Ever since I was a little girl, I looked up to Malala Yousafzai, a fellow Pakistani girl who is brave, outspoken, and brilliant. Her story resonates with me deeply because, like her, I come from a society where women often face limitations on their potential. Malala’s fight for girls' education inspires me to overcome my own barriers and strive for success. Malala was born in Pakistan, a place where often women aren't celebrated or given the same opportunities as men. She was named after Malalai of Maiwand, a woman known for her bravery. I see parallels between Malala's story and mine; like her, I am fortunate to have a family that values my education and sees beyond societal norms. However, unlike me, Malala faced unthinkable adversity when the Taliban took over her town and forbade girls from attending school. Her courage in standing up for her right to education in the face of such danger inspires me to be brave and speak up for what I believe in. The turning point in Malala's life came one day in October of 2012 when a gunman boarded her bus and shot her. Her resilience in the face of such adversity is humbling. This event, and her subsequent recovery, made me realize the extent of my privileges and fueled my resolve to use my opportunities to make a difference. Moving to the U.K., Malala continued her fight for women's education, establishing the Malala fund. Her actions, which won her a Noble Peace Prize in 2014, motivate me to contribute positively to my community. Just as Malala used her voice to effect change at the United Nations, Buckingham Palace, and Harvard University, I am inspired to use my voice and opportunities to advocate for gender equality. Like Malala, I am determined to break through societal barriers and strive for success. Malala won the Nobel Peace Prize at my age, a fact that fills me with awe and motivates me to strive for meaningful accomplishments. Her grace, tranquility, and unwavering commitment to promoting the greater good inspire me to overcome challenges and fight for what is right. While she faces opposition, her overwhelmingly positive and strong message resonates with me and influences my worldview. In conclusion, Malala's story is a powerful testament to the strength of women and the importance of education. Her journey breaks through gender barriers and inspires me to fight for a better future for all women. I am committed to carrying forward her message of peace and equality in my own life and beyond.

Being in a small school can often feel confining. Being stuck sitting in a classroom with the same set of kids all day, I often found myself feeling jealous and left out as other kids enjoyed their school experiences with their diversity and constantly engaging activities. However, it took me years to realize that it's not the circumstances you find yourself in that determine your future, but rather, how you make the most of what you have. This may seem cliché, but I feel like I finally grasp the idea behind the "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" metaphor. In the blink of an eye, my school went from a prison that punished any sliver of creative thought or diversity to an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. When I entered the 8th grade, the world was amid a global pandemic. Like many others, I saw this unusual time as an opportunity to flip my life upside-down. I began taking my studies more seriously and joined an after-school program aimed at helping students with their homework and labs for my earth science class. Finding these tasks simple enough, I chose to stay on and assist anyone who needed help. Soon enough, I was online until 6 p.m. almost every day, guiding students through their labs. As the end of the year approached, more and more students joined the class, seeking assistance. Overwhelmed yet encouraged by their growing commitment, I embraced the challenge. By June, after a multitude of all-nighters and stressful days, I had assisted nearly the entire grade (around 40 students) in completing their labs. Although it was a hard road, I felt that the outcome was worth the sacrifice. Unbeknownst to me, this experience ignited my passion for helping others achieve greatness. I received an abundance of praise from my peers, who credited me for their graduation from middle school. Since then, I've taken immense pleasure in aiding classmates with their studies, collaborating with teachers to create engaging learning methods, and extending a helping hand beyond my school, particularly in teaching and babysitting young children. My career goal, a result of this experience, is to become an educator who can positively impact students' lives by innovating creative teaching methods, with a particular interest in curriculum development and inclusive education. This scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving my career goals, allowing me to pursue my education so I can better assist more individuals in their studies and positively impact their lives through education. In conclusion, my journey from feeling confined in a small school to realizing its potential for growth and service has shaped my educational goals. This scholarship will not only support my aspirations but also enable me to continue helping others in their academic journey, just like I did in 8th grade. I am committed to turning the "lemons" of life into lemonade for as many students as possible, and this scholarship will be a key ingredient in that recipe.

