My name is Isabella L. Carrión, and I am a high school student from the Dominican Republic. I play viola in my country's juvenile orchestra, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico. My parents, one from the Dominican Republic and the other from Puerto Rico, studied medicine in the United States. I was raised and spent my childhood in the US. When I was 12 years old, we moved to Fajardo, Puerto Rico, where I live today. And moving to Puerto Rico was the best turn my life could take. In the US, my family had moved many times throughout different states. Nonetheless, I never really grew accustomed to the changes, and I found moving increasingly difficult. Our most recent move was to an entirely new country, and switching to a new language and lifestyle was a struggle. The changes were a big challenge, and for almost a year after, I was through the wringer. Many influences in my life picked me up from where I was, and I could eventually overcome this challenge. It was a hard process, and one that made moving seem like the wrong decision. But when I look back, I see that is not the case. It was like a cloudy sky that, with enough waiting, revealed a bright rainbow of possibility. Since then, I have learned more about myself and the world around me. I rediscovered my love for playing viola and began to focus on music and my role in my orchestra. I discovered and relearned many hobbies, including reading, writing, and crochet. Additionally, I took a deep dive into my budding interests, like composition, psychology, and neuroscience. I worked on my struggles, including making efforts to socialize and explore my skills. However, a persisting struggle is the future. I still haven't decided what I will study, because I have so many interests I could dedicate a lifetime to. Still, I thoroughly love learning and have always focused on and planned to go to college. As many say, good things take time. Deciding my path in university is a big decision that takes a long time, but in the end, the result is worth all the waiting. One big step toward reaching that goal is scholarships. Anyone can apply for scholarships, even early high schoolers like me. Scholarships are a crucial solution to financial issues in college, as they provide funds for the winner's academic future. This scholarship would help me achieve my dreams of attending college and shaping our world.

My name is Isabella L. Carrion, and my love for many art forms began at a very early age. I watched series about classical music and art, and my love for them followed me through childhood. Later, in elementary school, I wanted to be an artist when I grew up because I enjoyed drawing and making stories. Among my current passions are drawing, worldbuilding, and writing. Most of all, my deepest artistic passion is for music and the orchestra. The viola is a stringed concert instrument similar to the violin, only slightly bigger and with a deeper sound. It's a beautiful instrument; however, it's not as well known and lives in the shadow of its famous cousin, the violin. Since starting to play in second grade, I've taken private classes, participated in numerous concerts, played in two symphony orchestras, and developed my love for my instrument and music. The orchestra I currently play with is the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, or the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Puerto Rico. There are more than eighty young musicians, some who will study music as a profession, and some who will spread their roots in another career. Among the many pieces we've performed are the Nutcracker Suite, the Carnival of the Animals Suite, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. To me, art, especially music, is expression, a pursuit, and a pastime. I play in an extensive symphony orchestra with proficient musicians and dedicated, talented teachers. When I play with others, I feel as if nothing else exists, only the music and me. As I play, it's as if the sound I produce resonates in flowing colors and intertwines with the rest of the orchestra's sound to create a beautiful harmonic rainbow. I don't play only for myself, but for those playing with me, so I incorporate what I create into the rest of the orchestra to form the final piece. And I play for the audience: to teach them the beauty of music and that dedication can produce wonders. Music moves people's souls, some to the point that they dedicate their lives to teaching and playing music for others. Currently, I'm beginning to think about what I want to study after high school, but I haven't settled on anything yet. Playing the viola is a way to expand my knowledge and explore new concepts through music, which is one of my passions. However, not all art needs to be done for another or as a profession; on the contrary, art is made for self-expression. Art can be shared, but is essentially a self-made journey. Even in the most inconspicuous ways, art affects us all by opening our eyes to the world, its problems, solutions, and its possibilities.

