Many people view me on the outside as something completely contrary to what I feel like I am. They see a bright, handsome, well-put-together young man with prospects for his future. A "Harvard man" many have called me, since my acceptance into the prestigious university. Someone who is always friendly, nice, and an amiable presence at banquets and events. Yet, for the majority of my life, I did not believe any of their claims. I wasn't "smart". I was a nerd. I wasn't "handsome". I hated so many different aspects of my physical appearance I could fill a book with complaints. I didn't feel "put-together". I just had to work really hard all the time in order to prove to myself that I was worthy of others' time. I had created an alternate reality so dismal, I could never experience the joy of existence. I lived in my head, 24/7, 7 days a week. I thought mindfulness was "zoning out" as my normal mentality was a conveyor belt of self-depreciation. Looking back at it now, I still can identify places anxiety and depression still manifest in my life. I still trip up when going into stores, but not as bad as the horrendous cycle of "everyone is looking at me" thoughts like before. I still have body dysmorphia, but I acknowledge the importance of not placing entirely unrealistic standards upon myself. I still have the ability to be self-deprecating, but I have learned the beauty of living in the present, and that has helped with my depression. My journey with mental health has been just as intricate as anybody else's. I have struggled, yet, I am happy to say that I have persevered. And while I am not entirely over the mountain just yet, I think there will be a day when I can say I reached the top.

My mother is a Mexican immigrant who had me when she was eighteen years old. My father was a high school dropout with no formal education. They have raised a child that will be attending one of the best universities in the world. His name is Isaiah, and he will be going to Harvard. Now, don't get me wrong. Not all of my story is idealistic as it sounds. There were very hard days. The bumps that come along with new teenage parents. The inconsistencies in discipline and love. The struggle of time as it battled for the balance between me and work, and my 'ama' who was always there to pick up the slack when my parents couldn't. As time went on, I grew up with my parents. I learned what it meant to struggle. I learned the brutality of real life in an expedited fashion. I learned how to accept the harsh realities that I had been enveloped in. I came out to my mother, and our relationship is still mending to this day. However, it is these lessons that push me through my endeavors. I have retained every facet of my childhood, for better or for worse, in my applications and maneuvers throughout my life now. My childhood fast-tracked my maturity. While I could choose to be down about it, moping on how I didn't receive the picturesque adolescence everyone deserves, I choose to look on the bright side of things. My maturity has allowed me to excel academically. It has given me the mentality of success. Of pushing through the procrastination. Of cutting away the "but this" and "but that" and powering through everything I do. My maturity has allowed adults to see me in a different light. It has given me job opportunities and volunteer experiences I am forever grateful for. And while I don't feel like I did get the childhood many of my peers did, I am entirely content with how my life played out, it has made me who I am today. Moving forward, my background allows me to view my community through an entirely new lens. I come from a place of understanding, in every scenario. I lack judgment because I know the feeling of being judged. I reduce my preconceived notions because I know exactly what they are: preconceived. Aside from concepts, my passion for environmentalism has manifested in a desire to create the world into a better place for people now, and in the future. I plan on becoming an environmental lawyer. I want my work to transform environmentalism from something that was previously seen as an impediment to people, corporations, and government, to something that becomes a beneficial compliment. I want to help make our interactions with the environment mutually advantageous. I believe if I can accomplish this, I not only be helping my community but the global community.

My mother is a Mexican immigrant who had me when she was eighteen years old. My father was a high school dropout with no formal education. They have raised a child that will be attending one of the best universities in the world. His name is Isaiah, and he will be going to Harvard. Now, don't get me wrong. Not all of my story is idealistic as it sounds. There were very hard days. The bumps that come along with new teenage parents. The inconsistencies in discipline and love. The struggle of time as it battled for the balance between me and work, and my 'ama' who was always there to pick up the slack when my parents couldn't. As time went on, I grew up with my parents. I learned what it meant to struggle. I learned the brutality of real life in an expedited fashion. I learned how to accept the harsh realities that I had been enveloped in. And even though, now, my life has completely changed for the better, it is those lessons that push me through my endeavors. I have retained every facet of my childhood, for better or for worse, in my applications and maneuvers throughout my life now. My childhood fast-tracked my maturity. While I could choose to be down about it, moping on how I didn't receive the picturesque adolescence everyone deserves, I choose to look on the bright side of things. My maturity has allowed me to excel academically. It has given me the mentality of success. Of pushing through the procrastination. Of cutting away the "but this" and "but that" and powering through everything I do. My maturity has allowed adults to see me in a different light. It has given me job opportunities and volunteer experiences I am forever grateful for. And while I don't feel like I did get the childhood many of my peers did, I am entirely content with how my life played out, it has made me who I am today. Moving forward, my background allows me to view my community through an entirely new lens. I come from a place of understanding, in every scenario. I lack judgment because I know the feeling of being judged. I reduce my preconceived notions because I know exactly what they are: preconceived. Aside from concepts, my passion for environmentalism has manifested in a desire to create the world into a better place for people now, and in the future. I plan on becoming an environmental lawyer. I want my work to transform environmentalism from something that was previously seen as an impediment to people, corporations, and government, to something that becomes a beneficial compliment. I want to help make our interactions with the environment mutually advantageous. I believe if I can accomplish this, I not only be helping my community, but the global community.

