The oceans harbor a mesmerizing and intricate world beneath its surface. I want to protect our oceans because of my deep-seated reverence for the creatures that call it home. The complex web of life that lay just beneath the rocky ocean waves is very dear to my heart. As an aspiring aquatic veterinarian, I hope to dedicate myself to protecting and helping this precious ecosystem, and by doing so, I hope to ensure that future generations can be just as captivated by those creatures as I am. My passion for ocean conservation stems from my appreciation of the diverse array of marine animals. Ever since I was a child, each strange creature I learned about has fascinated me. I devoured books and ocean documentaries faster than a child eating candy on Halloween. Each species, no matter how strange or small, plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. The thought of losing species fills me with dread. My motivation is simple, if we can’t save the ocean’s biodiversity, then our future generations will have to live in a world where these beautiful species are nothing more than descriptions and photos. Every generation should have the chance to be inspired by the ocean’s creatures. By helping conserve the ocean, we can not only protect the current inhabitants but also ensure future generations can continue learning and exploring the wonders of the sea. As I pursue my goals of becoming an aquatic veterinarian, I hope to one day be able to contribute to the rescue and rehabilitation efforts and grow the numbers of endangered ocean species. I believe that we can make a difference, if we work together, and listen to the science. By using our voices, we can fight to change policies and help save our oceans. I believe that we can create a more sustainable future for everyone. In conclusion, my passion for protecting our oceans stems from my appreciation for the diversity of marine life and my commitment to preserve these ecosystems for the future generations. By becoming an aquatic veterinarian, and working in the rescue field, I aspire to contribute to conservation efforts with advocacy and intervention. By working together, we can save our oceans complex and vibrant ecosystem, and in doing so, help create a sustainable future and ensure that future generations can be just as inspired by the oceans as we have been.

Minecraft has always been one of my favorite games. It’s honestly amazing how big of an impact one tiny disk can have on someone’s childhood. But to me, and my siblings, who spent endless hours together crowded around a TV screen, it wasn’t just a tiny disk; it was a portal to a realm that offered boundless creativity, a realm where every piece works together to shape an entire digital world. To outsiders, it was just a disk, but to me and my siblings, it was a place where we could combine our creative minds and construct a world while also constructing relationships. From the moment we took our first steps into the pixelated realm of Minecraft, the building aspect captivated us. We build many crazy contraptions and buildings that, in our innocent youthful eyes, could put the ancient wonders to shame. With each block we placed, and each building we constructed, we grew closer together, and those pixelated blocks served as building blocks to the foundations of our sibling bond. What resonated with me most about playing Minecraft is the nostalgia it evokes. So many of my precious childhood memories are of me and my siblings immersed in the game, the laughter and joy elicited from the creation of our virtual masterpieces, and the camaraderie that sprung from each shared adventure. Minecraft evokes these memories and never fails to remind me of a time when wonder and imagination could rule empires and defeat the strongest of enemies. Beyond nostalgia, Minecraft served as an outlet for our collaboration and creativity, teaching us the valuable skills of teamwork and communication, and their importance for bringing to life our visions. Whether building cities, mazes, or giant complex structures, we had to work together to transform the blank canvas that was a flat world into whatever we so pleased. Moreover, Minecraft became a conduit for connection, allowing us to connect in a way that previous generations never had the opportunity to. It provides a space where we can come together and forge memories that will last a lifetime. In essence, my favorite aspect of Minecraft has never been the endless possibilities, the creative freedom, or even the ability to build whatever I wanted, but that it was a bridge that served to connect me and my siblings, allowing us to embark on a journey of imagination and companionship that went beyond the pixelated screen we crowded around, and even more precious than the timeless masterpieces we crafted, but a bond whose strength can outlast even the plastic casing that disk came in. For me, Minecraft isn’t just a game you turn on and off when you get bored; it is a canvas on which we painted the tale of our sibling bond, one block at a time.

