Footprints- we all leave them. It’s effortless to see the tracks of mankind today, from extensive land development to the presence of litter. However, this was not the case for many Indigenous nations, as their ecological footprint was near nonexistent. The earth was well tended and cared for, until the arrival of colonizers. With their arrival came the end of Indigenous civilizations- civilizations that accentuated land stewardship, sustainability, and gratitude. Centuries later, with the erasure of many Native Peoples and their cultural practices, we live in a manner directly opposite to them. From beautiful forests chopped to stumps, or the dumping of pollution in sacred waterways, our world has disregarded the land that was once revered. It is this that is the most pressing environmental challenge- the loss and suppression of Indigenous cultures. This summer, I made a friend named Gwyn through a habitat restoration internship. We conversed and shared some great ideas. At the end of our conversation one day, she recommended a must-read. That book, Braiding Sweetgrass, is arguably the most influential piece I’ve ever consumed. It shed light on the lost beauty and wisdom contained in the practices and lifestyles of the Native Peoples. It elaborated on the wholesome, reciprocal relationships many shared with the earth. Responsibility and love were common themes in Indigenous cultures, emphasized routinely. Villages were centered around sustainability from agricultural practices to architecture. Children were grounded in offerings of thanksgiving, involved in ceremonies, and advised against exploitation of the Earth's gifts. In 2024, the age of climate change, there are voices with solutions and ideas. The majority of these voices, though, lack diversity and are rooted in pure Western science. As much as I support research, I believe multiple perspectives are valuable. As greater inclusion allows for more fruitful discussions and results, so must our environmental conversations allowing room for the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. This is notable considering how ecologically-conscious their lifestyles were and how much they can bring to the table in devising sustainable solutions. Additionally, integrating Native wisdom into environmental conversations could help heal the marred relationship we share with them and incline more communities to get involved. This is substantial as complex environmental issues require heavy collaborative action and positive relations with others. To improve the loss and suppression of Native voices, I support their resurgence. Recently, I’ve joined a local organization, YoloSol. Their work is based on reteaching the practices of local tribes, as well as advocating for land stewardship. I hope to apply the principles and practices I learn from YoloSol to an influential space- my university. I’m applying for a fellowship opportunity on campus called the Climate Action Fellows. If chosen, I would work with my school’s Director of Sustainability, where I would push for the incorporation of Indigenous ecological knowledge into our projects. Though there is plenty of work to be done to achieve a greater level of Native diversity in the environmental field, I hope to start small and eventually advocate for their presence on grander platforms. By participating in YoloSol’s mission and working for the inclusion of Indigenous voices into my school’s sustainable initiatives, I aim to provide increased clarity, beauty, and justice into the dark realm of environmental challenges.

When I grow up, I want to be a pirate. Being a pirate may not be the most realistic career considering the present day and age. However, a great book can tackle this dilemma. Tricia Levenseller’s novel, Daughter of the Pirate King, supplied me with imaginary boots, pirate attire, a sword, and a ship crew. This fantasy-ridden story, jammed with adventure and romance, gave my mind the enjoyment of living a life more enthralling than what I currently live. I am proud to share #BookTok's role in both recommending this fantastic novel and allowing me to collaborate with other fans. Through TikTok’s book community, I encountered the multiple ways people supported Levenseller’s work. Artists uploaded their drawings and animations inspired by the main characters. Some readers also went as far as cosplaying the protagonist, Alosa. Such content and numerous reviews made Daughter of the Pirate King go viral on the app. The story itself was addictive, a rapid page-turner. The fiery love dynamic between Alosa and Ridden left many swooning, too. No doubt this was a well-executed story. But why did it identify so well with young readers? Primarily, it comes down to Alosa, the fearless and highly skilled pirate Levenseller crafted. Alosa’s wit and intelligence allowed her to evade threats and overcome obstacles, most impressive as she was surrounded by majority male-ran dominions. She connected well with the TikTok community and me because she posed as a resilient woman figure for young people to look up to. I was especially moved because Alosa and I are the same age. She helped me realize that seventeen is simply a number. Her actions demonstrated how young people can be well-accomplished, adventurous, and audacious. Myself and #BookTok applauded Levenseller for her message of urging youth to follow in Alosa's footsteps. Additionally, this viral #BookTok read has influenced my dream bookshelf. Fantasy books on my to-read list are A Tale of Stars and Shadow, Six of Crows, What the River Knows, and Throne of Glass. These novels present tough female personas and are all acclaimed by #BookTok for that reason. I would include them in my ideal bookshelf due to the tenacious qualities noted in those female leads. In a world where social issues like misogyny exist, women fight to break barriers that attempt to inhibit us. With my goal of becoming a prominent woman in environmental science, I know I will come across difficulties that may deal with sexism, etc. Fortunately, there are plenty of women models to draw inspiration from, notably in must-reads like Heresy, Lucky Red, and Lessons in Chemistry. The female literary leads here address both their challenges and objectives with determination. As witnesses of their courage, we readers are pushed to live boldly despite the internal or external limits placed on us. #BookTok has been my best resource in discovering and amplifying my passion for literature. Without the guidance of content creators and their insights, I would not be the avid reader I am today. I commend TikTok for allowing me to engage with countless other ardent bookworms, which gives beautiful stories and gifted writers a platform. I am also proud of the mark readers leave on the world by partaking in the #BookTok movement since every book affects its readers (to a degree). Some stories are powerful enough to drive their audience to act on a message, and I have certainly experienced them. Observing my personal growth is the most rewarding and serves as a driving force in continuing my commitment to reading. I appreciate your consideration.

