My goal to strive for change started when I was very young. I always had an interest in the world of science and the environment. I always wanted to make my mark on the world one way or another, whether it'd be lending a helping hand, or signing myself up for countless volunteer and community service opportunities. I fell in love with volunteer work and seeking leadership, I didn't need money to be rewarded, I didn't need something tangible. The thought of just helping my community was a reward itself. I always viewed myself as someone who was not naturally a leader, but once I took that leap of faith and realized that leadership can come in all sorts of styles I found a role I could flourish in. I've worked with countless organizations over the past four years and have been in leadership roles throughout those years as well. I worked with The Ice Age Trail Alliance with prairie restoration, helping to restore over 100 acres of prairie, or building a new section of the trail for my county. Removing purple loosestrife on multiple occasions with the Golden Sands R.C.D. An invasive species around my area. Different conservation departments with managing invasive species such as buck-thorn. Cleaning the river that runs through my town, helped run activities and clean up after festivities held in the area. Being part of a pilot group through the Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center using an eDNA approach to detect invasive carp in the Wisconsin River, acting ad a field team leader. Recently in college I joined the American Fisheries Society subunit on campus and sought out opportunities with the DNR with sturgeon spawning and attending a fisheries bootcamp in Boulder Junction at a research station to learn valuable skills in my field such as fyke netting and tagging fish. I have provided assistance to other students, my friends, and those close to me with both personal and academic issues. I found it all rewarding and felt a sense of accomplishment. I want to give back to my community after attending college, to return and continue the work I have already done. I want to help protect ecosystems, especially the aquatic ones by pursuing a degree in wildlife ecology. To better manage and preserve our natural resources. I remember reading a book titled 'Silent Spring,' written by marine biologist and author, Rachel Carson. A book about the environmental harm that a pesticide caused known as DDT. She was an inspiration to me, to work to strive for an improvement regarding conservation efforts as someone going into a similar field. I was always taught to show up and be kind, supportive; to be a role model for others, and that is exactly what I plan on doing. Qualities a leader should embody. I feel as though the opportunities and volunteering experiences helped shape me into a better leader as it gave me different perspectives and experiences with working in different environments and with different people. A leader should always seek out opportunities to grow and acts of service is a great place to build on those skills.

Nature has always spoken to me, the diverse rich differences of each aspect of nature is beautiful to me. Each biome has its own unique qualities, each habitat, each creature. I sought nature as a safe haven, a place for me to escape. The diversity of our planet and how beautiful the nature is earns its place as my favorite. I wanted to give back the peace nature has granted me, no matter how big or small my action, I wanted to make a difference somehow. Community service and volunteer hours is something I have more than enough of. I have rounded up so many hours that it ended up in my elective credit. I find volunteering rewarding, it makes me feel good to make a mark on the world or lend a helping hand to people. I have not only helped my community but those close by as well, Golden Sands RC & DC Inc for example is a conservation organization I have helped for about three years. My high school had a huge emphasis on environmental learning and each week we got to go out into the field to learn something in nature, for three years we have been tasked by Golden Sands RC & DC Inc to help remove invasives at a wildlife refuge area in the county. We have also helped them with aquatic plant identification. I have also worked with the Ice Age Trail Alliance multiple times for prairie restoration along the Ice Age Trail. One year we collected enough seeds to restore over 100 acres of prairie. Earlier this school year we also helped build a new section of the trail called the Marquette County chapter. One of the smaller projects my school has done is a river clean up for the two rivers that run through my squat little town. Every year for Earth Day we do an Earth Day Clean up, this year we also removed invasive buckthorn from our school forest. I have also helped both the Columbia County and Marquette County Land and Water Conservation Departments through my school by buckthorn removal at one of my favorite hiking places, and the Columbia County annual tree sale. We have also worked with managing an overpopulating native plant at the Aldo Leopold Foundation. By far my favorite opportunities I have had the privilege to do is being part of the pilot group for a new science procedure that would help detect invasive carp through eDNA. We got to use scientific tools and work in both a laboratory and the field. I also got to recently work with the Department of Natural Resources with sturgeon spawning and fisheries bootcamp where I got to learn valuable skills in the field of fisheries such as fyke netting and tagging fish. As someone going into aquatic sciences to study conservation and ecology I found this incredible to do. I am forever grateful for all these opportunities. I find is accomplishing to help not only my community but others as well. I got an amazing opportunity to be in a leadership position for three years acting as a field team leader on our days in the field which have given me an insight of how field work looks like. I want my work to protect our ecosystems and pursue this as a career because I know I am not the only one who finds biodiversity and nature beautiful. Natural resources is vital and conserving what we have can mean generations can enjoy its natural beauty for years to come.