My name is Isabella L. Carrión Sánchez. My love for art began at a very early age. I watched series about classical music and art, and my love for them followed me through childhood. Later, in elementary school, I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. Among my passions are drawing, poetry, writing, photography, and sculpture. Most of all, my deepest artistic passion is for music and the orchestra. The viola is a concert instrument similar to the violin, only slightly bigger and with a deeper sound. It's a beautiful instrument; however, it's not as well-known and resides in the shadow of its more famous cousin, the violin. Since starting to play in second grade, I've participated in numerous concerts, played in two symphony orchestras, and developed my love for my instrument and music. The orchestra I currently play with is the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Puerto Rico, or the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Puerto Rico. There are more than one hundred young musicians who play with emotion and talent, some who will study music as a profession, and some who will spread their roots in another career. Among the many pieces we've performed are the Nutcracker Suite, the Carnival of the Animals Suite, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. Why and how is art important to society? To me, music is self-expression, art, and a pastime. I play in an extensive symphony orchestra with proficient musicians and dedicated, talented teachers. When I play with others, I feel as if nothing else exists, only the music and me. As I play, it's as if the sound I produce resonates in flowing colors and intertwines with the rest of the orchestra's sound to create a beautiful harmonic rainbow. I don't only play for myself, but for those playing with me, so I incorporate what I create into the rest of the orchestra to form the final piece. And I play for the audience: to teach them the beauty of music and that dedication can produce wonders. Music is a devotion that some dedicate their lives to teaching and performing, a deep passion for so many around me. Currently, I'm beginning to think about what I want to study after high school. I haven't settled on anything yet, but I don't plan on studying music professionally. Playing viola is a way of expressing myself and learning new things through music, which is one of my passions. Not all art needs to be done for another or as a profession; on the contrary, art is made for self-expression. Art could be shared, but essentially is a self-made journey. There might be those who don't play music or don't draw, but art still affects them. There might be graffiti on a building across the street with a meaningful message, and those who see it are moved by the artist's statement. Music moves people's souls, some to the point that they dedicate their lives to teaching and playing music for others. Even in the most inconspicuous ways, art affects us all by opening our eyes to the world, its problems, solutions, and its possibilities.

Adversity is a period of misfortune and hardship in one's life, and it's never easy to overcome it. There are many people in the world, too many for everything to be equal for everyone. But that doesn't mean we can't try to be empathetic with others to prevent someone else's adversity. Years ago, many changes in my life formed a wall before me, and I faced a big adversity. I was able to overcome it with the help of many people: my family, friends, and others. Now, I dedicate myself to working towards what's to come, so we may all have a prosperous future without adversity. In truth, adversities are a possibility for growth. My family is Hispanic, with a heritage that is both Puerto Rican and Dominican. In the Caribbean, it's not easy to obtain postgraduate training in the medical field, which led my family to relocate to various parts of the United States over the course of many years. Every move was an adversity for my family, but our last move to Puerto Rico was the one I took the hardest. In a very stressful and confusing period of my life, I saw my mental health at risk. With the help of many people, I was able to recover from a despondent perspective and move toward a more optimistic future. With this adversity, I was able to reflect on how change affects us, and how I could change my perspective to see the hope in my life to come. Another adversity that presents a future opportunity for growth is college. Many difficulties come with attending college, including monetary issues, applications, and unequal access. Not every race and gender has the same opportunities. In fact, Hispanic, Native American, and Black people have fewer chances of getting accepted and holding a college degree than White people and those of Asian descent. Not only is equality necessary in situations like these, but equity is as well. Nonetheless, college is a huge goal to reach; although it may be difficult, it may also be fruitful. With passion and fair chances, anyone can grasp the opportunity before them and dedicate themselves to a life of exploration, learning, and mutual aid. For my future, I want to secure my chances for growth and exploration. To do so, I've adventured into the world of saving, personal finance, and scholarships. With each possibility to save for my future presented with a scholarship, there's a closer chance to achieve my dreams. There are other, more fortunate people out there who have less trouble supplying a costly sum for job expenses and continued education. Nonetheless, everyone should take the opportunity that any scholarship provides to improve their future and learn how to save for the same. In conclusion, adversity is something everyone faces in one way or another. What truly matters is how we react to adversity, what we learn from it, and how we can help each other to avoid adversity and prosper. Our personal experiences and those of others help us understand change and learn from our mistakes. Thus, even if adversity is difficult, we must face it with our chin held high, because as the saying goes: After every storm, there is a rainbow.

