The book Wonder by R.J. Palacio had a great impact on my life because this story had many parallels to my struggles in dealing with, and pushing back on prejudice, rejection, and intolerance. Wonder is an inspiring story of Auggie Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time after being home-schooled for years. The transition into mainstream school becomes extremely challenging for Auggie and his entire family. Auggie endures constant alienation and ridicule from intolerant people and deals with pity and insensitivity from others. Through Auggies’ struggles and achievements, he develops resiliency, strength and kindness even when ugliness was thrown his way. Although I did not deal with physical deformities, my struggles with neurodiversity and communicative disabilities unleashed similar obstacles Auggie faced in the movie. Navigating the early school years as a special-needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions and comments. Party invites and play dates were nonexistent for me. This period of unacceptance inspired my deep devotion to serving as an ambassador of comradery and inclusion for others feeling dismissed or alienated. My mom collaborated with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me and that I got the necessary services for my specific challenges. At the same time, she held me to a higher standard and insisted that everyone learns in their own unique way. She taught me coping skills and encouraged me to keep my head up high, socialize with those who valued me for who I was, and keep moving forward. I developed mental coping mechanisms and a strong sense of resiliency while watching the many layers of advocacy play out on my behalf every day. My supporters were not letting me down, so I was not going to let them down. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, I transitioned into the “mainstream” classes. I turned the lessons learned from some of the most miserable days of my school years into something positive; an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. My commitment to include my special needs friends in my life with mainstream friends made many peers uncomfortable at first. I gently guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to grow strong and learn how to speak up for what is right, call out the wrong, and help others. The lessons everyone should take away from the book Wonder and my personal story are to never be afraid of difference, don’t worry about what others think, be kind and respectful to yourself and others, and never judge a book by its cover.

My whole academic learning experience has been a practice of working twice as hard to get half as far. During my school years, I navigated through many learning challenges in actual time. I dealt with day-to-day situations interacting with more advanced students as I simultaneously worked toward overcoming my disabilities. It was the tireless efforts and dedication of others that enabled me to come out of my early restricted world with a rich perspective of what effective advocacy is. The supportive partnerships formed in my situation have inspired me to pay it forward to another population that can’t speak for itself in the traditional sense – wildlife with its various species. This field has become a passion for which I seem to excel through the support and constant feedback from my teachers and parents. I often wonder if my early struggles nurtured my appreciation and unique ability to instinctively bond with various forms of wildlife whether I vacation, work in my school’s laboratory, or just walk around outdoors. I have been fortunate enough to be equipped with a dedicated and extremely competent Animal Science Academy instructor with a deep passion and enthusiasm to inspire his students for a lifetime of success. My instructor nurtured my curiosity in defining the “why” behind my chosen pursuit in Biology. It’s fortunate for me that the level of education and preparation I have received is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. My successful work in animal sciences at a renowned New Jersey zoo and a living historical farm is evident that I am on a strong path to making the world a better place not only for wildlife but also for mankind. My training has ingrained in me that the well-being of one species is heavily reliant on the well-being of another. Professionally, I would like to work toward ensuring that future generations more readily and reflexively embrace love and virtue towards our environment on a macro level in the interest of global stability for years to come. If future generations fail to recognize and assume society's role in addressing the many threats to natural resources today, these assets will not be available for humanity and wildlife tomorrow. Improved preservation of natural resources also requires researchers to actively partner with private and public companies and organizations to establish natural resources education very early in life for our citizens -- even before students enter pre-school. This early influence is the only way where we will best instill responsible views and deep-rooted habits within future generations so that meaningful practices toward effective resource sustainment, responsible wildlife management, and ecological protection become second nature and more reflexive — not just lessons recalled years later through a person’s memory. Changing the approach of when and how we actively shape and improve human thought patterns and behaviors focused on the sustainable management of our natural resources will achieve better results. When we raise awareness during the earlier stages of human development about the importance of natural resource management and protection, more impactful advances in global sustainability will actually happen.

My whole academic learning experience has been a practice of working twice as hard to get half as far. During my school years, I navigated through many learning challenges in actual time. I dealt with day-to-day situations interacting with more advanced students as I simultaneously worked toward overcoming my disabilities. It was the tireless efforts and dedication of others that enabled me to come out of my early restricted world with a rich perspective of what effective advocacy is. The supportive partnerships formed in my situation have inspired me to pay it forward to another population that can’t speak for itself in the traditional sense – wildlife with its various species. This field has become a passion for which I seem to excel through the support and constant feedback from my teachers and parents. I often wonder if my early struggles nurtured my appreciation and unique ability to instinctively bond with various forms of wildlife whether I vacation, work in my school’s laboratory, or just walk around outdoors. I have been fortunate enough to be equipped with a dedicated and extremely competent Animal Science Academy instructor with a deep passion and enthusiasm to inspire his students for a lifetime of success. My instructor nurtured my curiosity in defining the “why” behind my chosen pursuit in Biology. It’s fortunate for me that the level of education and preparation I have received is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. My successful work in animal sciences at a renowned New Jersey zoo and a living historical farm is evident that I am on a strong path to making the world a better place not only for wildlife but also for mankind. My training has ingrained in me that the well-being of one species is heavily reliant on the well-being of another. Professionally, I would like to work toward ensuring that future generations more readily and reflexively embrace love and virtue towards our environment on a macro level in the interest of global stability for years to come. If future generations fail to recognize and assume society's role in addressing the many threats to natural resources today, these assets will not be available for humanity and wildlife tomorrow. Improved preservation of natural resources also requires researchers to actively partner with private and public companies and organizations to establish natural resources education very early in life for our citizens -- even before students enter pre-school. This early influence is the only way where we will best instill responsible views and deep-rooted habits within future generations so that meaningful practices toward effective resource sustainment, responsible wildlife management, and ecological protection become second nature and more reflexive — not just lessons recalled years later through a person’s memory. Changing the approach of when and how we actively shape and improve human thought patterns and behaviors focused on the sustainable management of our natural resources will achieve better results. When we raise awareness during the earlier stages of human development about the importance of natural resource management and protection, more impactful advances in global sustainability will actually happen.

My mom’s breast cancer diagnosis happened when I was in sixth grade. Per her initial wishes, my parents didn’t tell me much at first. Despite the minimal information, I quickly learned how many of us don’t appreciate the simple things in life until we or a loved one gets cancer with no certainty the outcome will be favorable. My mom has always been a tough-as-nails type of person, sometimes to a fault. If she had it her way, Mom would have withheld most details of her illness to shield us from any stress, worry, or distraction around what she was experiencing. However, her plans changed when one doctor presented a simple, sobering question, “would you want your kids to hide from you a health issue they were experiencing?” Despite the change in my mom’s perspective, she still kept her illness low-key after her intense surgeries and during post-op treatment. Mom went back to work as soon as she could and attended all of my school and other civic meetings as if nothing ever happened. She stayed current with all of the school programs – particularly my educational programs which required many meetings, follow-up paperwork, phone calls, and updates. While Mom’s decisiveness and take-charge personality lessened my and my sister’s worry a little, it also made our private home lives, as caretakers and loved ones, quite challenging. The treating doctors erroneously assumed that my mom’s sense of independence was evidence that the family was not supporting her recovery enough. My dad often got the stink eye from Mom’s main doctor for allowing her to go back to work too soon. I remember asking myself why would a woman, who cares so much about her family, make it so hard for them to actively care for her. My dad, sister and I worked very well as a support team, so there was no reason for mom to worry about things. I was starting to think that SHE was being selfish, but it would take me years to realize that was furthest from the truth. But, in the meantime, I kept quiet because the last thing a person fighting a disease needed was more stress and conflict. My now-older self realized my mom was staunchly advocating and protecting her family during an extremely uncertain time for herself. Her stubbornness was an example of leadership and resiliency in action as she handled her health crisis on her terms. Today, I look to serve as an effective advocate for a population that cannot speak for itself in the traditional sense – the many species of wildlife. I am confident that Mom has given me the qualities needed to professionally perform in a brave, meaningful, and persuasive fashion. Mom’s cancer experience has also taught all of us to default into lessons learned when handling tough times: To not consume ourselves with the “what ifs”, take everything one step at a time, and stay in the present to enjoy our lives now.