As a student attending UW-Stevens Point, the college of natural resources, sustainability is one of our top goals and priorities. I am affiliated with their natural resource program while majoring in aquatic sciences and approach my future career with a strong background in environmentalism and sustainability. Prior to my education with Stevens Point I attended a school with emphasis on environmental learning, every project was based around an SDG or a sustainable development goal to connect our passions with sustainability. As an aspiring aquatic ecologist I am going to be working alongside and within the natural world, I need to make sustainability one of my top priorities to address issues affecting ecosystems, protecting natural resources, and biodiversity. At a glance, aquatic ecology is the study of aquatic ecosystems, but how does this connect to sustainability on a deeper level? Natural resource fields overlap and contribute to one another, if sustainable practices are not met in one area, others are at risk. Aquatic ecosystems are essential for biodiversity, habitat, recreational use, climate regulation, human health, and much more. Many communities rely on bodies of water whether that be for drinking water, transportation, or food and when sustainability is not met it can risk not only the health of fish and aquatic animals but wildlife and humans that rely on this resource as well. If you have polluted water, you have a polluted river, and if one area gets affected by pollution, it spreads and pollutes other areas along the river and to others connected to it. Rivers and lakes are direct channels to the ocean, they all eventually make it there over time. If you have polluted lakes and rivers, that pollution will make its way to the oceans later down the road. Furthermore, if you have a poor watershed, which is an area of land around a body of water, you will have a river of poor water quality. The riparian zone, which is within the watershed acts as a filter and is responsible for providing habitat, if this zone is impacted by a poor watershed it can put risk to biodiversity, the increase of pollutants, and habitat disturbance. Managing rivers and lakes is difficult and knowing how to manage every single one is near impossible due to their own unique features, but one way we can protect these ecosystems is by managing these watersheds and riparian zones to ensure pollutants such as agriculture run-off do not enter these critical ecosystems. One of the core beliefs to environmental sustainability is to ensure ecological balance, this is a belief I plan to integrate into my own values and beliefs as someone pursuing a career in aquatic ecology with a focus on conservation. With my prior knowledge and skills in sustainable practices, I am aiming to protect and preserve these essential ecosystems to protect biodiversity, improve water quality, human health, and conserve the species that rely on these systems for habitat, food, or spawning purposes. With my passion for learning and endless curiosity about the natural world, I strive to make my mark on the world no matter how big or small.

Ever since I was little I knew I would pursue a career in natural resources, my grandmother planted that seed in my head based on my curiosity about the world. My passion lies within the fisheries field: aquatic sciences and water resources. I've always found nature to be my outlet, a place where I can explore, be curious, and find solace. I attended a school with an emphasis on environmental learning and with that opportunity I flourished, I sought out volunteering, leadership, and learning as an opening for experience and development. I learned from the sides of experts and my peers, what to expect in the field, how to lead a team, and how to fall in love with this field of study. When I got accepted to University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, the college of natural resources I was beyond thrilled to continue to learn and grow into the person I want to become. I am a passionate, and curious learner that aspires to pursue a career in aquatic ecology with a focus on conservation to give back to the world and protect and preserve aquatic ecosystems across Wisconsin with hopes to broaden my scope down the road.

