I woke up one morning and wasn't myself. This was the principle that was taught to me at a young age during my years in theater. I was told that my personality should be scrapped like leftover food on a plate. Every new production is a new me to my friends, my family, and myself. I wouldn’t talk to them about how I would, but how my role would be. I knew that one day I would change my twisted viewpoint on theater. How could I be incomplete while completing the one idea that makes an actor an actor? I still felt different, especially in my first year in theater. I wasn’t as good as them. I wasn’t portraying my role correctly in their eyes. I wasn’t them. I was an outsider. But then I realized something that completely changed my life’s trajectory. It’s my role. I was cast. I shouldn’t have to fit into other people’s standards of what I should be. I should just be me. This opened my eyes, not just in a theatrical atmosphere, but in other aspects of my life. When I’m producing music or writing a song, I shouldn’t create what other people are creating. I should just be me. When I’m leading kids in tutoring or freshman orientation, I shouldn’t portray what they want me to say or do. I should just be me. Me. What am I? I’m someone with potency. I’m someone who gets involved in their community, either medically through community health programs, or musically in local studios, venues, and theatre. I’m someone who tries to live up to the standards of what a 17-year-old kid should do to lead their life, and not take things for granted. But deep down, I’m deeply affected by others' misfortune. When “crossing the line” while leading Unity Day, a girl asked why so much grief and violence happens to kids. Every person in the building crossed the line when the question, “Have you heard racist remarks or seen violence in high school or your community?” I teared up, even though I was trained to keep a straight face and not talk. Even with my diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease, which requires critical attention to everything that I do, I still branch out to help others. I need to pay attention to what I eat or drink, which means cutting out flash-frozen, processed, and fried foods. I need to monitor strenuous activities and stress to make sure that I don’t get overworked and have a flair-up. However, I’m able to keep up with my classes, earning a 4.64 GPA, even though I’m forced to miss weeks of school at a time. But still, I have to carry the stress and misfortune of other people. I try to sleep, but other people’s thoughts circle my mind. How to solve them is a math equation that keeps me awake. It’s something that I can’t get rid of. It’s my law. This is why I plan to pursue a career in law. Getting told what my favorite color Kool-aid is and the directions to the nearest KFC showed me how fortunate I am to not have more violent racist acts towards me. This shows why social justice is important to me. Social injustice is in multiple aspects of life, whether it be income, medical, or safety. I plan to attend the University of California - Los Angeles to help catapult my chances of doing what I believe is my life mission: To be me. And by being me, I know I can cause change to improve people’s lives. My interest in theater was a piece of that puzzle. I learned how to see people through other perspectives. I learned how people sometimes painted themselves as someone else. That made me learn how important it is to be genuine. And that was all the momentum I needed to be me. That is how I stand out.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect of it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect of it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect of it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

One change I would make to the world is improving medical services for people who are unable to access/afford them. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD almost three years ago. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community. I also give back to my community by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to serve God and my community at the same time. My history, as well as pursuing Political Science at UCLA will also allow me to achieve my goal of better medical access.

My community always had my back. Whether it be me participating in its Little League for baseball or going to a locally owned business, the area where I live never left me. Giving back to my community can be compared to helping out my family. If a family member needs help, I always try to provide a helping hand. The same can be said for my community. Whether through religious action or public health safety, I try to give a helping hand. This is what giving back to my community means to me. One way I give back to my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Informing the public about personal health is another way I help serve my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events since some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. Managing public health is another way I help give back to my community. This is even more developed in my case, as my diagnosis of Crohn's Disease showed me the importance of taking risks and helping others. It helped me out of my sheltered mindset and to put myself out there. I can also help through law. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society.

Me. What am I? I’m someone with potency. I’m someone who gets involved in their community, either medically through community health programs, or musically in local studios, venues, and theatre. I’m someone who tries to live up to the standards of what a 17-year-old kid should do to lead their life, and not take things for granted. But deep down, I’m deeply affected by others' misfortune. When “crossing the line” while leading Unity Day, a girl asked why so much grief and violence happens to kids. Every person in the building crossed the line when the question, “Have you heard racist remarks or seen violence in high school or your community?” I teared up, even though I was trained to keep a straight face and not talk. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD almost three years ago. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I looked like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I managed to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5s on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community. I can also help through law. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. Winning the #AuthenticallyYOU Scholarship can allow me to achieve not only my goals but also my mom’s goals. Lifting the financial burden of college will allow me to move forward in my life instead of in the past. And hey, maybe one day, after I win a case for my community, will I set up a scholarship too.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD almost three years ago. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community. I also give back to my community by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to serve God and my community at the same time.

My diagnosis of Crohn's Disease showed me how fortunate I am to have the resources needed to keep my disease in remission. Crohn's allowed me to reflect on the injustice people face, whether medically, socially, or economically. Serving my community was the first step, but I want to take it further. Defending those who don't have a voice is what I need to do. This is why I want to be a lawyer, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. Serving my community is also how I can turn my dreams into a reality. One way I give back to my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to serve God and my community at the same time. Informing the public about personal health is another way I help serve my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events since some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. Lastly, getting into a higher education with as much money saved as possible will help me achieve my goals. Getting accepted into UCLA was an enormous success in my life. There's no doubt the education I will learn will help me excel in my career dream. Saving money would also be excellent as well, as I would be able to focus on the future. My disease doesn't define me, and I can't for the bittersweet moment when I deliver my first opening argument.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD almost three years ago. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I looked like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I managed to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5s on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community. I can also help through law. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. Winning the Brotherhood Bows Scholarship can allow me to not only achieve my goals but also my mom’s goals. Lifting the financial burden of college will allow me to move forward in my life instead of in the past. And hey, maybe one day, after I win a case for my community, will I set up a scholarship too.