Navigating the early school years as a student with communicative challenges presented many hurdles for me. As I worked hard to overcome my communicative disability, everyone discovered I was motivated by, and gifted in, all forms of math. I felt more comfortable and confident among my peers when I was successfully solving math problems. Math improved my ability to communicate and allowed me to recognize that learning was a process that was not going to bring me immediate success. The realization allowed me to understand and respect the value of the learning process and the time needed to refine skills in every subject through the years. Math itself is a direct language that leaves no doubt to the speaker or the listener. I believe mathematics has taught me and continues to teach me, to be very precise in how I use my words. While I am a young man of few words, I communicate concisely and clearly – a lot like a math problem. Math is also a practice that doesn’t just recognize or celebrate the final answer but requires and rewards the step-by-step demonstration of how the outcome was derived. As I was getting better at math in school, I grew more confident at verbalizing myself and analyzing situations in real-time. The confidence snowballed as I got older with math and science being the foundation from which I grew other skills. My improved standardized test scores confirmed to me that I was achieving more and more problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that would allow me to protect myself from being fooled and successfully handle a world of uncertainty. Math is a subject matter that is inclusive and contributes to basic survival skills. Being good at math enables you to talk about many topics intelligibly because all topics are grounded in math. In today’s business world, all industries are measured by data and data analysis is rooted in math. Being knowledgeable in math shields people from being victimized by con artists and too-good-to-be-true deals that can steal their hard-earned life savings. Math doesn’t care about, or favor, empty trends or white noise in society. If the numbers don’t work, something is wrong with the basic theory or premise. Math is objective and allows everyone, regardless of background, to carve a path toward individual success in their area of interest. Professionally I am looking to advocate for a population that cannot advocate or speak for itself – wildlife and animals. My continued pursuit of math and business studies will allow me to add an important dimension to my biological curriculum that will make me a more effective and persuasive professional.

Navigating the early school years as a student with communicative challenges presented many hurdles for me. As I worked hard to overcome my communicative disability, everyone discovered I was motivated by, and gifted in, math and science. I felt more comfortable and confident when I was taking on math in class. Math improved my ability to communicate and allowed me to recognize that learning was a process that was not going to bring me immediate success. The realization allowed me to understand and respect the value of the learning process and the time needed to refine skills in every subject through the years. I appreciated that math itself is a direct language that leaves no doubt to the speaker or the listener. Math is also a practice that doesn’t just recognize or celebrate the final answer but requires and rewards the step-by-step demonstration of how the outcome was derived. As I was getting better at math in school, I grew more confident at verbalizing myself and analyzing situations in real-time. The confidence snowballed as I got older with math and science being the foundation from which I grew other skills. My improved standardized test scores confirmed to me that I was achieving more and more problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that would allow me to protect myself from being fooled and successfully handle a world of uncertainty. Math is a subject matter that is inclusive and contributes to basic survival skills. Being good at math enables you to talk about many topics intelligibly because all topics are grounded in math. In today’s business world, all industries are measured by data and data analysis is rooted in math. Being knowledgeable in math shields people from being victimized by con artists and too-good-to-be-true deals that can steal their hard-earned life savings. Math doesn’t care about, or favor, empty trends or white noise in society. If the numbers don’t work, something is wrong with the basic theory or premise. Math is objective and allows everyone, regardless of background, to carve a path toward individual success in their area of interest. Professionally I am looking to advocate for a population that cannot advocate or speak for itself – wildlife and animals. My continued pursuit of math and business studies will allow me to add an important dimension to my biological curriculum that will make me a more effective and persuasive professional.

My compassion and enthusiasm for rescue animals and all forms of wildlife were born when I was. My parents rescued dogs, cats, and fish before they had children. If an animal or amphibian was found injured or in need of a home, my family would foster it or find someone who could. But little did I know at the time that my family’s long-time tradition would fuel my academic success and professional aspirations and goals. As a student working through communication delays and developmental issues, play dates and party invites from peers were very few. Being constantly surrounded by animals has taught me how to adapt to the unexpected and embrace playfulness -- settings with which I was extremely uncomfortable at the time. I learned to roll with adventure and play dynamically. My critter group has grown through my rescue efforts and become more diverse. I raise two dogs, two cats, two bearded dragons, fish, and an albino corn snake. As I made great progress in overcoming my developmental challenges, I transitioned into mainstream classes and quickly enrolled in sports, drama, and other clubs. I also volunteered for community and church groups and events. Many would notice that I had an intangible way of connecting with animals and reptiles that baffled and amazed everyone. On family vacations, creatures, critters and insects would approach me at various locations, sometimes voluntarily. I am currently an honors student in the Academy of Animal Sciences at my high school, where the level of education I am receiving is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. My senior year of high school is a dual-enrollment year at Centenary University where I study Biology with college students and made the University’s Dean’s List this year. I just finished an exciting internship at a renowned zoo in my state and serve as a farmer at a historical agricultural museum caring for animals there. My excellent school training taught me that the well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the prosperity of our wildlife and natural resources. I look to be an effective and persuasive advocate for all forms of wildlife and ultimately would like to continue the impactful work of conservationists such as Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. What I find most enjoyable about my Animal Sciences studies is serving as an animal ambassador promoting learning and excitement around wildlife experiences to local preschool students. I hope to improve our communities by instilling more of an instinctual awareness among all residents to engage in wildlife preservation and responsible resource management to sustain future generations of humans and creatures. If future generations fail to recognize the need for society to more actively control the many threats to natural resources today, these assets will not be available for humanity and wildlife tomorrow.

Navigating the early school years as a special-needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions. During that time – and unbeknownst to me then – I developed a deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and inclusion for those feeling left out and dismissed. For years, my developmental and speech disabilities prevented me from socializing and making the same number of friends as my other classmates. Occasionally, some misguided peers took advantage of my need for more time to communicate during incidents that played out in real-time, such as gym activities and lunchtime. With the help of my parents through their coordination with school staff members during incidents like these, I stayed strong to never give up because my family and teachers never gave up on me. I was not going to let them down. My parents continued to collaborate with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me. At the same time, they held me to a higher standard too and taught me to keep my head up high, socialize with those that knew my value, let the words roll off my back, never blame my limitation, and keep on rolling. We trained daily on these skills together. I was learning mental coping mechanisms and developing a strong sense of resiliency while watching the many layers of advocacy in action continue to play out on my behalf. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, school staffers and my parents concluded it was time for me to transition into the “mainstream” curriculum in the best interest of my continued academic and social success. I turned the lessons learned from some of the most miserable days of my school years into something positive; an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. I served as an active youth group member and a regular altar server at St. Peter the Apostle Church. I volunteer for a County Committee promoting and supporting dedicated public servants throughout my area and participated as a cadet at my township’s Junior Police Academy. I also volunteered at a local tutoring center helping students with challenges they experienced with various subjects. My ongoing commitment to including my special needs friends in my life made many of my new peers uncomfortable. Leading by example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned to not cause a scene or get outwardly upset. Instead, I stayed resolute in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. Professionally, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. I cannot help but wonder if my early years in school played a role in what I now enjoy. My overall takeaway from these experiences, and my advice for those who feel downtrodden by life’s circumstances, is: Never give up, never give in, and never forget where you came from. You must always pay it forward so future generations can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

