My bare feet slapped the cold wood as I scrambled down the wooden stairs of my home in the small town of Lancaster, Ohio. I had adrenaline surging through my veins, eyes locked on the front door as I eagerly awaited my parents arrival. Each step closer and closer to seeing my first sibling...me and my siblings were born here in this town. As a child I remember having an aching desire to grow up, constantly wishing to make my small community proud. My mind raced with excitement yearning for all my wildest desires to become my reality. Nothing to ground me, no unnecessary obligation, and only self chosen commitments. Throughout my life I’ve had many meaningful experiences with my community. Whether it be family, friends, or neighbors, but living in a small town is an experience above all. My sister Olivia has a rare genetic disability called Prader-Willi syndrome. As a child I didn’t know much about the disease, only what my parents told me. She had a “special belly” so she needed a little extra help with things. Living in a loving town who helped my little sister only made me love it even more. I watched as my neighbors, friends, and teachers put forth all their efforts to include and encourage my sister even when she was struggling. As we grew up I increasingly noticed her struggles and tried to aid her the best I could. This town motivates me to do better. The people who live here treat others like family and help and encourage no matter where you came from or the color of your skin. Living in a small, loving town reminds me to be grateful for what I have and to always carry on no matter how hard I am challenged. I have realized that in order for me to live life to the fullest and truly immerse myself in all that is around me, I must continue to put in maximum effort so no goal is out of reach. With that being said, I have many exciting plans for the future. I plan on putting forth all my efforts to become a Media Arts professional. To achieve my goal I must first get a bachelor's degree from the prestigious Scripps College at Ohio University. I am currently a Sophomore at OU majoring in Media Arts and I will graduate by 2024. I want to enable myself and others to share our creativity with the world through the emerging technologies of podcasts, social media, online videos and other media outlets. I hope after I graduate to settle back down in the small town of Lancaster and support others how this town has supported me.

I think it's important for people to be involved In their communities because it helps not only themselves but the community as a whole. The more people involved the better the community. For 6 years I was a Boy Scout always trying to help my town by volunteering to pick up trash and collecting cans of food for the homeless. I volunteer at church and help plant new trees around my town. As a child I remember having an aching desire to grow up, constantly wishing to make my small community proud. My mind raced with excitement yearning for all my wildest desires to become my reality. Nothing to ground me, no unnecessary obligation, and only self chosen commitments. Throughout my life I’ve had many meaningful experiences with my community. Whether it be family, friends, or neighbors, but living in a small town is an experience above all. My sister Olivia has a rare genetic disability called Prader-Willi syndrome. As a child I didn’t know much about the disease, only what my parents told me. She had a “special belly” so she needed a little extra help with things. Living in a loving town who helped my little sister only made me love it even more. I watched as my neighbors, friends, and teachers put forth all their efforts to include and encourage my sister even when she was struggling. As we grew up I increasingly noticed her struggles and tried to aid her the best I could. This town motivates me to do better. The people who live here treat others like family and help and encourage no matter where you came from or the color of your skin. Living in a small, loving town reminds me to be grateful for what I have and to always carry on no matter how hard I am challenged. I have realized that in order for me to live life to the fullest and truly immerse myself in all that is around me, I must continue to put in maximum effort so no goal is out of reach. With that being said, I have many exciting plans for the future. I plan on putting forth all my efforts to become a Media Arts professional. To achieve my goal I must first get a bachelor's degree from the prestigious Scripps College at Ohio University. I am currently a Sophomore at OU majoring in Media Arts and I will graduate by 2024. I want to enable myself and others to share our creativity with the world through the emerging technologies of podcasts, social media, online videos and other media outlets. I hope after I graduate to settle back down in the small town of Lancaster and support others how this town has supported me.

My bare feet slapped the cold wood as I scrambled down the wooden stairs of my home in the small town of Lancaster, Ohio. I had adrenaline surging through my veins, eyes locked on the front door as I eagerly awaited my parents arrival. Each step closer and closer to seeing my first sibling...me and my siblings were born here in this town. As a child I remember having an aching desire to grow up, constantly wishing to make my small community proud. My mind raced with excitement yearning for all my wildest desires to become my reality. Nothing to ground me, no unnecessary obligation, and only self chosen commitments. Throughout my life I’ve had many meaningful experiences with my community. Whether it be family, friends, or neighbors, but living in a small town is an experience above all. My sister Olivia has a rare genetic disability called Prader-Willi syndrome. As a child I didn’t know much about the disease, only what my parents told me. She had a “special belly” so she needed a little extra help with things. Living in a loving town who helped my little sister only made me love it even more. I watched as my neighbors, friends, and teachers put forth all their efforts to include and encourage my sister even when she was struggling. As we grew up I increasingly noticed her struggles and tried to aid her the best I could. This town motivates me to do better. The people who live here treat others like family and help and encourage no matter where you came from or the color of your skin. Living in a small, loving town reminds me to be grateful for what I have and to always carry on no matter how hard I am challenged. I have realized that in order for me to live life to the fullest and truly immerse myself in all that is around me, I must continue to put in maximum effort so no goal is out of reach. With that being said, I have many exciting plans for the future. I plan on putting forth all my efforts to become a Media Arts professional. To achieve my goal I must first get a bachelor's degree from the prestigious Scripps College at Ohio University. I am currently a Sophomore at OU majoring in Media Arts and I will graduate by 2024. I want to enable myself and others to share our creativity with the world through the emerging technologies of podcasts, social media, online videos and other media outlets. I hope after I graduate to settle back down in the small town of Lancaster and support others how this town has supported me.