My diagnosis of Crohn's Disease showed me how fortunate I am to have the resources needed to keep my disease in remission. Crohn's allowed me to reflect on the injustice people face, whether medically, socially, or economically. Serving my community was the first step, but I want to take it further. Defending those who don't have a voice is what I need to do. This is why I want to be a lawyer. One way I give back to my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to serve God and my community at the same time. Informing the public about personal health is another way I help serve my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events since some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. Managing public health is another way I help give back to my community. This is even more developed in my case, as my diagnosis of Crohn's Disease showed me the importance of taking risks and helping others. It helped me out of my sheltered mindset and to put myself out there. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

My community always had my back. Whether it be me participating in its Little League for baseball or going to a locally owned business, the area where I live never left me. Giving back to my community can be compared to helping out my family. If a family member needs help, I always try to provide a helping hand. The same can be said for my community. Whether through religious action or public health safety, I try to give a helping hand. This is what giving back to my community means to me. One way I give back to my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to serve God and my community at the same time. Informing the public about personal health is another way I help serve my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events since some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. Managing public health is another way I help give back to my community. This is even more developed in my case, as my diagnosis of Crohn's Disease showed me the importance of taking risks and helping others. It helped me out of my sheltered mindset and to put myself out there. Through religion and health, I strive to help out my community as they helped me out. It is important to help work within your community as it is constantly facing challenges from outside sources, whether it be from a major city close to it, or not enough tax money to fund important ideals within the community. By becoming an active part within your community, you stand as another barrier to help protect your community, while also becoming a flower within the garden of it. Community is important, and participating in it will help it grow.

My community always had my back. Whether it be me participating in its Little League for baseball or going to a locally owned business, the area where I live never left me. Giving back to my community can be compared to helping out my family. If a family member needs help, I always try to provide a helping hand. The same can be said for my community. Whether through religious action or public health safety, I try to give a helping hand. This is what giving back to my community means to me. One way I give back to my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to serve God and my community at the same time. Informing the public about personal health is another way I help serve my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events since some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. Managing public health is another way I help give back to my community. This is even more developed in my case, as my diagnosis of Crohn's Disease showed me the importance of taking risks and helping others. It helped me out of my sheltered mindset and to put myself out there. Through religion and health, I strive to help out my community as they helped me out. It is important to help work within your community as it is constantly facing challenges from outside sources, whether it be from a major city close to it, or not enough tax money to fund important ideals within the community. By becoming an active part within your community, you stand as another barrier to help protect your community, while also becoming a flower within the garden of it. Community is important, and participating in it will help it grow.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect to it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. People assume that if parents grew up poor and educated, their kids would be too. She breaks this norm. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect to it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD almost three years ago. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I looked like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I managed to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5s on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD almost three years ago. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I looked like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I managed to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5s on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community.

I was about to leave the City of Hope - International Church after a Sunday service when the pastor, Bishop Antwain Jackson, asked to speak with me. I just finished the projections for the service, and after being at church for over 5 hours, my mind was drained. However, I went up to him. He told me “You create change. Even if it seems small to you, your impact is unmeasurable”. I was so drawn back to what he just said. When I was working during the Sunday services, I just stood amazed at how amazing the worship team can change the room in an instant. The messages and sermons the pastor gave erupt the room with laughter, applause, and worship. And now the bishop confirmed that I do that. I do that. I hugged him and left the church with a smile on my face. This feedback made me look at the bigger picture and my past involvement in other organizations. Informing the public about personal health is another way I help serve my community, just as my bishop said. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. Even my diagnosis of Crohn's Disease was both a call and a challenge for my path with God. I was able to make the right decision to stay on the path. Now I feel free, and I can express myself and be me without focusing on the negatives of my path. Now I stand forward. There is no bondage. Every chain is broken. Having the means necessary to help me out of the hole made me realize those who are unfortunate enough to not have access to them. This is why I plan to pursue a career in law. Getting told what my favorite color Kool-aid is and the directions to the nearest KFC showed me how fortunate I am not to have more violent racist acts towards me. This shows why social justice is important to me. Social injustice is in multiple aspects of life, whether income, medical, or safety. By practicing law, I'm also practicing my Christian faith. I'm using God's gift to me to help others who are in need. My pastor told the congregation during that same day to not stray away from God's gift. His love for you shows how much trust he has in you to make the correct decision. This is the correct decision.

Success is leading. A person doesn't have leadership skills if they are forced to help; they aren't successful in doing their job. A leader is already helping those in need without anyone requesting them to. A leader is someone who works diligently to get things done, but also to teach and inspire young minds to eventually fill the void. Being successful is acting within your community to promote its longevity, but also to help those in need. Involving yourself within your community is an important area to help shine leadership skills, and that is exactly what I do to help my community. During my time in my community, I help lead in two main ways; faith and health. One way I lead within my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Serving God is one way to help lead others, but personal health is another aspect I help lead others in. Learning more about personal health is another way I help lead within my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events since some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. Managing public health is another way I help lead my community. Important qualities of a successful person, a leader, is to work within their community without requests and to help raise future generations of leaders. I fit the role of helping those in need, whether it be faith or personal health. Leading is such a unique attribute for a person to have, and it's relevant for those to recognize their talents, but also to use those talents to help others reveal their talents. By earning the Redefining Victory Scholarship, I can continue my education in political science, a major that will allow me to lead in different aspects, either as a teacher or lawyer. Winning this scholarship will contribute to my being a successful person.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD almost three years ago. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I looked like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I managed to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5s on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community.

My mom always wears cat ears. I always believed that it represented freedom. My mom came from a tough background; living in a motel with rats and cockroaches, having to teach herself due to being homeschooled while also dealing with both parents addicted to drugs and alcohol. Through her courage and determination, she manages to escape this evil to make something of her life. Her only goal was for her children to make it to college. It's always been hard for her to communicate to us about her past due to her teaching us sheltered beliefs; she never let my brother and I leave the house after nightfall, no inappropriate shows or movies, and no hangout with friends far from home. However, just recently, the shows we watch as a family became more adult-themed. We were allowed to hang out with friends, and I even stayed out past midnight outside our home. But all of this came with a catch. She told us her story. Her story of survival. How she had to endure the challenges and faults in her life to persevere and break free of her family's cycle. She warned us about the one rule we had if we ever did something outside of our normal boundaries. We always had to call her, every night, to say goodnight. And that is how she played an important role in my life. She always wants us to know that she'll be here for us, no matter how much trouble we're in. She allowed me to develop myself as a performer and producer. She supported me throughout any significant and minute moment of my life. Even when I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a genetic, autoimmune disease, she still was a pillar in my life. It's So those cat ears are the story of how my mom impacted my life. Or maybe she just likes cats. The Weeknd, or Abel Tesfaye, is also an influential person in my life, so if I could, I would have to pick an hour-long conversation with him. He is a huge inspiration for me starting to produce music, and aspects of his life have similarities with mine. I would ask, “Who is your favorite artist?”. I would laugh if he said it himself. But on a real note, I would ask “What did you do to survive before you were well known?” His life was tough growing up. I remember watching a video about him performing songs while homeless. I dealt with hardships with money and finance, so knowing what he did will help me as well. Next, I would probably ask him “What would you say to someone who wants to join music?” I already know the answer, but I just need to hear it from him. He would say “Just keep moving, don’t give up.” Then, I would probably ask him “What brings light into your life?”. Music would be an obvious answer, but I wonder what else causes him to have motivation. But, of course, it wouldn’t be a full conversation without this question; “Can I make a song with you?”. Even if he said no, I would never forgive myself if I didn’t ask. These questions I would ask him reflect who I am. I survived difficulties and love music, and my inspiration did the same thing.