My compassion for rescue animals and wildlife was born when I was. My parents rescued dogs, cats, and fish before they had children. If an animal or amphibian was found injured or in need of a home, my family would foster it or find someone who could. But little did I know at the time that my family’s long-time tradition would fuel my academic success and professional aspirations and goals. As a student working through communication delays and developmental issues, play dates and party invites from peers were very few. Being constantly surrounded by animals has taught me how to adapt to the unexpected and embrace playfulness -- settings with which I was extremely uncomfortable at the time. I learned to roll with adventure and play dynamically. As I made great progress in overcoming my developmental challenges, I transitioned into mainstream classes and quickly enrolled in sports, drama, and other clubs. I also volunteered for community and church groups and events. Many would notice that I had an intangible way of connecting with animals and reptiles that baffled and amazed everyone. On family vacations, creatures, critters and insects would approach me at various locations, sometimes voluntarily. I am currently an honors student in the Academy of Animal Sciences at my high school, where the level of education I am receiving is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. My senior year of high school is a dual-enrollment year at Centenary University where I study Biology with college students and made the University’s Dean’s List this year. I just finished an exciting internship at a renowned zoo in my state and serve as a farmer at a historical agricultural museum caring for animals there. My excellent school training taught me that the well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the prosperity of our wildlife and natural resources. I look to be an effective and persuasive advocate for wildlife and ultimately would like to continue the impactful work of conservationists such as Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. What I find most enjoyable about my Animal Sciences studies is serving as an animal ambassador promoting learning and excitement around wildlife experiences to local preschool students. I hope to improve our communities by instilling more of an instinctual awareness among all residents to engage in wildlife preservation and responsible resource management to sustain future generations of humans and creatures. If future generations fail to recognize the need for society to more actively control the many threats to natural resources today, these assets will not be available for the safety and security of humanity and wildlife tomorrow.

My compassion for rescue animals and wildlife was born when I was. My parents rescued dogs, cats, and fish before they had children. If an animal or amphibian was found injured or in need of a home, my family would foster it or find someone who could. But little did I know at the time that my family’s long-time tradition would fuel my academic success and professional aspirations and goals. As a student working through communication delays and developmental issues, play dates and party invites from peers were very few. Being constantly surrounded by animals has taught me how to adapt to the unexpected and embrace playfulness -- settings with which I was extremely uncomfortable at the time. I learned to roll with adventure and play dynamically. As I made great progress in overcoming my developmental challenges, I transitioned into mainstream classes and quickly enrolled in sports, drama and other clubs. I also volunteered for community and church groups and events. Many would notice that I had an intangible way of connecting with animals and reptiles that baffled and amazed everyone. On family vacations, creatures, critters and insects would approach me at various locations, sometimes voluntarily. I am currently an honors student in the Academy of Animal Sciences at my high school, where the level of education I am receiving is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. My senior year of high school is a dual-enrollment year at Centenary University where I study Biology with college students and made the University’s Dean’s List this year. I just finished an exciting internship at a renowned zoo in my state and serve as a farmer at a historical agricultural museum caring for animals there. My excellent school training taught me that the well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the prosperity of our wildlife and natural resources. I look to be an effective and persuasive advocate for wildlife and ultimately would like to continue the impactful work of conservationists such as Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. What I find most enjoyable about my Animal Sciences studies is serving as an animal ambassador promoting learning and excitement around wildlife experiences to local preschool students. I hope to improve our communities by instilling more of an instinctual awareness among all residents to engage in wildlife preservation and responsible resource management to sustain future generations of humans and creatures. If future generations fail to recognize the need for society to more actively control the many threats to natural resources today, these assets will not be available for humanity and wildlife tomorrow.

I became a young caregiver when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer during sixth grade. While my mother tried to keep me shielded from all the details of her battle, her experience bonded my family tremendously because my dad, sister, and I had to pull it together and put our fears aside without causing more stress for my mother. We all got a rude awakening on all that needed to be addressed daily. Mom’s decisiveness and take-charge personality made it easier for me and my sister in some ways to put a brave face to cancer, but it also made our private lives, as caretakers, quite challenging, and frustrating, because treating doctors would erroneously conclude that our family was not doing enough to support my mom’s recovery. Mom was not a "patient" patient, and she wanted to keep on top of life events as much as possible and to keep news of her illness suppressed from many. I remember times when I was confused as to why would a woman who cares so much about her family makes it so hard for us to love and care for her. I thought at times she was being insensitive to the family's effort to provide care. Regardless, Dad, my sister, and I continued to work collaboratively dealing with schedules and day-to-day needs. It took me a while to realize that Mom was trying to help us as much as we were helping her. She wanted to keep us the least distracted as possible in carrying out our own lives. She disliked being a burden and was focused on trying to get back to work being our primary wage earner. So as time passed, I was learning to become a better caregiver, and she was getting better at learning how to be cared for. I was also getting a better appreciation of what my parents do, and have done, for me since I was assuming many tasks for myself. As mom continues to fight her cancer, she is now a COVID long-hauler after contracting the virus in April 2020 and dealing with other ongoing health issues. My mom is holding a stiff upper lip and being aggressive in combatting this as she has been with her breast cancer. The family once again is pulling together to take care of her as much as possible while allowing her to feel as independent as she can. My background has developed a passion within me to maximize and nurture not only my potential but the shared success of others, regardless of their circumstances. My professional interest is to be an Animal Biologist and to advocate for a population that can't defend itself -- wildlife. Throughout these experiences, I have learned to recognize the sacrifices of others, embrace the unanticipated, and advocate for others. I have also learned to not burden myself with the "what ifs", but to stay in the present and enjoy life now. My mom's unfortunate health issues are examples that life doesn't present itself in a perfect environment and opportunities to brighten lives and help others should never be overlooked or missed.

My Academy of Animal Science instructor at Morris County School of Technology, Thomas Koehler, stands out as the biggest role model in my life. Mr. Koehler’s passion and enthusiasm to inspire his students for a lifetime of success is something he brings to the table every day. The level of education he delivers on a high school level is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. It was through my recent internship at the renowned Turtle Back Zoo and my part-time position at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm that I fully realized the advanced training I am receiving to make the world a better place to live for not only wildlife but also for mankind. Mr. Koehler selflessly goes up and beyond the traditional dynamic of teaching to ensure his students have the skills and diligence required for workplace readiness to achieve a common goal as a team in the classroom or laboratory. As a student in his academy, it is an honor to say that Mr. Koehler has inspired me to keep my passion for biology alive while allowing me to discover for myself the “why” behind the professional dedication, which is to benefit our communities and the ecosystem. With his guidance, I developed to be an engaged and inquisitive high school senior focused on the powers of expertise and advocacy to pay it forward in the best interest of my fellow man, the various species of wildlife, and our natural resources. Mr. Koehler has instilled in me that the well-being of one is heavily reliant on the protection of others. I strive to be a wildlife conservationist to advocate and speak on behalf of a sector that can't directly speak for itself. I look to continuing the good work of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and the late Steve Irwin. My personal and academic background demonstrates the ability and discipline to maximize and nurture not only my potential but the shared success of others, regardless of their circumstances. I will be a positive representation and role model for your organization should you sponsor my educational pursuits through this scholarship. Mr. Koehler constantly nurtures my interest in animal science and has bestowed upon me the gift of advocacy for a population that can’t advocate for itself - wildlife. I also hope to enrich my community professionally and personally - all thanks to the work ethic and training I received from a person who dedicates himself to producing great science students who will be great scientists of the future: Mr. Koehler.