As I stand looking toward the future, I face a vast number of possibilities, goals, and dreams. All my life, I was told and taught that I could work the profession I chose, study the major I wanted, and that I could make my individual choices as long as I took the correct path. Not everyone has that privilege, which is why one of my goals in life is to aid others to help reach equity in my community. Achieving goals in the face of adversity is not an easy task, but it is possible when one puts in their best effort. As my father says, " Las cosas se hacen bien, o no se hacen (Things are done right, or not done)." When one starts applying to scholarships early, it may seem like a hassle at first. I started at the beginning of 9th grade, and I spent long periods of time developing my applications and writing my essays. Luckily, I've always had an affinity for writing, and I was elated to accept my first award from a scholarship earlier this year. This helped prove to myself that I had the potential to overcome my obstacles and push through to achieve my personal goals. Over the course of years, I've been able to rule out what talents and skills I have that I can use in my future career. These include the drive to help others, share the truth, writing, keen observation, cordiality, language fluency, and interests in many fields, including medicine, linguistics, and music. With the money won from scholarships, I intend to save as much as possible for my college studies. My goal is to pay my college tuition entirely from years of saving and scholarship awards - in other words, to never take out a student loan for college. However, in recent years, tuition has become increasingly more costly, and saving up for college has become more difficult as years pass. Personally, I believe that college should be more accesible; that proper continued education shouldn't be monetized and charged at high prices. For those who are coming from low-income households or are first-generation students, it isn't as easy to attend college as others. In addition, not every race and/or gender has the same opportunities of getting accepted. Even so, when facing these challenges, many have persevered and fulfilled their dreams of achieving continued education, demonstrating that if it's possible for those with incredible hardship, it's possible for anyone, especially with the help of scholarships like this one. On that note, scholarships are an incredible means of saving for the future and personal finance. They provide multiple opportunities to those who need it to share their passions and goals with people who can grant financial aid for studies. Applying early on in life and putting in effort into my work gives me more chances to succeed, which is why I did exactly so. Although my plans for the future aren't set in stone, opportunities provided by scholarships like these help me work hard for what I want for my future, and eventually share my skills and help others as scholarship donors helped me: allowing me to dream, reach for the stars, and go beyond.

Adversity is a period of misfortune and hardship in one's life, and it's never easy to overcome it. There are many people in the world, too many for everything to be equal for everyone, but that doesn't mean we can't try to be empathetic with others to prevent someone else's adversity. Years ago, many changes in my life formed a wall before me, and I faced an adversity I was able to overcome with the help of others. Now, I dedicate myself to working towards what's to come and helping others, so we may all have a prosperous future without adversity. In truth, adversities are a possibility for growth. My family is Hispanic, my heritage being both Puerto Rican and Dominican. In the Caribbean, it's not as easy to obtain postgraduate training in the medical field, which caused my family to move to different areas of the United States over the course of many years. Every move was an adversity for my family, but our last move to Puerto Rico was the one I took the hardest. In a very stressful and confusing period of my life, I saw my mental health at risk. However, with the help of many people, I was able to recover from a despondent perspective and move toward a more optimistic future. With this adversity, I was able to reflect on how change affects us, and how I could change my perspective to see the hope in my life to come. Another adversity that presents a future opportunity for growth is college. Many difficulties are presented with college, including monetary issues, applications, and unequal access. Not every race and gender has the same opportunities; in fact, Hispanic people, Native American people, and Black people have fewer chances of getting accepted and holding a college degree than White people and those of Asian descent. Not only is equality necessary in situations like these, but equity is as well. Nonetheless, college is a huge goal to reach; although it may be difficult, it may also be fruitful. With passion and fair chances, you can grasp the opportunity before you and dedicate yourself to a life full of exploration, learning, and mutual aid to achieve the same goal. For my future, I want to secure my chances for growth and exploration. To do so, I've adventured into the world of saving, personal finance, and scholarships. With each possibility to save for my future presented with a scholarship, there's a closer chance to achieve my dreams of one day attending college. There are others out there, more fortunate people, who have less trouble supplying a costly sum for things like job expenses and continued education. Nonetheless, everyone should take the opportunity that any scholarship provides to improve our future and learn how to save for the same. In conclusion, adversity is something everyone faces in one way or another. What truly matters is how we react to adversity, what we learn from it, and how we can help each other to avoid adversity and prosper. Our personal experiences help us understand change and learn from our mistakes. Therefore, even if adversity is difficult, we must face it with our chin held high, because as the saying goes: After every storm, there is a rainbow.

