Dedicated teachers who never fail to care about their students, give me hope that my future will be better. Personally, eLearning never worked for me, and it caused more confusion and bad grades over quarantine. After a year of turning on our laptops just to pay attention for two minutes in a 2-hour zoom meeting, I think it's time we get back into the classroom. I hope that students from all around the world will be hopeful that in-person learning is just around the corner and that good teachers are the reason that we have hope throughout times like these. Teachers have been anchoring us, students, since day one of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do they have to be brave although they are terrified of the future, but they also may convey a message of hope and assurance to the students. If it weren't for the teachers, I would feel like there is no hope with the trajectory of this pandemic. They are the light-bearers and the hope-givers in this dark work. My biology teacher, for example, brought us treats every single day as we slowly started back in school in person. Not only this, but she comforted students whose families were struggling because of the pandemic, and she would even take time out of her day to prepare home-cooked dinners and hand-deliver them to students!! This teacher was amazing as she worked outside the boundaries of her work hours caring, comforting, and talking to students throughout the pandemic. She is the reason I have hope throughout this pandemic. In the end, I am grateful that I get to go back to school in person, and meet my friends for my last year of high school! I hope I can get this scholarship to inspire teachers to motivate students to become like my biology teacher. Teachers, you make the future brighter for us students. Please never stop doing so.

Society can empower women by allowing us to use our voices, and giving us the ability to have the same chances as men. If these two requirements are fulfilled, we will stop seeing discrimination against women of all ages. In the workforce, for example, women don't need to be treated more "special" than men, but we should get the same opportunities because we are as capable as men. We shouldn't be paid less than men just because we are different than them. By giving women the platform to speak out against inequality they might face in the workplace, we can stop discrimination from happening actively on a daily basis. If women are able to address their problems on a daily or weekly basis, we can immediately stop this problem and change the path. Workplaces or big corporations should allow women to speak out on their problems, and others should be able to hear them out. Another thing we can do is to recognize women for what they do on a daily basis. On top of a job, a woman might have to take care of a family, cook, or clean, all by herself! Women have so much responsibility, and they aren't being recognized enough for what they do! If we can praise women for what they do, society may change its view on women, and we can put an end to sex-based discrimination. As a woman myself, I would like to say that women aren't as weak as we look. We are so much more capable, and we defy standards every day. You don't need to be a feminist to recognize the fact that women face sex-based discrimination on a daily basis. The leaders of companies who try to put women down, and pay them less just because they are women need to be called out and taken out of their role immediately. Society should not tolerate this nonsense. In the end, our society is working to help empower women, but I believe that if we give women the platform to speak out on their issues, and if we recognize women for who they are, our society will be in a much better place. So let's start right now! Let's not tolerate the fact that women are getting made fun of in the workplace. Let's come together, and give women a safe environment to express their feelings without feeling like they're going to be made fun of. Let's empower women every day.

My mom is the biggest influence in my life. In fact, if it wasn't for her pushing me to get scholarships I wouldn't have ended up being on this website (thanks Mom!!!) She always teaches me to work hard and she helps me refocus on goals I aspire to achieve, even when I feel incapable. As a typical teen, I waste a lot of time. Whether it be going on social media, or daydreaming... I get distracted very easily from doing work! Whenever I happen to feel discouraged or unmotivated, my mom refocuses me to make sure that my aim is set on the goal of getting into a good college. Unlike any other "typical" mother that I know of, my mom's responses are always witty. Whenever I whine to her about small things like, "Why do my friends get to do this...?" or "How come I can't go there?" she simply responds saying, "Your friends' mothers probably don't care about their futures, but I do." This sometimes makes me angry, but then I settle down and realize that she's doing it for my good and that she actually cares about my future. Furthermore, since I am interested in pursuing a STEM career in computer science/graphic design, my mom always makes sure that I take the right classes and attend the right college sessions which pertain to technology. Because of her, she pushed me to take AP Computer Science Principles this year!! (Although she also did push me to take other tech classes like Graphic Design, Office Essentials, Intro to Computer Programming, and WordPress classes at my school.) And next year for my senior year, I'm taking AP Computer Science A. She reminds me daily by her actions that women are as capable as men, and that we can defy standards. My mom recognizes the fact that there is a shortage of women in STEM careers like technology, and she wants to put an end to it. She encourages me to motivate other girls to join STEM careers, especially careers around technology. If I'm being honest, if not for my mother, I wouldn't have ended up wanting to have a career in technology at all. She has pushed me SO MUCH to the point where sometimes I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and angry. Although I don't see how yelling, long speeches about my future, and taking away my phone helps me now, I hope I can see it in a year from now when I get into a good college. Thank you mom for yelling at me... really... because, without you, I wouldn't be the girl I am today.