Being in a small school can often feel confining. Being stuck sitting in a classroom with the same set of kids all day, I often found myself feeling jealous and left out as other kids enjoyed their school experiences with their diversity and constantly engaging activities. However, it took me years to realize that it's not the circumstances you find yourself in that determine your future, but rather, how you make the most of what you have. This may seem cliché, but I feel like I finally grasp the idea behind the "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" metaphor. In the blink of an eye, my school went from a prison that punished any sliver of creative thought or diversity to an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. When I entered the 8th grade, the world was amid a global pandemic. Like many others, I saw this unusual time as an opportunity to flip my life upside-down. I began taking my studies more seriously and joined an after-school program aimed at helping students with their homework and labs for my earth science class. Finding these tasks simple enough, I chose to stay on and assist anyone who needed help. Soon enough, I was online until 6 p.m. almost every day, guiding students through their labs. As the end of the year approached, more and more students joined the class, seeking assistance. Overwhelmed yet encouraged by their growing commitment, I embraced the challenge. By June, after a multitude of all-nighters and stressful days, I had assisted nearly the entire grade (around 40 students) in completing their labs. Although it was a hard road, I felt that the outcome was worth the sacrifice. Unbeknownst to me, this experience ignited my passion for helping others achieve greatness. I received an abundance of praise from my peers, who credited me for their graduation from middle school. Since then, I've taken immense pleasure in aiding classmates with their studies, collaborating with teachers to create engaging learning methods, and extending a helping hand beyond my school, particularly in teaching and babysitting young children. My career goal, a result of this experience, is to become an educator who can positively impact students' lives by innovating creative teaching methods, with a particular interest in curriculum development and inclusive education. This scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving my career goals, allowing me to pursue my education so I can better assist more individuals in their studies and positively impact their lives through education. In conclusion, my journey from feeling confined in a small school to realizing its potential for growth and service has shaped my educational goals. This scholarship will not only support my aspirations but also enable me to continue helping others in their academic journey, just like I did in 8th grade. I am committed to turning the "lemons" of life into lemonade for as many students as possible, and this scholarship will be a key ingredient in that recipe.

"Love for your brother what you love for yourself." I've heard that phrase countless times throughout my childhood, but I never truly knew what it meant until I had to experience it myself. Until the 8th grade, I lived in a bubble where what I needed took priority. However, as I entered my last year of middle school, I lost a friend and began to understand that although I enjoyed serving my interests, it wasn't worth hurting those around me. Deciding to make a change, I joined my school's after-school program as a volunteer and began to help kids with their labs. Although there weren't many kids in the program, the experience gave me the first taste of the joy helping others brings me, and I knew that's what I wanted to spend my life doing. I also learned the importance of serving my family. I started helping my parents with household chores, making them tea, and generally doing my best to ease their burden. This strengthened our family bond immensely. When I entered high school, I carried this newfound mindset with me. I volunteered at a local community center, organizing events and tutoring underprivileged children in my neighborhood. As a member of the school debate team, I encouraged my teammates and brainstormed with them to find the most effective way of getting points across. I became more involved in school activities as well, eventually being elected class president. I served as an advocate for the student's wishes, communicating with teachers to find the best possible outcome for both parties. I committed myself to planning school events such as charity fundraisers and talent shows, helping kids with homework, and assisting teachers in grading exams. As a high school senior, I now participate in mentoring younger students, tutoring my peers for regents exams, and even co-teaching a physics class. Additionally, I participated in the High School Heroes program, a financial literacy initiative where I interacted with elementary school students to help them learn about finances and build my interconnectedness within the school. Helping others has given me a sense of fulfillment unmatched by anything else in my life, and my dream is to continue to pursue helping others in my future career as a nurse. In college, I also hope to join clubs geared toward volunteer work to help as many people as I can. This scholarship would help me pay for my education, allowing me to focus on my studies and continue my journey of service to others.