Kicking has always been my specialty. Using my arms was something nearly foreign to me. Who knew that soccer players enjoyed playing tennis? In the fall of 2022, with the California sun shining brighter than ever, was the first time I decided to formally pick up a racket. Although my best friend was a tennis player, I was in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by girls whom I was unsure about. Little did I know that these girls would be the best part of the tennis experience. The conditioning and running aspects were a breeze. However, everything else from mastering the forehand and backhand to understanding the rules of the game took hours of dedication to learn. Surprisingly, having fun was the most significant quality that I took away from playing tennis. As mentioned previously, my athletic background is grounded in soccer. The world of soccer is ruthless, especially being the world's most popular sport. The club and school team that I play for involves tough and determined girls, who aren't afraid to be vocal about the mistakes you make nor push you around on the field. Hence, this competitive environment allows easily for pressures of succeeding to dominate the mind. These pressures can eventually suck the fun out of the sport. Once I joined tennis, the atmosphere was quite different than that of soccer. The people who I was surrounded with were rather encouraging and the competition for spots on the lineup wasn't as cutthroat as I had known it to be. It was this more relaxed and carefree environment that allowed me to truly enjoy tennis. Even during matches, my teammates and I created long-lasting memories filled with laughter, cheering, and more. Despite the 2022 fall season being the first time I got to play tennis, I obtained the doubles one position with my partner Bela. We both certainly weren't perfect, but our teamwork was stellar. We communicated with one another if we were having a bad day or if something was up. We bonded over music since one of our favorite artists is BTS, a k-pop group. Unfortunately, this special bond won't continue into next year as I am a junior and she is a senior. We shared a meaningful and beautiful tennis experience, and yes although it was short, she played a large role in teaching me the importance of simply having fun. Before our matches, we would give one another positive pep talks that went along the lines of, "We got this!" and "Don't let our mistakes define us!" Naturally, a lot of athletes get nervous during matches since they feel the need to perform well. Usually, I feel embarrassed about making mistakes but Bela and I never put each other down. If one of us hit a swift serve, we would tap rackets (a high five but with rackets). If one of us hit a ball completely off target, we would tap rackets. And, even if we committed a thousand double faults, we would still tap rackets. This uplifting relationship we had with each other, taught me that mistakes are okay. Laughing them off and accepting them is far better. What she cared about is having fun, since honestly, nothing else mattered. Thanks to her and my teammates, I have not just uncovered a passion for chasing after tiny green balls and swatting at them at the net, but I have learned that letting loose to have fun, is an important aspect of living a fuller and richer life.

Love! It is one of the most popular themes recurring in thousands, if not millions of song lyrics. Songs that sing of someone special or a romance have defined what love songs should be limited to. What if that whole script changed and instead of the singing of another person, a song for once focused on the most important type of love: self-love? A song that superbly accomplishes this is Epiphany by the multi-talented Korean pop group, BTS. BTS is one of the world's most eminent pop star groups. Recipients of hundreds of awards ranging from Billboard, iHeartRadio, Seoul Music, MAMA, and more, BTS has well-established its success as a K-Pop sensation. On top of that, they share uplifting and inspiring messages through their music. Themes like togetherness, overcoming obstacles, following one's dreams, and most importantly, self-love, are present countlessly in their work. Moreover, they have a LOVE MYSELF campaign with UNICEF that began in November of 2017 and is ongoing. The goal of this campaign is to combat violence and build youths' self-esteem (to aid in improving mental health). As I mentioned previously, the theme of self-love is heard within many of their musical masterpieces. In particular, the song Epiphany showcases this. Consider these lines from Epiphany, "...Precious soul of mine... Not so perfect but so beautiful, I'm the one I should love." These few lines greatly highlight the call to love ourselves. In terms of impact, this message has critically reminded me to be kind to myself, to accept myself, and much more. This message is significant because we tend to look negatively at ourselves, instead of appreciating our worth and goodness. BTS."Epiphany." Love Yourself: Answer. Big Hit, 2018.