Mental health has started to gain traction in recent years, more people are talking about it and opening up about their struggles with mental health. My parents come from a generation where it was considered taboo to bring up, this initially made it hard to seek help. To my parents this was a forbidden topic, and when your kid gets diagnosed with depression and anxiety it forces you to finally unlock that hard conversation you've been avoiding. I actively bring up that conversation, I don't believe it should be considered taboo and I always encourage people to speak up. When I was about 12 I started feeling depressed and showing signs of major depressive disorder, I've always shown signs of anxiety since I was a little kid but I didn't get the diagnoses until many years later. Due to the lack of understanding around mental health, it took me being at my lowest to finally receive the help I needed. Deep down I always thought my parents were just scared, they didn't know how to navigate this and there certainly isn't a handbook for when your child is depressed and ridden with anxiety. It took years for my mom to finally see that I was struggling and now she is one of my biggest supporters. She helped me get into therapy right before I turned 15 and I am still seeing that same therapist to this day. My parents always taught me to be kind, to fight for what I want in life, and to strive towards my goals. My mother especially taught me to be strong and to overcome any obstacle life may throw at me; that the world may be unkind but I was to never let it dampen my own spirit. I found pride in my academics, this was my outlet. I work hard and I always aim to do my best. I graduated with high honors, a 4.0 GPA, countless volunteer hours, and I was the first valedictorian through the charter school my high school offered. I couldn't have done it without the support system that I have: my closest friends whom I consider family, my parents, some of my close extended family, and of course my therapist who has always showed their support in anything I throw my hat into. I always struggled with who I am, I didn't care who I was or what I wanted in the future but now I can say that I am passionate, driven, kind, empathetic, a leader, an artist, and an aspiring aquatic ecologist who aims to conserve and protect ecosystems. I am a first generation student attending University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, I carry these qualities with me and actively seek out opportunities when they arise. I have always been a heavily involved student and with college that is no different, at Stevens Point I have joined many clubs, both interest and academic based. Being a first generation student has made the college experience challenging but so new, even though my parents and I have been navigating blind I know with their support I'm going to make it. I used to not worry about the future or have much interest planning ahead because I didn't think I would make it this far, but now I know I want to pursue a career in aquatic sciences with a focus on conservation to make my mark no matter how big or small it may be. I want to give back to my community and to the world that made me fall in love with living again.

I have been told that marine biology was a childish dream. I was told that eventually I will grow out of it and seek new endeavors and figure out a new path that doesn't follow some childish wonder. That this passion of mine was just a symptom of age. How could someone shut down a passion so quickly when all they knew was my name? This question still baffles me but all it did was propel me forward. I remember at the end of my junior year of high school, was the time to sit down and ask myself, what will be my role? My purpose? What is it that I will pursue? Such a big question to prepare yourself for your senior year full of college applications, getting your final credits in, late nights, and of course stepping into adulthood. The months leading up to college made the world seem so much bigger and wider than I ever thought it was. It made me question, is this the right step? Is this the right path for me? That was the only time I questioned this passion. I am currently studying aquatic sciences at the University of Stevens Point, and all I could think of was how proud the younger me must be right now. To see me in purple and gold, studying something we always wanted to pursue. Of course, aquatic science is not exactly marine science, but there is a lot of overlap and I couldn't be happier. This is something I always wanted to do, for as long as I can remember and I proved that this isn't some childish wonder, the path I was on simply matured and evolved but it never wavered away from this dream that I am proud to call mine. I hope to take a conservation approach when pursuing this type of science. The end goal is to become an ecologist with a focus on conservation, to work on restoration, sustainability and invasive species control and how we can preserve what we have and protect what we don't want to lose. I plan on getting my bachelors first and foremost before continuing my education to eventually get a PhD so I can lead my own studies and research. I am a giver, I give to friends, family, and my community and that is where I wish to spend my energy, giving my time and efforts to preserving and protecting. There is so much life that relies on aquatic environments, whether that'd be rivers, lakes, streams, or the vast ocean. I am not blind to the disturbances made to these environments, I have seen it firsthand and I've already taken action whether by land or sea. I already have experience working in bodies of water, from documenting aquatic plant species, cleaning up a river that ran through my town, checking for water quality in multiple streams, to even being part of a pilot group for a new science protocol to check for invasive fish species in the Wisconsin River via eDNA sampling. I found it all rewarding, and never once did it deter me from pursuing this type of science. All it did was fuel my passion, and I hope that one day I can go from lakes and rivers to the ocean. I always wanted to make my mark on the world, no matter how small. This path will have many obstacles and I have accepted that. All I know for certain is that I will get there and that discouragement doesn't knock me back, instead it only drives me forward.