"Love for your brother what you love for yourself." I've heard that phrase countless times throughout my childhood, but I never truly knew what it meant until I had to experience it myself. Until the 8th grade, I lived in a bubble where what I needed took priority. However, as I entered my last year of middle school, I lost a friend and began to understand that although I enjoyed serving my interests, it wasn't worth hurting those around me. Deciding to make a change, I joined my school's after-school program as a volunteer and began to help kids with their labs. Although there weren't many kids in the program, the experience gave me the first taste of the joy helping others brings me, and I knew that's what I wanted to spend my life doing. I also learned the importance of serving my family. I started helping my parents with household chores, making them tea, and generally doing my best to ease their burden. This strengthened our family bond immensely. When I entered high school, I carried this newfound mindset with me. I volunteered at a local community center, organizing events and tutoring underprivileged children in my neighborhood. As a member of the school debate team, I encouraged my teammates and brainstormed with them to find the most effective way of getting points across. I became more involved in school activities as well, eventually being elected class president. I served as an advocate for the student's wishes, communicating with teachers to find the best possible outcome for both parties. I committed myself to planning school events such as charity fundraisers and talent shows, helping kids with homework, and assisting teachers in grading exams. As a high school senior, I now participate in mentoring younger students, tutoring my peers for regents exams, and even co-teaching a physics class. Additionally, I participated in the High School Heroes program, a financial literacy initiative where I interacted with elementary school students to help them learn about finances and build my interconnectedness within the school. Helping others has given me a sense of fulfillment unmatched by anything else in my life, and my dream is to continue to pursue helping others in my future career as a nurse. In college, I also hope to join clubs geared toward volunteer work to help as many people as I can. This scholarship would help me pay for my education, allowing me to focus on my studies and continue my journey of service to others.

When I was little, I was known as a "scaredy cat." I had more irrational fears than I could count, but to me, they weren't unreasonable. When employees would announce that a store was closing, I thought that if we didn't leave on time, something bad would happen, so I dragged my mom out of the store. When we got onto an elevator, I was scared that it would get stuck or that we would fall, so I refused to get on. The stairs on escalators scared me so much that every time my family got on one, I would hesitate and not get on, so someone had to get me, or a nice stranger would hold my hand as I went down. When someone on a voiceover would announce the beginning or ending of a show while watching TV, I felt scared, but I didn't know why. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized there was something genuinely wrong with me. I always carried this uneasy feeling with me, even if I was in the safest of situations. Some of my fears could be explained away, but others were plain odd. It sometimes got so bad that I had full-on panic attacks, worried something seriously bad would happen to me. This resulted in some taunting as a child, but it really affected my relationships in high school. A lot of my friends and family weren't as paranoid as I was, and I wasn't good at opening up, so it resulted in many misunderstandings. One of the most frequent misunderstandings came when I spent time with them, and something random would trigger my anxiety. I would become reserved and try to compose myself, but that would make them think I wasn't having fun or that I didn't like them. It strained a few of my closest friendships my freshman year, and it was a really low point in my life. However, in my junior year, I became friends with some really cool people who understood that I was going through a lot when my anxiety would peak. They gave me space to handle it while also being reassuring, and they greatly helped me with one of my main struggles: people-pleasing. I felt the need to exhaust myself helping others while neglecting my own needs and what my body was telling me. I would constantly volunteer to help teachers or tutor students at school, which led to many people relying on me and things getting out of control. I was always the go-to person for nearly anything, and it completely exhausted me. I would feel overwhelmed and get angry, often lashing out at people who were simply trying to help. My friends helped me realize that protecting my peace was more important than making people like me, and that I should prioritize self-care. Since then, I’ve tried to slowly incorporate that into my life, taking the time to relax my mind by reading, doing puzzles, and spending more time taking care of my body. I came to realize that the way I was handling life was severely hindering my ability to truly live, and that facing my fears was crucial to growing as a person. My senior year, I decided to take a leap of faith and try to go out with my friends without worrying about it, and for the most part, I was successful. There was a level of fear in me at the beginning, but as I spent more time with my friends, I let that fear go and was able to have a blast. My healing journey helped me understand that the world isn't a black-and-white place, that things aren’t always what they seem to be in my mind, and that fear, on some level, is healthy. It also made me realize that so many people suffer in silence, which broke my heart. I wanted to help those people so that they never have to feel the way I did and could live without excessive worry or pain, which is why I decided to pursue psychology in college. Beyond the desire to help others, my fascination with the intricacies of the human mind and the mechanisms behind our emotions and behavior has grown. I'm excited about the prospect of delving into these areas more deeply and using this knowledge to better understand myself and those around me. I want to learn more about how my brain and others' brains work, and how people can better combat their mental issues. This way, they could better utilize coping mechanisms, and have easier day-to-day lives. While my struggles with mental health did result in me having many difficult days, they did open a pathway for me to help others, which is something I greatly appreciate. My fight against anxiety is still ongoing, but I now feel confident that I can win, even if it takes time. Although my struggles with mental health have led me through many challenging days, they've ultimately illuminated a path of purpose for me - a path centered on aiding others. This purpose, born from my own experiences, is something I deeply cherish. As I embark on my journey to study psychology, my aspiration is not simply to understand the complexities of the human mind, but also to effect meaningful change in how mental health is addressed. My goal is to contribute towards a world where mental health support is more accessible, effective, and stigma-free, ensuring that more individuals can navigate their challenges with the help they truly need. My fight with anxiety is ongoing, but armed with resilience, purpose, and the hope of making a difference, I feel more equipped to face it, one day at a time.