Ever since I was a young child, my interests transformed: first dinosaurs, then insects, and finally wildlife, ecology, and evolutionary science as a whole (with a particular skew towards birds). I remember attending my first bird-walk in 6th grade. I had just begun doing bird photography, and when I found out my local Audubon chapter was having an event, I was ecstatic. Afterward, I propelled myself deeper into ornithology- I began absorbing as much information as I could about birds through books, documentaries, and my own research on the internet. At the end of that year, I had started an instagram and website for my photographs and could name every bird species in our region by memory. These events eventually transitioned into my goal of obtaining a graduate degree in an environmental-related field. Right now, I have my eyes set on environmental engineering. If I were to reach my educational goals, I would be the first in my family to receive a college degree past an associate's. Currently, I am actively taking steps to achieve my desired degree, career, and eventual life. I am volunteering with many environmentally-related groups like our local wildlife rehabilitation center. I am strengthening my college applications by enrolling in courses in alignment with my personal interests. I am making intrapersonal connections with leaders and organizations in my community which will propel me toward my aspirations. All of these steps will contribute to my role in the creation of a sustainable world that works for both humans and the environment.

Representation is one of the most important things I have learned to be important in the success of individuals. When you can see someone in a position you one day want to be in, and that person is someone who is like you, someone who shares specific intrinsic characteristics that you do, it makes that leap towards your future so much more tangible. Going into a new space and having no one to relate to is like jumping into a new world. It's a leap into a frozen lake- you know it's going to be difficult, and very cold. Many people freeze before the jump, not wanting to face the adversity, they retreat from breaking the barrier into the unknown because its consequences may be too harsh to survive. Diversity in the space you want to achieve quashes the icy lake effect. Instead of a fearful leap into subzero temperatures, your mind is at ease because you'll know you will be in a place where no one is the same. There are not cold, set-in-stone alliances. No domineering group. No potential for discrimination because everyone is just as unique as everyone else. Diversity means everyone is different, and when everyone is different, they are also all the same.

An issue I am looking to solve would be that of ineffective, counterproductive, and misguided environmental policy. Ever since I was a young child, I have been fascinated by the natural world. I loved catching bugs, seeing the birds that lived on my grandparent's porch, and growing flowers and plants. Recently, that interest has meshed with politics- A curiosity stemming from learning about different perspectives, why people believe the things they do, and how we can make laws and legislation equitably for the benefit of everyone involved. I have seen the effects of a disconnected society's decisions on nature, and have been disappointed by many of the rulings my own community has made when it comes to environmental law and policy. Money is a driving factor in a pejorative of environmental cases, and I would like to change that dynamic. I remember vividly watching the deepwater horizon movie and then learning more about the BP oil spill- being so incredibly shocked that such an event could occur in my own country. I have seen declines of species in my own lifespan. No more damselflies in our lawn. No more backyard toads. No more barn swallow nests. No more neighborhood cottontails. These observations, both on micro and macro-scales, fueled my expansion of knowledge. I wanted to learn anything about everything, how things connected and worked, and what I could do to save them. Over time, I took actions to minimize my environmental impact and benifit nature- wether it would be directly like by planting a native garden, or indirectly by reducing water use. Our society is one of the most environmentally conscious generations in history. Young people are driving the movement towards a cleaner, more sustainable earth. I would never be able to solve all of the huge issues that plague humanity on my own, but with the help of others like me- groups of people passionate about solving environmental issues- I will be able to further advance the impact I have in bringing justice for the earth, its animals, and its people. I want my work to help others. To speak for those who can't speak. To bring justice and freedom, and health. I recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy earth, and would like to help others understand why environmental care and awareness is not only beneficial, but necessary if we want to continue inhabiting this planet.

Throughout my life, there has been a recurring theme of endurance. In my younger years, I endured a difficult childhood, being born to two teenage parents. I endured their mistakes as they learned. As time went on, things got better, but I had to endure new things. The small frustration of not getting the right notes on my violin, but practicing until I did- I endured that. Running cross country, sometimes ten miles at a time- I endured that. I have endured all of these things, yet one of the only times I had to actually persevere was in the long, hard, and developing journey of accepting myself. I did not know I was different when I was young. I felt happy and just like everyone else- innocently and beautifully oblivious. It was not until middle school when I knew I was different. I didn't fit in with the other boys in my class. I wanted to, but I couldn't, and I didn't know why. This inadvertent rejection from my peers hurt me- it hurt me so much I began to hate the person who I was. I didn't want to be me, and for a while, I didn't want to exist. It took me a good three years to get to the point I am now. I have discovered why I always never fit in with my peers, and I've learned to accept that aspect of myself. While I still can't embrace the entire person I am, I have come a long way from where I was. I survived. I persevered through an entire adolescence rejection and self-hate, and now I am proud of the (young) adult I am today. I'm happy, and I actually love myself. Middle school me would never believe it.

