town is historic as well, and I want to do my part to preserve the history for future generations. Some time ago, I was involved in a planting mission, where myself and a group of students got together to plant flowers and plants in front of our community’s library to help brighten the community. I have also been involved in volunteering to help the Upper Adams Lions Club of Pennsylvania raise money to fund events to help the community. Recently, the Upper Adams Lions Club helped with a food pantry and helped serve meals for multiple events in my community. I am working towards obtaining a master’s degree in Library Science to become a librarian. I feel libraries are very important in a community in several ways. Not everyone has access to reading material, and some may not be able to afford it. Reading is important because it can help readers to learn new things and increase their vocabulary. Providing affordable access to reading material is especially important in any community for these reasons, and that is why maintaining a library is important as well. I have volunteered some of my time at my local library to help out in whatever way I can so the library can stay up and running smoothly. I assisted the librarians with organizing and preparing for events, checking in and out books, and shelving books. In doing so, I was able to allow the librarians more time for other important tasks as well. Volunteering your time to an important cause that can help your community is beneficial not just to the community, but to the person volunteering as well. By volunteering for several community organizations and tasks, I feel I am making a real difference in my community.

Every book is different. Whether it is an obvious difference, like their genres, or a less obvious difference, like the plot lines and morals; every book is as unique as the author that writes it. I LOVE to read. It is one of my favorite hobbies and will eventually be part of my job. I plan on becoming a librarian and a freelance editor. So, in a way, reading has been one of the foundations of my life. There are SO many different books and genres. My favorite genres are fantasy, adventure, and mystery. However, I do occasionally read other genres too, like sci-fi, dystopian, and nonfiction as well. I love that each book offers me a new perspective on a familiar topic or moral. When I am reading a dystopian novel, the moral might pertain to survival, however, each book has a different take on it. One of the things I love about books is exactly that: no two books are alike in plotline and the lessons they teach. There are thousands, millions of books out there, waiting to be read, waiting to teach their own unique lesson. As a result, there are hundreds of lessons I have learned from the books I have read. To go into detail might take hours (though that might be dramatic), so I will describe the ones I feel are the most important to me. Lesson 1: Beauty is found within. This is an important one. So many times we often place value on physical appearance. However, that does not tell the whole story. Another way of putting this is the common phrase: Never judge a book by its cover. This goes hand in hand with lesson one and is absolutely true. What you see on the surface does not tell you all there is to know about a person. You might find you have more in common with someone even though your first impression was that they were completely different from you. Lesson 2: Gather all the facts before reaching a decision. This lesson I found most prominent in mystery novels and some romance novels. Oftentimes, the main character jumps to conclusions based on the limited facts they already know about a person or event. This can lead to misunderstandings, conflict, or missed chances. Always gather all the facts first, then make a decision. Lesson 3: Be yourself. You do not have to change who you are just to feel like you fit in. Instead, be who you want to be. Do the things that interest you- crocheting, reading, writing, drawing, anything. Lesson 4: Above all, be kind. In almost every book I have read, a little kindness goes a long way. These lessons have shaped who I am today. There are so many more lessons I have learned by reading- be brave, do your best, listen to your heart- that are all so important to me. It is my love of books and their stories and morals that has made me want to become a librarian, so I can provide others with those lessons and pass on the knowledge I have gained by reading. Because books are forever, and their lessons can last a lifetime.

