When people think of libraries, many think of a place with hundreds of books covering each wall along with a seriously silent environment. However, what about a library that served primarily for stimulating community connections? My days after school did not include simply going home, napping, or working on any school assignments, as those were postponed to later in the day due to my involvement in the weekly events at a local library. At this library, I served as a youth mentor for kids mostly in elementary school. On certain days I would play board or card games, like chess, with the children who showed up and on other days I would create crafts relating to STEM and complete them alongside the children. This experience which lasted for nearly a year had such an impact on the children who showed up to the events. Many of the children who did were those who were homeschooled and only had interactions with others in the library during these events. Being a youth mentor, along with the other few mentors I volunteered with, meant making these days very exciting to keep the kids coming back to the weekly events and making connections with each other to prosper. As time continued, we recruited more children who visited the library after school to join our games, participate in STEM-related crafts, and make new connections with the rest of our group. I was grateful to be able to watch the children develop friendships with the others who would come on the same days they did, yet never spoke to each other before our activities. I also felt proud watching them adopt more knowledge due to the STEM projects my fellow youth mentors and I would craft as well as the stories we would read to the children, or they read to us when asked, on days we had extra time. At this lively library, I learned leadership skills I could not have learned anywhere else. Due to this exposure, I have been instilled with a great amount of motivation to continue leading through every step of my academic and personal journey. I am determined to utilize all that I have learned to participate in several clubs at my university to be further connected to its community; With this, I will have an influence on bettering all the aspects I can by using the skills taught through my memories of my tasks as a youth mentor. Overall, I want to use my strong leadership skills to make positive impacts much bigger than just locally. I want to continue to have a beneficial influence on my community and other communities. I want to help as many as I possibly can by making any positive difference in any way in their lives. Aiding others, however, can be done in numerous ways; the way I want to benefit others is medically, helping with physical and mental health. In my opinion, this is what I will have the biggest impact on as I want to continue my education and research throughout my career to find new ways to help others live as happily as possible. In a world where so many deal with physical health problems along with an increase in mental health problems, it is imperative to take charge and lead towards ways to benefit those that are not as fortunate to do so, making our communities and, overall, our world a better, more positive place to enjoy living in.

The smell of pumpkin spice lingers in every room, sculptures surround the perimeter of the house, and different species of animals roam the spacious backyard. My very own Barbie Dream House has a location, exterior, and interior that all match my eccentric personality. With its magical properties and medieval architecture, my house would not only be unique to live in but also truly a dream. To start, my own Barbie Dream House would be located near a busy city, on a secluded island, and in any area I wish for. Through cooking and baking in my pink-colored oven, I would be able to change the location of my magical Barbie Dream House. The location of where my house changes depends on what specific meal or treat I cook. For example, cooking a pumpkin pie will teleport my house into a forest during autumn, with trees with leaves of various colors of orange and brown. However, my house will only be teleported if the food is made with the feelings of wanting to be in that specific area. For instance, baking a cookie recipe from my mother whenever I miss her, and being changed to a location near her house. To proceed, the exterior of my own Barbie Dream House would be closely identical to Gothic architecture, which originated during the Middle Ages. On most of the tall walls in my house, there would be stained glass windows with alluring art. Several spires will occupy the roof of my house as well as sculptures such as stone gargoyles. On the sides, vines and flowers, such as Wisteria and Climbing Rose, will grow on the house, providing an exquisite exterior for visitors to view. Additionally, the interior would be as attractive as the exterior of my Barbie Dream House. It would include a cozy library with a large bookshelf that covers the walls of the room. Because of the magical properties of the house, the bookshelf will add any book I wish to read. I would also be the owner of an organized, color-coded closet, with shirts, skirts, shoes, and more than I could ever possibly wear. Furthermore, my Barbie Dream House would always have a broad backyard. Here, I would tend to a farm, taking care of different types of animals, making herbs, vegetables, and fruits, and cherishing a garden, where decorative flowers inhabit. In conclusion, my own Barbie Dream House would have many extraordinary features, those of which living in would be truly a dream come true.

It is a Saturday morning at 7:00 AM and the sun has risen from its slumber, providing light to the tennis courts where people are eager to play. I grab my hot pink tennis racket and follow my dad into the courts. As my eleven-year-old self watched the bright yellow tennis balls bounce and fly, she wondered how tennis could ever possibly benefit her, or even be enjoyable. It wasn’t until I won my first game that I realized how much tennis would pave the way for my future. Winning my first game easily brought out my competitive personality, but throughout the several games I played, I also won valuable knowledge. I learned more than just the rules, how the word "love" is a score of zero, and how to serve a tennis ball. Receiving and contributing tips to the other players, I learned to be more social with my tennis teammates and those I was playing against. This had a great impact on my social skills and confidence, which assisted in speaking up during classes and making new friends. The first time I lost a game in tennis, I learned two things: to keep working harder at my skills and to be happy for those who won. Good sportsmanship during my tennis games, whether I won or lost, taught me how to be happy for others who earned it. I used this trait several times throughout my academic career when others were accepted into an opportunity that I was rejected from. Additionally, learning from tennis to keep practicing my skills taught me that practice was also needed academically, for example with math work, to excel. Just as there will be more tennis matches to play, there will be more opportunities to experience and enjoy. Moreover, the thought of strengthening my relationship with my father through tennis was a thought I never imagined. However, the idea soon became my new reality. We began playing tennis with each other, and I received his advice from playing the sport for more than 20 years and learned more about my dad. Whenever it was a rainy, gloomy day, preventing us from traveling to the tennis courts, my dad and I would sit on our leather brown couch and watch tennis on our television. Through tennis, our bond grew throughout the years. Because of this, tennis has greatly influenced my future and relationship with my father as it brought our connection closer, a gift I appreciate every day. In my experience, tennis let me improve my social skills and confidence, taught me to keep working hard and practice, taught me to be happy for those who won even if I lost, and let me learn more about my dad while strengthening our bond. Without the enjoyable sport called tennis, my life would be much behind as tennis has shaped my future before my eyes.