When I was three years old, my parents separated. Even though this is a common occurrence, parental separation can very hard a child. At first, I was fine, and I do think that it’s better to happen at a younger age, so it’s easier to get used to, but it’s still difficult. I’ve struggled with a lot of mental health issues, which I believe stemmed from that exact moment. I have some unhealthy coping mechanisms that I’m still trying to unlearn to this day. My career goal is to become a lawyer, specializing in family law. I want to revolutionize the system and change the way children are treated as part of family separation. My parents lawyers fought for their clients, but shouldn’t I have been the main focus? I was what they were fighting over, but I wasn’t what they were fighting for. It was as if I was a commodity, a trophy to be won, instead of an actual human. Now, as a college student, I’ve just been working on gaining as much skills as I can to become a lawyer, but my dream is to one day have my own practice. I want to be able to look back on my life one day and see a place where I can say “That’s the place I built, and it helped children feel more confident and sure of themselves through such trying times”. Currently, in college, I am pursuing a Political Science major. This major will help to give me a more educated worldview and understand varying opinions, which will prepare me to handle opposing sides as a lawyer. Additionally, I am pursuing a Law, Criminal Justice and Society minor, which will allow me to better prepare myself for law school. Finally, I just recently added a Public and Professional Writing Certificate to my education track. This will allow me to become a more well thought out person and a better writer. To learn about entrepreneurship, I have done three things. Firstly, I took a financial literacy course in high school. I know the prompt says college, but I’m only two years removed from high school and I took a lot of lessons from that class, which I still remember today. I could technically do my own taxes if I wanted to! Secondly, I have an internship with a small business, Mauler Cards and Collectibles, which sells Sports Trading Cards and other collectible items. There, I handle helping with purchases, finding, photographing and listing items from our collection, packaging them for shipment and helping the owner gather financial information. This has given me a keen idea of what it’s like to run a business. Additionally, I recently started working at my local movie theater, which has also given me tremendous understanding and more experience with handling money and engaging in customer service.

Mental health has always been a struggle for me. When I was three years old, my parents separated and I think it devastated me a young child. From then on, I began to deal with low self-esteem, self confidence issues, anxiety, probably some depression and I began showing signs of suicidal ideation at the age of five. I was diagnosed with ADHD early on in my life as well. At the age of twelve, I went through a depressive episode for a month or so, which I was able to remedy that by changing my environment and swapping some of my classes at school. However, during that depressive episode, I did explore suicide a bit more. While I wasn’t intentionally trying to take my life, I made some regrettable choices because I did not necessarily care whether I was hurt or not. At 16 years old, after the passing of my father, I engaged in serious self-harming behavior at a point that I had never reached before in my life, nor have I gotten to since. Currently, I think I am doing very well for myself. I’ve minimized my self-harm, occurring very rarely and not as devastating as what I had been doing at 16. I’ve been finding other ways to express my emotions. I still suffer from anxiety, but that’s something that I just have to deal with at this point in time. My only worry is that I don’t really remember a lot from my childhood. Memories are fuzzy. I have some that I remember clearly, but especially in relation to my father, my memories are a bit hazy. I think it’s a trauma response, blocking out memories with him so that I don’t have to feel the pain. Even still, I’m very happy with where I am right now in my life. I have a lot of wonderful friends and a great mom and amazing stepdad. I have a support system I can lean on and that’s honestly all I need. My relationships have really been impacted by my mental health, both positively and negatively. I realize that when I’m struggling, I may not be the best daughter or the best friend. Sometimes, I can be hurtful to other people. It’s not on purpose and I always apologize for it. But I recognized that as humans, we are flawed and we make mistakes. That’s why I try to be understanding and accepting of my family and friends when they go through hard times with their mental health. Recently, I had a friend who went through a loss of someone in their family. I occasionally checked in, but it seemed that they wanted their space. However, they were making some horrible choices for themselves, including talking to potentially unsafe people online and skipping important events without giving anyone any notice. Eventually, I became very worried and also a bit upset and so I called them out on it. I told them I cared and that I was concerned by their actions. I want to be understanding when it comes to mental health, but I also won’t endorse reckless behavior and I want my friends to be safe. I know that my struggles are not seen by many people. In fact, there are many of my close friends who don’t know about my history of mental health issues. It’s not because I’m hiding it, but I don’t want it to define me. But this also gives me an understanding of other people. I’m aware that everyone hides things from others. Other people don’t tell everyone everything. With this in mind, I want to bring kindness to the world and ensure that everyone I come across feels good after our interaction, whether its simply someone I meet in a class or one of my close friends. As for my goals, they stem from my mental health as well. As I previously mentioned, my parent separated when I was three. This, although a thing that happens to many children, was devastating to me. Then I lived through a harrowing custody battle until I was sixteen. It takes a toll on your mental health. Thinking back on it, I now see how the court failed me. I was simply a pawn in a battle, an asset to be won. I never felt valued, even if I was, because I was treated like a prize rather than a person. As an adult, I want to change the way the custody battles are done. Firstly, I want to center more around the child and their needs. From there, I want to find some workaround to make sure that even if there is hostility between parents, the child never needs to know about it. I want to make sure the child knows that their parents’ separation is not their fault. My ultimate goal is to make sure that no child feels the way I did during my parents’ custody battle. I don’t blame my parents, of course. They did the best they could. I honestly blame the lawyers more, for not directing my parents to focus more on me and make sure I was okay. I don’t think that family law should be as vindictive as it is. Children deserve justice and peace in their homes. If I can impact even one child’s life positively, I will have fulfilled my ultimate goal.

Before reading my response to the prompt, an important distinction needs to made clear. When I say “father”, I am talking about my biological dad. When I say “dad”, I am talking about my dad, who may not be biologically related to me, but is a dad in every way that counts. At the end of November in 2022, my father passed away from Covid-19 and pre-existing conditions. This loss was a complete shock for me. I was sixteen at the time, trying to navigate high school while beginning to plan for my college career. After he passed, my mom and dad kicked it into high gear and helped me to reach towards my dreams. After I insisted I still take my SATs that December, only a week and a half after he passed, my parents made sure that I was well-rested and well-fed prior to the test and ensured I arrived early to the testing center, which gave me time to prepare myself. I ended up scoring a 1260 on my SAT and did not need to retake it. Throughout high school, I was torn between two worlds: Law and Theater. I had grown up participating in school musicals and taking creative arts classes outside of my regular education. Instead of making me choose, they encouraged me to pursue both throughout the rest of my high school. They sent me to vocal lessons to strengthen my voice and prepare me for better roles in my school’s shows. Eventually, I realized that as much as I love singing, I have a strong passion for helping people, which, in my opinion, can be better achieved as a lawyer. Additionally, after my father passed, I expressed to my parents that I wanted to remain close to home in my studies. Originally, I had been looking at out of state options. They helped me review all of my options in the city, looking at the best schools to study law as an undergraduate student. That’s how I landed on the University of Pittsburgh. It was a local school where I could study what I wanted and stay close to my family and friends. I honor my parents by putting my effort into every assignment, to get the best grades and feedback I can. If I do well in college, then I can continue to dedicate myself in law school. They have made me who I am today. They taught me to be more socially outgoing and to chase my dreams without fear. Because of them, I have declared my major, a minor and been accepted to a writing certificate program. They gave me space to grieve, but they also recognize the importance of what space I was in at the time and where I am now. They continue to push and challenge me to do better. This support propels me forward into becoming the woman I know I am destined to be.