Law, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the binding custom[s] or practice[s] of a community. Law is the most important invention of human history. It is at the core of civilization, the foundation of democracy, and the source of freedom, liberty, and equality. Law delegates and regulates, enforces and forgoes, legislates and unlegislates. Law is malleable yet tangible, changing yet steadfast, intricate yet discernible. Law is an art, a skill, a practice. Law is one of life’s greatest, most paramount principles. In order to better understand why law is important, we must approach it from as many perspectives as possible. On the surface level, law can be described as a set of rules. A list of statutes and commands that tell humans how they are to live their lives, and a clear dictation of wrong and right. While this aspect is indeed a function of law, it is not the entire thing. Yes, laws are important to maintain public safety and protect us from crime, but if law was just a device to enforce morally objective truths, we would be living in a society more akin to that of robots as opposed to humans. The beauty (and importance) of law is not in the actual legal system itself, but in how people affect the legal system. People are not robots, we cannot be programmed to follow a list of instructions without thought and input. Humans have the intrinsic virtue of free will. We can think and make decisions based on our own mortality. This characteristic is highlighted in the Yale Law Journal’s article “On the Origin and Nature of Law” by J. W. Simonton in where he states, “Man is a free moral agent with reason to guide him and with freedom to choose, and therefore the law does not bind him irresistibly, but only points out the way to him, and so far as his transgression interferes with the rights of his fellow's endeavors to compel him to walk in that way.” This idea of law being a guide that can be chosen as opposed to a set of rules which must be followed is the epitome of legal function- it reminds us that we are the stewards of the law, that it is not the other way around. It proves that humans can choose actions that are morally right and rationally correct with their best interests in mind, oftentimes in the benefit of others. Law is a crucially important structural framework, but people are the nails holding the frame together. Returning to the idea of a framework, law is a crucial component of a civilized, democratic society. The country we live in, The United States of America, is a great country because it was founded on great law. The legal system of the United States, specifically one that focuses on individual rights and liberties, set a precedent for the old world. Our democracy is based on some of the best legal documents ever created (I’m talking about the good old bill of rights and of course, our constitution), as those legal documents emphasize the significance of personal freedom. Another aspect that makes the legal system of the United States so excellent is its ability to self-regulate, effectively creating an unbreakable sequence of checks and balances that nearly eliminate the possibility of political corruption (as in tyranny or overexertion of governmental power). This ensures the citizens of the United States the constitutional right to live in a society without an overbearing, tyrannical government. In effect, It puts people in charge of the government, allowing them to democratically enact necessary change or regulation as seen fit. Good law is important- it is elected by the people, for the people, with the people in mind. Additionally, law is important because it has the capacity to overrule itself and change over time. Generationally, laws have generally been seen as derived from morality; this, however, has resulted in bias against people and actions unfairly defined as “immoral”, or different from the prevailing culture. On top of this, officiators of Law have used it to discriminate and legislate with their own personal interests in mind. Yet, even through all of these flaws, law has not only been able to recognize its mistakes and learn from them, but it has actually repaired itself into a more equitable and fair system in the best interests of everyone. Lastly, law is important because it has a strong foundation. Throughout time we have seen the different (sometimes unpleasant) layers of law, but at its core, we find great values and virtues that nearly everyone on earth agrees with. Law unites people through this common good, propelling society to be a safer, happier, and more equal place. Yes, law practice has continued to modify and change, but it is founded upon core, fundamental properties that will remain steadfast throughout time. Law is important because it establishes and supports great countries. Law is important because it gives me freedom, liberty, and equality. Law is important because while it is not set in stone, it is founded on core fundamental principles which are non-negatable. Law delegates and regulates, enforces and forgoes, legislates and unlegislates. Law is malleable yet tangible, changing yet steadfast, intricate yet discernible. Law is an art, a skill, a practice. Law is one of life’s greatest, most paramount principles. Bibliography “ON THE ORIGIN AND NATURE OF LAW”, J.W. Simtonton, 11 Yale L.J. (1902). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/ylj/vol11/iss4/2 Accessed 11/19/2021

I have always been a person drawn to nature. In 2020, I finally got a chance to the garden as I had free time due to Covid-19. I wanted to grow vegetables for myself, but I also wanted to create a more biologically diverse environment in my suburban yard. I planted all sorts of crops, squash, tomatoes, corn, Brussels sprouts, and mint in a raised bed in my back yard. I quickly learned which plants were more adapted to my area. Keeping in line with wanting to have a sustainability-oriented garden, I did not use any pesticides or herbicides. When I ran into issues, I looked for natural ways to combat them- which usually involved individually plucking squash bugs and hornworms off my plants and taking them in baggies to my aunt's chickens. My yard turned from a boring plot of grass to a wonderfully productive and diverse ecosystem that produced me my morning mint tea, afternoon bowl of cherry tomatoes, and the best corn on the cob I have ever had.