“A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.”– Helen Keller I grew up in Smethort, PA it is a very small town everyone knew everyone. My family was the nicest to people way back when so my family was “outcasted”. I was also a big kid so the name-calling bullying and alterations surrounding me back in Smethport. But my family is a loving family so the things that happened at school didn't phase me. My mother was a hard worker. She had to drive to Olean and back every day so I didn’t get too much time to spend with her. As I did with My father was a big help throughout my time in school. Taught me how to fight and calm myself. He would take me everywhere we would go to gun shows, deer farms, hunting, and fishing whenever I wanted. My grandma, was my number one supporter. she was the reason I found my love for cooking. baking and cooking meals were so fun with her around but in 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she lost her battle shortly after. it was very hard because her death causes a chain reaction my parents divorced and my mom moved to the next town my dad couldn't keep our house so he had to move in with his dad. that is where my father started his addiction. my father one day overdosed in front of my cousin and me. This is when it was it’s worse my father was in the hospital and my grandmother passed on. This is when the outburst at school happened. At first, I didn't want to deal with it but my bottling it up leads to anger which is not healthy. This anger lead me to depression because I felt guilty that I couldn't say sorry about not talking to my dad or not facing the fact my grandma is gone. But I had to come to terms. a big turning point is when my dad when to rehab through therapy. I was able to forgive him which lead me to deal with the grief I still had when my grandma passed away. but with family support and therapy I was able to overcome this. When my mother moved away she came to Allegany now I'm enrolled in Allegany limestone. but in ninth grade and I didn't know anyone on top of that having to deal with the trauma of my father and my grandmother. I was lucky enough that a couple of seniors saw me around the halls and we became friends and I was able to be happy again. Now that I’m a senior I have made friends. I also want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. But I have grown mentally. I have forgiven my father and still see him on weekends. My grandmother even though she had passed on I will never forget her. I want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. Mental illness is a disease. The best thing is to keep hope. Hug your family member and tell them you love them. But with my education, I would keep my grandmother in mind and become a chef. In my life, I have fallen but I’m still getting up. “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb.

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.”– Helen Keller I grew up in Smethort, PA it is a very small town everyone knew everyone. My family was the nicest to people way back when so my family was “outcasted”. I was also a big kid so the name-calling bullying and alterations surrounding me back in Smethport. But my family is a loving family so the things that happened at school didn't phase me. My mother was a hard worker. She had to drive to Olean and back every day so I didn’t get too much time to spend with her. As I did with My father was a big help throughout the times in school. Taught me how to fight and calm myself. He would take me everywhere we would go to gun shows, deer farms, hunting, and fishing whenever I wanted. My grandma, was my number one supporter. she was the reason I found my love for cooking. baking and cooking meals were so fun with her around but in 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she lost her battle shortly after. it was very hard because her death causes a chain reaction my parents divorced and my mom moved to the next town my dad couldn't keep our house so he had to move in with his dad. that is where my father started his addiction. my father one day overdosed in front of my cousin and me. This is when it was it’s worse my father was in the hospital and my grandmother passed on. This is when the outburst at school happened. At first, I didn't want to deal with it but my bottling it up leads to anger which is not healthy. This anger lead me to depression because I felt guilty that I couldn't say sorry about not talking to my dad or not facing the fact my grandma is gone. But I had to come to terms. a big turning point is when my dad when to rehab through therapy. I was able to forgive him which lead me to deal with the grief I still had when my grandma passed away. but with family support and therapy I was able to overcome this. When my mother moved away she came to Allegany now I'm enrolled in Allegany limestone. but in ninth grade and I didn't know anyone on top of that having to deal with the trauma of my father and my grandmother. I was lucky enough that a couple of seniors saw me around the halls and we became friends and I was able to be happy again. Now that I’m a senior I have made friends. I also want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. But I have grow mentally. I have forgiven my father and still see him on weekends. My grandmother even though she had passed on I will never forget her. I want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. In my life I have fallen down but I’m still getting up. “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb.