My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice. Even with my diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease, which requires critical attention to everything that I do, I still branch out to help others. I need to pay attention to what I eat or drink, which means cutting out flash-frozen, processed, and fried foods. I need to monitor strenuous activities and stress to make sure that I don’t get overworked and have a flair-up. But still, I have to carry the stress and misfortune of other people. I try to sleep, but other people’s thoughts circle my mind. How to solve them is a math equation that keeps me awake. It’s something that I can’t get rid of. It’s my law.

I was the new sick kid on campus. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD for almost three years. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I looked like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I managed to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5s on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. These thoughts placed a role in adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. However, I was able to get help at my school. I talked to the on-campus therapist and came out with a game plan. I got involved in different activities at school, from being a student leader for Unity Day to being appointed to be a student leader for Cougar Crew, a club that helps freshmen, the same people as me during my first day in high school, fit in at freshmen orientation and open house. I joined theatre, further putting myself out there. I was Mr. Myers in "Fame" and Uncle Billy in "It's a Wonderful Life". I was also the greenroom manager for a show run. During my senior year, I was nominated "Most Likely to become President". Overall, pointing myself out there allowed people to not see me as the sick kid, but as someone who points themselves out there. I would give the same advice to anyone in the same situation.

As soon as I graduated from my piano school, I had to do something to satisfy my urges for music. I got in my car to drive home, thinking about what I could do to complete this thought. And then, a song came on: After Hours, by The Weeknd. This song changed something within me. I felt myself pushed and pulled within the beat switches of the songs, the instrumentals, and the simple melody. I felt destined to create a masterpiece on the same scale as this song. And so, my next journey of my musical life was unwrapping: becoming a musical producer. I had no idea where to begin. I was always surrounded by music, whether it be on a walk or participating in a church service. However, I didn’t know how to start. I asked the main vocalist of the church’s worship team, Lou if he had any ideas. He connected me to the church’s drummer, ReShawn, who works within an organization called David’s Harp. This organization works with teens within impoverished communities to help them develop their taste in music. And so, one day I walked into a group session, and my eyes were stunned like looking in the sun. I saw completely different people from vastly different backgrounds within a singular place for one reason: to develop their interest in music. And so, my lesson began. Over the next three months, I learned how to develop and manipulate different elements of music and instruments, as well as combine them all cohesively into a beat. I could see myself developing my skills as a musical producer. I started working with underground artists to develop instrumentals for their songs, and eventually got my first placement. I was stunned at how fast my thoughts changed. I knew this was the life I wanted to live. Creating music isn’t just a hobby, but a way that I cope with myself. Whenever I experience a difficulty in my life, I feel like I’m able to express myself through what I create. This can’t be said for other situations. It’s just magical. I took what I learned from the organization and started to apply it at home. I purchased a Digital Audio Workstation to continue working on what I did at the studio at home. I managed to talk to artists outside of the studio and emerged myself in my community. This activity allows me to not only apply what I learned for 6 years at my piano school but also identify myself. By becoming a musical producer, I can work with others in a similar situation I was in to help them create their identity as well. This experience has been magical to me, and I don’t take it for granted. Music will always play a role in my life, and now I can give back to it as well.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect to it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect to it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect of it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease 3 years ago. It's a genetic, autoimmune disease that causes immense pain in a person's digestive tract, leaving a person immunocompromised and more susceptible to other help conditions. When I was diagnosed, I thought that the hospital room with sea animals and stars was my future. After getting out of a flair-up, I told myself one thing; I need to take risks. If my life is going to be shortened, I would need to expedite my plans. And so, I challenged myself with something I gave up on in the past: Theatre. Joining theatre was a necessary step in my life. It showed me to put myself out there, in front of the lights and the people. It showed me that I still had a purpose in life, that I wasn't just a person that people felt sorrow for. And after I gained my leverage, I kept soaring. I got involved musically in my community as well. I joined David's Harp Foundation, a community studio that helps people in similar situations as I was to pursue their passion for music. I was able to put my harsh experiences inside a beat, which blossomed into a song. These actions after my diagnosis showed me that my life wasn't in a void anymore. I can soar.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD for almost three years. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I looked like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I managed to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5s on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. If someone is in a similar situation, I would just say this. Keep on moving. Dory had the right idea. Just keep swimming.

My community always had my back. Whether it be me participating in its Little League for baseball or going to a locally owned business, the area where I live never left me. Giving back to my community can be compared to helping out my family. If a family member needs help, I always try to provide a helping hand. The same can be said for my community. Whether through religious action or public health safety, I try to give a helping hand. This is what giving back to my community means to me. One way I give back to my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead to be on time with the next slide. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Overall, this has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to serve God and my community at the same time. Informing the public about personal health is another way I help serve my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events since some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. But still, I have to carry the stress and misfortune of other people. I try to sleep, but other people’s thoughts circle my mind. How to solve them is a math equation that keeps me awake. It’s something that I can’t get rid of. It’s my law. This is why I plan to pursue a career in law. Getting told what my favorite color Kool-aid is and the directions to the nearest KFC showed me how fortunate I am not to have more violent racist acts towards me. This shows why social justice is important to me. Social injustice is in multiple aspects of life, whether income, medical, or safety. I hope I get into college to help catapult my chances of doing what I believe is my life mission: To be me. And by being me, I know I can cause change to improve people’s lives. My interest in theater was a piece of that puzzle. I learned how to see people through other perspectives. I learned how people sometimes painted themselves as someone else. That made me learn how important it is to be genuine. And that was all the momentum I needed to be me.