My name is Kaylee and I’m a political science major at the University of Pittsburgh. My desired career path is to become a family lawyer. So far, I have declared my major as Political Science, studying the political world around me. I have an upcoming meeting with my Pre-Law advisor to discuss hopefully double-majoring in the Law, Criminal Justice, and Society major. By committing myself to this major as well, I will have a better sense of the justice system and be able to broaden my horizons in preparation for law school. Finally, I have attended a Law School fair to meet admissions counselors from universities I may be interested in attending after completing my undergraduate studies. I plan to continue looking at law schools after I finish this current semester. I want to be well-versed in knowing which law schools will be best for me. I plan to look into potential internships in the legal field for the summer. I would love to get some hands-on experience in the workplace. I’m also going to look into summer courses offered by my University and LSAT preparatory courses. I was inspired by television shows like “Suits” and “Boston Legal” to even consider becoming a lawyer. I loved the inspirational closing speeches delivered by characters like Mike Ross and Alan Shore that helped them win their cases. Once I learned that I could be a lawyer and work on custody cases, I was sold. I grew up living in a custody battle between my mom and my father, from age 3 to age 16, ending due to his untimely passing. As a kid, I took notice of how my life was different than the kids around me. Going to private schools when you’re in a different income class can make you feel less than. On top of that, all of the kids in my grade had married parents. I saw the differences and compared myself to these kids. I felt terrible about myself. My goal, when I become a family lawyer, is to ensure that less kids feel this way about themselves over things they can’t control. In terms of skills, I have a very strong work ethic. I am very committed to myself, my goals and my success. I know how much my parents have given for me to be able to receive this world class education. One of my goals is to repay their kindness, and so I must continually strive for excellence as much as I can. My work ethic ensures that I will be a productive employee. I am also a very strong writer. I love writing, both fiction and non-fiction, especially when I reach a productive stride. Once I learn all of the legalese I need, I know I will be an unstoppable lawyer. As I mentioned, my goal is for children involved in custodial disagreements to feel better about themselves. I envision that as my impact. However, I know that I will be working with more than just children. I love solving problems for people. My hope is I will be a good mediator between parties as well. I hope to eventually start my own law firm, focused on familial legal conflict. There, not only will I focus on mediating and ensuring positive mental health for children, but my law firm will be involved in large charitable donations and fundraisers all year round. I want to leave a positive impact on this world for more than just my hopes and dreams. I want to make other peoples dreams come true too

Building credit early is important to me because credit will control a lot of important factors in my life. In the future, if I need to rent an apartment or take out a loan from the bank, those in charge will look at my credit score to see if I am reliable. It is a test to see if I am a responsible person. It is important to me to ensure that I have that under check so that I can have the freedom to make choices with one less thing to worry about. I plan to take control of my financial future in a few ways. A few choices that I have already made are being a commuter for college and packing lunches. By living with my parents off campus, I save a lot for money that would be allocated to dorm costs. And by packing lunches, I ensure that I don’t engage in wasteless spending. Meals on campus are expensive so I only buy food when I have gift cards to restaurants in the area. I also plan to hopefully secure a job or internship next summer and start putting cash away. This way I can secure money to start paying off student loans, which will increase my credit score exponentially. This year I learned that there was not really a way for me to afford college without taking out loans. I was really upset by this, because I was hoping to not be in debt. However, I realize that this is a common avenue that students take to ensure their education now. As I become more available to work, I will start to build up savings, which I can then use towards my student loans once I’m able to pay them back. I’m a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Political Science. My dream is to either become a lawyer, specializing in family law, or to become a public servant. Perhaps one day, I’ll have been able to achieve both. I also really love music and creativity. I like to write songs and poems to freely express my feelings. I’m a caregiver at home, taking care of my dad who is temporarily handicapped. My mom and I co manage a fantasy football team. I love spending time with my friends, but also recognize the importance of my education and familial responsibilities. I work hard to balance everything equally so that I don’t wear myself thin.

I am a fan of Sabrina Carpenter, because she allows me to let loose and enjoy myself and she invites me to feel my feelings in a way no one else has. She has also been in my life since as long as I can remember and I’ve loved her as a singer and actress since the day I saw her grace my television. Songs like “Tears”, “House Tour”, “Nonsense”, “Bed Chem”, “Almost Love” and others like it, with large up-tempo beats, are songs I can dance to. I can scream them in the car on the way home after a long day of college class. I can sing them in the shower so happily. I can dance to them while I get changed before bed. These songs allow me to explore different version of myself and simply have fun. Even if I can’t relate to all of them, the playful cheek-in-tongue lyrics are so fun to play around with. On the other hand, songs like “My Man on Willpower”, “Dumb and Poetic”, “emails i can’t send”, and others slower songs like that allow me to process some of the drama I’ve been through. I can belt them in the car when I’m alone or just sing them to myself while I’m cleaning. Either way, her powerfully sad ballads give me space to feel however I want to feel. Even some of her Christmas songs off of her EP “fruitcake” like “cindy lou who” and “santa doesn’t know you like i do” have the ability to help me get through that big heartache I sometimes feel. I’ve also seen Sabrina since day one, as a little kid turning on the TV to watch my favorite show, “Girl Meets World”. I was obsessed with the show as a kid and would watch it anytime I could. 2 years ago, I went on a Sabrina Carpenter acting binge and watched a lot of her projects, like “The Hate U Give” and “Work It”. I was really intrigued by her Christmas Special on Netflix too. I loved the collaboration performances she did with Shania Twain and Chappell Roan. They really brought joy to my heart. I am the ultimate Sabrina fan. I love her so much. I’m going to see her on tour this Friday and I’m so excited! She makes me feel like no other artist does. No matter what mood I’m in, she has a song to match it. She makes me feel at home with myself.

I think that the most moving performance of Taylor’s is the Eras Tour itself. This tour allowed Taylor to reclaim her glory. Everything had been stripped away from her including her own music. She was able to use this tour as an outlet to write 2 new albums. The Tortured Poets Department and The Life of A Showgirl. She was also able to find the love of her life, Travis Kelce, simply because of the tour. This tour was good for Taylor, but it also was good for the United States. The Eras Tour was also a force for good. Never has there been a tour with such an economic impact. When Taylor arrived to a city, she brought in revenue for herself, but also stimulated the local economy. Additionally, she would donate to every food bank of every city she stopped in, allowing for even more people to share in the spoils. During the tour, she gave bonuses to every worker involved in moving her set from stadium to stadium, which helped out many people who worked for her and showed gratitude. I think this tour allowed Taylor to express herself most truly and become an even stronger force for good in the world.

I love math because it has a certain sense of order to it. There is no deliberating over what the answer is. The answer is clear cut and you can always find it. Math is based in logic, which makes sense to me. I also had an experience in third grade involving math, which changed my perspective eon the subject forever. I remember my third grade math teacher, who was teaching the class about fractions. All of my classmates seemed to get it but me. I felt belittled and betrayed by my brain. However, my teacher took the extra time to sit with me during recess and after school. She kept reviewing with me until I understood. She didn’t yell at me for not understanding or give up one me as if I was a lost cause. She was compassionate and kind. That’s where my love of math began. Not only had I learned that math always had an answer, but I learned that math can be compassionate too. In years prior, my math teachers had been mean and cold. There, I learned that compassion extends farther than I realized it did. It was that’s teacher’s act of kindness that sparked my love of math that very day.

I’m a fan of LeBron James because he keeps going, no matter what. He is one of the older players in the NBA right now, but even still, he keeps playing and making masterful moves on the court. It’s honestly inspirational. A lot of fans of the league try to tell LeBron that he can’t. They say he can’t keep playing and that he needs to give the helm to someone new. They call for his retirement and say he’s not at his peak. I admire the fact that he keeps going and continues playing. LeBron is one of the greatest in the league. I can agree with that. However, being a fan of the game, watching both current games and highlight clips from previous seasons, I would argue that LeBron is not THE greatest basketball player of all time, for two reasons. Firstly, Michael Jordan is an incredible player who changed the game of basketball. His style of play made the game a global phenomenon. I think that LeBron plays, or has played, to a similar level of Jordan, but I don’t think that he compares to Jordan. Secondly, to say he’s the greatest of all time is a huge measurement. You’re looking at both past players and future players. However, we don’t know the potential of future or rising players. Even still, I love LeBron and I think he’s such a great athlete. I can’t wait to see what he does next!

I will be answering #3: Values and Impact Ensuring “everyone has a voice”, to me, means that I educate people about voting. I encourage them to speak up and speak their mind. I use my platform, however big or small, to motivate other to vote. Anytime an election that I’m eligible for occurs, I make sure to keep online engagement about it. I remind people to do research for their potential candidates, regardless of their political affiliation. I’m very passionate about voting. It has nothing to do with political parties or patriotism. I think that the only way for us as Americans to move forward is if we all use our voice. We can’t make everyone happy, but I think if every American used their voice, we could reach a compromise that would be satisfactory to most. When I can, I encourage people to research all of their candidates, even the ones they think don’t matter. I find straight-ticket voting, AKA only voting blue or only voting red, to be harmful to democracy, a system where we pick who represents us and who we believe is aligned with our interests. If people don’t pay attention to who they’re voting for, what is the point of democracy? For me, voting is not only a right, but a wonderful privilege. That’s why I wish more people would vote. Voter turnout is on the decline. I understand that sometimes voting is inaccessible, and I hope that’s something we can solve soon. For those who are able to vote, my goal is to push more people towards engaging with their rights. Even when I’m not nearing an election season, I’m always trying to stay educated on upcoming elections in my area. The best way to stay informed is to do research. That is my hope for other people in America. I’ll be attaching screenshots from my instagram story during the 2024 November Elections, trying to motivate people and trying to help them understand the importance of research after the election was over. My hope with this was to help the people that follow me and to encourage them to vote. after the election ended, I knew some people that were happy and some people that were pretty upset. I had hoped that those last three story posts would allow people to understand that it’s okay to be angry or happy or any feeling at all. Even still, they should be proud that they voted.