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.”– Helen Keller I grew up in Smethort, PA it is a very small town everyone knew everyone. My family was the nicest to people way back when so my family was “outcasted”. I was also a big kid so the name-calling bullying and alterations surrounding me back in Smethport. But my family is a loving family so the things that happened at school didn't phase me. My mother was a hard worker. She had to drive to Olean and back every day so I didn’t get too much time to spend with her. As I did with My father was a big help throughout the times in school. Taught me how to fight and calm myself. He would take me everywhere we would go to gun shows, deer farms, hunting, and fishing whenever I wanted. My grandma, was my number one supporter. she was the reason I found my love for cooking. baking and cooking meals were so fun with her around but in 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she lost her battle shortly after. it was very hard because her death causes a chain reaction my parents divorced and my mom moved to the next town my dad couldn't keep our house so he had to move in with his dad. that is where my father started his addiction. my father one day overdosed in front of my cousin and me. This is when it was it’s worse my father was in the hospital and my grandmother passed on. This is when the outburst at school happened. At first, I didn't want to deal with it but my bottling it up leads to anger which is not healthy. This anger lead me to depression because I felt guilty that I couldn't say sorry about not talking to my dad or not facing the fact my grandma is gone. But I had to come to terms. a big turning point is when my dad when to rehab through therapy. I was able to forgive him which lead me to deal with the grief I still had when my grandma passed away. but with family support and therapy I was able to overcome this. When my mother moved away she came to Allegany now I'm enrolled in Allegany limestone. but in ninth grade and I didn't know anyone on top of that having to deal with the trauma of my father and my grandmother. I was lucky enough that a couple of seniors saw me around the halls and we became friends and I was able to be happy again. Now that I’m a senior I have made friends. I also want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. But I have grow mentally. I have forgiven my father and still see him on weekends. My grandmother even though she had passed on I will never forget her. I want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. In my life I have fallen down but I’m still getting up. “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb.

“The memories we make with our family is everything.”- Candace Cameron Bure. When I was younger family was everything. My grandma was a family woman she loved all of her children and grandchildren. On Sundays we went to church and after we would go to my grandmother’s house and cook lunch for the family. The holidays were so much fun! We made a lot of cookies for the guests. I would always be over there helping out in the kitchen baking and cooking with her. She shared with me all of her recipes. She showed me all of her special tips. My grandmother Linda used food to bring our family together. She taught me to have fun even when there are mistakes because mistakes will happen. In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer it was very hard being so young and not knowing what death or cancer is. She lost her battle later on in the year. This sent me in a spiral. My parents got divorced and my father started abusing drugs heavily. This was very hard on me. I lost myself and had a really bad time trying to find happiness. When my parents got divorced my mother moved away she came to Allegany now I'm enrolled in Allegany limestone. but in ninth grade and I didn't know anyone on top of that having to deal with the trauma of my father and my grandmother. I was lucky enough that a couple of seniors saw me around the halls and we became friends and I was able to be happy again. Now that I’m a senior I have made friends. I also want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. But I have grow mentally. I have forgiven my father and still see him on weekends. My grandmother even though she had passed on I will never forget her. I want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. In my life I have fallen down but I’m still getting up. “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb. But throughout my life food and cooking have been something that brings me happiness and peace. I find it satisfying to watch how other people enjoy what I make. My grandmother has inspired me to cook. So that is what I want to do with my life. I want to move on to the Culinary Institute of America and hopefully share my passion as my grandmother once did. Even though my grandmother has passed doesn’t mean everyone with this disease. The best thing is to keep hope. Hug your family member and tell them you love them. Receiving this scholarship could assist me so much in my post-secondary education. I can go to the school of my dreams and make my grandma proud. Also, share my passion for my cooking.