Rising generations need to automatically embrace love and virtue towards our environment on a macro level if the pursuit of global stability is to be possible. If future generations fail to hold accountable the many sectors of society accountable for meaningfully combatting today’s threats to natural resources, these assets will not be available for humanity and wildlife tomorrow. To me, the current problems threatening our ecosystem can only dissolve through global recognition of preserving our natural resources and improved practices on how younger generations learn of such methods. This improvement can ONLY happen if we establish natural resource education very early in life for our citizens, even before they enter preschool. This early influence is the only way where we will best instill responsible views and habits among future generations so that the practices toward effective resource sustainment, sound and beneficial wildlife management, and ecological protection become second nature and more reflexive. Future generations must be able to absorb these sound, sustainable practices through instinct and not just as a recall mechanism from past classes and lessons. If private and public sectors do not authentically band together to address global stability, our society will be doomed to fail. Society cannot continuously look the other way from the wildlife poaching haunting the planet or the destruction of our pollinators that bring about the food and plants that sustain our world. Additionally, wildlife trafficking is a critical problem around the world and will lead to increased wildlife terrorist activity and sharp declines in animal populations if unaddressed. Again, if humanity is to achieve sustainable resource management, private and public sector leaders must eliminate the economic benefit from wildlife poaching and trafficking. Continuous efforts to raise awareness among government and business leaders must advance and inspire more officials to contribute to sustainable management efforts of local and regional resources under their control, such as the Water/Sewer and Parks and Forestry departments. I feel the importance of this type of leadership goes hand-in-hand with their other duties like overseeing annual budgets and other local operations services such as engineering and senior services. Without fruitful soils, clean water, and healthful air, our national economy and security will reach a stage of instability and unrest that will expand into an international crisis. Therefore, it is the responsibility of our leaders to increase their focus on sustainable management of our natural resources beyond advertising it when they seek higher office in the public and private sectors. Changing the approach of how and when we actively shape and change human thought and behaviors toward better sustainable management of our natural resources will achieve better results. The health of water and agricultural supply, wildlife population, air quality control, and our dependence on those resources must be taught at the early stages of human development to make inroads in global sustainability. I look to be that ongoing ambassador who will persuade communities to forge those effective relationships to embed these preservation practices in our society’s mind and spirit by following and being loyal to the realities of science.

Navigating the early school years as a special-needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions. During that time – and unbeknownst to me then – I developed a deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and admittance for those feeling dismissed. For years, my developmental and speech disabilities prevented me from socializing and making the same number of friends as my other classmates. Occasionally, some misguided peers took advantage of my need for more time to communicate during incidents that played out in real-time, such as gym activities and lunchtime. My parents collaborated with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me. At the same time, they held me to a higher standard and taught me to keep my head up high, socialize with those that knew my value, let the words roll off my back, never blame my limitations, and keep on rolling. We trained daily on these skills together. I was learning mental coping mechanisms and developing a strong sense of resiliency while watching the many layers of advocacy in action continue to play out on my behalf. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, school staffers and my parents concluded it was time for me to transition into the “mainstream” curriculum in the best interest of my continued academic and social success. I kept in touch with my special needs friends and incorporated them into my new class setting. I turned the lessons learned from some of the most miserable days of my school years into something positive: an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. My ongoing commitment to including my special needs friends in the general student population made many peers uncomfortable. Leading by example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned to not cause a scene or get outwardly upset. Instead, I stayed resolute in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to learn and watch first-hand how to speak up for what is right, call out what is wrong, and help others. Professionally, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. This field has become a passion that I became pretty good at through the support and constant compliments from my teachers. I cannot help but wonder if my early years in school played a role in what I now enjoy. Professionally, I want to continue the impactful wildlife conservation efforts performed by Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and the late Steve Irwin. My training so far in this professional field has taught me that the well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the protection and preservation of animals and reptiles of all kinds and their natural resources. My overall takeaway from these experiences, and my advice for those who feel downtrodden by life’s circumstances, is: Never give up, never give in, mentally cancel society’s labeling defaults, and never forget where you came from. You must always pay it forward so future generations can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

Everyone agrees that more needs to be done to combat animal abuse, but I feel that not everyone knows what immediate resources and options are available to empower them to say something when they see something. Many people fear harsh retaliation if their animal abuse report goes unfounded or not investigated. While owning multiple animals doesn’t mean someone is an abuser or a hoarder, easily accessed resources one can seek when they suspect mental or physical animal abuse is sorely necessary. To help decrease animal abuse occurrences, I feel local messaging campaigns deeply embedded within community events around the country would allow residents and good Samaritans to instinctually alert proper agencies anonymously when they witness or suspect animal cruelty, abuse, or hoarding. Proactive programs, adequate funding, and more powers under the law would be granted to these governing agencies so protective laws are more quickly enforced. A method to achieve this would be for local governments to step up their animal welfare outreach efforts and include animal welfare advocacy representation at all municipal events whenever possible. Animal welfare representatives would actively educate residents and distribute brochures with helpful information on the tell-tale signs of animal neglect, abuse, and cruelty. Additionally, animal welfare instruction also needs to be more widely incorporated into basic educational programs, such as math and reading, throughout the country. This type of program would be similar to how the DARE program helped combat drug abuse and raise awareness of the dangers of drugs in the 1980s. I participate in a similar type of program at my Academy of Animal Sciences in high school. I present to local preschool students the many animals that my high school class raises in school and talk about how the well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the prosperity of our animals – domestic and wild. For a separate school project, I advocated for animal abuse awareness through a class presentation focused on combating animal abuse and brutality. Within this presentation, my classmates and I were assigned a community initiative project addressing a specific problem and tasked to create a solution for that community-based issue. I chose to find a solution for animal abuse and neglect. My presentation proposed a public event that would directly engage community members to either serve or report to a “board of directors” to hear, delegate, and handle reported cases of animal abuse, neglect, or hoarding. This board would also serve as a mechanism to proactively engage the appropriate agency or department to ensure animals the care and protection they deserve. Advocating for creatures and critters has been natural to me and a central part of my life since I can remember. My home has always been focused on providing our rescue animals with a quality of life that made them feel safe and secure interacting with humans and other visiting animals. I raise a diverse group of critters at home; two dogs, two cats, two bearded dragons, and an albino corn snake. In college and professionally, I want to train to advocate for all animals and pursue Animal Biology and Wildlife Management. I just finished an exciting internship at a renowned zoo and am currently a farmer at a living history museum. I want to continue the impactful conservation efforts of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. Ultimately, I hope to enrich my community professionally and personally by instilling an instinctual awareness among as many residents as possible to engage in animal welfare, wildlife preservation, and responsible resource management to sustain future generations of humans and creatures.

I look forward to meeting new friends, classmates, and professionals when I start college in the Fall of 2023. I enjoy collaborating with others and having that active exchange of ideas and thoughts in solving problems and improving and refining solutions. This passion was developed through years of challenges I faced during my early school years from which I feel I developed a healthy approach to exercising resiliency and a love for the unexpected. Navigating the early school years as a special-needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions. During that time – and unbeknownst to me then – I developed a deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and inclusion for those feeling left out and dismissed. For years, my developmental and speech disabilities prevented me from socializing and making the same number of friends as my other classmates. Occasionally, some misguided peers took advantage of my need for more time to communicate during incidents that played out in real-time, such as gym activities and lunchtime. With the help of my parents through their coordination with school staff members during incidents like these, I stayed strong to never give up because my family and teachers never gave up on me. I was not going to let them down. My parents continued to collaborate with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me. At the same time, they held me to a higher standard too and taught me to keep my head up high, socialize with those that knew my value, let the words roll off my back, never blame my limitation, and keep on rolling. We trained daily on these skills together. I was learning mental coping mechanisms and developing a strong sense of resiliency while watching the many layers of advocacy in action continue to play out on my behalf. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, school staffers and my parents concluded it was time for me to transition into the “mainstream” curriculum in the best interest of my continued academic and social success. I turned the lessons learned from some of the most miserable days of my school years into something positive; an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. My ongoing commitment to including my special needs friends in my life made many of my new peers uncomfortable. Leading by example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned to not cause a scene or get outwardly upset. Instead, I stayed resolute in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. Professionally, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. This field has become a passion that I became pretty good at through the support and constant compliments from my teachers. I cannot help but wonder if my early years in school played a role in what I now enjoy. My overall takeaway from these experiences, and my advice for those who feel downtrodden by life’s circumstances, is: Never give up, never give in, mentally cancel society’s labeling defaults, and never forget where you came from. You must always pay it forward so future generations can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