Imagine you are sitting in class, waiting to start an exam. You are super nervous, and you can feel butterflies in your stomach. You wonder if you are going to fail, and what that will do to your grade. It is hard to focus on one specific thing and you start to forget everything you studied in those moments. You start to panic. What do you do? What can you do? College is a major stepping stone in life. It is the beginning of something new. Starting college leads to independence and responsibility. Above all, for me, college presents the opportunity to learn something new. The main aspect of college I am most excited about is the ability to learn new things that will help me succeed in my job and in life. However, college can be stressful at times. College presents new challenges to students. They are beginning to become more independent, as completing college work and succeeding is entirely up to the student. The coursework is also more advanced in college than the coursework in grade school. These new experiences and changes could present a whole new range of stressors. Students may feel the added pressure of wanting to do well or financing their college. They also might stress making friends or living far away from family and everyone they know. These new stressors may lead to anxiety, depression, or failing grades in school. So, how do you combat it? Mindfulness is a technique I often use to combat stress in life. Mindfulness involves bringing the mind back to the present to focus on what is happening right now, and not dwelling on future or past events. Mindfulness is important to practice to help refocus the mind on what needs to be done in the present, and it helps me succeed in college. Staying healthy by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly is also important to maintain while in college. In doing so, students may find they feel more positive and energized throughout the day. I strive to eat healthy and exercise almost every day. It helps me relax and focus. Mindfulness is the other technique I use to stay healthy and maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul in college. In the example at the beginning of this essay, I would practice mindfulness to combat the stress; and that starts with calming down. I would take deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth, and try to reconnect with where I am and what I need to do now. I would shift my focus away from what is to come. These steps help me to relax and calm down in stressful situations. It has brought me back to where I am and what I must do in the present moment, and not in the future. Practicing mindfulness, exercising, and having a healthy, balanced diet has helped me succeed and maintain a healthy lifestyle while in college. Being healthy in all aspects- mind, body, and soul- is important. I practice mindfulness to help me decrease my stress and do well academically. Mindfulness, eating healthy, and exercising regularly helps me manage my personal wellness in college. Maintaining a healthy mind, body, and soul is important because it can help to lessen stress and help students succeed.

I have always thought it wasn’t fair the foods I thought tasted gross were healthy and the ones that tasted delicious were unhealthy. I spent a lot of time thinking about that. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The less healthy foods have added sugars and dyes and other things that make them taste better, so it sells. The healthy stuff, vegetables and fruits, will always be the same, no dyes added, no sugars, just the food as it is. I guess that made it a little easier to see why I might not like certain healthy foods- they were at their most basic, without additional items to make them taste better. My whole life, I have eaten healthy. My mother is an advocate for healthy eating, so we always have vegetables, fruits, and other healthy food groups in our meals. Our cabinets never frequently held chips, sodas, or candy. Most of our meals we made ourselves, and all our dinners came with vegetables. Thinking back, I see how important it was, and still is, to eat healthy. Eating healthy provides a multitude of benefits. You feel better, more energized, and ready to tackle whatever challenge comes next. Healthy eating habits lead to a better lifestyle overall. When I did occasionally eat unhealthy foods, like fast food, I did not feel well. I felt tired. I did not have much energy to do things. I might have had trouble focusing as well. In comparison, when I ate healthy, I felt like I was full of energy. I also had a more positive mindset- because I knew I was eating healthy and the food was good for me. Eating healthy helped me focus on my daily tasks as well. Healthy eating is important because it is good for the body and the mind. The cool thing is, the more you eat healthy, the more healthy foods you start to like. As a child, I disliked a lot of healthy foods. Carrots, kale, broccoli, and peas were a few of the foods I did not want to touch on my plate. However, the more I ate them, even in small amounts, the more I found they did not taste so bad. In fact, they actually tasted pretty good. Kale is now my favorite vegetable, and carrots, broccoli, and peas are now vegetables I will eat, and finish, if they are on my plate. Eating healthy is not so bad. In fact, it is the opposite. Healthy eating habits provide for a better lifestyle and leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on any challenges the day may bring. So, although some unhealthy foods may taste better than healthy foods, I encourage everyone to try a new healthy food, like I did, so they can reap the benefits of healthy eating as well.

The dream version of my future self is someone who is passionate about reading, is an asset to her job, is happy and resourceful, speaks up when necessary, and overall is someone many people will come to for guidance.