I love building amusement parks in Minecraft. After going to a new amusement park, I would picture on the drive home how to build the immense roller coasters. And so I did. First, I would build the frame of the track itself, usually all with the color concrete of the actual track. Then, I would add the rails, making sure to remove the concrete to soul sand, then add full powered rails. This way, it allowed the lift to be the same speed going up, instead of being a rocking motion with one powered rail followed by three normal rails. Also, I would make sure to add a detector rail whenever I was going to make a Redstone contraction. Next, I would decorate the tracks. I would add pillars every 6-10th block, and make them branch out every 6-10th block. I would add stone slabs and stairs on either side of the lift track, just in case something bad occurs. Then, I would work on the station, making sure that the entrances and exits were on the right side. Finally, I would work on the queue lines and the main entrance of the ride. I followed this process to make over 50 roller coasters in Minecraft, from X2 to Kingda Ka to Twisted Colossus. I even built the Six Flags Mountain Mountain, my biggest project yet. I'm amazed by how much creativity Minecraft offers, as it allows me to transfer the ideas I love in real life to a game that I can treasure forever.

Oh, Grey's Anatomy. What cannot happen in this show? We have relationships left and right, drama left and right, and trauma left and right. I find it hilarious how one person, Merideth, can have such an impact on everyone. Let me give a rundown of each major character to see who resonates with you more. First, we start with Merideth Gray. Daughter of the late Ellis Gray, she follows her mother's footsteps as she adventures to become a doctor. She falls in love with Dr. Shepard, the lead cardiac surgeon but has a quick role as intern Chief of Surgery. This relationship has been going on for 7 seasons. 7 Seasons! When will they ever be together without any problems occurring? I know that is unrealistic, but come on! Then, we go to Christina Yang. She is such a tryhard. I remember an episode that had her imagining doing a surgery, granted, with her eyes closed, while in the watching room. Her marriage with Dr. Burke was so upsetting. I don't even know why she agreed in the first place. Itś great to see how she was able to find another person, Dr. Hunt. Even though he choked her, as he thought he was across the country, you can see how much he loves her. Now, don't get me started with Izzie Stevens. She got stage 4 cancer but escaped a life sentence by Alex Karev. But no, when she got fired from the hospital for giving the wrong dosage of medicine to a patient, she left without telling Karev. To be fair, her getting fired after the guy who was supposed to watch the patient make sexually inappropriate jokes to her was wrong, but you got to tell your husband! You don't just leave your husband after one bad day. Karev is no better too. He is trying too hard to forget about Izzie that he is harming himself. After he got shot in the hospital, he kept the bullet in! He's a doctor, so he should know that a bullet near the surface should be removed to remove infection. Overall, Grey's Anatomy shows the most crazy and extreme relationships forming. I don't know how they start, but man, it makes me crazy to the point where I'm yelling at the TV for the characters to make the right decision. Overall, this show is great for people who love to direct, because you will be talking to yourself left and right.

I resonate most with Darryl from "The Office". Darryl was entangled in relationships with Michael, the rest of the warehouse crew, and Jim. He needed to decide who he trusted. Since Michael ruined his chances of being office manager, and the warehouse crew won the lottery and left using Darryl's birthday, Darryl trusted Jim the most. He decided that the warehouse or office life wasn't for him, and moved on to be a sport analyzer with Jim, while also taking care of his daughter from his divorced wife. Darryl's relationships with others reflect my life. My parents want me to be in a profession of high income, such as a doctor, but I don't believe that "lifestyle" would fit best with my work-life perspective. In addition, my relationship with my brother who doesn't engage with me, and my adopted sister, whom I only knew for 2 years, are the cut ties similar to Darryl. I hope that one day, I will be able to repair those relationships, which Darryl attempted to in the show. The jokes in "The Office" serve as a reminder of how to make a boring setting engaging. Passing the inappropriate jokes, Michael's main reasoning was to make the workplace another family. This shaped my sense of humor in workplace dynamics. When I was volunteering in a medical or religious setting, the main tone of the atmosphere was tough and settled. However, adding humor to these areas allows brightness into the workplace, which can lighten everyone's mood instead of being too focused on work. I hope that I'm able to apply the life lessons from "The Office" to my own life.

Gravity Falls "ended" on a cliffhanger, as Bill Cypher was talking about "returning" in reverse when being burned out of Uncle Stan's mind? Now, what if an entire show was just the fallout of Bill Cypher's reversed message? Star vs. The Forces of Evil would be the best show that can hold this image. The crossover episode of Gravity Falls & Star vs. The Forces of Evil would start on Star's side, where she is seeing different messages about a power more prominent than the ones she defeated in the past. She collaborates with Marco to discuss what to do. Meanwhile, in Gravity Falls, Uncle Stan is acting weird. Dipper and Mabel point out how he is spending more time alone. They are more concerned about a lock on a room they have never been in before. Succumbing to their curiosity, they distract Stan by having Soos run wild in the front yard. Dipper picks the lock and enters the room before Mabel. They are both shocked to see hieroglyphics, signs, and symbols that remind them of their past experiences with Bill Cypher. They notice a big portal, just like the one Ford Pines walked through. However, before they can contemplate more about the situation, Mabel hits the switch, and the portal activates, dragging Star and Marco into Gravity Falls. However, at this same time, Stan trips attempting to catch Soos, and passes out. Bill Cypher was able to take over his mind without anyone noticing while Stan recovers. Star and Marco introduce each other and talk about the interesting images both sides saw. However, the sky starts to darken, and the same situation as "Armageddon " begins to occur. Star and Marco team up with the folks of Gravity Falls to once again stop Bill Cypher's comeback. The team can find Stan inside a reversed pyramid, just like the previous encounter. However, Dipper notices something about him that reveals the true meaning of Star and Marco's appearance. Stan looks at everyone, then Dipper, and passes out again, revealing Bill Cypher. He tells the cast that he was able to create an alternate universe inside Stan's mind before being erased. Star vs. The Forces of Evil was an alternate universe. He points out the similarities; Dipper and Marco, Mabel and Star, the weapon used to erase Stan's mind compared to Star's Wand. Star's defeated Toffee broke Bill's protection, forcing him to come out before any of them knew. Star is able to use her wand to quickly stun Bill while Dipper and Mabel pick up Stan and regroup. They come up with a plan to eliminate Bill for good, which they quickly enforce, too little effectiveness. Star and Mabel, the only two who aren't incapacitated, walk up to Bill, and Mabel tells Bill that he can continue to live in her mind. Bill, who believes that this is reverse psychology, as he was fooled into going into the wrong person before, and processes Mabel. He was right, as Mabel was actually Star. However, Bill reaches into her pocket and realizes that the wand isn't there. Mabel has it. Just like the previous encounter, Mabel uses the wand to permanently erase Bill, but this time, Star and Marco disappear as well. After this encounter, people of Gravity falls believe that Star and Marco disappeared because they were figments of Bill's imagination. However, both Star and Marco knock on the Mystery Shack door, starting their new adventure with Dipper and Mabel. The title would be "The Right Choice."