Last fall, in my first semester of college, I took a class called, “The Legal System”, where we studied the fundamentals of the legal system, both criminal and civil cases. My professor was an actual judge, so I gained some serious exposure to the legal world. Part of our work for this course was to write a term paper, essentially focused on any provided topic. One of the provided topics was to pick a case that changed the legal system. (Warning: I will be taking about a case involving some extreme violence) I chose to write about “The People of the State of Michigan vs. James Robert Crumbley and vs. Jennifer Lynn Crumbley”. In this case, the Crumbley’s son, Ethan, carried a mass shooting out at his school. 4 students died and 7 others were injured, including a teacher. Ethan claimed full responsibility for the shooting and pleaded guilty. However, his parents were also found responsible for what happened. The prosecutions argued that both parents were negligent to Ethan’s clearly displayed mental health issues and negligent in properly securing the firearm that Ethan used to carry out the attack on his school. Both parents were charged guilty of manslaughter. Here’s a quote from my term paper, talking about how they were negligent, “ Their son, Ethan, displayed multiple signs of mental distress 8 months before the incident and tried to garner his parents’ attention, continuously texting and calling them while at home alone. However, both still did not give the needed attention that Ethan was so clearly craving. He began acting out in school, searching for ammunition during school hours, and Jennifer Crumbley laughed it off and simply told the administration that he was not in trouble. After Ethan’s drawings were discovered, his parents were prompted to come to the school. They had a sit-down meeting with the school administration and the school counselor advised that Ethan be taken home. Both parents declined that, and sent him back in, ultimately, to kill 4 classmates.” This case raised many questions bout parental responsibility in all cases of juvenile delinquency, challenging America’s understanding of legal accountability. This case sparked national conversation about the extent to which parents can and should be held accountable by the law for the actions of their children. By setting this precedent, the legal system may, in certain cases, be moving towards placing more responsibility on the parents where gross negligence can be found. This changed my perspective on the world, because I realized that the law typically only finds one person accountable. However, in life, we are pushed and pulled in different directions by other people around. These ebbs and flows they cause in our lives may seem small, but ultimately, they guide us to where we are today. Had Ethan Crumbley’s parents taken certain steps to properly secure this gun and to better monitor their son’s mental health, there’s a chance that more people would be alive today. I’ve learned that the legal system has now understood that culpability, often times, does not rest on simply one person. Accountability should be distributed to all involved, whether directly or indirectly.

Growing up in Pennsylvania, specifically Pittsburgh, has completely shaped my world view. As a woman, a lot of people tend to put me down. The world seems to want to make its mark on me and not allow me to make my mark on the world. There has always been this idea around me in the media that women can’t do as much as men can, but in Pittsburgh, women are more uplifted. The amount of all-girls schools in the area is large, and allows for girls to soar. I attended two of the major female schools in the area. Each provided me with a different experience and allowed for me to grow. As a woman in Pennsylvania, I’ve come to accept others more. However, Pittsburgh has an accepting environment. With the medical and technological advancements, as well as the many colleges we host, Pittsburgh is one of the most diverse areas I’ve ever been in. I believe that everyone should get an equal chance. I’ve also become more invested in being environmentally friendly, as my school has taken so many initiatives to help make the environment cleaner. I’ve also become more invested in mental health and being kind to others. You never know what people are going through and a little kindness can go towards making someone’s day a bit brighter. My relationship with my family has increased tenfold as I’ve gone into college. Choosing a college close to home allows me to continue spending time with them. By attending Pitt, I’ve followed in my dad’s footsteps and I’ve been able to spend more time with my friends who attend there and my friends who haven’t graduated college yet. Being closer to home allows me to continue to grow in my relationships and lets me explore more of my area with them. In our downtown area is the county courthouse. Every time I was on my way to dance class, I would drive past it. As a child, I used to think it was a castle. My fascination with the courthouse was only the beginning. Now, I have realized I want to become a lawyer, specializing in family law. Pittsburgh has great law schools and programs at both Pitt and Duquesne University. Living in Pennsylvania is the best place I could imagine growing up in. I learned that women can do what men do. Our Pittsburgh women’s sports teams and women in STEM showed me that. I’ve become more conscious of myself and my impact on others and our environment. I’ve grown close to people and my familial relationships have become strengthened. Pittsburgh has even helped me realize what I want to do with the rest of my life. I could not have been born in a better place that helps women realize their power and potential.

In high school, I was part of the school’s theatre group. I attended an all-girls school, and so we would collaborate with our fraternal school for most of our fine arts. In my senior year, though not the staff-appointed Mom of the group, I took on a maternal role with many of the new freshmen. In doing so, the impact I left on them is my greatest achievement. I’ll change their names for their privacy, but I’ll tell you how I helped each of them. When we had our first meeting of the year, I saw a girl I had recognized from one of my previous schools, Brianna. However, I felt very awkward going up to her, assuming that she wouldn’t remember me. About five minutes later, she walked up to me and made the connection that we had known each other. She was very shy when it came to talking to others, but already there was a comfort that she had with me. She clung to me throughout rehearsals until she got her bearings and made friends of her own. We spend so much time together and I give her advice about everything from auditions to friendships to academics. She even felt comfortable enough to come out to me and told me I was one of the only people she felt comfortable being herself with. Even now, after I’ve graduated from high school, I’m still there to make sure she finds her way through high school. Brianna went from a quiet girl with ensemble roles only to the student director of Masque and large speaking parts in a matter of a year. I’m so proud of her and what she’s done so far. I hope I can continue to help her in the future. Jessica was not quiet, but she presented as very standoff-ish. I heard a lot of people talking about how they felt she was judgmental and told others to steer clear of her. One day, while rehearsing the final scene of our winter show, she was in line next to me per our staging director’s instructions. He made us run the part over and over again. She and I both were tired and so we struck up a conversation about it. I quickly realized that she wasn’t the mean girl she seemed to be. I was always perceived in the group as an amicable person. If I could get along with someone, anyone could. Once people began to notice that I became friends with her, they began to gravitate towards her too. Now, Jessica has so many friends in the theater group! Andrea was also a quiet girl. She had a beautiful singing voice, but she was too afraid to use it. I saw the nervousness and quiet in her and tried to bring forward the goodness I knew she had inside. I encouraged her. She would send me voice recordings and I would give her honest feedback. I encouraged her to audition for larger roles and the a cappella group. When the group was on a local radio station for kids, each person was asked to give a shoutout to someone in their lives. She chose me and thanked me for giving her the confidence to sing. While she doesn’t go to my high school anymore, she still engages in the arts at her new school. I learned that I can have a big impact just by being myself and pursuing what I love. When I returned to see the group’s show in the spring, the amount of people who came up to me, excited to see me and thankful I was there, shocked me. I’m so proud of each of these girls and can’t wait to see what they do next. In the future, my life goal is to become a family lawyer, focusing on custody battles. I hope to be able to have an impact like this throughout the rest of my life. I believe I can, as long as I stay true to myself and keep pursuing what I love.

I want to build a future in family law, specifically custody battles, where the kids involved are prioritized above the wants of the parents. I lived through a custody battle for 13 years and it was, at times, gruesome for me to deal with. I saw my parents arguing over me. I think that it really damaged my self-confidence. Though it’s a common issue that many children face, a lot of people don’t realize the mental harm children gain from custody issues. My goal is to become a family lawyer and to start my own firm. This law firm would be branded to ensure that children are the priority in these custody exchanges, whether I am the mediator or the lawyer on one side of the lawsuit. My plan right now is to finish my undergraduate studies as a Political Science major. Then I plan to apply and attend law school. Afterward, I’ll take a job at a law firm, hopefully a family law oriented one, until I can gain enough experience and money to start my own firm. From there, I will begin my own practice. I would be focused on children and I also would have a charity wall. There would be jars that someone could put money into, devoted to multiple different charities. There would be a charity that everyone could feel comfortable donating to. At the end of each month, we would send the money to that charity. My goal for that is to be able to give to those who need it. I hope this will help the next generation of kids and help them to feel better about themselves. Sometimes, being the subject over a custody battle can be very hostile ground. It makes you feel less loved and less focused on. My goal is make sure more children get the attention and love they deserve. My goal ti to make sure that they are fairly treated in these battles and that what is done is what’s best for them and not for either parental party.