In the future, I plan to be a librarian. My love of books started at a young age, perhaps since I learned to read. I would read many different genres. One day, I stumbled upon a watercolor book. I opened it up and was fascinated by that style of art. I found it amazing that watercolor paint created beautiful artwork and moved in a unique way. Eventually, I decided I wanted to attempt watercolor. Using a palette and my prior knowledge, I painted a butterfly. I am thrilled with the outcome. I titled it "Butterfly Watercolor," and it is one of my favorites and happens to be my first attempt at watercolor. I practiced blending two colors together and using water to lighten certain colors. I finished the piece by outlining it in permanent marker to highlight the picture and make it stand out. Watercolor continues to fascinate me. Ever since I started reading books on painting and art those books have become my favorites. Recently, I have dived deeper into the world of watercolor and discovered a book on watercolor lettering. I read about the different styles of writing and the different ways to create beautiful messages with this medium. A recent project of mine was inspired by watercolor lettering. I named it "Faith and Hope Watercolor." I used permanent marker and watercolor to create this piece and practiced using gradients. I like how this piece turned out as well. Watercolor has inspired me to try new things. The water moves the paint in unique ways. Even if I make a mistake, the result is always something new and beautiful in its own way. I aspire to be a librarian in the future, and my passion for reading and books has led me to pursue watercolor.

When I was younger, I was not aware of climate change and its impact on the world. I had not learned about the subject yet, though later I was faced with the truth: The climate was changing. I remember feeling confused. Why was nothing being done about it? Was there even anything we could do to fix it? These questions occasionally fill my head these days, though I have more knowledge about climate change now than I did in the past. I now know what can be done to combat climate change, and what is currently being done to do so. Climate change is a big subject and involves many different factors, like global warming. I know what goes into causing the climate change issue. Daily choices like what I choose to use for transportation or whether I recycle or not can impact climate change and the environment negatively. With the knowledge and information I gain from learning about climate change in school, I can come up with and learn about ways to combat climate change. Several methods could be to drive less often, recycle more, and switch to more sustainable and renewable resources. The choices we make in our everyday lives can impact the environment positively or negatively. Almost every day, I look at any packaging I use to see if it is able to be recycled. If it is, I recycle it. This helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and further contributes to climate change. Currently, I am living sustainably by becoming an avid recycler. I strive to recycle whenever it is possible. I also reuse certain items that might normally be thrown away. I strive to reduce the amount of waste I use as well, like trash bags, plastic utensils, and other disposable items. My family and I often bring our own reusable bags to grocery stores so we do not have to use disposable ones. Through all these efforts, I am decreasing the amount of waste that is going to landfills. These landfills can release harmful substances and gases into the atmosphere, which could contribute to climate change and global warming. Recycling, reusing, and reducing the amount of materials I use are a couple of ways I am working on fighting climate change. Cars also emit harmful gases into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change and global warming. This is because gases like carbon dioxide trap heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect. This leads to the heating up of Earth’s surface. When we use resources that are able to sustain us and renew themselves naturally, we can help to decrease the amount of harmful emissions being released into the atmosphere. The fight to combat climate change is not an independent one. It requires the efforts of many people working for the same cause and towards the same goal. I am currently making daily choices to positively impact the environment and help to combat climate change. We can work to combat climate change together and leave a positive impact on the environment and the world we live in by making sustainable choices every day.

Little Dandelion By: Holly Best There was a little dandelion Up on the mountain top He was adventurous, and you see He didn’t plan to stop Unhappy was the dandelion Up on the mountaintop For he could go no further than Where his little arms stopped One day he decided to Make use of his roots With determination on his face He planned to pull them loose So hard he tried and tried and tried To get out of the ground When finally, they uplifted Without making a sound Overjoyed was the dandelion He no longer had to stay He could wander the fields of faraway lands For many many days The dandelion skipped with joy And slowly made his way Away from the field he had always known Until he would come back someday Yes, that little dandelion traveled very far And made many friends as well And when he was asked how he did it He said “I’ll never tell” He traveled and traveled for many years And finally felt he should go Back to the place where it had all started The place he’d always know