Being in a small school can often feel confining. Being stuck sitting in a classroom with the same set of kids all day, I often found myself feeling jealous and left out as other kids enjoyed their school experiences with their diversity and constantly engaging activities. However, it took me years to realize that it's not the circumstances you find yourself in that determine your future, but rather, how you make the most of what you have. This may seem cliché, but I feel like I finally grasp the idea behind the "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" metaphor. In the blink of an eye, my school went from a prison that punished any sliver of creative thought or diversity to an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. When I entered the 8th grade, the world was amid a global pandemic. Like many others, I saw this unusual time as an opportunity to flip my life upside-down. I began taking my studies more seriously and joined an after-school program aimed at helping students with their homework and labs for my earth science class. Finding these tasks simple enough, I chose to stay on and assist anyone who needed help. Soon enough, I was online until 6 p.m. almost every day, guiding students through their labs. As the end of the year approached, more and more students joined the class, seeking assistance. Overwhelmed yet encouraged by their growing commitment, I embraced the challenge. By June, after a multitude of all-nighters and stressful days, I had assisted nearly the entire grade (around 40 students) in completing their labs. Although it was a hard road, I felt that the outcome was worth the sacrifice. Unbeknownst to me, this experience ignited my passion for helping others achieve greatness. I received an abundance of praise from my peers, who credited me for their graduation from middle school. Since then, I've taken immense pleasure in aiding classmates with their studies, collaborating with teachers to create engaging learning methods, and extending a helping hand beyond my school, particularly in teaching and babysitting young children. My career goal, a result of this experience, is to become an educator who can positively impact students' lives by innovating creative teaching methods, with a particular interest in curriculum development and inclusive education. This scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving my career goals, allowing me to pursue my education so I can better assist more individuals in their studies and positively impact their lives through education. In conclusion, my journey from feeling confined in a small school to realizing its potential for growth and service has shaped my educational goals. This scholarship will not only support my aspirations but also enable me to continue helping others in their academic journey, just like I did in 8th grade. I am committed to turning the "lemons" of life into lemonade for as many students as possible, and this scholarship will be a key ingredient in that recipe.