It’s important for me to receive this scholarship because it would propel me closer to my goal of being a lawyer that helps people. This scholarship money would help my family continue to allow me to go to college and eventually, to law school. I want to become a family lawyer. I grew up a child of separation, which meant that I was fought over a lot. Sometimes, I felt more like property than my parents’ daughter. I never want another child to feel that way. This i why I want to become a family lawyer, specializing in custody agreements. Too often, parents in custody battles prioritize themselves and their needs over what is truly best for their child. As a legal representative, I would guide my client into making choices that would better serve their child’s needs and I would engage myself into the child’s life, ensuring they have everything they need to understand and survive their parents’ separation. I also eventually want to open up my own law firm, which would be dedicated specifically to handling family law. In the front of the office, I would create a wall with jars dedicated to different charities. Then clients, if they feel so inclined, are encouraged to donate some money to their favorite charity of the ones on the wall. I would include a variety of charities, so that everyone has a cause they feel they can support. Some charities would be St. Jude’s Children's Hospital, ASPCA, the Word Wildlife Fund, the Trevor Project, the Wounded Warriors Project, the local Food bank, and others. At the end of each month, the money placed in this jar will be counted and written down and the amount will be sent to each charity, either electronically or through the mail. My law firm would also try to cater to those who aren’t able to afford representation. I would either bring in richer clients and sue their law fees to cover the difference, or work out some sort of payment plan that works for these clients, so they do not feel weighed down with legal fees. Perhaps I’d even give them a discount if they help bring in new clients for me! This 1,000 dollar scholarship may not seem like a lot, but it would honestly go a long way to helping my finally continue to pay for my education. We aren’t the poorest people, but we certainly are not well off and in the current economy, we do have to pass money back and forth to be able to survive. I, as a college student, am buying groceries for my household because sometimes I’m the only one with a substantial amount of money in my bank account. Despite this, we are a proud family and my parents take pride in their ability to pay for my schooling. This amount of money would make a significant difference and perhaps allow my family to breathe for a minute while I continue to pursue my ambitions. I would sincerely be grateful if my application were considered to award me this money.

Mental Health is important to me, because I am someone who has struggled with it for as long as I can remember. When I was a young child, I struggled with self-image and was not satisfied with myself at all. I hated myself. Imagine that— a five year old hating herself! A five year old, a kindergartener, writing on her art project that she hated herself, prompting a meeting between her, her parents, and the art teacher. I have also struggled with belief in myself and believing that I am worthy of the good things that happen to me. I still struggle with a lot of things about myself. I still don’t like my appearance. I haven’t learned to love myself yet, but I don’t hate myself. I am making progress. I think that is the most important thing about mental health that people need to learn. Mental Health is an ongoing process. In high school, we didn’t have a lot of mental health programs, but when there were projects happening surrounding mental health, I was always involved. Even in middle school, I wrote a term paper, which was published into a book, about how cell phone usage and specifically social media, affects teenage mental health. Now, in college, I can see myself arguing for mental health in my assignments. I often tie mental health themes into my arguments of my English class. I also do a lot of advocating at home. I try to voice my thoughts and feelings at home, so my parents and I can have an open dialogue. When my parents need help and even my friends, I don’t hesitate to help them find what they need. I actively help them look for therapists. While not currently in therapy, I’ve been in and out for therapy for years and I have seen the helpful effects it has. As a child of separation, my issues stemmed from seeing my parents fight over me as if I was a Barbie doll. I have a strong desire to become a lawyer, specifically a family lawyer. I really want to help families navigate divorces and custody situations, while placing special focus on what is best for the child. Watching my parents fight for what was best for themselves made me feel insignificant. I am working on getting my undergraduate degree in Political Science so I can have a strong foundation to propel me into law school. I am also constantly taking Psychology courses, which fulfill my mental health interests and my general education requirements. I don’t want other kids to ever feel the way I did. Having those feelings so young can really harm someone for a long time. If I could help one kid feel good about themselves, I would really love it.

My name is Kaylee. I’m 18 years old and I’m a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh. I have a desire to become a lawyer, which is why I’m a Political Science Major. I also have a strong passion for singing and performing. In high school, I did theater and a cappella. I was also part of many academic groups. In college, I’ve decided to figure out the path I want to follow first before I join any groups. I’m considering applying for University of Pittsburgh’s 3/3 Graduate Law Program. This would be 3 years of undergraduate study and 3 years of graduate law study, allowing me to complete my degree quicker. I haven’t fully decided if this is the route I’d like to take, but to keep that option open for myself, I’ve decided to take summer courses. As I mentioned, my goal is to become a lawyer, but that isn’t all that I think about when I think of being a lawyer. I grew up as a child of separation, and so I understand the custody situation very well. I would truly love to become a family lawyer to help families navigate divorces and custody battles, but to place focus on what is best for the child(ren), if there are any involved. Of course, I love my parents very much, but a lot of times, it felt they were fighting over what was best for them, and not for me, which was very harmful to my mental health as a young child. Another goal that I have is to eventually have my own law firm. Once I achieve this, I would work to ensure that my law firm is affordable for all. I would work with low-income families to negotiate a price that is within their budget or if they insist on paying the full amount, some sort of payment schedule that works on their time. I just want to make sure that everyone has the right to quality representation, because sometimes, representing yourself or even being assigned representation does not do you justice. I would use the fees of my higher income clients to offset the expense we might lose from the prices offered to lower income clients. Another thing that I’ve thought of for my own practice one day is a Charity wall. I think of it as a walls with jars designated to charities that I support. Some examples would be St. Jude’s, Shriner’s Hospital, The Elephant Sanctuary, World Wildlife Fund, the local food banks, and other places. Clients are not obligated, but encouraged, to support their favorite charity from the ones on the wall. These would stay up year round, and at the end of each month, the money would be donated from the firm’s account. This way, I can ensure that no matter what cases I’m working on, my law firm would be making a positive contribution into the world.

In November of 2024, right before Thanksgiving, my family made the terrible decision to have my dog put down. Shady was 15 years old, which is very old for a dog. Scientists aren’t exactly sure how aging works for dog, but the estimate for Shady was that she was in her late 90s to early 100s. I had lost people both before and after her death. I lost my Nana and my father before. I lost my Pappy after. Yet somehow, Shady’s death is the one that haunts me the most. Shady and I had a bond like no other. To most, Shady would’ve just been their dog. Shady was more than that to me. She was my sister and I was hers. We relied upon each other for everything. I relied on her for warm cuddles and emotional support. Especially in her later years, she relied on me for food, bathroom breaks and her medication. Even as she neared the end, she would still wait for me to come home from school, and her head would pop up when I opened the door. She would look at me with such a sense of joy. My parents always told me, while she was alive and even after she passed, that I was her favorite of the three of us. When she was younger, she used to sleep in my bed with me. I’d share my meals with her. Once she got older, I was her caretaker. I would wake up in the middle of the night, every single night, losing valuable sleep for my college classes, to ensure that she could pee. She would cry out when she needed something and I would immediately jump off the couch to get her. I miss being able to do that. I think this experience really taught me to value everyone in my life, because not everyone will be around forever. I knew my Nana and my Pappy would go, especially because they were considerably older, even if they both died prematurely and unexpectedly. I even knew my father would go, and it’s not like it didn’t bother me that he died. I still struggle with it each day. However, a part of me always envisioned coming home to be greeted by those beautiful eyes and those warm dog kisses. I’ve become so much more conscious of how I spend time with my family and my friends. I make sure that I can spend as much time with them as possible. I also make sure that I keep memories of Shady alive through me. I don’t want her to ever be forgotten. I plan to tell my kids about her. My parents got me a pillow of her so I can snuggle up to her whenever I want. I’ve made my rotating phone lock screen exclusively pictures of her. I’ve put photos of her around the house for my family. I made a nice display with her urn and photos, as well as making a photo book of so many pictures of her. People often exclude pets from family, thinking they are subordinate to us and that they are our property. Of course, we have ownership over them, but never would I consider Shady to be below me. Except for the time when I tried to ride her like a horse—she hated it, of course. But in her patient, big-sister way, she let me try anyway. There’s a special, almost fraternal, bond between man and dog. That’s what Shady and I had, and what we always will—because love like ours never goes away.