Change may be hard to achieve, especially on a global scale. But it is not impossible. Change can happen right now, and of every second of the day. It can be small or big in scale, but either way, it is happening all around us. I see change in my daily life, whether it is by the changing leaves or seasons or if it is in my community. But there is one issue I have found to be important, and I believe should be addressed. That issue is literacy. So many times, I have talked with my peers in class and found that many of them do not like to read. Some of them may not have been able to read. This is an issue I feel strongly about and feel something should be done about it. I want to see more people reading and enjoying books, beyond just being required to read them for school. I want more people to experience the wonderful and plentiful positive effects reading may bring. The benefits of reading are abundant. Learning to read and continuing to read throughout your life can help with vocabulary skills. A reader can learn new and more complex words with the higher level of books they read. Several books can also teach children about life events and lessons that may be important in their lives. Some readers may also be able to pick up on cues from facial expressions or attitudes by reading. This is because books often offer insight into people’s thoughts, emotions, and expressions, which can help a reader to understand such characteristics in real life. One of the main reasons I feel passionate about literacy is based on my passion for reading. Ever since I was young and was taught to read, I enjoyed reading stories and books on different topics. I want others to experience the benefits of reading and feel confident in their ability to communicate with others through their improved vocabulary. Several ways in which I have helped to make a difference are through my actions in my local library. I recently volunteered there to support the librarians and the library to help it remain operational and running smoothly. I also have supported the library by donating. I believe libraries are important to maintain because children who are learning to read, or other age groups who read or would like to read, would greatly benefit from being able to access books free of charge. Several times I have spoken or written about the benefits of reading to others. I hope to spark some interest in non-readers to possibly pick up a book and try it out. My passion for reading has also led me to pursue a degree in Library Science, where I can one day become a librarian and continue to advocate the benefits of reading to others. Change is not something that happens overnight. It is a gradual process and involves many different steps, patience, and determination to succeed. I believe children should be exposed to the many benefits reading can offer to them and should be encouraged to read. I am taking steps now, and will be taking several steps in the future, to hopefully advocate for this cause. I hope to spark interest in potential readers to pick up a book and immerse themselves in the world of reading.

Covid-19 impacted many people’s ways of life. They may have changed how they took care of themselves or added new routines to their daily activities. The Coronavirus has affected people in negative ways and has impacted the mental health of many, including myself. But there are several things I do that help me stay mentally strong. Just like it is important to take care of yourself and your body, it is also important to take care of your mental health. Mental health consists of your mind, thoughts, and attitudes. If most or all of these are negative, then your mental health may not be in good condition. Talking to others and sharing your thoughts and opinions may be one way you can improve upon your mental health. This is one thing I do to stay mentally strong. Maintaining good, strong mental health is important. You can work on this by staying positive, focusing on the good things in your life, and building good relationships with others. By working on these tasks, you may be able to have a more positive attitude toward aspects in your life and feel happier overall. Maintaining strong mental health may be a challenge during tough times, but I was able to stay resilient and keep going. I practiced techniques to keep my mental health strong. One technique I used was spending time outdoors among nature. Seeing the natural beauty of the world allowed me to remain calm and refocus my thoughts and my mind. Some advice I would give to others is to spend time with family. In the past, I was able to do this while also regarding the social distancing and mask methods to stay safe. Being around the people I loved enabled me to stay happy, calm, and hopeful, thus strengthening my mental health. I also remember to take time for myself occasionally. I am able to do tasks I enjoy, like reading, which can help me maintain my mental wellness. College and careers may be stressful at times. I want to maintain strong mental health during those times as well. I can inform others about how important mental health is and what I am doing to stay happy and mentally strong. In doing so, I can hopefully provide more awareness to others about mental health and its impacts. I can tell them that reading can help lower stress levels and enjoying nature improves my own mental health. By informing others of the importance of maintaining strong mental health, I am able to leave an impact in people’s lives and hopefully aid them in improving their own mental health in turn.