Being in a small school can often feel confining. Being stuck sitting in a classroom with the same set of kids all day, I often found myself feeling jealous and left out as other kids enjoyed their school experiences with their diversity and constantly engaging activities. However, it took me years to realize that it's not the circumstances you find yourself in that determine your future, but rather, how you make the most of what you have. This may seem cliché, but I feel like I finally grasp the idea behind the "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" metaphor. In the blink of an eye, my school went from a prison that punished any sliver of creative thought or diversity to an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. When I entered the 8th grade, the world was amid a global pandemic. Like many others, I saw this unusual time as an opportunity to flip my life upside-down. I began taking my studies more seriously and joined an after-school program aimed at helping students with their homework and labs for my earth science class. Finding these tasks simple enough, I chose to stay on and assist anyone who needed help. Soon enough, I was online until 6 p.m. almost every day, guiding students through their labs. As the end of the year approached, more and more students joined the class, seeking assistance. Overwhelmed yet encouraged by their growing commitment, I embraced the challenge. By June, after a multitude of all-nighters and stressful days, I had assisted nearly the entire grade (around 40 students) in completing their labs. Although it was a hard road, I felt that the outcome was worth the sacrifice. Unbeknownst to me, this experience ignited my passion for helping others achieve greatness. I received an abundance of praise from my peers, who credited me for their graduation from middle school. Since then, I've taken immense pleasure in aiding classmates with their studies, collaborating with teachers to create engaging learning methods, and extending a helping hand beyond my school, particularly in teaching and babysitting young children. My career goal, a result of this experience, is to become an educator who can positively impact students' lives by innovating creative teaching methods, with a particular interest in curriculum development and inclusive education. This scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving my career goals, allowing me to pursue my education so I can better assist more individuals in their studies and positively impact their lives through education. In conclusion, my journey from feeling confined in a small school to realizing its potential for growth and service has shaped my educational goals. This scholarship will not only support my aspirations but also enable me to continue helping others in their academic journey, just like I did in 8th grade. I am committed to turning the "lemons" of life into lemonade for as many students as possible, and this scholarship will be a key ingredient in that recipe.

Being in a small school can often feel confining. Being stuck sitting in a classroom with the same set of kids all day, I often found myself feeling jealous and left out as other kids enjoyed their school experiences with their diversity and constantly engaging activities. However, it took me years to realize that it's not the circumstances you find yourself in that determine your future, but rather, how you make the most of what you have. This may seem cliché, but I feel like I finally grasp the idea behind the "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" metaphor. In the blink of an eye, my school went from a prison that punished any sliver of creative thought or diversity to an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. When I entered the 8th grade, the world was amid a global pandemic. Like many others, I saw this unusual time as an opportunity to flip my life upside-down. I began taking my studies more seriously and joined an after-school program aimed at helping students with their homework and labs for my earth science class. Finding these tasks simple enough, I chose to stay on and assist anyone who needed help. Soon enough, I was online until 6 p.m. almost every day, guiding students through their labs. As the end of the year approached, more and more students joined the class, seeking assistance. Overwhelmed yet encouraged by their growing commitment, I embraced the challenge. By June, after a multitude of all-nighters and stressful days, I had assisted nearly the entire grade (around 40 students) in completing their labs. Although it was a hard road, I felt that the outcome was worth the sacrifice. Unbeknownst to me, this experience ignited my passion for helping others achieve greatness. I received an abundance of praise from my peers, who credited me for their graduation from middle school. Since then, I've taken immense pleasure in aiding classmates with their studies, collaborating with teachers to create engaging learning methods, and extending a helping hand beyond my school, particularly in teaching and babysitting young children. My career goal, a result of this experience, is to become an educator who can positively impact students' lives by innovating creative teaching methods, with a particular interest in curriculum development and inclusive education. This scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving my career goals, allowing me to pursue my education so I can better assist more individuals in their studies and positively impact their lives through education. In conclusion, my journey from feeling confined in a small school to realizing its potential for growth and service has shaped my educational goals. This scholarship will not only support my aspirations but also enable me to continue helping others in their academic journey, just like I did in 8th grade. I am committed to turning the "lemons" of life into lemonade for as many students as possible, and this scholarship will be a key ingredient in that recipe.