My Academy of Animal Science instructor at Morris County School of Technology, Thomas Koehler, stands out as the most influential person in my life. Mr. Koehler’s passion and enthusiasm to inspire his students for a lifetime of success is something he brings to the table every day. The level of education he delivers on a high school level is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. It was through my recent internship at a renowned zoo and my job as a farmer at a living historical farm that I fully understand the advanced training I am receiving to make the world a better place to live for not only wildlife but also for mankind. Mr. Koehler selflessly goes up and beyond the traditional dynamic of teaching to ensure his students have the skills and diligence required for workplace readiness to achieve a common goal as a team in the classroom or laboratory. As a student in his academy, it is an honor to say that Mr. Koehler has inspired me to keep my passion for biology alive while allowing me to discover for myself the “why” behind the professional dedication, which is to benefit our communities and the ecosystem. Mr. Koehler constantly nurtures my interest in animal science and has given me the gift of advocacy for a population who can’t advocate for themselves - wildlife. I just finished an exciting internship at a renowned zoo in my state and am a farmer at a local living historical farm caring for animals there. It is through these professional opportunities that I fully realized the quality of advanced training I am lucky to receive in making the world a better place, not only for animals and wildlife but also for mankind. My excellent school training taught me that the well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the prosperity of our wildlife and natural resources. What I find most enjoyable about my Animal Sciences studies is serving as an animal ambassador promoting learning and excitement around wildlife experiences to local preschool students. I hope to work toward instilling an instinctual awareness among the general public on the importance of wildlife preservation and responsible resource management to sustain future generations of humans and creatures. One school project allowed me to advocate publicly for the need for animal abuse awareness and outline solid methods for combating animal abuse and brutality. Within this persuasive presentation, my classmates and I were assigned a community initiative project to promote animal welfare. We were also tasked, through a call to action, to create a solution for animal abuse and neglect. I proposed an interactive public event that would directly engage community members to either serve on, or report to, a “board of directors” designated to hear, delegate, and handle reported cases of animal abuse, neglect, or hoarding. This board would also serve as a mechanism to proactively engage the appropriate agency or department to ensure animals quickly get the care and protections covered by the law. My classmates were meaningfully impacted by this exercise. And I will always reflect on how these talents which continue to evolve and improve were acquired and supported by the exceptional training I received from a person who dedicates himself to shaping the great science students of today into the great scientists of tomorrow: Mr. Koehler.

Navigating the early school years as a special-needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions. During that time – and unbeknownst to me then – I developed a deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and inclusion for those feeling dismissed. For years, my developmental and speech disabilities prevented me from socializing and making the same number of friends as my other classmates. Occasionally, some misguided peers took advantage of my need for more time to communicate during incidents that played out in real-time, such as gym activities and lunchtime. My parents collaborated with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me. At the same time, they held me to a higher standard and taught me to keep my head up high, socialize with those that knew my value, let the words roll off my back, never blame my limitations, and keep on rolling. We trained daily on these skills together. I was learning mental coping mechanisms and developing a strong sense of resiliency while watching the many layers of advocacy in action continue to play out on my behalf. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, school staffers and my parents concluded it was time for me to transition into the “mainstream” curriculum in the best interest of my continued academic and social success. I kept in touch with my special needs friends and incorporated them into my new class setting. I turned the lessons learned from some of the most miserable days of my school years into something positive: an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. My ongoing commitment to including my special needs friends in the general student population made many peers uncomfortable. Leading by example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned to not cause a scene or get outwardly upset. Instead, I stayed resolute in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to learn and watch first-hand how to speak up for what is right, call out what is wrong, and help others. Professionally, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. This field has become a passion that I became pretty good at through the support and constant compliments from my teachers. I cannot help but wonder if my early years in school played a role in what I now enjoy. Professionally, I want to continue the impactful wildlife conservation efforts performed by Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and the late Steve Irwin. My training so far in this professional field has taught me that the well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the protection and preservation of animals and reptiles of all kinds and their natural resources. My overall takeaway from these experiences, and my advice for those who feel downtrodden by life’s circumstances, is: Never give up, never give in, mentally cancel society’s labeling defaults, and never forget where you came from. You must always pay it forward so future generations can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

The book Wonder by R.J. Palacio had a great impact on my life because this story had many parallels to my struggles in dealing with, and pushing back on prejudice, rejection, and intolerance. Wonder is an inspiring story of Auggie Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time after being home-schooled for years. The transition into mainstream school becomes extremely challenging for Auggie and his entire family. Auggie endures constant alienation and ridicule from intolerant people and deals with pity and insensitivity from others. Through Auggies’ struggles and achievements, he develops resiliency, strength and kindness even when ugliness was thrown his way. Although I did not deal with physical deformities, my struggles with neurodiversity and communicative disabilities unleashed similar obstacles Auggie faced in the movie. Navigating the early school years as a special-needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions and comments. Party invites and play dates were nonexistent for me. My mom collaborated with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me. She also held me to a higher standard and insisted that everyone learns in their unique way. I developed mental coping mechanisms and a strong sense of resiliency. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, I transitioned into the “mainstream” classes. I turned the lessons learned from the challenging days of my school years into something positive; an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. My commitment to include my special needs friends in my life with mainstream friends made many peers uncomfortable at first. Leading by example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. The lessons everyone should take away from the book Wonder and my personal story is to never be afraid of difference, don’t worry about what others think, be kind and respectful to yourself and others, and never judge a book by its cover.

The movie "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio had a great impact on my life because this story had many parallels to my struggles in dealing with, and pushing back on prejudice, rejection, and intolerance. "Wonder" is an inspiring story of Auggie Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time after being home-schooled for years. The transition into mainstream school becomes extremely challenging for Auggie and his entire family. Auggie endures constant alienation and ridicule from intolerant people and deals with pity and insensitivity from others. Through Auggies’ struggles and achievements, he develops resiliency, strength and kindness even when ugliness was thrown his way. Although I did not deal with physical deformities, my struggles with neurodiversity and communicative disabilities unleashed similar obstacles Auggie faced in the movie. Navigating the early school years as a special-needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions and comments. Party invites and play dates were nonexistent for me. This period of unacceptance inspired my deep devotion to serving as an ambassador of comradery and inclusion for others feeling dismissed or alienated. My mom collaborated with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me and that I got the necessary services for my specific challenges. At the same time, she held me to a higher standard and insisted that everyone learns in their unique way. She taught me coping skills and encouraged me to keep my head up high, socialize with those who valued me for who I was, and keep moving forward. I developed mental coping mechanisms and a strong sense of resiliency while watching the many layers of advocacy play out on my behalf every day. My supporters were not letting me down, so I was not going to let them down. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, I transitioned into the “mainstream” classes. I turned the lessons learned from some of the most miserable days of my school years into something positive; an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. My commitment to include my special needs friends in my life with mainstream friends made many peers uncomfortable at first. Through example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to grow strong and learn how to speak up for what is right, call out the wrong, and help others. The lessons from the "Wonder" movie and my personal story are to never be afraid of difference, don’t worry about what others think, be kind and respectful to yourself and others, and never judge a book by its cover. We all have a responsibility to pay it forward so future generations have the confidence to pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

Navigating the early school years as a special needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions, voice tones, and comments. Party invites and play dates were virtually nonexistent. Living through this period of unacceptance inspired my deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and inclusuon for those feeling dismissed or left out. My parents collaborated with school officials to make sure that our “village” didn’t forget me, and I got necessary services specific to my developmental and communicative challenges. At the same time, they held me to a higher standard too and taught me coping skills to keep my head up high, socialize with those who valued me for who I was, and to keep rolling forward. It was a daily training with us during which it was reinforced to me that everyone learns in their own way, and that is perfectly fine. I was learning mental coping mechanisms and developing a strong sense of resiliency while watching the many layers of advocacy play out on my behalf. As I started to make great strides to overcome my significant developmental challenges, I transitioned into the “mainstream” curriculum in the best interest of my continued academic and social success. I turned the lessons learned from some of the most miserable days of my school years into something positive; an effort to stomp on the stigma of having special needs. My ongoing commitment of mine to include my special needs friends in to the general student population made many peers uncomfortable, especially during lunch time and recess – not many of them wanted to be seen with kids with challenges. Through example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to establish a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This commitment of mine initially made many of my mainstream classmates uncomfortable – not many of them wanted to be seen with kids with challenges. Through example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to gain a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. While I strive to improve myself, I also dig deep to assist others to find their cheer, self-confidence, and level of comfort. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to grow resilient and learn how to speak up for what is right, call out the wrong, and help others. I never knew what advocacy was until I saw it in action as my family fought through the rejection years. So now, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. I seem to have a talent for bonding with various species and strive to continue the impactful conservation efforts of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. My overall takeaway from my experiences and advice for those who feel downtrodden by life’s circumstances is: Never give up, never give in, and never forget where you came from. You must always pay it forward so future generations can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