“Addiction is a disease that makes you too selfish to see the havoc you created or care about the people whose lives you have shattered”-Unknown. My father and I had a bond that couldn’t be broken so I thought. He was my coach he was my teacher he was my dad. I loved him but in 2015 he started abusing his medication after surgery. He changed you could tell it was him but something was off. He would disappear not knowing where he went. He met a couple of “friends” and would hang out with them often. But one day when I was at his house he overdosed in front of me I had to call the ambulance. It was hard not knowing what is going on with my dad. When he was discharged from the hospital he didn’t speak to me not even a thank you for saving his life. After countless counseling appointments and rehab, I was able to create a bond with him again but never as it was. It’s hard not being able to trust him or not seeing signs of a relapse. So that is why I would want to end the war on drugs. It’s a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach involving various sectors such as law enforcement, health care, education, and social services. Here are some potential strategies that could be used to address this issue: 1. Shift focus from punishment to treatment: Instead of focusing solely on punishment for drug users, governments can invest in treatment and rehabilitation programs to help individuals struggling with addiction. This could include providing access to affordable and evidence-based treatment options such as medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and support groups. 2. Decriminalize drug use: Decriminalizing drug use can reduce the number of individuals who end up in the criminal justice system for nonviolent drug offenses, allowing for resources to be redirected towards prevention, treatment, and harm reduction efforts. Portugal is an example of a country that has decriminalized drug use with success. 3. Focus on harm reduction: Harm reduction strategies, such as providing access to clean needles, naloxone, and overdose prevention education, can save lives and reduce the spread of infectious diseases associated with drug use. 4. Address the root causes of drug use. Addressing the underlying factors that contribute to drug use, such as poverty, lack of access to education and employment opportunities, and mental health issues, can help prevent individuals from turning to drugs in the first place. 5. International cooperation: The war on drugs is a global issue, and international cooperation is necessary to address drug production and trafficking. This could include increasing collaboration between countries to disrupt drug trafficking networks, providing support for drug crop substitution programs, and investing in drug prevention and treatment programs in countries that are heavily impacted by the drug trade. It's important to note that there is no single solution to the war on drugs. A multifaceted approach that considers the diverse and complex factors associated with drug use and drug policy is necessary for progress to be made.

“The memories we make with our family is everything.”- Candace Cameron Bure. When I was younger family was everything. My grandma was a family woman she loved all of her children and grandchildren. On Sundays we went to church and after we would go to my grandmother’s house and cook lunch for the family. The holidays were so much fun! We made a lot of cookies for the guests. I would always be over there helping out in the kitchen baking and cooking with her. She shared with me all of her recipes. She showed me all of her special tips. My grandmother Linda used food to bring our family together. She taught me to have fun even when there are mistakes because mistakes will happen. In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer it was very hard being so young and not knowing what death or cancer is. She lost her battle later on in the year. This sent me into a spiral. My parents got divorced and my father started abusing drugs heavily. This was very hard on me. I lost myself and had a really bad time trying to find happiness. When my parents got divorced my mother moved away she came to Allegany now I'm enrolled in Allegany limestone. but in ninth grade and I didn't know anyone on top of that having to deal with the trauma of my father and my grandmother. I was lucky enough that a couple of seniors saw me around the halls and we became friends and I was able to be happy again. Now that I’m a senior I have made friends. I also want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. But I have grown mentally. I have forgiven my father and still see him on weekends. My grandmother even though she had passed on I will never forget her. I want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. In my life, I have fallen but I’m still getting up. “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb. But throughout my life food and cooking have been something that brings me happiness and peace. I find it satisfying to watch how other people enjoy what I make. My grandmother has inspired me to cook. So that is what I want to do with my life. I want to move on to the Culinary Institute of America and hopefully share my passion as my grandmother once did. Even though my grandmother has passed doesn’t mean everyone with this disease. The best thing is to keep hope. Hug your family member and tell them you love them. Receiving this scholarship could assist me so much in my post-secondary education. I can go to the school of my dreams and make my grandma proud. Also, share my passion for my cooking.