When I was a freshman in high school, I found out that my 6-year-old cousin was diagnosed with autism. It was obvious to me when I was younger that something was not right with him; he was always non-verbal and seemed anxious a lot of the time. I didn’t know what it was until the diagnosis. Since then, my mom and I would go a couple of times a month to take him out and babysit him all day so he could have some fun and give his parents a break. Whenever I watched him, it broke my heart to see him desperately wanting to say something but unable to express it. In my junior year, I went to my uncle’s house for dinner, and he showed us that he could get my cousin to speak simple words like “hello” and “I love you.” This blew me away, and I was incredibly proud of him. My helplessness was replaced with the hope that he could one day speak full sentences and express whatever he wanted. Around this time, I began thinking about college and what I wanted to major in. I considered multiple career options, bouncing from finance to engineering to nursing, unsure of my path. However, one day during my senior year, my English teacher introduced me to speech therapy, and I decided to look into it. Once I did, I felt it was a viable option for my future career. To be sure, I volunteered to work with autistic and low-incidence kids at a center near my home. It was challenging to adjust at first, but I soon got the hang of things. As a student volunteer, I wanted all my students to feel safe and supported, focusing on their social and intellectual development. Each child had individual struggles and strengths, so I learned to cater to them differently. By adjusting the way I talked and acted around each kid, as well as tweaking the curriculum, I saw how these kids could thrive in the right environment. I hope these kids can use what I taught them to overcome obstacles and pursue their passions. With the right push, I believe that kids like my cousin and those I taught can live more independent and fulfilling lives. My current and future work with low-incidence/autistic kids is about academic support and helping them gain knowledge, but also about expanding their social skills and independence. As a high school senior, I hope to help more kids like my cousin and those I’ve taught, gaining more knowledge with a college degree to better support them in becoming as confident, compassionate, and capable as possible.

"Love for your brother what you love for yourself." I've heard that phrase countless times throughout my childhood, but I never truly knew what it meant until I had to experience it myself. Until the 8th grade, I lived in a bubble where what I needed took priority. However, as I entered my last year of middle school, I lost a friend and began to understand that although I enjoyed serving my interests, it wasn't worth hurting those around me. Deciding to make a change, I joined my school's after-school program as a volunteer and began to help kids with their labs. Although there weren't many kids in the program, the experience gave me the first taste of the joy helping others brings me, and I knew that's what I wanted to spend my life doing. I also learned the importance of serving my family. I started helping my parents with household chores, making them tea, and generally doing my best to ease their burden. This strengthened our family bond immensely. When I entered high school, I carried this newfound mindset with me. I volunteered at a local community center, organizing events and tutoring underprivileged children in my neighborhood. As a member of the school debate team, I encouraged my teammates and brainstormed with them to find the most effective way of getting points across. I became more involved in school activities as well, eventually being elected class president. I served as an advocate for the student's wishes, communicating with teachers to find the best possible outcome for both parties. I committed myself to planning school events such as charity fundraisers and talent shows, helping kids with homework, and assisting teachers in grading exams. As a high school senior, I now participate in mentoring younger students, tutoring my peers for regents exams, and even co-teaching a physics class. Additionally, I participated in the High School Heroes program, a financial literacy initiative where I interacted with elementary school students to help them learn about finances and build my interconnectedness within the school. Helping others has given me a sense of fulfillment unmatched by anything else in my life, and my dream is to continue to pursue helping others in my future career as a nurse. In college, I also hope to join clubs geared toward volunteer work to help as many people as I can. This scholarship would help me pay for my education, allowing me to focus on my studies and continue my journey of service to others.