Navigating the early school years as a special needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions, voice tones, and comments. Living through this period of unacceptance was the origin of my deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and admittance for those feeling left out, sitting on the sidelines, or standing in the corner of a room. As I made great strides to overcome my significant developmental and learning challenges during my early school years, my teachers and parents decided it was time for me to transition into the “mainstream” classes in the best interest of my academic and social future. While many students in my situation would have never stayed connected with their special needs peeps, I gladly did because I missed and cherished them. I continued to visit my friends in these classrooms regularly, sit with them at lunch, ride the short bus daily, and welcome them to all my birthday parties. Meanwhile, my transition into the “mainstream” class was met with rejection and hostility from a few peers. I was often called “damaged goods” and “weird” by some mean-spirited kids who took advantage of my speech delay during lunchtime and gym. During these incidents, they would cut in front of me while standing in line, fully anticipating I would be ineffective in verbally reporting them. When I tried to communicate in any way I could, school staff would often misinterpret my communication attempts as “bad or off-task behavior.” Party invites from these “mainstreamers” were also few and far between because no one wanted the slow-talking kid at their event. But these unfortunate experiences only solidified my focus to keep my special needs friends in my life and incorporate them in various mainstream activities they normally would not participate in, including lunch and recess outside of their classrooms. This commitment of mine initially made many of my mainstream classmates uncomfortable – not many of them wanted to be seen with kids with challenges. Through example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to gain a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. While I strive to improve myself, I also dig deep to assist others to find their cheer, self-confidence, and level of comfort. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to grow resilient and learn how to speak up for what is right, call out the wrong, and help others. I never knew what advocacy was until I saw it in action as my family fought through the rejection years. So now, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. I seem to have a talent for bonding with various species and strive to continue the impactful conservation efforts of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. My overall takeaway from my experiences and advice for those who feel downtrodden by life’s circumstances is: Never give up, never give in, and never forget where you came from. You must always pay it forward so future generations can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

My Academy of Animal Science instructor at Morris County School of Technology, Thomas Koehler, stands out as the most influential person in my life. Mr. Koehler’s passion and enthusiasm to inspire his students for a lifetime of success is something he brings to the table every day. The level of education he delivers on a high school level is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. It was through my recent internship at the renowned Turtle Back Zoo and my part-time position at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm that I fully realized the advanced training I am receiving to make the world a better place to live for not only wildlife but also for mankind. Mr. Koehler selflessly goes up and beyond the traditional dynamic of teaching to ensure his students have the skills and diligence required for workplace readiness to achieve a common goal as a team in the classroom or laboratory. As a student in his academy, it is an honor to say that Mr. Koehler has inspired me to keep my passion for biology alive while allowing me to discover for myself the “why” behind the professional dedication, which is to benefit our communities and the ecosystem. With his guidance, I developed to be an engaged and inquisitive high school senior focused on the powers of expertise and advocacy to pay it forward in the best interest of my fellow man, the various species of wildlife, and our natural resources. Mr. Koehler has instilled in me that the well-being of one is heavily reliant on the protection of others. I strive to be an educating wildlife conservationist to advocate and speak on behalf of a sector that can't directly speak for itself. I look to continuing the good work of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and the late Steve Irwin. My personal and academic background demonstrates the ability and discipline to maximize and nurture not only my potential but the shared success of others, regardless of their circumstances. I will be a positive representation and role model for your organization should you sponsor my educational pursuits through this scholarship. Mr. Koehler constantly nurtures my interest in animal science and has bestowed upon me the gift of advocacy for a population who can’t advocate for themselves - wildlife. Through my teaching and persuasion efforts, I hope to teach and enrich my community professionally and personally. And I will always reflect on how these talents which continue to evolve and improve were acquired and supported by the exceptional training I received from a person who dedicates himself to shaping the great science students of today into the great scientists of tomorrow: Mr. Koehler.

As a motivated and self-driven high school senior at Morris County School of Technology in Denville, New Jersey specializing in animal science, I am keenly focused on increasing awareness about the need for compassion and respect toward all aspects of our environment, including animals and natural resources, within our personal and professional lives. Climate conservation plays a key role in providing a more sustainable future for our ecosystem. I look to change the general attitude and habits of others and future generations toward being more mindful of the criticality of environmental sustainability. Changing the approach of how and when we actively shape and change human thought and behaviors toward better sustainable management of our natural resources will achieve better results. The health of water and agricultural supply, wildlife population, air quality control, and our dependence on those resources must be taught at the early stages of human development to make inroads in global sustainability. Society cannot continuously look the other way from reckless environmental habits that haunt our resources from providing for the world's demands on a long-term scale. My philosophy is to always contribute to making the world a better place, and I often verbalize this philosophy on a personal and academic level. Morris County Vocational and Technical School’s Academy of Animal Sciences is providing me with many responsibilities and real-life experiences in wildlife conservation. What I find most enjoyable about my studies is serving as an animal ambassador to local preschool students in promoting learning and excitement around wildlife experiences and the importance of protecting our natural resources and maximizing renewable energy. Changing the approach of how and when we actively shape and change human thought and behaviors toward better sustainable management of our natural resources will achieve better results. The health of future water and agricultural supply, wildlife population and marine life, air quality control, and humanity’s dependence on sound resources, must be taught at the early stages of human development if we are to make inroads into global sustainability. Through my intended professional field of study and pursuit, I will work to help band together the public and private sectors to address global stability and instill better habitual behaviors and instinctual practices to progress effective conservation efforts. Today, I constantly work to advocate for another population that cannot speak or directly advocate for itself – a population consisting of animals, reptiles, and birds. The well-being of mankind is heavily reliant on the preservation of our natural resources and energy sustainability. I just completed an exciting internship at a renowned Northern New Jersey zoo and currently serve as a part-time farmer at a historical agriculture museum caretaking for animals at the farm. I am living out my passion for working and bonding with a wide variety of critters and creatures and helping others develop greater compassion and appreciation for animals in the wild and nature. Professionally, I want to continue the impactful conservation efforts performed by Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and the late Steve Irwin. This is a daily and lifetime commitment that I feel will make a positive impact in creating a sustainable ecosystem.

Americans are the freest people in the world thanks to all our cherished soldiers who have fought for our rights and have made the ultimate sacrifice for us. And while America is not perfect, it is the best country that gives its citizens the most freedoms and opportunities to live out their dreams and pursue happiness and prosperity for themselves and their legacy on their terms. Americans can choose how they work, learn, play, and pray in the country. Americans are not destined to be confined to the initial set of circumstances to which we are born and raised. Americans have the chance to be themselves and live wherever and however they want in the most powerful economy in the world. Despite the criticism that America receives from others, it is no coincidence that all countries in the world rely upon the greatness of the United States for financial aid, guidance, infrastructure support and leadership. Inventors, creators and entrepreneurs are embraced and incentivized in America, but they are suppressed and punished in other countries. Americans are the most generous people in the world and can openly serve and practice the religions of their choice without legal reprimand. And while Americans don’t agree on many issues, they all can celebrate different holidays, vote for different political parties, voice different viewpoints, worship different Gods or not, and eat different foods. America remains a diverse culture that offers options and protections to sectors of the population that do not enjoy rights or are dismissed, in other regions of the world. People, especially women, in other countries are oppressed, threatened, and prohibited to go to school and achieve the jobs they want. Residents of other countries are not safe from the oppression of their governments; Americans are safe and protected by laws. Americans are allowed to freely advocate for what they think is right, argue amongst themselves, and protest policies and incidents they think are wrong without retribution or government crackdown. Human rights are protected in America while they are quashed and nonexistent in many countries around the world. The freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution are found nowhere else in the history of the world. It is the responsibility of all American generations to read the U.S. Constitution, know and exercise their rights, teach them to future generations, and defend them with their last breath. That is what being an American means, and we must have pride in who we are.