When I was five, my family doctor diagnosed me with ADHD. It was not a huge surprise to my family, considering that my dad also has a diagnosis of it as well. I grew up in a home environment that showed me having ADHD wasn’t a bad thing. In fact, my dad always told me it was more like a superpower than anything else. This made it especially shocking when I started seeing that society often had an opposing feeling toward ADHD. When I was in fifth grade, I was on a field trip with my church small group. My best friend at the time was also on this trip. I, my best friend, and another girl from my small group were sitting down eating dinner before our crew headed home and I told them about my ADHD. My words were met with faces of disgust. I’ve never forgotten how it felt to have my best friend tell me not to get close to her because she did not want to catch my “sickness. “Another event early in my life came from a swim coach I had. He told my parents, who later told me, that kids like me can’t be pushed, meaning that he would not push me to do good at swim. While these events hurt at their occurrence, I know that I’ve grown because of them. As for my future, I know I can use my ADHD to my advantage. My dream is to be an aquatic vet. This dream stems from my special interest in animals. Whenever I’m learning about animals, I’m much more focused than in subjects like English and history. I could discuss veterinary medicine and animals for hours and cease only to catch my breath. Plus, having ADHD has given me a skill that few neurotypical people can boast. I can become hyper-focused on a task and the world almost melts around me, as if the only thing that exists is me and the task I’m doing. This is especially useful when cramming for a test. I also am more aware of my surroundings because of my ADHD, which can be helpful in multitasking scenarios. When I’m a vet, I'll need to monitor the vitals of animals while I perform standard veterinary practices like animal checkups and surgeries. Because I’m able to notice those things without having to divert my full attention to them, I’m hopeful I'll make a great vet one day. Living with ADHD is often challenging, but it can also be rewarding. For me, having ADHD has provided me with invaluable lessons and opportunities. It has helped me become a more resilient person and I’m grateful for all the experiences I’ve had as a student living with ADHD, from learning how to better manage my time and energy, to understanding my strengths and weaknesses. I’m glad that I have ADHD because it has helped shape who I am today.

A lot can happen in a year, especially in a year of utmost value, like a senior year. Most people are excited about their senior. Some even look forward to its end. I have almost a polar opposite reaction to my senior year, or at least I used to. At the kickoff of the school year, I stressed about what the future was going to bring. As a senior, I had a lot on my plate. I needed to find a college to attend; I had to get my senior pictures made; and manage strong grades to receive scholarships. It is safe to say I’ve been pretty stressed out. As the year has progressed, I’ve got less and less anxious about my future. With every item I check off my college checklist, I stress less and less. Since I’ve got more of my ducks in order, I’m able to enjoy my senior year more. I’ve started looking forward to senior year milestones, instead of dreading them. While it is not a huge change, it is helpful to me. I’m still me, just a less nervous version of myself. Don’t get me wrong, I still worry. For example, now that I know where I’m going, I’m worried about paying for college. I know my anxieties are something I’ll have to learn to live with, but I know it gets easier. Additionally, I accept that I don’t have to go at it alone. I have people in my corner. My friends are there for me. In fact, they are having the same fears as I am. Likewise, my parents are also reassuring. They have seen this with my siblings and themselves. I’m proud of myself for how well I’ve done this year. While things are not perfect and I still have a lot to get done, I know things are going to turn out fine in the end. Even if they do not, I know it does not do me any good to sit around worrying all the time. Through this journey of self-discovery, I realize the power of self-care and its ability to help me cope with my anxieties. It has changed the way I approach life situations and has taught me valuable lessons about resilience, patience, and understanding. I feel like taking time for myself has been just as important in my decreasing anxiety as my friends and parents have. I’ve started indulging in my hobbies to take my mind off my worries. In the end, I know I have a long journey ahead of me, but I also know that it does not help to worry about it, and I’m not alone on my journey. In the end, I know it will turn out fine.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved all things aquatic. I loved swimming, so I joined a swim team; I loved the ocean and the feeling of coarse sand scrapping the bottoms of my feet; but what I loved more than anything was the animals that lived in and around the water. I remember being at friends’ pool parties and being more interested and getting frogs out of the chlorinated water than participating in the actual games. What I wanted from life was to be an aquatic animal trainer and spend my life playing with dolphins and walruses. Later, my dreams changed to being an aquatic vet, but my love for animals hasn’t changed. As an aquatic vet, I hope to help with conservation efforts. I would be a hypocrite if I, someone who wants to rescue and rehabilitate animals, didn’t prevent animals from going extinct and losing their homes. My goal as an aquatic vet is to own a rescue and rehabilitation center. My whole life is going to be dedicated to saving animals. While the impact I make might be small, as I can only save so many animals in a lifetime, it’s meaningful to me. One thing I hope to focus on for conservation is working with endangered animals. I want to help rebuild the numbers of animals like the hammerhead shark, whose numbers have now reached less than 500 in the wild because of fishing; as well as the green sea turtle, who are losing their habitats and getting caught in commercial fishing gear. I hope that in my lifetime we can help remove numerous animals from the unendangered list. In college, I plan on majoring in biology with a pre-vet track. As an aspiring veterinarian, my path to achieving my dreams starts early. While I’m already putting effort into growing my resume for vet school, I know that I will do a lot of what I need during my bachelor’s degree. I’ve chosen to do a pre-vet track in college to help make sure I meet all the required classes. The school I’ve chosen to go to has plenty of opportunities for someone studying to go to vet school. I will have the opportunity to intern at the St. Louis Zoo and many other conservation programs around St. Louis. In addition, the classes I will take are also focused on hands-on learning, which will prepare me for vet school. One class, in particular, I’m looking forward to is my animal sciences class I'll get to take. I know it, and all the other classes I take will help me achieve my dreams.