It was very hard to pick just three songs, but I chose one from each of her albums, just to attempt to be fair to all the albums. However, I love a lot more of her music than just these three. The first song I chose was “The Greatest” from HMHAS. When I listen to this song, I’m usually in my feelings or I want to just scream a song out for fun. At the time when this came out, I was in a huge issue with a guy. We were (and still are) really close friends, except I had a crush on him and he did not feel the same about me. However, now, when I hear this song, I tend to think about a lot of my relationships with people, and how they demand a lot from me, but I don’t seem to get that same amount of love and care back. I think about friends who gave me nothing when I gave them everything. The second song I chose was “Getting Older” from Happier Than Ever. This song just represents my change in adolescence and my loss of young innocence. The world changes young people so quickly and as you grow, you aren’t given time to transition. You just become an adult and are expected to act like one, but are still treated like a child. Screaming these two songs at the HMHAS tour was so cathartic and enjoyable. It meant so much to me. The third song I chose was “i love you” from WWAFAWDWG. This song just reminds me of that guy friend, again. I really did have a huge crush on him, but I didn’t want to. All fo these songs really mean a lot to me and have gotten me through such crazy times in my life.

The lyric I chose is from “love is embarrassing” and the lyric is “just watch as I crucify myself” I think that this captures the love aspect of adolescence and how difficult navigating those kinds of relationships can be. Coming from personal experience, I can definitely understand this line. For someone with ADHD, having a crush can be a little bit different and it can definitely feel like falling in love, when in reality, it’s more like a long-standing obsession. I tend to fall fast, fall hard, and stay in that feeling for a long time. I’m actually in that stage right now and it’s been going for almost 2 years now. I met a guy, doing a musical for my school. Keep in mind that I went to an all girls school at the time. We would team up with the all boys school a block away to do our musicals together. We hadn’t really talked to each other before then, and this was his first time doing a musical in the theater group. We were paired together as dance partners in a wedding dance and from there, we were placed around each other a lot in the musical. We would make jokes to each other and have a little flirty banter, but at that point, we were only friends. After the musical ended, we continued to talk every once in a while. Over that following summer, I developed feelings for him, or perhaps I had developed them during the show and didn’t realize. I returned for my senior year of high school, hoping to get rid of this crush. However, not only did I know I would be doing musicals with this guy, but then he joined my a cappella group, which was also conjoined between the two schools. So whether he did the winter or not, I would still see him at least once, but usually twice a week. He chose not to do the winter musical, but since he was in a cappella, we continued to get closer and closer. However, during this time, I watched him date multiple people. Every time I got the courage to ask him out, after he had broken up with someone, he would start dating someone new. I would do a lot to just get his attention. Funnily enough, these attempts were not in vain, because they did bring me a really close friend. However, it seems that’s all he really sees me as, and all he will ever see me as. It kinda sucks, but I’ve done everything I could do make it better for myself. I finally understand that he isn’t going to see me that way. Even though I feel something different for him than he does for me, I have tried my absolute best to not let it affect our friendship, and as of recently, I’ve been succeeding. Over time, I know my feelings will subside. But no matter what happens, I know he’s always going to hold a special place in my heart. Yes, as the guy I really liked in high school, but also as my really close friend.

I have two reasons for being a fan of Wicked. When I was around 11 years old, I went to Nashville with my dad to go visit my grandfather. We would usually go up at least once a year to visit him, and stay for a week or so. In the latter half of our visit this time, my dad had laid out a dress for me on my bed and told me to get dressed. I asked him what was going on, but he wouldn’t tell me. The three of us went out to dinner at some steak house in the area. Then, we made out way downtown and walked into the entrance of a theater. Inside, there were posters everywhere for Wicked! I remember buying a T-Shirt, some Wicked themed colored pencils, and the book that Wicked was based upon. However, I couldn’t remember much about my actual experience of watching it. A few years later, in November of 2022, my dad passed away from a plethora of things, but the main one being Covid-19. I continued on in school and kept working, but I felt I had lost a great deal, which, of course , I had. I felt I had no way to connect with him. Fast forward to November of 2024: the Wicked movie comes out. Almost 2 years to the day, I go to see Wicked with two of my closest friends, Alannah and Sydney. Here was this shared experience I had with them, as we sat in the front row of the packed theatre with our necks craned to see the full screen. Now, months later, I realize this movie has allowed me to connect with my friends and my dad. Now, I can’t wait until it comes onto streaming services, so I can share the magic with my family!

My desired career path is become a family lawyer. My specific hope is to become focused on custody cases and cases involving children so that I can remind my client to focus on the needs of what is best for their child rather than what they feel is best for themselves. So far, as an undergraduate student, I have taken steps by enrolling in classes that I feel could help with my future career, including taking an upper level Law Class titled “The Legal System” in my first semester of college. In that class, I received an A- for my work in the class. I have also declared my major in political science. I believe that this major will help me explore not only the law, but more about government and politics, which is, I believe, essential to understanding our American Legal System today. Not only does declaring my major so early allow me to complete my major requirements quicker and focus on my studies, but it also allows me to apply for the University of Pittsburgh 3+3 Law Program, which would help to fast track my learning and my ability to become a lawyer quicker, with 3 years of undergraduate learning and 3 years in the Pitt Law School. In the meantime, while I decide whether I want to apply for this program, I am taking 2 Political Science classes, which will help me either apply for this program or allow me to focus on more law directed classes later in my college career. I am taking a philosophy class titled “Introduction to Logic”, which I am taking not only to fill a general education requirement, but also to help me better prepare for the LSATs. I am also taking a Writing Intensive Course to help me further my writing abilities as a future lawyer. I believe my experience in these classes will help prepare me to become a better lawyer. I also have significant experience within child custody, as my parents spent years in court battling each other over custody of me. I understand, as a child of separation, how difficult this process can be on the child and how it can impact a child in way that their parents never intended. That’s why I want the focus to be on the child and finding a quick and compromising resolution, for the sake of the child’s wellbeing. I envision that I will be able to help children across the area I am located in. I also have the hope to be able to help low income families, by discounting their fees. By hopefully taking in larger clients, I would use their higher fees to help cover the fees of those who cannot afford it, ensuring that everyone can receive fair and equal representation. I also want to have charity boxes within my law offices, which will have a different charity assigned to a box. People can place money into the box and at the end of every month, my office would write a check to that charity, in the hopes to make a difference in the world. I want to have boxes to St. Jude’s, Toys for Tots, ASPCA, The American Legion, and perhaps even a scholarship fund that I could set up for future lawyers.

My favorite song on brat is Apple. On the surface, Apple is such a fun song, especially with it's quick paced beat and widely popular dance that is trending right now. However, by analyzing the lyrics a bit more closely and seeing some interviews that Charli has done, I can see a possible deeper meaning behind the song. I love songs with double meaning. I think they are really interesting to think about. Charli has long talked about her relationship with her parents and I think that Apple symbolizes that relationship. The most obvious point is when she say "I think the apple don't fall far from the tree", which is a turn of phrase used to described generation similarities between parent and child. Other lyrics, like "feels like you never understand me so I just wanna drive", are very reminiscent of the same type of story that we see portrayed in the media. Someone strays from the path that their parents laid out for them, and so the parents are confused as to what their child is doing. Then when the child receives questions, they feel judged by their parent, angering them and furthering pushing the two parties apart. Charles' writing of Apple, whether it was meant to have double-meaning or not, was very clever. Even without the meanings, it's just an enjoyable and relatable song.