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.”– Helen Keller I grew up in Smethort, PA it is a very small town everyone knew everyone. My family was the nicest to people way back when so my family was “outcasted”. I was also a big kid so the name-calling bullying and alterations surrounding me back in Smethport. But my family is a loving family so the things that happened at school didn't phase me. My mother was a hard worker. She had to drive to Olean and back every day so I didn’t get too much time to spend with her. As I did with My father was a big help throughout my time in school. Taught me how to fight and calm myself. He would take me everywhere we would go to gun shows, deer farms, hunting, and fishing whenever I wanted. My grandma, was my number one supporter. she was the reason I found my love for cooking. baking and cooking meals were so fun with her around but in 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she lost her battle shortly after. it was very hard because her death causes a chain reaction my parents divorced and my mom moved to the next town my dad couldn't keep our house so he had to move in with his dad. that is where my father started his addiction. my father one day overdosed in front of my cousin and me. This is when it was it’s worse my father was in the hospital and my grandmother passed on. This is when the outburst at school happened. At first, I didn't want to deal with it but my bottling it up leads to anger which is not healthy. This anger lead me to depression because I felt guilty that I couldn't say sorry about not talking to my dad or not facing the fact my grandma is gone. But I had to come to terms. a big turning point is when my dad when to rehab through therapy. I was able to forgive him which lead me to deal with the grief I still had when my grandma passed away. but with family support and therapy I was able to overcome this. When my mother moved away she came to Allegany now I'm enrolled in Allegany limestone. but in ninth grade and I didn't know anyone on top of that having to deal with the trauma of my father and my grandmother. I was lucky enough that a couple of seniors saw me around the halls and we became friends and I was able to be happy again. Now that I’m a senior I have made friends. I have forgiven my father and still see him on weekends. My grandmother even though she had passed on I will never forget her. In my life, I have fallen but I’m still getting up. “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb. But what I hope to give back to society is. My grandma was a big cook she always cooked with me. So I hope I can go to a culinary college and become the best cook I can be. Hopefully giving back smiles and happiness with my food. I want people to feel my passion for my food. I hope to make my family proud of this.

“The memories we make with our family is everything.”- Candace Cameron Bure. When I was younger family was everything. But My grandma was my biggest role model she was a family woman who loved all of her children and grandchildren. My sister and I always would go over to her house. We would swim in the summers and play in the snow in the winter. Also in hunting season, we would come over the day before the first day for dinner with the whole family. On Sundays we went to church and after we would go to my grandmother’s house and cook lunch for the family. The holidays were so much fun! We made a lot of cookies for the guests. I would always be over there helping out in the kitchen baking and cooking with her. She shared with me all of her recipes. She showed me all of her special tips. My grandmother Linda used food to bring our family together. She taught me to have fun even when there are mistakes because mistakes will happen. she is the one that taught me to cook. In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer it was very hard being so young and not knowing what death or cancer is. She lost her battle later on in the year. This was very hard on me. I lost myself and had a really bad time trying to find happiness. But throughout my life food and cooking have been something that brings me happiness and peace. I find it satisfying to watch how other people enjoy what I make. My grandmother has inspired me to cook. So that is what I want to do with my life. I want to move on to the Culinary Institute of America and hopefully share my passion as my grandmother once did. Even though my grandmother has passed doesn’t mean everyone with this disease. The best thing is to keep hope. Hug your family member and tell them you love them. Receiving this scholarship could assist me so much in my post-secondary education. I can go to the school of my dreams and make my grandma proud. Also, share my passion for my cooking. "I had many teachers that were great, positive role models and taught me to be a good person and stand up and be a good man. A lot of the principals they taught me still affect how I act sometimes and it's 30 years later."- Kevin James