As an artist, I can't live in a world without creativity or imagination. Whether I listen to music, draw, crochet, paint, or practice my photography, art and creative interpretation are all around me, and I use them to express myself in various ways. I've made clothing and gifts, displayed my art, and am now developing a project to use crochet for environmental awareness. Art, in every form, is a medium of self-expression and inspiration for many. To begin, I use art in many ways as a hobby and for entertainment. I started with drawing, which I've loved and been good at since I was little. I've enjoyed painting and constructing because every detail makes a whole, enjoyable picture. I started playing viola when I was 7, and I practice with my island's juvenile orchestra, the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Puerto Rico. I like photography for its individuality: every picture has a message or purpose, whether it's an animal, a person, or a landscape. I was originally taught crochet by my grandmother, and around 5th grade, I practiced enough to improve notably. Now, I've created clothing pieces, tapestries, gifts, stuffed animals (called amigurumi), and more for myself and others. I hope that by using and displaying my art, I can inspire others to use their creativity and skills for fun and personal enjoyment. Similarly, art can be used to evoke emotions and change opinions on real-world problems. There are public spaces, like walls and abandoned buildings, where everyone can see street art, and some have political or social problems illustrated. Other spaces where art like this is published are social media platforms, where it can reach anyone around the world. These can easily be overlooked, but at the same, deeply looked into as well. Someone with a strong opinion wanted to make a statement and decided to convey that through art. It takes a lot of talent and grit to present one's opinions so publicly, but if opinions were easily accepted, art like this wouldn't exist. Art that creates change and opinions has not only negative remarks against it, but also public influence and appreciation. Also, there are ways art is used to promote environmental issues. Along with others in my school, I began a 4-H project consisting of creating crochet amigurumi or pieces to promote the environment. For example, in Puerto Rico, bats are one of the main pollinators, but they are in danger of extinction. This project, by displaying and teaching others how to crochet bats, promotes the conservation of bats on the island. It teaches art to those who have never heard of crocheting, or those who have never tried it, and informs about the human impact on nature. The greatest thing about this project is that it can range over a vast number of themes: medical, environmental, and even social. In the end, art is a special form of self-expression used in many ways. It can educate, inspire, change opinions, and entertain. It's a passion I've had for years, one that embarks different themes and uses. I use my creativity and imagination not only for myself, but to help others and the world around me.

Success, in the dictionary, is defined as accomplishing a goal or aim, but success can describe so much more in our lives. It can vary between people, their experiences, and the goals they want to accomplish or succeed in. Whether it's learning within school or through personal experiences, through individual paths, we can all reach our goals and achieve success in future lives. By starting at an early age, we can successfully grow into triumphant adults with a prosperous future ahead. Within school, I've explored and learned about different pathways I can follow academically for my future. I've always seen myself studying something further in college, but I've been unsure about what to study. I've had academic success as well: I work hard to achieve my school goals to secure my future. I've learned from different teachers that education is difficult but prosperous because my hard-working teachers get to prepare kids for adult lives. They get to observe how each student takes a different path, most toward the same college goal. In other words, teachers achieve success by leading others to success. Currently, apart from school, I'm also learning about how I can save money and invest. Scholarships are an essential step in that process: they save for college expenses, like tuition and materials. In fact, 39% of undergraduates in 2021-2022 took on student loan debt to help pay for school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. One of my goals is never to take out a student loan from a bank; to work and save the money I need for my future. I separate the amounts of money I gain into separate piles: one for saving, which I can't touch or spend, and one for short-term spending. By using this method, I can regulate which amount of money I can use now and which amount I'll use later. This scholarship, in a way, is a small but secure step toward a future well-prepared for success. Within personal experiences, I have grown and changed for the better, to the point where I believe I can be successful in the future. I was always very independent as a kid, which helped me learn individualism. However, I've also learned to accept that requesting and receiving help leads to better decisions. I've been indecisive about what I want to work in once I become an adult, even though it's still a few years ahead. By asking questions to those currently in college and those who've already begun their career, I've learned to rule out certain professions and lean toward others I'm interested in. School doesn't always teach you everything you need for the future, and by exploring things outside academic life, I've opened my eyes to what I am now - a student creating goals for the future - and what I could and want to be. In conclusion, success can be seen in various forms in our everyday lives. Students achieve success by working hard and obtaining an academic focus. Through our hobbies and personal experiences, we can achieve small or big successes. Scholarships like this help students achieve success in their future because they aid in a student's goal for further education. Success, to me, is so much more than achieving a sole goal. It's the process we go through to identify our future goals, the experience we gain by reaching those goals, and the pursuit of more.