My favorite concert memory is from Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. I worked so hard to secure those tickets, so I was so excited to see that work pay off. I spent hours in the queue waiting to buy my tickets, and I was lucky enough that my parents let me buy floor tickets. As I watched the clock count down to Taylor’s entrance, I became filled with such excitement and joy. As the “it’s been a long time…..” played, I remember the last time that I had seen Taylor was in 2017! That was almost 6 whole years ago! I had dreamed of this moment since then. As Taylor popped up from underneath the stage, I screamed my face off and began singing the words to “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince”. As soon as I saw Taylor, I began sobbing. This was the moment I felt truly connected to her, to her music, and to the people around me. At that moment, nothing else in the world mattered. It was me, my mom, Taylor and 70,000 other people just enjoying ourselves in Acrisure Stadium. That will always stay frozen in my mind forever, because that was the most joy I had felt in a while. After the loss of my dad, I felt an empty hole in my life. I didn’t even get the chance to tell him about the concert when I bought the tickets, because he died a few days later. That concert was my anchoring point, along with my family, helping me get through such a rough patch in my life. My first concert memory was going to see Taylor Swift at the Red Tour. At that moment I loved Taylor Swift, but I barely knew her music. Going to that concert was very cool for me to witness. it also introduced me to Ed Sheeran. I remember Taylor singing Red and I knew all of the words to it. That was not only the first concert I had gone to, but the first Taylor Swift concert. From then on, I established a tradition with my mom. Every time Taylor Swift came to town, we would go see her together. We have held our tradition for four concerts, and it’s still going strong. We hope to see her again on her next tour, whenever that will be. Both of those day were as magical as could be. Both provided me a sense of fulfillment and allowed me to enjoy myself.

There are so many athletes from Team USA who inspire me everyday. All of them deserve so much praise for even having the courage to participate in the Olympics. It is the biggest stage on earth for sports. My favorite athlete to cheer for on Team USA is Simone Biles. It may seem cliché, but Simone truly is an inspiration. In the Paris Olympics, she was the oldest gymnast there, at 27 years old. She pushed through and put on a truly amazing performance, winning many medals. In 2021, Simone competed in the Tokyo Olympics, which was moved from 2020 due to Covid. She displayed clear signs of distress, known in the gymnastics world as “twisties”. Because of this, she recused herself from the Olympics. In a recent documentary, she said that she felt her brain and body was trapped in jail. After removing herself, she faced both immense praise and criticism. She was facing intense trauma and pain, as the world later found out. Simone testified against Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics doctor, stating that she was one of over 100 female athletes that was sexually abused by him. Even still, Biles faced criticism for her decision to step away from Tokyo. She attributes her “twisties” at the Tokyo Olympics as a response to all of the trauma she face during that time. Simone decided to come back to the Paris Olympics of her own volition, saying that she came back only for herself. She didn’t want to look back and regret not trying. She made a great decision, as she won 3 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal. She also became the most decorated female gymnast. I was cheering for her, because she inspires me. She faced intense mental health issues and despite the criticism, she chose to prioritize herself. I think that’s something that I find myself trying to do a lot more. With people like Simone, someone in the public eye, taking care of themselves in such a public way, it reminds me that I am important too. I matter too. I should take care of myself physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and in every way that counts. After all the different adversities I’ve faced in my life, I’ve found it hard to just think about myself. Instead I’m always worried about others. Simone teaches me to prioritize myself. That’s why I cheer for her. She leads the way for me to prioritize myself.

To face a new supernatural threat, I would form a squad consisting of me, Eleven, Steve and Max. Together this team would be able to stop any supernatural threat. Each person on this team has specific skills and talents that would help us to beat anything coming our way. Eleven's skills are the most obvious. Her abilities make her a very strong pick. That, combined with what she has been through at Hawkins National Laboratory, makes for strong motivation. Eleven has a very strong power and she can use that to help defend us against anything. Steve's skills are a bit more human, but he would be the brawn of the group. He's very strong and as seen in the show, he did make a bat with nails to attack demogorgons. He could also use that to protect us from any physical threats. Max's skill is a bit less defensive and more of a way to give the group some relief. Max dispalys a lot of sarcasm, but she also creates strong connections with her friends. She would be the heart of the group. She also has a connection with Vecna, so if our enemy were part of his army, she might be able to help us gain some insight. My skill is my intelligence and leadership. I would be the brains of the group. I would help to plan out operations on how to take down our enemy, using ideas I came up with and combining others ideas. I was part of a leadership group in high school and learned how to be an effective leader. Together, I think we'd be an unstoppable team. Having brains, brawn, power, and comedic relief would be a great group.

If my year so far had a soundtrack, I would have 3 songs from 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on it. This year, I have been focused on removing negative people from my life. I have found that a lot of people in my life were using me, and I am still finding people who do that. The 3 songs I would pick are Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version), Bad Blood (Taylor’s Version), and Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault). Someone I used to be friends with (we'll call them Anne, but that isn't their real name) burned me pretty badly in my senior year. I was part of a friend group and Anne was part of this group. She was planning a prom party bus for all of us to go to prom and then an afterparty. Anne and some of these other friends went to dinner and a movie together, without inviting me. One of the other friends was listing of things that had happened in our friend group. This friend listed off something she said that I had said, but she twisted my words (intentionally or not), placing a negative spin on what I said. Two days later, I'm on my way to go see a play with my friends, and I received a text from Anne, informing me that I was no longer invited on the bus. I tried to call her, because I had no clue any of this had gone on until about a week later. I wasn't given a chance to explain or understand any fo what had happened. Since then, I haven't really talked to Anne or most of these other friends. I felt betrayed by them. After this, I invited maybe 2 or 3 people from that group to my graduation party. I did not invite Anne, but I did invite someone (we'll call her Sloan, but that's also not her real name) who claimed be my best friend since freshman year. She promised she was coming to my graduation party and that she wouldn't miss it for the world. I showed up to her's and she was an hour late to her own party. But, being she was my "best friend", I waited for her. Anne was even there and I stayed as long as I could stand it. The day of my part comes and Sloan never showed up. She never gave me an explanation either. Bad Blood (Taylor's Version) would play after Anne didn't give me the chance to explain or understand anything that had gone on. I even supported Anne through a very difficult time, where she exposed issues with our theatre community at school. Everyone turned against her, but I didn't. I think that Bad Blood would be appropriate for that. Shake It Off (Taylor's Version) would play after Sloan didn't show up to my party. I already had a feeling that she wasn't truly my friend, but then I truly realized and I just let go. Now That We Don't Talk (Taylor's Version)(From The Vault) would play now. Currently, I feel a lot better after cutting off most of these people from my life. I've kept my actual best friend and some other friends from the school, but no one from that friend group. They seemed happy to sit within their own toxicity. This song embodies exactly what i feel about these people. It's a song of remembering what was but also being appreciative for moving on.

I first became a fan of Sabrina Carpenter after becoming a fan of "Girl Meets World". That used to be my favorite TV show, and I loved to watch it when I could! Maya was my favorite character, and there began my love of Sabrina Carpenter. I hadn’t kept up with her after that, so I barely knew about her music career. In 2022, I finally caught up with her again, when I heard her 5th studio album, "emails i can't send". I quickly fell in love with the album. My favorite song off of it was either "emails i can't send" or "decode". Both of those became relatable for something I later faced with a boy that I liked. When she announced "Espresso" and "Please Please Please", I was elated. Both of those songs are very enjoyable. I also remember watching her performance in "The Hate U Give" and that she played a key role in the show. You know the actor is good when you hate their character. Her career has impacted me in many ways. As a child, her acting comforted me and gave me a companion. Sometimes, as a younger child, I didn't feel that companionship from my peers at school. To be able to watch "Girl Meets World" during that time helped me. Once I got older, I began to have issues with a boy I liked, when I knew he didn't like me back. I could relate a lot of Sabrina's music from "emails i can't send" to that situation. I used her music as a way to help me through my emotions. Watching her in "The Hate U Give" allowed me to better understand issues in American society and grow as a person. I have very much been impacted by by both Sabrina's singing and acting career.

Chappell Roan has risen to international superstardom after years of trying to make it work. She is an inspiration to anyone in the music industry, proving that if you keep working towards it, you can make anything happen! Her music has impacted me because it brings me so much joy. Her more upbeat songs, such as “Femininomenon”, “After Midnight”, and “HOT TO GO!”, provide a playful and fun narrative. The music is a simple melody, yet very catchy. These songs are simpler than some of her others, but they make for a good time. Her vocally more difficult songs, such as “Red Wine Supernova”, “Pink Pony Club”, and “Good Luck, Babe!”, have a deeper meaning and can be seen through that vocal difficulty. These are the songs that you scream in the car because they are so easy to do so. Her slower, more melodic songs, such as “Picture You” and “Kaleidoscope”, are much sadder, but they still make for a great screaming song. These love songs are relatable and understandable. Her music has brought me such joy in the last few months. I truly have been listening to her non-stop, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it! I support Chappell’s career for multiple reasons. The first is that she is the embodiment of hard work. Even when she was dropped by her old label and almost quit the industry, she decided to keep going. She signed with a new label and got Dan Nigro as a producer. She watched as Olivia Rodrigo, a singer with the same producer, rose to fame, leaving her wondering if she was doing something wrong. But still, she kept going. Now she’s known across the world. The second reason is that she represents LGBTQ+ people and with her strong rise into the mainstream media, she is calling more attention to equality for LGBTQ+ people. The third is that she makes me and others happy with her music. Any artist who brings positivity into the world should be supported. Chappell Roan’s rise to fame has been very quick, but she has earned every second of it. I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoy her music.