My compassion for rescue animals was born when I was. My parents rescued dogs, cats, and fish before I was born. If an animal was found stranded, injured, or in need of a home, my family would foster it or find someone who could. But little did I know that my family’s long-time tradition would fuel my academic success and professional aspirations and pursuits. Being constantly surrounded by animals has taught me how to adapt to the unexpected and embrace playfulness. I learned to play dynamically and roll with adventure. As my rescue endeavors progressed, my critter group has grown and become more diverse. I now raise two dogs, two cats, two bearded dragons, and an albino corn snake. My strong bond with animals deepened, and many friends and family members noticed that I had an intangible way of connecting with animals and reptiles that baffled and amazed everyone. On family vacations, creatures, critters, and insects would approach me at various venues, such as hotels, walking along sidewalks, at zoos, or just laying out at the pools. Some of those encounters would be unsolicited. Onlookers would gaze in amazement as I fed and interacted with many indigenous species that would approach me. At times, it looked like a small circus act. In middle school, this affinity towards animals rewarded me with the presidency of the Creatures and Critters club. My mother often jokes that I am our family’s version of Snow White. Our home has always been focused on providing our rescue animals with a quality of life that made them feel safe and secure interacting with the humans and other animals visiting the house. The dogs enjoy summers with pool dates with other dogs as the cats watch from a distance. The reptiles also coexist comfortably and spend some of their time out by the pool during the warmer weather months. I am currently an honors student in the Academy of Animal Sciences at my high school, where the level of education I am receiving is on par with real-life professional experiences and college-level instruction. My senior year of high school is a dual-enrollment year at Centenary University where I study Biology with college students. I serve as a farmer at a local living historical farm caring for animals there and just finished an exciting internship at a renowned zoo in my state where I will continue to volunteer my time. It is through these professional opportunities that I fully realized the quality of advanced training I am lucky to receive in making the world a better place, not only for animals and wildlife but also for mankind. My excellent school training taught me that the well-being of humanity is heavily reliant on the prosperity of our wildlife and natural resources. What I find most enjoyable about my Animal Sciences studies is serving as an animal ambassador promoting learning and excitement around wildlife experiences to local preschool students. I also take every opportunity to visit animal refuges and facilities wherever I visit different regions. I look to be an effective advocate for wildlife and would like to ultimately continue the impactful work of previous conservationists such as Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and the late Steve Irwin. I need to enrich and network with my community to help bring about instinctual behaviors and practices that promote wildlife preservation and responsible resource management for the sake of a sustained and healthy ecosystem. This long-term goal will require input and commitment from various sectors of our society, whether it be private businesses, government agencies, and financial institutions, to make this a reality.

When I was very young, my mother made it a point to instill a sense of financial responsibility in both me and my sister. She would constantly talk about money and what we could and could not afford. At times it became very tiring to listen to her, but we all paid attention anyway. On Saturday nights, and I mean EVERY Saturday night, our entire family would be fixed in front of the television to watch The Suze Orman Show on CNBC. The house was especially quiet during the “Can You Afford It?” segment. It seemed as though Suze was the third parent in the Snyder family. This weekly practice, though, molded me to be a saver and investor and a very inquisitive student about the various channels that people use to make money grow. This ritual complemented the best financial advice that my parents repeated over and over again – live frugally, learn how to fundraise and sell, and invest the majority of your savings. So as I would perform many odd jobs to raise money, I would regularly talk to my mom about the wisest ways to invest while holding some cash because emergencies always happen. As I kept reviewing my account balances with Mom, I got more and more motivated to keep mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and helping people with larger house chores. I also became very thrifty through this experience because I realized that I didn’t like to see my savings account balance decrease. I would think long and hard whenever I wanted to buy something or how much I was willing to pay for a particular item. Thankfully for me, watching my parents constantly negotiate with others, price-compare, and compound saving opportunities before they purchased anything eye-opening, were first-hand experiences on how finances play a critical role in every aspect of people’s lives. These experiences also built a resiliency within me to be curious about good money management, and not to fear. Solid financial resources and good money management bring about a lot of good in the world. With this philosophy, I managed to save enough to independently purchase my car at age 17 while keeping the extra funds invested to grow through compound interest, interest paid on top of interest and dividends earned. It is for these reasons that I seek a college major in Wildlife Management and Animal Sciences to protect a population that can’t outwardly advocate itself – the many species of wildlife. And while this major seems so far removed from exercising good financial practices, my academic and professional experience so far has taught me how valuable financial resources are in advocating effectively for good causes and charities all around the world. Financial resources are vital for any effort that strives to achieve sustainability. So for those reasons, I have always learned to constantly keep finances and business in mind and look to marry my business talents with my advocacy and philanthropic work. For the immediate future, I have quite the challenge to raise enough money to attend one of the universities best suited to effectively educate and train me to excel in my chosen career, either the University of Pennsylvania, University of New Hampshire, or University of Tennessee. I have been accepted to all three schools, but unfortunately, public universities are extremely expensive and not very generous with scholarships for out-of-state students. So, in the same spirit that allowed me to fundraise for other needs, I am working, being frugal, and investing. This scholarship will help immensely to defray the tuition costs. Once in college, I seek to support my Wildlife Management/Animal Biology pursuits with either a major or minor in business and finance. I want to be a more business-savvy advocate within the professional career I intend to pursue. A business and finance education would also enable me to be a better manager of the salary I will earn in the future – so I can concentrate on continuing the impactful work of previous conservationists such as Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna, and the late Steve Irwin. I look to enrich and network with my community to help bring about instinctual behaviors and practices that promote wildlife preservation and responsible resource management for the sake of a sustained and healthy ecosystem. This long-term goal will require input and commitment from various sectors of our society, whether it be private businesses, government agencies, and financial institutions, to make this a reality.

Being the youngest grandchild who was overcoming developmental challenges, the sudden loss of my paternal grandfather was jolting and confusing to me because I thought he would never die. Grandpa provided me with a sense of deep comfort and safety despite him being a reserved man of little words with sudden bursts of humor. Unbeknownst to me at that time, Grandpa served as my compass and lifeline while I was navigating my early school years as a special needs student dealing with many hurdles and periods of isolation. Through my tears and the inability to effectively verbalize my feelings, his calm physical presence and body language kept me grounded. His short stories of experience kept me hopeful and determined that everything will work for me, so long as I always stay true to myself. How little did I know during the limited time I had with my grandfather, his character would greatly shape how I would later interact with, and impact others. Despite being a reserved boy with few words and a quirky sense of humor, I made great strides to overcome my significant developmental and learning challenges and transitioned into the “mainstream” classes in the best interest of my academic and social future. While many students in my situation would not have stayed connected with their special needs peeps, I gladly did. I continued to regularly visit my friends in their classrooms, sit with them at lunch, ride the short bus daily, and welcome them to all my parties. Meanwhile, my transition into the so-called mainstream class was met with uneasiness and isolation among my new peers. Party invites from these students were few and far between. But these unfortunate experiences only solidified my focus to incorporate my special needs friends in various mainstream activities they normally would not participate in, including lunch and recess outside of their classrooms. This commitment of mine initially made many of my mainstream classmates uncomfortable – not many of them wanted to be seen with kids with challenges. Through example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to gain a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. As I matured and strengthened these still-developing skills, many coaches and teachers would often tell my parents that I served as the heart and soul of their teams and classes. While I strive to improve myself, I also dig deep to assist others to find their cheer, self-confidence, and level of comfort. Looking forward, I want to advocate for a population that cannot readily speak up for themselves in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. This field has become a passion that I became pretty good at based on constant compliments and support from my teachers. I seem to have a talent for bonding with various species and strive to continue the impactful conservation efforts of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. I believe the difficult early years in unexpectantly losing my grandfather during a vulnerable time in my life enabled me to grow resilient and learn how to speak up for what is right, call out the wrong, and help others. Grandpa’s untimely death also taught me to always use my time wisely because everyone’s time is limited.