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a TOP 5 Game! Every Friday, my family and I would set up a tournament to see who was crowned the Mario Kart Champion. We each had our Nintendo Switch to practice on, so we were practicing any time we had nothing to do. Now, I always rocked with Peach with her Cat Cruiser, Azer Rollers, and Cloud Glider. It gave the perfect speed and handling. I played with assist barriers off, so I had to ensure my drifting was on point. I wasn't worried about my mom and dad (Please don't tell them). I was afraid of my brother and his friend Michael. My brother always rocked Golden Peach, so the extra weight the character gave allowed him to be faster. He played basketball and football, so his handling was on point. Michael always used Donkey Kong, so the same factor applied. I was on set to beat him and become the new household champion. My family always did Grand Prix, so the excuse of "This wasn't my race" couldn't be used. In the first race, I got 2nd and Quentin, my brother, got 1st. In the second race, we switched places. I maintained 1st in the 3rd race. However, on the 4th race, I got a late start by pressing accelerate before the "2" popped up on the countdown. I was done for. I was sitting in 8th place, but a golden mushroom got me to 4th. I was behind everyone except my mom in the last lap. I was able to catch up to 2nd place before the last stretch of the race. I was only behind my brother. The final item I got was a green shell, but my brother had a jukebox. No matter what I did, I would have lost. However, I heard that amazing sound. The sound of a blue shell. I quickly dodged the blue shell, which promptly spun around to hit Quentin. He used his jukebox to counter it, but it didn't matter. I aligned my green shell, which bounced off a wall and hit him as soon as the jukebox went away. I drifted around the corner and got 1st. Victory. My brother was mad, but it didn't matter. I was crowned champion for the week and didn't have to put away dishes, my only chore I hate. These memories were my only attachment to my brother after he left to go to college. He never liked talking to me, except when he beat me in races. Even then, he would roast me, then ice me until next week's race. However, it didn't bother me. I knew that when we'd go on our path once we grew up. And we did. But playing these games with him allowed me to have a past with him. Even after we sold all of our Nintendo Switches to pay for bills and food, we had the memory. Nintendo stands for the backbone of our family, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as well as Super Smash Bros and Super Mario Party, were its columns. These games allowed me to have a connection with my Uncle Phil, whose only source of entertainment after working 11-hour shifts was playing me. Nintendo was just another part of my family, holding us close. I pinned the medal for winning the race on my door. That was the last race.

My favorite TV shows to watch are Criminal Justice shows. It doesn't matter what I'm doing: reading, eating, or sleeping. An episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Organized Crime, or Chicago PD will always be on. My interest in these shows started with my grandma and transferred to me. Catching the bad guys was always cool to see, but what interested me more was the legal aspect of it. The court arraignments, the trials, and especially the lawyers and Assistant District Attorney were my main focus. What previous court cases would they bring up to protect or arraign the defendant? Did the jury believe the defendant was guilty or not guilty? Or did they deadlock? These factors are what kept my mind open to Criminal justice within the real world, not in a drama setting. These shows piqued my interest in pursuing Criminal Justice as my major. My career goal is to be that person on TV, the Assistant District Attorney. I know that achieving this position takes years of work and planning, so I plan on working on becoming a defense attorney to bring up my status, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream. My friends persuaded me to take AP United States History as they wanted to see me struggle. However, not only did I get an A in the class, I got a 5 on the AP test. Interesting though, the most accomplished part of taking that class was the history of the Supreme Court and the important cases that shifted human society. Whether it be Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court its power, or the allowance of segregation by Plessy v. Ferguson with the overturning of that case by Brown v. Board of Education, these cases played an important role within US society. And this is why I plan to pursue Criminal Justice. I hope that I can be involved in a case that'll shift society towards an important figure. I hope that my future action helps push society forward, instead of pushing it backwards. It isn't about the fame or recognition, it's about the presence, which hopefully will better the law and order of society. My family also inspired me to push myself in this direction. My mom always wears cat ears. Whether it be at work or home, she never forgets them. It might be that she likes cats, but I believe that they represent the statue of freedom. Freedom from the cycle she was forced to live in. She lived in a poor area that was swamped with prostitution, gang violence, and drugs. She lost her father to drugs and her mom to alcoholism, but she still managed to break the cycle. Her one dream is to see her kids go to college and graduate, and I plan to honor her dream. I also plan to take it a step further by getting a job as a lawyer. This way, hopefully, I can set standards and regulations through court cases that can help others break the cycle of drugs and alcohol. She is the reason I'm here, and I plan to honor her dream and help others who face a similar life. This is why I plan to major in Criminal Justice. ,