The lyric that resonates with me the most from Olivia Rodrigo's 'GUTS' is from the song "Teenage Dream". The lyric says, "Got your whole life ahead of you, you're only 19" This lyric resonates very closely with my own teenage experience. I feel that I have such a long journey ahead of me, but I need to map out my next 20 years of life right now, as a senior in high school. I also feel that if I don't plan everything out to the last detail, I will immediately fail in life. I will have to face the judgment of my peers and the world itself. Then, because I don't want to face that judgment, I end up planning my entire life out. If one little detail doesn't go according to plan, I will spend days being upset over it, because, again, I'm worried about the judgment from people. I'm worried they will judge me, because I planned my life and it wasn't enough. I still didn't stick to my plan. The expectation is that I am supposed to make a plan and follow that path for the rest of my life. But how can I make a plan for the rest of my life when my brain doesn't stop developing until I'm 25. While I'm excited for the next chapters of my life, I am also very scared. I think that this song encapsulates the teenage experience very much because society places its expectations upon people very prematurely. Olivia writes about having a bittersweet birthday because her childlike innocence has gone away. She has her whole life ahead of her, which is both an amazing and freeing thing, but also a very scary thing. Teenagers are expected to act like adults but play the role of a child. People expect teenagers to know exactly what they are going to do for the rest of their lives. That is a very strong pressure to place upon a kid. The first time she sings that chorus, her voice even quivers a little bit and you can hear the sorrow in her voice. She understands the gravity of what she's saying. The ending of "Teenage Dream" even draws a parallel to Olivia missing her childlike innocence. There are sounds of her producer, Dan Nigro, and his baby, cooing and making noises. His child, Saiorse, is showing that Olivia appreciates the innocence that she had as a kid and longs for it more. Most teenagers feel this way, wishing to have more innocence and stay a kid longer. When you're a kid, there isn't a lot of pressure put upon you. As soon as you turn 19, the world expects something of you. It expects to see you rise and shine, like a diamond in the rough. People expect to see you doing well and enjoying life. Somehow, you're supposed to balance it all. You're supposed to go to college and get a high-paying job after graduate school. Or, you are supposed to follow your dreams and become famous. Either way, you cannot fail. You aren't allowed to. Society won't allow it.

My two favorite Disney Channel shows are KC Undercover and Shake It Up. The episode, entitled "Mini Me" starts off in the Cooper house. KC is staying home from being sick, but wants to go on a mission. She secretly applies to a mission and sneaks out of the house. She is assigned to a mission in Chicago, which will take a few days. She left a note for her parents, just so they know that she's okay. She hops in the car to drive to Chicago and pulls away. Rocky and Cece are running to the studio to get to Shake It Up Chicago! They run through the studio doors and directly onstage during Gunther's live performance! They jump in, following along with Gunther until they find an exit off the stage. Two hours later, it's their turn! KC is pulling up to an intersection when she gets a call from her boss, Beverly. She tells KC there is a dangerous criminal on the loose who looks exactly like her. KC looks over to the TV store. In the window of the store, she sees her own face, dancing to the beat of a song. KC, after tracking the location of the TV signal, runs down to the studio. She thrusts open the doors and runs in with her laser gun. Rocky and Cece are performing with the full ensemble, doing a spy-themed dance. KC realizes she can't blow her cover trying to catch the criminal. She jumps in with the back ensemble, copying their dance moves and making her way up to Rocky. KC bumps into Tinka on her way towards Rocky. "Hey Rocky!", she says, "Wait a minute, Rocky? Rocky?" She exclaims, looking back and forth between KC and Rocky. KC Waits until the live light turns off for the show, and then she grabs Rocky, taking her to a safe house 3 blocks away. "Who is your contact?" "I don't know what you're talking about!" "What is your mission?" KC yells. Rocky, with a blindfold over her eyes, is scared to death, because she doesn't understand what's going on. KC pulls the blindfold off, and Rocky is amazed by how KC looks almost exactly like her, just older. KC asks, "Why do you look like me? How much surgery did you get?" Rocky just stares at her in awe. "Who-" KC begins to say before the door is busted into. "Hey KC! Looking for me?" KC turns around to see an identical version of herself. "Wait a minute..." KC says, frantically looking back and forth between Rocky and the imposter. They run at each other, while Rocky is still tied in her chair. Rocky is watching them fight, but she doesn't know which one is the real one. She breaks free from her chains and grabs a thrown laser gun from the ground. "Stop" she yells, pointing the laser gun at both of them. They both break apart and turn to her. "Trust me" "No, trust me" "Rocky, I danced with you today, we danced to that spy song together!" Rocky screams, "Just stop!" Out of the corner of her eye, she sees only one of them is wearing a ring. She thinks back, and remembers the ring scratching her. She shoots the other one and tuns out of the safe house, back home to her family. She never spoke fo where she was, knowing she had to protect the spies' identity. But she always knew that spy would protect her when it came down to it. KC went home to DC, and all was okay.

@kayleew_0815

My experience with my learning disability made learning difficult. As a kid, no one could ever gauge my attention for more than 5 seconds. After that, I would go back to what I was doing, or I would zone out and not hear what they were saying. Those were the classic signs of ADHD. Throughout all of elementary and middle school, I simply struggled to pay attention in class. It made classes more challenging. I wasn't able to focus on what my teachers were telling me, especially in some of my core classes, such as math, science, and history. These were the subjects I found to be the most boring and the most difficult. Therefore, my brain deemed them irrelevant to me. I, myself, actually wanted to learn these topics. I always loved being engaged in the classroom, but most days, I couldn't bring myself to. It was even worse at home. I would come home from a long day at school, and homework that was only supposed to take fifteen minutes would become a two-hour process for me. This was either because I couldn't pay attention in class or because my ADHD paralysis just wouldn't let me do it. Even now, in high school, there are moments where I cannot pay attention in class, so I focus on something else. Then I get home and try to do the homework, and I don't know at all how to do it. It's a constant struggle. My motivation for pursuing higher education, while it sounds so cliché, is to prove that people with ADHD can still do well and function in society. It may take a little bit longer for me to add up some numbers, but I'm still equal to everyone else. I want to prove to everyone that I can still become an amazing person and grow to change the world. Most importantly, though, I want to prove it to myself. Growing up with low self-esteem did not help my ADHD, so to be able to show that little girl what she becomes would be amazing. I feel I'm a good candidate for this scholarship because my journey with ADHD, while ongoing, is a success story. When I was younger, I wasn't able to focus at all. It took me longer to complete my assignments. I would become severely upset over the fact that I felt that my peers were better than me. Now, because I have used techniques, applied myself more to my education, and taken advantage of the ISP given to me by my school, I have found that my productivity is up much more. If I'm being honest, I've submitted around 4 scholarship essays to Bold.org within the past 48 hours. I feel the most productive I've ever been, and that continues to grow with me as I've grown up. I believe I'm a strong candidate because I think I've grown up and matured. I've realized that while I do have a disorder, there are ways that I can help myself become better and propel myself toward the future. I'm excited to see what that future may hold.