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.”– Helen Keller I grew up in Smethort, PA it is a very small town everyone knew everyone. My family was the nicest to people way back when so my family was “outcasted”. I was also a big kid so the name-calling bullying and alterations surrounding me back in Smethport. But my family is a loving family so the things that happened at school didn't phase me. My mother was a hard worker. She had to drive to Olean and back every day so I didn’t get too much time to spend with her. As I did with My father was a big help throughout my times in school. Taught me how to fight and calm myself. He would take me everywhere we would go to gun shows, deer farms, hunting, and fishing whenever I wanted. My grandma, was my number one supporter. she was the reason I found my love for cooking. baking and cooking meals were so fun with her around but in 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she lost her battle shortly after.          it was very hard because her death causes a chain reaction my parents divorced and my mom moved to the next town my dad couldn't keep our house so he had to move in with his dad. that is where my father started his addiction. my father one day overdosed in front of my cousin and me. This is when it was it’s worse my father was in the hospital and my grandmother passed on. This is when the outburst at school happened. At first, I didn't want to deal with it but my bottling it up leads to anger which is not healthy. This anger lead me to depression because I felt guilty that I couldn't say sorry about not talking to my dad or not facing the fact my grandma is gone. But I had to come to terms. a big turning point is when my dad when to rehab through therapy. I was able to forgive him which lead me to deal with the grief I still had when my grandma passed away. but with family support and therapy I was able to overcome this.          When my mother moved away she came to Allegany now I'm enrolled in Allegany limestone. but in ninth grade and I didn't know anyone on top of that having to deal with the trauma of my father and my grandmother. I was lucky enough that a couple of seniors saw me around the halls and we became friends and I was able to be happy again. Now that I’m a senior I have made friends. I also want to make sure if there is a new kid I want to show him around and give him a good shot to make friends. But I have grown mentally. I have forgiven my father and still see him on weekends. My grandmother even though she had passed on I will never forget her. In my life, I have fallen but I’m still getting up. “Fall seven times and stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb. But this scholarship will aid me in my post-secondary education so I can attend my dream college in the fall. Hopefully making my family proud.

“We've always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible. And we count these moments. These moments are when we dare to aim higher, break barriers, reach for the stars, to make the unknown known. We count these moments as our proudest achievements. But we lost all that. Or perhaps we've just forgotten that we are still pioneers. And we've barely begun. And that our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, that our destiny lies above us.”- interstellar. Even though this quote wasn't used in the movie instead in the trailer. But interstellar is about ex-pilot cooper leading A team of explorers to travel through a wormhole in space in an attempt to ensure humanity's survival. What's crazy about this movie to that it could happen to the earth. Talking about global warming so badly that crops can’t grow. Only a handful of crops can grow so in this reality you are a farmer or someone that went to college to help the planet. But what they don’t know is that they can’t save the planet. But they still send teams out into space. But I would talk about one scene there is part of the movie where they talk about how time is different than earth if you spend one hour on this planet it's a day of earth time. That makes you think how big the universe is. Well, it is infinite but putting that perspective in this movie is wild. Anyway, This team check a couple of planets that could be useful to habitat. But their observations are useless and the planets are uninhabitable. But not all hope is lost it not until the main character cooper gets launched into a black hole. Which is the best CGI scene I have ever seen. But when he gets launched into the black hole he sees this flashback of when he had to tell his daughter he had to leave for space. Of course, his daughter wanted home to say but he ended up going to space. But there is a very emotional scene cooper yells at his old self in his daughter's room telling him to stay so the black hole cooper throws a tantrum. He realizes when he bangs on the wall dust particles fall and books fall off the bookshelf. This is how he communicates to give information to his daughter to save the planet. And cooper gets shot back out into space where a team of pilots wondering space finds him and takes him back to what’s called “cooper station” near Saturn. At the end of the movie, cooper is gone for so many years away from the earth that he goes to see his daughter she is on her deathbed with her children and grandchildren she tells him to explore the world and not to get caught up in her death. All in all this movie is fantastic and a real heartbreaker but how it made me feel was depressed, lonely, and all-around sad realizing every day is not guaranteed and how you’re a little spec floating throw the universe. This taught me to be a little braver to live life to its fullest. If given a chance you should take it you never know you might save the world. Also, it has taught me when it’s my time to go I hope I’m glad it was full of enjoyment.