My bare feet slapped the cold wood as I scrambled down the wooden stairs, adrenaline surging through my veins, eyes locked on the front door as I eagerly awaited my parents arrival. Each step closer and closer to seeing my first sibling. As a child I remember having an aching desire to grow up, constantly wishing to be released from my boring, repetitive life. My mind raced with excitement yearning for all my wildest desires to become my reality. Nothing to ground me, no unnecessary obligation, and only self chosen commitments. Throughout my life I’ve had many meaningful experiences with family, friends and even myself, but having a sister with special needs is an experience above all. My sister Olivia has a rare genetic disability called Prader-Willi syndrome. As a child I didn’t know much about the disease, only what my parents told me. She had a “special belly” so she needed a little extra help with things. Thrilled to have a new friend to play with, I spent as much time as I could with her. As we grew up I increasingly noticed her struggles and tried to aid her the best I could. Despite all of her hardships, my sister would never complain and would always persevere. She is the most ambitious person I know. She always aims higher even if her goals seem impossible. My sister motivates me to do better. Reminding me to be grateful for what I have and to always carry on no matter how hard I am challenged. At ten years old, I aspired to write and perform an original song in front of a crowd of people. At sixteen, I had accomplished that goal by singing in front of hundreds in the Groove U Instaband competition. Through the years I’ve learned that being complacent does not achieve anything. Rather, it hinders. I have realized that in order for me to live life to the fullest and truly immerse myself in all that is around me, I must continue to put in maximum effort so no goal is out of reach. With that being said, I have many exciting plans for the future. I plan on putting forth all my efforts to become a Media Arts professional. To achieve my goal I must first get a bachelor's degree from the prestigious Scripps College at Ohio University. I am currently a Sophomore at OU majoring in Media Arts and I will graduate by 2024. I want to enable myself and others to share our creativity with the world through the emerging technologies of podcasts, social media, online videos and other media outlets. My sister has taught me to chase after goals no

I think my most valuable quality would be my determination. As a child I remember having an aching desire to grow up, constantly wishing to be released from my boring, repetitive life. My mind raced with excitement yearning for all my wildest desires to become my reality. Nothing to ground me, no unnecessary obligation, and only self chosen commitments. I think determination is my best quality because it pushes me to never give up just like my sister. Throughout my life I’ve had many meaningful experiences with family, friends and even myself, but having a sister with special needs is an experience above all. My sister Olivia has a rare genetic disability called Prader-Willi syndrome. As a child I didn’t know much about the disease, only what my parents told me. She had a “special belly” so she needed a little extra help with things. Thrilled to have a new friend to play with, I spent as much time as I could with her. As we grew up I increasingly noticed her struggles and tried to aid her the best I could. Despite all of her hardships, my sister would never complain and was determined persevere. She is the most determined person I know. She always aims higher even if her goals seem impossible. My sister motivates me to do better. For example, At ten years old I was determined to write and perform an original song in front of a crowd of people. At sixteen, I had accomplished that goal by singing in front of hundreds in the Groove U Instaband competition. Through the years I’ve learned that being complacent does not achieve anything. Rather, it hinders. I have realized that in order for me to live life to the fullest and truly immerse myself in all that is around me, I must continue to put in maximum effort so no goal is out of reach. With that being said, I have many exciting plans for the future. I'm determined on putting forth all my efforts to become a film director. To achieve my goal I must first get a bachelor's degree from the prestigious Scripps College at Ohio University. I am currently a Sophomore at OU majoring in Media Arts and I will graduate by 2024. Without my determination I don't think I would be able to amount to my dreams. I think this quality will push me to chase after goals no matter how difficult. This is applicable in all that I do now, striving to aim high no matter the circumstances. I want to enable myself and others to share our creativity with the world through the emerging technologies of podcasts, social media, online videos and other media outlets.

I was fourteen years old when I watched the movie "The Titanic". Watching that movie changed my perspective on life completely. The sentences, "I figured life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You never know what hand you're gonna get dealt next." muttered by the character Jack Dawson have been looping in my head ever since. As a child I remember having an aching desire to grow up, constantly wishing to be released from my boring, repetitive life. My mind raced with excitement yearning for all my wildest desires to become my reality. Nothing to ground me, no unnecessary obligation, and only self chosen commitments. After hearing those words I felt that my life had more meaning, more value. It put my life in perspective. In the blink of an eye I would no longer be on this earth just like the ancestors before me. I need to make the most of my time. Another reason why this quote affected me so deeply is because of my sister. Throughout my life I’ve had many meaningful experiences with family, friends and even myself, but having a sister with special needs is an experience above all. My sister Olivia has a rare genetic disability called Prader-Willi syndrome. As a child I didn’t know much about the disease, only what my parents told me. She had a “special belly” so she needed a little extra help with things. Thrilled to have a new friend to play with, I spent as much time as I could with her. As we grew up I increasingly noticed her struggles and tried to aid her the best I could. Despite all of her hardships, my sister would never complain and would always persevere. She is the most ambitious person I know. She always aims higher even if her goals seem impossible. My sister motivates me to do better. Reminding me to be grateful for what I have and to always carry on no matter how hard I am challenged. Even with her disability she makes the most out of her life and should I.