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease three years ago. I was in constant, excruciating pain and unable to leave my bed. My mom didn’t believe me until I lost 45 pounds. I was rushed to the hospital, bed-ridden, and scared. Was this my new life? After weeks of tests and exams, the doctors diagnosed me with Crohn’s Disease, which is the inflammation of my gastrointestinal tract. I had to learn what foods I could eat, not based on if I liked it, but if I would have another flare-up and be back in the hospital. I had to get injections every week. But one moment changed my unfortunate thinking. I sat in my normal seat at the City of Hope International Church and rose when the worship team came out. The first song was No Bondage by Jubilee Worship. This was the moment my connection with God expanded tenfold. I was in the atmosphere of God’s presence. I thought that I was chained to my disease, but that mindset was instantly broken. My life wasn’t going to be defined by this disease but by God’s will. After this encounter, I started getting more involved in my church. I joined my church’s volunteer program, working at church-funded events, including a baptism where over 50 people renewed their vows to God. I participated in the volunteer meetings while being the only teen in the room. I volunteered at the church's Reel Teens: Summer Nights Program, which provided a safe spot for teams in my community to hang out and play games while also learning about Christianity. I also joined my church’s technician crew, becoming the lead production manager. I believe that my diagnosis was both a call and a challenge for my path with God. However, I was able to make the right decision to stay on the path. Now I feel free, and I can express myself and be me without focusing on the negatives of my path. Now I stand forward. There is no bondage. Every chain is broken. Having the means necessary to help me out of the hole made me realize those who are unfortunate enough to not have access to them. This is why I plan to pursue a career in law. Getting told what my favorite color Kool-aid is and the directions to the nearest KFC showed me how fortunate I am to not have more violent racist acts towards me. This shows why social justice is important to me. Social injustice is in multiple aspects of life, whether it be income, medical, or safety. By practicing law, I'm also practicing my Christian faith. I'm using God's gift to me to help others who are in need. My pastor told the congregation during that same day to not stray away from God's gift. His love for you shows how much trust he has in you to make the correct decision. This is the correct decision.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease three years ago. I was in constant, excruciating pain and unable to leave my bed. My mom didn’t believe me until I lost 45 pounds. I was rushed to the hospital, bed-ridden, and scared. Was this my new life? After weeks of tests and exams, the doctors diagnosed me with Crohn’s Disease, which is the inflammation of my gastrointestinal tract. I had to learn what foods I could eat, not based on if I liked it, but if I would have another flare-up and be back in the hospital. I had to get injections every week. But one moment changed my unfortunate thinking. I sat in my normal seat at the City of Hope International Church and rose when the worship team came out. The first song was No Bondage by Jubilee Worship. This was the moment my connection with God expanded tenfold. I was in the atmosphere of God’s presence. I thought that I was chained to my disease, but that mindset was instantly broken. My life wasn’t going to be defined by this disease but by God’s will. After this encounter, I started getting more involved in my church. I joined my church’s volunteer program, working at church-funded events, including a baptism where over 50 people renewed their vows to God. I participated in the volunteer meetings while being the only teen in the room. I volunteered at the church's Reel Teens: Summer Nights Program, which provided a safe spot for teams in my community to hang out and play games while also learning about Christianity. I also joined my church’s technician crew, becoming the lead production manager. I believe that my diagnosis was both a call and a challenge for my path with God. However, I was able to make the right decision to stay on the path. Now I feel free, and I can express myself and be me without focusing on the negatives of my path. Now I stand forward. There is no bondage. Every chain is broken. Having the means necessary to help me out of the hole made me realize those who are unfortunate enough to not have access to them. This is why I plan to pursue a career in law. Getting told what my favorite color Kool-aid is and the directions to the nearest KFC showed me how fortunate I am to not have more violent racist acts towards me. This shows why social justice is important to me. Social injustice is in multiple aspects of life, whether it be income, medical, or safety. By practicing law, I'm also practicing my Christian faith. I'm using God's gift to me to help others who are in need. My pastor told the congregation during that same day to not stray away from God's gift. His love for you shows how much trust he has in you to make the correct decision. This is the correct decision.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 4 years ago. Crohn’s is a genetic, autoimmune disease that affects a person's GI tract, making it inflamed, causing pain, nausea, diarrhea, and in more serious cases, fistulas, tears, and bleeding in the gut. I was in remission for 2 years, but I just had an episode with the complications of the disease at the start of 2024. I have to get weekly infusions, but these infusions make me immunocompromised, making it easier for me to get infections and making them wreak havoc on my body. However, the main issue is determining if I’m having a flair-up, which is when Crohn’s is active in my body, or if I’m experiencing another issue. This was the issue with my past hospitalization. I had a bacterial infection, yersinia enterocolitica, but I wasn’t on medication for three weeks as I thought the pain I was experiencing was a flair-up. I thought that I was being punished. Dealing with this disease messes up my time at school. At times when I’m not in remission, I experience frequent pain, as well as constantly needing to use the restroom. My teachers know what is going on with me, but most of the students don’t know. It was embarrassing rocking back and forth to tune out the pain and leaving the classroom every twenty minutes. Students believed that I was faking just to get out of difficult exams, even though I was the one who signed up for the classes. Whenever I was taking a test, I kept thinking that the other students were watching me. "Why is he even taking this test?" "Here we go. Another F for Julius." I was always the last one to submit a test. I believed their thoughts were being spoken. Their opinions of me changed quickly as soon as they noticed that I wasn’t at school for two weeks at a time. This disease constantly makes me miss large chunks of school, worsening my academics. However, I’m able to get the information I need by reaching out to my teachers and friends and making up for the exams that I missed at “Beyond the Bell”, our school’s version of the after-school tutorial. Talking with social workers and therapists, I was able to realize that this disease doesn't control me. But it also made me more aware of my past. It made me think about Maria, my adopted sister, who would cut herself as punishment for stealing from my mom's work. It made me think of my Mother who suffers from anxiety and battles with depression, her father who drank himself to death, and her mother using drugs as a coping mechanism. It made me think of my brother, who even though is attending UCLA, gets depressed after missing track meets due to leg injuries. It showed me how all of us have issues that we keep to ourselves. Since we don't tell anyone about how we're feeling, it's up to our minds to develop the thoughts we hate. It showed me the importance of speaking out and asking for help. I was able to survive the physical and mental challenges with my disease, while also reflecting on how my thoughts only hurt me. Other people can't hear them, and since they don't know, they can't help. However, I was able to remain unbroken.