A person lies waiting for help. The patient is ill, and needs to be treated. Now, imagine this is you. Imagine not knowing if you can make it through this illness. Imagine not knowing what is happening to you. Before the creation of the microscope, extremely small items like cells could not be seen with the eye. Scientists could not observe what was going on with a patient on a cellular level. They could not compare healthy cells with non-healthy cells. They needed the microscope to help create cures and find out what was happening in the cells. With the creation of the microscope, scientists could make more discoveries related to diseases and the makeup of living things, like plants and animals. Vaccines and cures could be found using this device. With the emergence of the Coronavirus in 2020, the microscope continued to play a pivotal role in finding a vaccine. The virus devastated large amounts of people and took the lives of many. It was important we find a cure or a vaccine. Now that a vaccine has been found, people can go outside and interact with others. The microscope is my favorite scientific discovery for a multitude of different reasons. The most prominent of those reasons is its application to cures and finding vaccines. I admire this discovery because of how many lives it must have saved. Scientists could use this invention to save lives and find ways to heal patients with certain illnesses. The microscope has many applications, especially in science. It has been used to help cure diseases. It is an important scientific discovery that has impacted the lives of many. So, next time you receive a vaccination, remember how crucial the microscope was to that discovery, and how important that discovery is today.

I have a friend who is always there for me. She can help me through anything. She is strong, courageous, smart, and amazing. Her name is Misty, and she is my dog. When my family and I go on trips, we sometimes have to leave Misty with a sitter. I worry about her and hope she is doing well while we are on the trip. Once we come home, though, I know she is doing great, because once we open that door, she runs out to greet us and has the sweetest smile and an excited whine. I know that she missed us as much as we missed her and I am glad we are back to spend more time with her at home. My love of dogs started with Misty. We adopted her from a shelter, and though I was young at the time, I don’t remember life without her. She is really smart and funny as well. I love dogs because they are like the best friends you could ever have. They can be with you when you are sad or troubled, and they can be excited and celebrate with you when you are happy or overjoyed. Some love to play, some love to sleep, some love both, and all are unique. Every dog is different and spending time with them may have a positive impact on someone’s life, just like Misty had on mine. I have learned so much from my dog, Misty. She has left a positive impact on my life through the characteristics I have learned from her. Caring for Misty has taught me responsibility. I have to make sure she has water, has been fed, and uses the restroom. I love her, and I have learned how to be a good companion by being around her. Spending time with my dog has also helped me learn how to pick up on emotions. I can tell when she is excited or happy, and when she is tired. I can also pick up when she is feeling a little sad or angry. I have learned so many valuable characteristics from Misty, and it has left a positive impact on my life. Many people have dogs in their lives, whether it is as a pet or companion, or a friend’s or family member’s. Dogs can have an amazing impact on our lives, and we can learn important things from them if we remember to pay attention and love them.

There are many people who will tell you different words of advice. “Do your best” “Do what you love” “Work towards your goals.” While all of those words are good advice, sometimes it may get confusing as to what you might follow. I have heard a lot of advice throughout the years that are similar to the ones above, and I do believe what they are saying. But for me, the most significant thing I have learned that greatly changed my perspective on my academics is to do my best. My mom introduced me to that idea. Sometimes I got nervous before a test, quiz, or assignment. I might not have been sure whether I understood the material or knew the correct answer, but my mom told me just to do my best. These words have gotten me through tough times and made me confident in my abilities to do well. Before I heard those words, I might have focused on getting the assessment or assignment done, and stressed whether I had the correct answer. After hearing those words, though I still like to do the assignments well, I am now more calm and relaxed when taking or doing an assessment or assignment. I know that, by doing my best, I can be successful. As long as I answer to the best of my ability or knowledge, I can see what I know and learn from what I didn’t. In conclusion, learning to do my best is the most significant advice I have learned, and has changed my perspective on academics. It is something that I live by, and if I get some answers or assignments wrong, then I can learn from that experience as well.

The look on a person’s face as it lights up with understanding is a look I love to see. I love to see that look when I am helping or mentoring someone. I love to help people understand what they are learning in their class or classes in school. My sister has taken a math college course and needed some help on certain questions. To begin, I would first read through the question and try to break it down. I extracted the pieces of the problem to be solved and went from there. I would try to work through the problem alongside her until we both found an answer. When there were similar questions in her homework, and she might have needed practice or clarification she was doing it correctly, I would let her attempt the question on her own and check her answer with mine. I liked being able to help her with her work and I liked seeing that she was learning from that experience. I hope to have left with her some knowledge or confidence in herself. I want her to feel she can do the problems well and correctly, and that she understands what to do. I hope to leave an impact, however small or big, on anyone I mentor, whether it is seen through their grades or their everyday life.