As a student who attends a small k-12 school with under 100 high schoolers, I can say with utmost certainty that it isn't the most exciting experience. Limited resources and extracurricular opportunities often left me feeling jealous of students from bigger schools who could happily engage and choose from a plethora of school activities. My unique experience at a small school, albeit sometimes frustrating, has taught me the importance of taking initiative and creating opportunities for myself and others. I don't like to admit it, but it took me years to finally realize that a bad situation will always be bad, but you still have control over whether you have a good experience or not. When I came to this realization, I also decided to make a change for others. When I entered 8th grade, the world was in the midst of a global pandemic. Like many of my classmates, I saw this unusual occasion as an opportunity to change my life and personality drastically. I began taking my studies more seriously and saw my grades skyrocket. In my school, there was a mandatory after-school program for 8th graders to complete our earth science labs, and my class attended on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. However, I found the work simple enough and began to join daily in order to help the entire grade with their labs. Our earth science teacher saw that I was able to effectively control the class and get them to understand the material, so he handed the reins to me. Soon enough, I was online until 6 p.m. almost daily, guiding students through their labs. It wasn't always easy. I wondered if I was truly making an impact since very few kids joined, and those who did seemed disengaged. However, as the year's end approached, more students joined the class, seeking assistance. Overwhelmed yet encouraged by their growing commitment, I embraced the challenge. By June, after many all-nighters and stressful days, I had assisted nearly the entire grade (around 40 students) in completing their labs. Although it was a hard road, I felt the outcome was worth the sacrifice. Unbeknownst to me, this experience ignited my passion for helping others achieve greatness and inspired my dream of becoming an educator. Reflecting on my small school experience, I recognize the importance of providing students with a supportive and enriching learning environment, regardless of their school's size or resources. As a senior in high school, I continue to aid classmates with their studies and collaborate with teachers. I am also researching education majors and exploring opportunities to gain experience in teaching through volunteering. For example, I am a daily lunch monitor for elementary and middle schoolers, and I participate in the Junior Achievement High School Heroes program annually. This scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving my career goals by allowing me to pursue my education in the field of education, develop the skills necessary to effectively teach and inspire future generations, and ultimately create a positive impact on countless lives through education.

Being in a small school can often feel confining. Having no opportunities to do anything outside of sitting in a classroom with the same set of kids all day, I often found myself feeling jealous and left out as other kids enjoyed their school experiences with their diversity and constant engaging activities. However, it took me years to realize that it's not the circumstances you find yourself in that determine your future, but rather, how you make the most of what you have This may seem cliche, but I feel like I finally grasp the idea behind the "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" metaphor. In the blink of an eye, my school went from a prison that punished any sliver of creative thought or diversity to an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. When I entered the 8th grade, the world was amid a global pandemic. Like many of my classmates, I saw this unusual time as an opportunity to flip my life upside-down. I began taking my studies more seriously and joined an after-school program aimed at helping students with their homework and labs for my earth science class. Finding these tasks simple enough, I decided to stay on and assist anyone who needed help. Soon enough, I was online until 6 p.m. almost every day, guiding students through their labs. It wasn't always easy, and I wondered if I was truly making an impact since few kids joined, and those who did seemed disengaged. However, as the end of the year approached, more and more students joined the class, seeking assistance. Overwhelmed yet encouraged by their growing commitment, I embraced the challenge. By June, after a multitude of all-nighters and stressful days, I had assisted nearly the entire grade (around 40 students) in completing their labs. Although it was a hard road, I felt that the outcome was worth the sacrifice. Unbeknownst to me, this experience ignited my passion for helping others achieve greatness. I received an abundance of praise from my peers, who credited me for their successful graduation from middle school. Since then, I've taken immense pleasure in aiding classmates with their studies, collaborating with teachers to create engaging learning methods, and extending a helping hand beyond my school, particularly in teaching and babysitting young children. This scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving my career goals, allowing me to pursue my education so I can better assist more individuals in their studies and positively impact their lives through education.

The dream version of my future self is someone who doesn't hesitate to make life easier for others and never treats anyone as if they are less of a human being.