As I begin my journey through high school, I'm starting to observe the world around me differently. The world constantly seems very big, and sometimes, there are too many things to do in such a short time. Balancing work, learning, and play is becoming almost impossible. Learning about the world is essential to knowing our surroundings, yet some people ignore that and look toward the skies. Some say the answers to our world are in space. They then spend millions on space exploration and technology to find the answers. The real question is: Will we find the answers in time? Since starting high school, I've had more work and less free time. When my mind wanders, it leads me to the million things I must do, each as distant as the stars. Looking up at space, one can feel so small and insignificant. That feeling of the world being too big could lead us to think we have no work here on Earth, and that our future lies in space. Believing this, some dedicate their whole lives to developing tools for space exploration, but the main problem is its expense. Space exploration is costly: why are we spending so much on it when we have yet to explore our world? Of course, space is part of nature, part of our universe. All our mistakes and achievements are linked to nature, from science to engineering to math. All have a connection to our living and nonliving world, so, therefore, we should search for the answers we need in nature. However, not everything is in plain sight; most concepts are hidden underneath much of our understanding. If humans continue this way - exploring space more and more while our planet is left unaided - eventually, Earth won't sustain us anymore. Pollution, global warming, famine, droughts, and forest fires - all have risen in considerable numbers in the past centuries. We've been working on how to solve these problems, but not enough. The numbers have not diminished and don't appear to diminish in the coming years. The cosmos might help us find another planet like Earth, but the money spent on those explorations and investigations could be turned over to our own Earth. We could use those expenses to solve our pollution and famine problems. Some have been turned over to those problems, but our space expenses are too great. Space exploration and Earth exploration are equally important. To understand both, we must explore both. However, which is more important? The cosmos, which will be there forever, or our planet, which is dying away from our cause? To find answers, we must help and explore Earth, our source of life, and work together to undo the damage we've done to our home.

Whether it's been for school or everyday life, I've always had an affinity for learning. The reason doesn't matter: if it's about people, hobbies, nature, or science, my mind searches for answers. My fondness for learning has helped me advance academically and socially. It has fueled my love for learning and education my whole life. My affinity for knowledge has led to my dreams of the future, where I plan to attend college. Since I was little, I've moved to many places and met new people. I was born in the Dominican Republic to Dominican and Puerto Rican parents and lived in the US since childhood. Social skills were never my strong suit as a kid; I usually had few close friends and kept to myself. I was always very independent and resourceful; I never worked well in teams and liked doing things alone. My shyness posed a few problems, including my ability to make friends and meet new people. My timidness affected me until my first teenage years, but ever since I moved to Puerto Rico, I've opened up and made many new friends. I moved to Fajardo, Puerto Rico, two years ago, and I enjoy it more and more every day. The people and ambiance are kinder and warmer, and it's very distinct from living in the US. Since I moved, the most challenging transition must've been the language change. Although Spanish is my first language, I wasn't used to reading and speaking Spanish everywhere. I was frequently asked where I was from because I had no Puerto Rican accent. Here in Fajardo, I've learned how to socialize and learn about people's lives in Puerto Rico. I love living in Fajardo, where I can stay close to family and friends. However, living in Puerto Rico can pose some disadvantages. To pursue an advanced educational degree, a college student must leave the country and go to the US to achieve their academic goals. Moving poses many problems, including financial ones. I've seen these effects on my family: my cousin moved from Puerto Rico to the US to pursue an advanced medical degree, and the transition was difficult. Scholarships are a crucial solution to financial issues in college; they provide funds for the winner's academic future. I've always wanted to attend college, even if I didn't know what to study. A lingering feeling tells me that going to college is part of my destiny, a goal I should always be mindful of when doing work or thinking about my future. Although I might be a little young to think about college or scholarships, it's always good to have a goal and stay fixed on it. This scholarship would help me achieve my dreams of attending college and shaping our world.