I have always wanted a Barbie Dream House since I've been old enough to play with Barbies. My idea of a Barbie Dream House has changed over the years, but here's exactly how I imagine it now. Mine would be located in London. London has a nice atmosphere, and the people there seem pretty nice. The sights in London are also amazing, especially Big Ben and the London Eye. But it would also be on the shore of a beach somewhere. On the outside, my Barbie Dream House would have a big slide, kind of like the one in the movie. It would have a balcony overlooking the view, so I could see the sunset before I go to bed. Inside my Dream House, there would be a large Master Suite with a walk-in closet. I would also have an adjoining master bathroom with a large hot tub. There would be two main bedrooms: one is mine, and one would be for Ken. Ken would have a blue-themed room with a small bathroom. I would have a red-themed room. In my Dream House, I would also have an office to do my important Barbie work. The main attraction of my Barbie Dream House would be the indoor pool. The indoor pool room would have a TV for easy access and fun entertainment. There would be a home theater so I could watch my favorite movies in the best definition and quality possible. The place I would spend all my time is the recording studio. I would be writing songs and producing them in my house. This room would have tan, rustic wooden walls and be filled with lots of music equipment. I would hang my first ukulele on the wall, and there would be a shelf for all the awards my music would get. There would be an elevator for me to move between the many levels of my Dream House. The elevator music would be soft piano covers of Taylor Swift. The last feature I would add to my Barbie Dream House would be a secret room for me to relax and hang out. I would have posters of my favorite singers: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Lauren Spencer Smith, Joshua Bassett, Tate McRae, and Sabrina Carpenter. There would be some fairy lights strung on the wall with polaroids of me and my friends. I would have a headset that I could use to listen to my favorite artists and a comfy recliner, so I could fall asleep to the songs.

Disney holds a special place for me because it brings people together, especially in a world that's often tough and full of hardships. Bad things can happen to good folks, making life feel even harder. But that's where Disney World comes in, making things brighter. Back in the summer of 2016, my Nana and PawPaw came to visit from Nashville. I was really into cooking back then, and for my 10th birthday, they came up with a fun idea - a Masterchef Mystery Challenge. They set everything up secretly while I was in my room, hiding the mystery ingredient under a cardboard box. They called me down to the kitchen, and I couldn't wait to see what was in the box. My dad was recording the whole thing with a sneaky grin, but I didn't think much of it. When I finally lifted the box, I found two stuffed animals and a piece of paper with words on it. The stuffed animals were Mickey and Minnie Mouse. As I read the words, I saw the message: "Kaylee, We're Going To Disney World." I was over the moon with happiness. A dream I had as a kid was finally coming true. Time flew, and a couple of days before Thanksgiving break, we were all set to head to Disney World the next day. I was beyond excited to leave school a bit early. I was in a group advisory meeting when my advisor asked me to come with her. She took me to a room where both my parents were waiting. They weren't sitting close, which wasn't surprising since they had split up a while ago. But what my dad said next hit me like a ton of bricks. My Nana had passed away that morning due to a blood clot. Tears started flowing, and our vivacious vacation to Orlando turned into a frowny flight to Nashville. Then came Christmas break. My dad managed to change our plans and cancel some things we'd arranged for Nana. He said that we had all promised to go to Disney World, and it wouldn't be fair to change that. When we finally got there, it felt like a surreal experience. My dad had planned out our time at Disney World in a way that might seem a bit crazy, but it helped us see a whole section of the park in just one day. Even though I can't remember exactly which rides were where I do remember loving Epcot. I tried foods from different countries, which was really cool. This trip helped me forget my sadness, and it played a big part in helping me come to terms with losing Nana. I really love Disney. It's not just about escaping reality or being creative - it's about how Disney made me feel better when I was feeling really lost. Nana was the first close family member I lost, and losing her hit me hard. Out of all my grandparents, Nana and I were the closest. Disney World somehow made me feel close to her when I needed it most. After that trip, I always felt like Nana was looking out for me, like a guardian angel.

The Eras Tour was an enchanting night- one of the most magical of my life. Every moment was perfect. Through this, I not only rediscovered my love for Taylor Swift, but also found solace in her music as I navigated through the grief of losing my dad. This journey, in turn, deepened the bonds I share with one of my friends. Back in the day, I was a big Taylor Swift fan. From the moment I could walk, talk, and sing, I was in love with her music. She swiftly became my favorite artist. I knew every song that graced the radio, and could belt them out by heart, even if I didn't fully comprehend their meaning. I became more dedicated to my education, perhaps a little too dedicated, and lost focus on what brought me joy in my life. As I entered high school, music became essential, accompanying me through work, uplifting my mood, and keeping me sane. I started listening Taylor's music again as soon as she released "Midnights." Her melodies provided much-needed solace after my dad died. I purchased my Eras Tickets less than a week before his departure, and unfortunately, never got the chance to share that excitement with him. Yet, her music has been a constant source of comfort through my grief. While my dad wasn't a Swiftie, he did appreciate her work. He even ensured that a song alert was set for Taylor Swift's music on the radio, letting him to change the channel for me whenever her songs played. Some of his favorite tracks, like "Mean" helped me feel reconnected with him after his passing. When the announcement came for the Eras Tour, I knew I had to secure tickets for myself and my mom. Despite gradually losing interest, I still hadn't missed a Taylor Swift concert since the Red Tour. It had become a cherished tradition between my mom and I. This was an experience I couldn't miss. During my school day, I managed to purchase the tickets and was overcome with joy in my Physics class. Immediately, I knew I needed to catch up on Taylor Swift's newer albums. It had been a while since I had truly listened to her music. I started sifting through her discography, discovering and savoring new songs that resonated with me. This exploration unveiled the fact that I had inadvertently missed out on three masterfully crafted albums: "Reputation," "Lover," and "folklore." I developed a strong affection for tracks like "Getaway Car," "Cruel Summer," "The Man," and "betty." This reborn adoration rekindled my passion for her music. Subsequently, I delved into her re-released works and loved the vault tracks. My anticipation for the release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" grew, and I've since developed an obsession with every song it contains. Attending the Eras Tour and reigniting my admiration for Taylor Swift's artistry also led me to expand upon a friendship. My friend and I now converse daily, with Taylor Swift often at the heart of our discussions. We exchange reels and posts about Easter eggs in her music videos, recommend songs to each other, and our connection has grown immensely over the course of three months. We go out to share meals, explore amusement parks, and spend quality time together. Regardless of the setting, one constant remains: our conversations inevitably circle back to Taylor Swift. Im so grateful for Taylor and her music. She has created an escape for me, and any of her songs brighten up my day. I'm always smiling and singing along when I hear Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift has had many mega hits. Her best-selling album, 1989, has absolutely zero skips because all of the songs are amazing, but choosing a favorite wasn't very difficult to do. My favorite song from Taylor Swift’s album 1989 is track 16, New Romantics, off of the Deluxe Edition. I love it for its easter eggs, instrumentals, and its positive message. Taylor Swift is well-known for her easter eggs. In her song, New Romantics, she makes many easter egg references. Simply looking at the chorus, there are so many references and easter eggs to find. She sings “'Cause baby, I could build a castle/Out of all the bricks they threw at me”. This references multiple songs of Taylor’s past, including Hey Stephen, Love Story, and Ours, all of which speak of throwing or tossing rocks or pebbles. Then, she writes, “And every day is like a battle/But every night with us is like a dream”. The mention of both night and day references back to a line from the song Blank Space, a song off of the same album. The instrumentals on every Taylor Swift song truly deliver, but specifically on this song, the instrumentals are amazing. In this song, there is heavy use of pulsating synthesizers, which is actually a reference to the music of the late 80s, specifically the year 1989, which is the title of the album and the year Swift was born. The song maintains its fresh, modern pop beat with the backing vocals Swift inserted and the percussion instruments she uses, but it is a clear reference to the music of the time Taylor was born, making this a timeless piece in music. Finally, I have learned to appreciate the positive messages hidden in the lyrics of some of Swift’s songs. This song, in particular, is to remind us to live youthfully, no matter what our age may be. We should always be having fun, no matter what anyone says. Taylor reminds us not to take useless criticism to heart and to allow ourselves to live out our wildest dreams in life. We should choose our own happiness over trying to please anyone else. When I listen to this song, I am reminded of feelings of happiness. I am reminded of times in my life when I have been truly happy and enjoyed myself. That’s the feeling this song attempts to evoke from everyone who hears it: a sense of youthfulness and freedom. In conclusion, New Romantics is my favorite song from the album, 1989, simply because it makes me happy, especially when I think about the time and effort that was put into this song. With the amount of easter eggs put in it, referencing back to previous songs, and the instrumentals that reference instruments that were heavily used in music around the time she was born, that’s enough for it to be my favorite song. But the giddy feeling I get when this song begins to play says it all. If I can feel young and free, not restrained by anything, and just feel like a child again for a moment, it’s a good song. This song from my childhood, takes me back to the happy memories I have with my friends and family when I had no cares in the world. That’s why New Romantics is my favorite song from Taylor Swift’s album, 1989.