Navigating the early school years as a special needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions, voice tones, and comments. Living through this period of unacceptance was the origin of my deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and admittance for those feeling left out. It also forged a path down which I would develop my most valued trait, resiliency. As I made great strides to overcome my significant developmental and learning challenges during my early school years, my teachers and parents decided it was time for me to transition into the “mainstream” classes in the best interest of my academic and social future. While many students in my situation would have never stayed connected with their special needs peeps, I gladly did because I missed and cherished them. I continued to visit my friends in these classrooms regularly, sit with them at lunch, ride the short bus daily, and welcome them to all my birthday parties. Despite that, my family stayed very connected with school officials to ensure that the “village” did not forget me. They advocated for me and my education through thick and thin. I saw the good, bad and ugly of the logistics behind developing resiliency. While I didn’t know it at the time, I was watching effective advocacy in action that would later set the course for my independence, beliefs, and future endeavors. My transition into the “mainstream” class was met with rejection and hostility from a few peers. I was often called “damaged goods” and “weird” by some misguided kids who took advantage of my speech delay during lunchtime and gym. But these unfortunate experiences only solidified my focus to keep my special needs friends in my life and incorporate them in various mainstream activities they normally would not participate in, including lunch and recess outside of their classrooms. This commitment of mine initially made many of my mainstream classmates uncomfortable – not many of them wanted to be seen with kids with challenges. Through example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to gain a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to grow durable and learn how to speak up for what is right, call out the wrong, and help others. I never knew what advocacy was until I saw it in action as my family fought through the rejection years. So now, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak or defend itself in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. I strive to continue the impactful conservation efforts of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. My experiences made me realize that people should always pay it forward to current and future generations so everyone can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

Navigating the early school years as a special needs student was filled with a lot of hurdles, disparaging labels, and belittling facial expressions, voice tones, and comments. Living through this period of unacceptance was the origin of my deep devotion to serving as an unofficial ambassador of comradery and admittance for those feeling left out. As I made great strides to overcome my significant developmental and learning challenges during my early school years, my teachers and parents decided it was time for me to transition into the “mainstream” classes in the best interest of my academic and social future. While many students in my situation would have never stayed connected with their special needs peeps, I gladly did because I missed and cherished them. I continued to visit my friends in these classrooms regularly, sit with them at lunch, ride the short bus daily, and welcome them to all my birthday parties. Meanwhile, my transition into the “mainstream” class was met with rejection and hostility from a few peers. I was often called “damaged goods” and “weird” by some misguided kids who took advantage of my speech delay during lunchtime and gym. But these unfortunate experiences only solidified my focus to keep my special needs friends in my life and incorporate them in various mainstream activities they normally would not participate in, including lunch and recess outside of their classrooms. This commitment of mine initially made many of my mainstream classmates uncomfortable – not many of them wanted to be seen with kids with challenges. Through example, I gently and firmly guided these peers to gain a level of comfort in accepting and interacting with friends facing challenges without pitying them. This acceptance did not happen overnight, but I learned not to cause a scene or get publicly upset. Instead, I stayed strong in my beliefs to model inclusion and acceptance through example. As more of my mainstream peers and their parents got to know me better, they would follow my lead. I believe the difficult years, as intimidating and frustrating as they were for me, enabled me to grow resilient and learn how to speak up for what is right, call out the wrong, and help others. I never knew what advocacy was until I saw it in action as my family fought through the rejection years. So now, I am looking to advocate for another population that cannot speak in the traditional sense – wildlife animals. I strive to continue the impactful conservation efforts of Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. I volunteer at a renowned zoo in my state and serve as a farmer at a living agricultural museum. Additionally, I served on my school’s cross country team, bowling team and drama club and am an active member of my church. My mother will be going on permanent disability due to her continuing fight against long-haul COVID-19 symptoms while she fights breast cancer. The state universities that will serve me well in my intended field of study are expensive and offer minimal merit scholarships. My overall takeaway from my experiences and advice for those who feel downtrodden by life’s circumstances is: You must always pay it forward to current and future generations so everyone can pursue their dreams and find their cheer on their terms.

I am a motivated and self-driven high school senior at Morris County School of Technology in Denville, New Jersey specializing in animal sciences. Currently, I am attending dual-enrollment classes at Centenary University and focused on increasing awareness about the need for compassion and respect toward all animals and nature within our personal and professional lives. My pursuit of academics, friendships, and social interactions was mired by communicative and learning disabilities. Birthday party invites, play dates, and school activities for me were initially nonexistent. But, I never gave up on growing and overcoming my limitations, nor did I hold grudges against those to dished out the negative word, labels, or looks. Instead, I kept mentally focused throughout on how my unique issues and limitations were helping me to successfully develop a strong and reliable work ethic, contagious sense of humor, and deep kindness. My philosophy is to always contribute to making the world a better place and to share and celebrate my achievements and the success of others. Morris County Vocational and Technical School’s Academy of Animal Sciences is providing me with many responsibilities and real-life experiences in wildlife conservation. What I find most enjoyable about my studies is serving as an animal ambassador to local preschool students in promoting learning and excitement around wildlife experiences. Today, I work to advocate for another population that cannot speak or directly advocate for themselves – animals, reptiles, and birds. I just completed an exciting internship at a renowned Northern New Jersey zoo and currently serve as a part-time farmer at a historical agriculture museum caretaking for animals at the farm. I am living out my passion for working and bonding with a wide variety of critters and creatures and helping others develop greater compassion and appreciation for animals in the wild and nature. Professionally, I want to continue the impactful conservation efforts performed by Jane Goodall, Jack Hanna and the late Steve Irwin. Changing the approach of how and when we actively shape and change human thought and behaviors toward better sustainable management of our natural resources will achieve better results. The health of future water and agricultural supply, wildlife population and marine life, air quality control, and humanity’s dependence on sound resources, must be taught at the early stages of human development if we are to make inroads into global sustainability. This is a career and a lifetime commitment that I feel will make a positive impact in a world where many are understood.

Applying for scholarships causes one to pause and deeply reflect on the "what" and "why" behind the educational and life directions they ultimately take. The process of pursuing scholarships further gave me the insight to ponder the root experiences that, and the people who helped shape my aspirations. It is funny how we all become too busy to think about this while in the midst of living out our school years. Seeking out scholarships also builds resiliency in students and forces them to more gracefully handle the unfavorable outcomes with a forced sense of optimism focused on a hoped favorable outcome from a future opportunity. Applying for scholarships exemplifies the saying "when a door closes, a window opens"; but the KEY is not to be discouraged. As I entered pre-school, I had many learning, communicative, and developmental challenges through which I had to navigate in a world that is not patient to those who don't keep up. Acceptance into the mainstream school classrooms took much longer for me to accomplish. Birthday party invites and club activities were nonexistent because all were afraid the nonverbal kid would ruin the activity. Through the support of advocacy from my family and others -- and similar to the character-building process that applying for scholarships presents -- I learned early on about the importance of never giving up and the techniques of overcoming the fear and intimidation. I also learned how to stay committed and hold myself accountable to achieving my ultimate goal -- to be the best I can be! Despite my great doubts, my continued drive would earn me a cast role in my school's drama production and spots on various sports teams. I was thriving, and my life was forever changed with an ushering sense of confidence and self-pride. This is something I predict I will again feel when earning my first, and many other, scholarships. This breakthrough taught me all about the rewards of putting myself out there as authentically as possible, which is another thing I gleaned when applying for scholarships. Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes. It is only a matter of finding the right fit and not being deflated when things don't work out my way; I know my value. In the future, I plan to use my education and skills to advocate for a population who can’t speak for themselves or protect their interests -- animals and wildlife. I also want to be an inspiration to those who want to live their dreams on their terms, even when faced with great challenges. To them I say never give up or give in, focus on the goal, and cancel out setbacks and labels you may experience along the journey.