Some people choose to gather together to speak their opinions publicly. I act locally to affect positive change in my community most prominently through the library. In the future, I hope to be a librarian. I love the library and enjoy spending time there. A majority of the local acts I take are for the library. A few months ago, I volunteered for the library. I helped them shelve books, check-in and out books, cut out pieces for crafts, and set up for events. I believe I was making a positive impact on my community by helping the library. I was providing aid to the people who supply information to the community I live in. Sometimes the library has book sales. I love to attend these and have left tips as well to help support the library. In conclusion, there are many ways one could support, help, and affect positive change in their community. The way I have chosen to act is by aiding the library and the librarians in the tasks they do to help them continue their important work.

Pollution has a negative impact on the climate. It can harm the air and atmosphere. I believe several steps can be taken to reduce the amount of air pollution. Steps like riding a bike to nearby areas instead of driving and burning fewer fossil fuels may help. But some of those methods may be hard to complete, so I choose to take small steps to obtain a more positive impact on the climate. When my family and I go shopping in a grocery store, we like to use our own reusable bags. Plastic bags can harm the environment. Creating plastic bags in factories can negatively impact the climate with the products it produces. By using reusable bags and not plastic ones, my family and I are creating a more positive impact on the climate. There are many steps one can take to have a positive impact on the climate, but one major step I try to take is using reusable bags when I go shopping.

The girl is fierce. She is strong and powerful. She can do amazing things that not many others can do. Her name is Serafina, and she is a main character in my favorite book. “Serafina and the Black Cloak” by Robert Beatty is my favorite book. I first read it a few years back, and at first, I thought it wasn’t my genre or style. I gave up on it a few times, but eventually, I gave it a chance and continued reading. I found out that it was a really good book. It is set in the past and focuses on a girl who lives with her father on the lower levels of a mansion. She has a unique ability but she doesn’t interact with other people too much. Serafina notices something strange is going on in the mansion and she seems curious. The story follows her and a friend she makes along the way as she tries to solve a mystery. I love this book because it has some of my favorite story elements mixed together. There is a great mystery Serafina has to solve. There is suspense and a little horror as well. There is new friendship and powerful abilities. There is also joy and realization. The conclusion is also a great, important, and impactful part of the story. The book “Serafina and the Black Cloak” by Robert Beatty is one in an amazing series. Although I have read the other books, all of which were as amazing as the first, the first book is still my favorite. It reminds me of how I stuck with it and didn’t give up on the book. I kept reading and ended up loving it in the end.

Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Michelangelo, Georges Seurat. Artists of all kinds and from all different places. All using different techniques and styles for their works, with time periods that range from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism. But out of all of the artwork I have seen, none have made as much of an impression on me more than “The Winged Victory of Samothrace.” The sculpture was made in Greece in 190 B.C. This monumental sculpture is now located at the Louvre in Paris. Ever since I saw this masterpiece, I was entranced. There was almost an air of mystery around it. When I first traveled to the Louvre and saw “The Winged Victory of Samothrace” I don’t think I truly understood what it was and what it meant. Now, after learning about the artwork and noticing it’s fine details, I see the sculpture as a true work of art and inspiration. “The Winged Victory of Samothrace” is my favorite piece of art for several reasons. The sense of movement that was meticulously, carefully, and beautifully crafted has made an impact on me. The way this sculpture is positioned, high up on a ship’s prow and standing proudly, is a characteristic I highly admire. The power that I see in this sculpture is important to me and shows the strength and might of the figure sculpted. The sense of movement created in the figure has awed me. The flowing fabric and the stance of the sculpture shows the figure trapped in motion, and I believe it thus gives off the impression of power as the figure is on a high base. “The Winged Victory of Samothrace” is a timeless piece of great beauty that inspires me, and most likely will still inspire me, for many days to come.