My ADHD and Autism have both impacted me in school by limiting my focus, making me much more susceptible to distractions as well as severely impacting my behavior and work ethic. When I was younger, it was especially awful. I would repeatedly get in trouble for interrupting class or not staying in my seat. I can specifically remember one time when I tried to run out of my school, only to be swept up by the staff members. I could never stay still, and tests were hours of torture for me. The clock on the wall, the chirping of birds outside, the tapping of someone's foot, everything was a distraction to me, and I would spend valuable test time with whatever my mind decided would be more interesting for the two to three hours I was given for an exam. However, my disabilities have allowed me to be more creative, as I was able to figure out my interests through lengthy hours of hyperfixation. I started writing and telling stories and met people who had similar ways of thinking and eccentric hobbies. I do think that my disabilities have made me a much more social and creative person, as I can think outside the box and come up with ideas that no one else could think up. With my degree, I hope to prove that my disabilities are not all that I am and that people like me can and will continue to achieve great things. I need something that will allow me to be financially stable and fulfill my creative hunger. I believe that by going into Computer Science and possibly Game Design, I'll be able to do both. I can showcase my creativity and make games that people can truly enjoy and possibly relate to because I know how it feels to think you are useless or that you can't focus on work to save your life. I think that, for one of the first times in a while, that could be something I can accomplish without my focus waning. I also hope to meet people like me, people who struggled with similar experiences, because people with disabilities need to stick together. Maybe we can help and reassure other kids like us, assist them the best we can. I hope to combine my two passions, computer coding and storytelling, to develop and create games that can inspire young students like me, who struggle with either mental disabilities or harassment. I believe that I can meet individuals who share, not just my passion for coding or storytelling, my passion for inspiring others and being heard.

My ADHD and Autism have both impacted me in school by limiting my focus, making me much more susceptible to distractions as well as severely impacting my behavior and work ethic. When I was younger, it was especially awful. I would repeatedly get in trouble for interrupting class or not staying in my seat. I can specifically remember one time when I tried to run out of my school, only to be swept up by the staff members. I could never stay still, and tests were hours of torture for me. The clock on the wall, the chirping of birds outside, the tapping of someone's foot, everything was a distraction to me, and I would spend valuable test time with whatever my mind decided would be more interesting for the two to three hours I was given for an exam. However, my disabilities have allowed me to be more creative, as I was able to figure out my interests through lengthy hours of hyperfixation. I started writing and telling stories and met people who had similar ways of thinking and eccentric hobbies. I do think that my disabilities have made me a much more social and creative person, as I can think outside the box and come up with ideas that no one else could think up. One goal I accomplished was successfully winning a fiction writing competition at my High School, which I accomplished through many sleepless nights of writing. Coming up with ideas was not the hard part, it was quite easy for my brain to flood with ideas. However, that was the issue. I had too many ideas, and my rough drafts were overly complex and, due to me cramming so many ideas into my story, the plot felt bloated and oversaturated. To solve this issue, after I had come up with a good amount of ideas, I would focus solely on those ideas, researching reference images and music for inspiration. I sat down one day, went through my ideas, and picked out the ones that fit together and were of higher quality, and I applied them. One way I thought of the best ideas was by listening to music while writing, it invigorated me in a way, allowed me to write much more effectively. When I did finish my short story, I realized it was my longest and most impressive by far. I had known for a while I was a writer, but this was really confirmation of my skills, as I was up against some fierce competition. With my degree, I hope to prove that my disabilities are not all that I am and that people like me can and will continue to achieve great things. I need something that will allow me to be financially stable and fulfill my creative hunger. I believe that by going into Computer Science and possibly Game Design, I'll be able to do both. I can showcase my creativity and make games that people can truly enjoy and possibly relate to because I know how it feels to think you are useless or that you can't focus on work to save your life. I think that, for one of the first times in a while, that could be something I can accomplish without my focus waning. I hope to combine my two passions, computer coding and storytelling, to develop and create games that can inspire young students like me, who struggle with either mental disabilities or harassment.

Coming out as bisexual has allowed me to connect with others who are similar to me or accept me for who I am. When I am around these people, I can be my fullest, most honest self, and I do not have to worry about harassment or bullying from the friends who see me for who I am. It was not easy. I was often anxious that people were always looking down on me or that those around me would leave me if they knew who I really was. I was denying myself from being myself in fear that others would hate me for it or turn their backs on me. I eventually realized that pretending someone I was not was both exhausting and just not right. I wanted to be myself and I wouldn't allow anyone to take that away from me, as I was not willing to lie to myself any longer. It started as a series of quiet conversations, nervous texts, and late-night talks. It was testing the waters with a few close friends and anxiously waiting for their reactions. And thankfully, I was met with kindness and support. Some of them said they already had a feeling, while others just gave me a hug and told me they loved me no matter what. In those moments, I felt seen—like I had finally let people into a room in my heart that had been locked for too long. Coming out has allowed me to form meaningful connections with those around me. I’m more confident, more open, and more willing to stand up for myself and others in the LGBTQ community. I've found friends who truly care for me and are willing to support me for who I am. On the creative side, as I've been able to fully be myself, I have been able to write more stories about many topics, ideas, and themes. I was able to think outside of the box with assistance from these new friends of mine, creating fantastical worlds and my own characters. I’ve come to understand that coming out is not just about telling others who I am. It’s about giving them the opportunity to truly know me—to laugh with me, support me, and grow with me as I learn to love and accept myself. In telling those around me the truth, I've created lifetime bonds with others like me, who only want to feel comforted and safe.

With computer science, I hope to secure a stable, quality-paying job where I can connect with others like me and learn more. Specifically on the social part, I want to meet with others who share my passion for computer science and work with them to create something or just learn from each other. I am also a deeply creative individual and hope to utilize my computer science knowledge to create stories that people can enjoy and be inspired by. I have always been creative, I enjoy telling stories of fantastical lands with deeply curated characters and ideas that may resonate with people who are like me, people who have disabilities like ADHD or Autism, both of which I have. My disabilities have contributed to much of my struggle during my formative years, especially when it came to behavior. I was a chaotic and infinitely energetic child and consistently acted out when I was younger. I also learned differently than everyone else, as I constantly struggled to focus in class or get assignments done on time. Everything was a distraction to me, whether it was the tapping of someone's foot, the clicking of the clock on the wall, or the birds chirping outside. I eventually found people who were like me and supported me throughout my education, but I fear that there are many children right now who are alone and need the inspiration or motivation that I received as a kid. I also hope to inspire individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community, which I am a part of as I am Bisexual. I have been bullied and picked on for being who I am in both middle and high school, and I believe that I did not have enough representation or inspiration that I needed to just be heard. If I were to create something that young people in the LGBTQIA+ community could consume and be motivated by or feel heard, that would make me incredibly satisfied and fulfilled. I have already written for my school's Society of Future Authors and Artists club, where I achieved first place among at least 15 other submissions in fiction writing. I wish to submit more writings to other clubs and societies when in college, as well as meet with others who share my thirst for storytelling. I hope to combine these two passions, computer coding and storytelling, to develop and create games that can inspire young students like me, who struggle with either mental disabilities or harassment. I believe that I can meet individuals who share, not just my passion for coding or storytelling, my passion for inspiring others and being heard.