“The memories we make with our family is everything.”- Candace Cameron Bure. When I was younger family was everything. Especially My grandma was a family woman. She loved all of her children and grandchildren. On Sundays we went to church and after we would go to my grandmother’s house and cook lunch for the family. The holidays were so much fun! We made a lot of cookies for the guests. I would always be over there helping out in the kitchen baking and cooking with her. She shared with me all of her recipes. She showed me all of her special tips. My grandmother Linda used food to bring our family together. Food has a way of doing that, I guess. She always made me clean and do the dishes because she never wanted to, but I never minded because I spent time with her in the kitchen. She taught me to have fun even when there are mistakes, but never take a win for granted. In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and lost her battle shortly after. This was very hard on me. I lost myself and had a really bad time trying to find happiness. Throughout my life food and cooking have been something that brings me happiness and peace. I find it satisfying to watch how other people enjoy what I make. My grandmother has inspired me to become the best Chef and person that I can be. Through the guidance of my grandmother. I have become the person that I am today. Only Further education will only help me to grow into a better and more professional Chef. I hope to make my grandmother proud.

Pema Chödrön a popular Buddhist and a public speaker once said. “The future is completely open and we are writing it a moment to moment.” Almost how I’m writing this essay right now I’m thinking about my future. Who do I want to become? What am I going to do about college? Where am I going to further my education? How do I become a better person? These questions are hard and will change my life. But questions I need to ask myself and try to answer. I was born in a very small town where everyone knew each other. I was the youngest of two siblings. I had two loving parents with long working days. I know talking about my future being that young. I wanted to be a game developer, streamer, computer technician, or just never work. But my rude awakening happened in 2015 my grandmother lost her battle with cancer. After my grandmother passed away my parents divorced. My brother moved out to seek a job. My sister just graduated college. My dad moved to Port Allegany, Pennsylvania and my mother move away to be closer to her occupation. Now I have been in Allegany, New York for four years. I use to be scared of growing up. But now that I’m a senior in high school and acknowledge that someday it will be my time to go. Now that I have finally honed into what I want to do with my life. This makes me excited about what I can become, but to get that requires a lot of money. That’s why I need to be on the hunt for scholarships. Any amount of money can get me where I want to be. That is why if I get this scholarship I will use it to go to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York. I will become the person I can be. Hopefully, open my restaurant and make people happy or excited to try the food that I make. “The only question that matter is the ones you ask yourself.” I want to leave this quote for the reader. I still haven’t answered all my questions but it will take time. what are some questions you should ask yourself? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Who do you want to become? What should you do to become the best you?

What is bravery it's not about you living without fear it is that you live in fear? it is how you overcome it and learn and progress. a truly brave man once said that. "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." Nelson Mandela. But how is it that I show bravery? how do I face my fears? Well, I start looking at my insecurities I'm a big guy I'm self-conscious about my weight. I don't like to open up for the fear of someone knowing my back story. But now I have to embrace my vulnerabilities. I have to face my fears. If someone is to make fun of me brush it off and think positively. maybe, someone, I trusted and told my story to is starting rumors. I will have to face the fear of my past and again think positively. From these experiences, I will have to find the courage to find a way to cope and learn how to become a better person. If ever in fear try to remember. Find your vulnerability and fears and embrace them. Then the time will come when you need to face them. Once you do you can think positively and finally cope with them and continue to learn. I always try to do my best but sometimes. I can't be brave but I am glad when I can be brave I feel like I am more human and more knowledgeable about who I am. so am I brave?