My Grandpa served in the military. I believe this is where he got his passion for work. He goes on missions daily to help those around us. However, this one memory I have with him was a life lesson. My Grandpa picked me up from school to go to the hospital. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, so I needed constant medical attention to make sure that my disease was in remission. We arrived at Rady's Children's Hospital and after 4 hours of waiting for an MRI, and 1 hour in the grueling machine, we were on our way home. However, he was concerned about picking up Malachi and Makayla, the twins who my Grandparents took in after their mom was arrested for drug prossession and had to go to rehab. He was going to drop me off at my house, which was only 1 house apart from their house, then go back out. I told him he didn't need to, and we could go straight there. We arrived at Lemon Grove Academy Middle School, 2 minutes before school got out. Makayla was first in the car, but she didn't get in. "Hey Grandpa, you got two dollars so I can get some ice cream?" While Grandpa was looking for the money, Makayla started to talk to me. "How was your day, Julius," she asked, with no regard for how I was feeling. She just wanted the money. Grandpa handed her the money, and she left, slamming the door to shut it, without even saying thank you. "This is the price you pay when you help people," my Grandpa said, clearly upset. While waiting for Makayla to return, Malachi entered the car, slamming the door to shut it, without even saying hello. He sat on his phone as if waiting for his UBER to drive. Makayla came back 20 minutes later, but not with ice cream, but with a bag of street tacos, which she almost immediately spilled when we started driving. Makayla and Malachi were arguing the whole way. I told my Grandpa that I had a key to my house, so he could park at his house, and I'd walk up. 1 house apart. However, he pulled into my driveway first to drop me off. I watched as my Grandpa drove out of the driveway, drove 1 house apart, and parked in his house. I didn't talk to him until the next day. This experience showed me how much life can differ one house apart. I wondered what my Grandpa saw that changed his life to be so supportive. I know I wouldn't have the patience to hold that. I'm blessed to be able to go to an amazing school, have parents who love and support me, and family who'll always be there for me. My Grandpa is my ideal. Whenever he needs help on one of his missions, I always go with him, whether it's picking up cement bricks or playing basketball. One house apart.

Leadership is just that; leading. A person doesn't have leadership skills if they are forced to help. A leader is already helping those in need without anyone requesting them too. A leader is someone who works diligently to get things done, but also to teach and inspire young minds to eventually fill the void. Being a leader is acting within your own community to promote its longevity, but also to help those in need. Involving yourself within your community is an important area to help shine leadership skills, and that is exactly what I do to help my community. During my time in my community, I help lead in two main ways; faith and health. One way I lead within my community is giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead. Not only do I help serve God, I help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Serving God is one way to help lead others, but personal health is another aspect I help lead others in. Learning more about personal health is another way I help lead within my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events due to the fact that some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay these important info to the public. Managing public health is another way I help lead my community. Important qualities of a leader is to work within their community without requests, and to help raise future generations of leaders. I fit the role in helping those in need, whether it be faith or personal health. Leading is such a unique attribute for a person to have, and it's relevant for those to recognize their talents, but also to use those talents to help others reveal their talents. So to answer the question of what leadership means to me, it's simple. Leadership is leading. Leading without being asked. Leading the next generation.

Leadership is just that; being a leader. A person doesn't have leadership skills if they are forced to help. A leader is already helping those in need without anyone requesting them to. A leader is someone who works diligently to get things done, but also to teach and inspire young minds to eventually fill the void. Being a leader is acting within your community to promote its longevity, but also to help those in need. Involving yourself within your community is an important area to help shine leadership skills, and that is exactly what I do to help my community. During my time in my community, I help lead in two main ways; faith and health. One way I lead within my community is by giving service through God at church. I help run projections at my local church, which involves me working hard to place and situate the correct slides, whether it be for worship or a sermon, while also reading the room and thinking ahead. Not only do I help serve God, but I also help lead the way for others to find their path with God by giving people a way to voice their compassion towards them. I also lead others to fill this position. I help do this by having people shadow me while I work, but also to give important info and tricks to help run projections. Serving God is one way to help lead others, but personal health is another aspect I help lead others in. Learning more about personal health is another way I help lead within my community. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important info to the public. Managing public health is another way I help lead my community. Important qualities of a leader are to work within their community without requests and to help raise future generations of leaders. I fit the role of helping those in need, whether it be faith or personal health. Leading is such a unique attribute for a person to have, and it's relevant for those to recognize their talents, but also to use those talents to help others reveal their talents. So to answer the question of what leadership means to me, it's simple. Leadership is leading. Leading without being asked. Leading the next generation.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and IBD for almost three years. Crohn’s Disease is a genetic, autoimmune, chronic condition that causes inflammation of a person’s intestinal tract or esophagus, while IDB is a broad term for any autoimmune disease that affects these areas. I survived the encounter of being diagnosed with faith, which allowed me to learn multiple life lessons about how lucky I am. During this encounter, I faced adversity not only through individuals at school but my thoughts. If a person with Crohn's eats or drinks something that can irritate their digestive tract, then their immune system can cause an overreaction, which causes severe pain in the gut region. However, stress can often play a part in causing this pain as well. At school, I attempted to challenge myself by taking multiple honors and AP classes, but these classes also came with stress from homework and the difficulty spike. This caused me to get these pains while at school, which was very public for other people to see. This caused rumors to spread around the school about me not having the knowledge or strength to do these classes. This often got me sidelined from group events, as I look like a "tag-a-long" for people. However, I tried desperately to not let these rumors get to me. I maintained a better study schedule and managed my stress, and I manage to pass all my classes with A's while getting 5's on all of my AP tests. However, another issue was dawning on me. My thoughts placed a role on adversity on me. The treatments for my disease are expensive. Insurance should have carried this weight easily, but difficulties arose. They said that they wouldn’t cover any of the costs due to me being a sudden “burden” to them. I was a sinkhole to them. However, with the help of the hospital though, they ate the cost and reassured my mom that this issue would be fixed, as since this was a “necessary life treatment”, they couldn’t remove coverage from me due to its unexpectedness. Even so, I felt like it was my fault that my family had to go through this circumstance. Every year, we have to go through this cycle with insurance. I also remembered how my mom didn't believe me, but now that she knew it was real, the guilt she felt radiated off to me, and it made me guilty as well. She sat me down and apologized, and I instantly hugged her and accepted it. Knowing my mom was on my side helped me overcome my adversity. Due to this event, I decided to take a medical approach to helping out my community. I help and plan to continue volunteering at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events because some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. This is how I plan to use my adversity to my advantage to help my community.