How can you incorporate a bold mindset against barriers standing in your way? The trick is to change your view of the obstacles while practicing a healthy mindset. Even if barriers seem conflicting, you must think ahead and reach your goal. When I tried different methods and used them, they helped amplify my sights on my possibilities and opened opportunities I would've overseen. Barriers can feel massive and opposing at times. Sometimes, they can loom over you like a shadow, lurking where you least expect them to. Barriers can benighten your sights, blocking your goal from sight and leading you the wrong way. When I encounter obstacles, I pay attention to what they're trying to prevent me from doing and how. Sometimes, these barricades discourage me, and I spend a long time wallowing in frustration. For example, once, I was exposed to a new situation in a new place, and nothing was progressing. I wasn't doing things right, and those alongside me were coping better than I was. I realized that my state of mind was overwhelming, and I needed to calm down to see how everyone else was enjoying themselves. I practiced and could work out my worries by doing things right. What helps me get past these barriers is seeing them from a different angle, calming down, or asking for help. Asking for help isn't a weakness, as some people think. Pursuing assets from those who support you is no flaw. Another strategy is to set small goals to accomplish them efficiently and work your way up. Barriers can seem overwhelming, but there's always a way to surpass those obstacles. All we have to do is find it. A famous quote follows: "Believe you can, and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt. To have a gritty mindset, you must apply gumption in everything you do. I would start small, like working around your community and learning about your environment. Sometimes, when you pay too much attention to the barriers before you, you don't notice your surroundings and what might help you. Your mind is too focused on flaws and hurdles that it doesn't focus on what might aid you. Grit and strength can come from the most unexpected places. Disconnect from what causes harm to your state of mind, and that way, you'll find the grit in life. To obtain your goal, you must always think ahead. When you have an objective, you mustn't let distractions interfere with your progress. When you see obstacles as a test of strength or grit, you can surpass them with your goal in mind. I like to use this method for simple and challenging objectives; it helps keep you focused and on point. Small goals, for example, can be finishing a project in a specific class at school or joining a new extracurricular club. If my objective is one of these, I think about what I will benefit from once I've finished, and I use that thought as motivation for what's ahead. Reaching your goals and doing the right thing will fuel you for your future.

Forming a Stranger Things trio is an important job because they all have their strengths and weaknesses. If I had to, I'd choose my favorite characters: Eleven, Dustin, and Steve. They all have different skills and can work together. That way, they don't fight one another because of those unique skills, like Dustin's smarts or Steve's wit. As an example, I'll take Steve. At the beginning of the series, I hated him and his character because of how he acted and how controlling and bossy he was. Honestly, he was the character I most despised. If I had stopped watching Stranger Things during the first season, he would've stayed as my least favorite character. But that all changed in Season 2, where he gets a massive character development and starts to be friendly. After that, he's one of my favorite characters, besides the other two I've mentioned. He's smart, has got handy tricks, and fights well. Along with the other two characters, he'd be the fighter/adventurer kind and fit in well. Eleven is also the fighter type, but she's also kind and curious. Her powers also would help her fight any gnarly threat to her town and her weird connections to the Upside Down. One downside to her being on the team is that she doesn't understand everything she sees. She could be emotion-driven by certain things, but Dustin and Steve won't let her jump into something she doesn't understand. The other two would help her understand anything she's never faced. Last but not least, Dustin. Now, we all know that Dustin doesn't think things through, like when he raised a Demodog in his room by feeding it nougat. However, he would be the brains for the team and provide infinite knowledge about the weirdness in Hawkins. He could also be emotion-driven, along with Lucas, but Dustin tends to stick to the facts and inquire about things he doesn't know. He's smart and nerdy, too, which separates him from the rest of the team. Altogether, they can beat whatever Hawkins is haunted with. When it comes to smarts, Dustin and Steve deliver. As for brawn, Eleven and Steve can fight whatever they need to. They all could overcome whatever obstacle in their way - in their unique way.