I have a very diverse musical taste. I often have multiple genres of music joined in the same playlist. Because my music taste varies between genres, it would be hard to choose just one song that has a very important message for me. That being said, “Sorry” by James and the Shame is a song I've had on repeat for a while and I think the message of the song would benefit everyone. The song is about how it’s ok to have a different opinion than people around you, and just because you think differently doesn’t mean you're wrong. It also means that they are not wrong either. No one needs to apologize for their beliefs being different. And while someone thinking differently might be a little disappointing, it’s ok. Everyone may believe what they want. In today’s world, it’s easy to be angry at others for not sharing your beliefs. One verse that stands out the most to me is, “I’m not trying to change your mind, And I don’t think you’re gonna change mine, So we’ll keep dancing to different tunes. “ I think this verse sums up the song perfectly by saying I will not change your mind and I will not change my mind, but it’s ok to be different.

When people imagine sports, their minds fill with images of trophies, team celebrations, and the sounds of crowds cheering. These are great things, but they only account for a small portion of what it takes to play sports. I’ve been part of sports my whole life, specifically, I am a competitive swimmer. Like most athletes, I love to win, but it takes a lot of work to win. All the tough work I’ve invested has improved my life and character. Being an athlete has shaped my character. It has helped me become a more disciplined and independent person. Since I was about twelve, I’ve had practice at five am twice weekly. The only reason my parents would wake up was to drive me to practice. Everything else I had to do on my own. I wake myself up, make myself breakfast, and get ready to go, and I had to do it with no aid. While it felt like a chore initially, as I’ve grown, I’ve realized that being able to take care of myself has helped repair me for my life ahead. Once I get to college, my parents will not be there to make me breakfast, or wake me up for class, but it will not be a sudden change, because I’m already used to being independent. I can take care of myself because sports have pushed me to be that way. Competitions are the livelihood of sports and as a competitive swimmer, I’ve lived through many swim meets. Getting prepared for these meets takes self-discipline, another characteristic sports have pushed on me. While Your coaches can tell you what it takes to be ready for a competition, only you can control what you do. Improvement requires discipline. I’d love to be like other high schoolers and stay up late and go to parties, but I know I have practice in the morning and a swim meet next weekend. I do what is necessary to improve. While it’s tough, the payoff is worth it. My friends may call me a grandma for going to bed at nine, but other swimmers know me as a state champion. If I wasn’t a swimmer, I would not have learned self-discipline. Overall, being an athlete caused me to develop skills and characteristics that will help me in life. I’ve grown up being more independent than my non-athlete peers. This will help my transition to college life. Sports have caused me to have self-discipline. I’m already used to having to display self-control over my choices, because I’ve already learned how my choices can affect my life. Being an athlete has helped me become a more mature person and has helped prepare me for life beyond athletics.

While the world is much better and more accepting place than it was in the past, I believe there is always room for improvement. One change id like to see throughout the world is people being more kind to the environment. I think an enormous problem in today’s society is littering and plastic pollution. If people were self-conscious about how their trash can harm the environment, then we could see a lot of improvement in nature. One thing I love is the Land Between the Lakes, which is a national forest near to my home. Every time I go hiking there, I see trash all over the trails and it makes me so sad. My favorite Lake borders Land Between the Lakes and that is Kentucky lake. I’m an open water swimmer and I use the lake frequently for practice, and I’ve seen firsthand how people's trash affects the lake. Ive stepped on shards of broken glass bottles and seen a bird nest with trash bags built in. I and many others who visit the lakes try to leave the land better than how we found it and pick up any trash we can. I know the impact of our trash could be lessened if more people would be more considerate of how their waste gets into the world.