One of the most troubling tales of a modernized world is unawareness of health issues, especially among those who can't afford to get screened. Every year, thousands of individuals get undiagnosed with severe medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. These diseases alone can cause serious complications, but with the additional variable of not knowing you have the condition, these complications skyrocket. Even if people are diagnosed with these conditions, some are held under the false belief that they don't need to take their medicine as prescribed, or at all. This isn't the ideal situation as well, because not accurately taking prescribed medications can cause adverse reactions or worsen medical conditions. The main issue with this situation is simple to identify: information. Communities of lower incomes don't have the best sources and media to display the importance of getting screened. These communities may also spread misinformation, which gives the person a false sense of security as they believe they are getting the correct information. This is mainly due to the uneven distribution of incomes toward education from higher-end societies. However, I am part of a cause that plans to shift the awareness of information toward the correct place. I help volunteer at multiple community health fairs in my area through Dr. Afflalo, a testament to being a community leader. Whether it be at a YMCA or behind a community center, I help make sure that people are alerted about their health through multiple medical tests, such as blood pressure screening or blood sugar testing. It is important to help run these events due to the fact that some people are unaware of medical complications that can arise if they are unaware of medical conditions that they have or don't properly take care of those medical conditions. It is important to remind those who fit these criteria to properly take their medication and to get regular checkups to reevaluate their conditions. I work with multiple doctors and future doctors to help relay this important information to the public. Another way I passionately advocate for public health is through the media. I help pass fliers at multiple events that help alert the public of upcoming events that they could participate in to gain awareness of opportunities to learn more or find out about medical conditions. These fliers also have opportunities for different areas besides health, such as child care. By spreading this information, I help participate in the cause of public awareness of health. By participating in these health fairs, I help spread awareness that is needed within these communities. By advocating for these changes, I help the chance that someone can be diagnosed with a condition before a troubling medical event occurs. I plan on pursuing advocating for medical justice throughout my life, especially in college. Spreading information that allows people to correctly gain knowledge on general or specific health concerns is a great cause to follow, and donating to these educational systems is a great way to support the cause.

It's been over 12 years since I first touched a piano. Yet, I still remember the cold touch of my first memory. Music has always surrounded my life, whether it be from the radio or live orchestra performances. However, not a single event got me interested in music. I remember faintly during my younger years when my mom "requested" me to pick a hobby. I wasn't much of a sports person, so I chose a passion within the musical industry. I chose to play the piano through Wagner's School of Music. This decision to choose this changed my life. Mr. Brett Wagner is a talented musical leader. He felt like a second father to me by the ways his passion for music surrounded me. He was an illustrious teacher who solidified my taste in music. Through that school, I performed in dozens of recitals, often replaying the most influential songs that I listen to on the piano. These recitals changed my view of music from listening to performing. I got involved in theater during my high school years. I worked with multiple talented leaders, from musicians to vocal teachers, to get myself ready to perform in the musicals the production was put on. I recognized the challenges and practices I needed to work on to make myself successful within this industry. I participated in two productions; Rock of Ages and Fame! This also enlightened me about how people watch music. They don't attend recitals or performances because they are forced to. They attend them because of how their feelings change from watching. However, figuring out this puzzle changed my view of music to more modern music with the introduction of a new artist, The Weeknd. The Weeknd has been an idol to me. Even though some of his lyrics fell on deaf ears to me, the immaculate presence of the beat followed by the hard-stuck guitars flew into my ears. I attended one of his concerts in Los Angeles, and that day will never leave my mind. That shifted my means of enjoying music towards digital. I started attending a community studio from the David's Harp Foundation to start my teaching within being a producer. I learned how to customize synth and sound selection, and finished making my first song with vocals, ad-libs, and instrumentals within my first months of attending. The rush I get from recording live audio into a digital audio face not only showed the challenges that needed to be conquered throughout my vocal ranges but the success that I achieved to be within this moment. This moment also gave way to the belief about me becoming an artist in the future. I plan to major in music production in college, which will allow me to get close and personal with the thousands of variables in creating an amazing beat, as well as training my vocals to allow me to become a better singer. After my master's degree in art is obtained, I plan to go around the US to inhale the different musical genres each section has. I plan on becoming a full-time artist, with the goal to headline Coachella or Rolling Loud. Music allowed me to view the world more colorfully. Its elaborate patterns acted like pathways to live my life. I chose the pathway of becoming an artist. Becoming an artist is a dream of mine, and with this scholarship in hand, I will be one step closer to achieving my dreams.

It's been over 12 years since I first touched a piano. Yet, I still remember the cold touch of my first memory. Music has always surrounded my life, whether it be from the radio or live orchestra performances. However, not a single event got me interested in music. I remember faintly during my younger years when my mom "requested" me to pick a hobby. I wasn't much of a sports person, so I chose a passion within the musical industry. I chose to play the piano through Wagner's School of Music. This decision to choose this changed my life. Mr. Brett Wagner is a talented musical leader. He felt like a second father to me by the ways his passion for music surrounded me. He was an illustrious teacher who solidified my taste in music. Through that school, I performed in dozens of recitals, often replaying the most influential songs that I listen to on the piano. These recitals changed my view of music from listening to performing. I got involved in theater during my high school years. I worked with multiple talented leaders, from musicians to vocal teachers, to get myself ready to perform in the musicals the production was put on. I recognized the challenges and practices I needed to work on to make myself successful within this industry. I participated in two productions; Rock of Ages and Fame! However, my taste in classical or jazz-style music shifted to more modern music with the introduction of a new artist, The Weeknd. The Weeknd has been an idol to me. Even though some of his lyrics fell on deaf ears to me, the immaculate presence of the beat followed by the hard-stuck guitars flew into my ears. I attended one of his concerts in Los Angeles, and that day will never leave my mind. That shifted my means of enjoying music towards digital. I started attending a community studio from the David's Harp Foundation to start my teaching within being a producer. I learned how to customize synth and sound selection, and finished making my first song with vocals, ad-libs, and instrumentals within my first months of attending. The rush I get from recording live audio into a digital audio face not only showed the challenges that needed to be conquered throughout my vocal ranges but the success that I achieved to be within this moment. I plan to major in music production in college, which will allow me to get close and personal with the thousands of variables in creating an amazing beat, as well as training my vocals to allow me to become a better singer. After my master's degree in art is obtained, I plan to go around the US to inhale the different musical genres each section has. I plan on becoming a full-time artist, with the goal to headline Coachella or Rolling Loud. Becoming an artist is a dream of mine, and with this scholarship in hand, I will be one step closer to achieving my dreams.