Nature has always spoken to me, the diverse rich differences of each aspect of nature is beautiful to me. Each biome has its own unique qualities, each habitat, each creature. I sought nature as a safe haven, a place for me to escape. The diversity of our planet and how beautiful the nature is earns its place as my favorite. I wanted to give back the peace nature has granted me, no matter how big or small my action, I wanted to make a difference somehow. Community service and volunteer hours is something I have more than enough of. I have rounded up so many hours that it ended up in my elective credit. I find volunteering rewarding, it makes me feel good to make a mark on the world or lend a helping hand to people. I have not only helped my community but those close by as well, Golden Sands RC & DC Inc for example is a conservation organization I have helped for about three years. My school has a huge emphasis on environmental learning and each Thursday we go out into the field to learn something in nature, for three years we have been tasked by Golden Sands RC & DC Inc to help remove invasives at a wildlife refuge area in the county. We have also helped them with aquatic plant identification. I have also worked with the Ice Age Trail Alliance multiple times for prairie restoration along the Ice Age Trail. One year we collected enough seeds to restore over 100 acres of prairie. Earlier this school year we also helped build a new section of the trail called the Marquette County chapter. One of the smaller projects my school has done is a river clean up for the two rivers that run through my squat little town. Every year for Earth Day we do an Earth Day Clean up, this year we also removed invasive buckthorn from our school forest. I have also helped both the Columbia County and Marquette County Land and Water Conservation Departments through my school by buckthorn removal at one of my favorite hiking places, and the Columbia County annual tree sale. We have also worked with managing an overpopulating native plant at the Aldo Leopold Foundation. By far my favorite opportunity I have had the privilege to do is being part of the pilot group for a new science procedure that would help detect invasive carp through eDNA. We got to use scientific tools and work in both a laboratory and the field. As someone going into aquatic sciences to study conservation and ecology I found this incredible to do. I am forever grateful for all these opportunities that were given to me through my school, I find is accomplishing to help not only my community but others as well. I got an amazing opportunity to be in a leadership position for three years acting as a field team leader on our days in the field which have given me an insight of how field work looks like and gives me responsibility to ensure my team is prepared for the day. I want to someday work to protect our ecosystems as a career because I know I am not the only one who finds biodiversity and nature beautiful.

My goal to strive for change started when I was very young. I always had an interest in the world of science and the environment. My mother always taught me to be a kind person, no room for violence, no room for hate. That it shouldn't hold space in my heart. I always wanted to make my mark on the world one way or another, whether it'd be lending a helping hand, or signing myself up for countless volunteer and community service opportunities. I fell in love with volunteer work, I didn't need money to be rewarded, I didn't need something tangible. The thought of just helping my community was a reward itself. I've worked with countless organizations over the past four years. The Ice Age Trail Alliance with prairie restoration, helping to restore over 100 acres of prairie, or building a new section of the trail for my county. Removing purple loose-strife with the Golden Sands R.C.D. An invasive species around my area. Different conservation departments with managing invasive species such as buck-thorn. Cleaning the river that runs through my town, helped run activities and clean up after festivities held in the area. Providing assistance to other students, my friends, and those close to me with both personal and academic issues. I found it all rewarding and felt a sense of accomplishment. I want to give back to my community after attending college, to return and continue the work I have already done. I want to help protect ecosystems, especially the aquatic ones by pursuing a degree in wildlife ecology. To better manage and preserve our natural resources. I remember reading a book titled 'Silent Spring,' written by marine biologist and author, Rachel Carson. A book about the environmental harm that a pesticide caused known as DDT. She was an inspiration to me, to work to strive for an improvement regarding conservation efforts as someone going into a similar field. I also want to become a symbol for LGBTQ+ youth, to show them success and advocate for them, to be that representation that I needed to see growing up. To show that we can become scientists, that we can make a difference in the world even if parts of the world are still very slow to progress to people in our community. I was always taught to show up and be kind, supportive; to be a role model for others, and that is exactly what I plan on doing.

I learned about suicide at a young age. At the time I never understood why, how could a kid understand after all? At the age of 12, I started to finally understand. I remember waking up one morning, dread pooled in my stomach, something was wrong. My mom walked in, face pinched with sadness, she spoke to me in a soft tone. My cousin's best friend shot himself last night. I was best friends with his sister, I knew him, I knew his smile, his interests, his story. But we all were oblivious to his pain, the amount of times I heard, "I would have never thought he would do this," was echoed throughout the halls at school. I felt a deep guilt in my gut, at this time I was 14 and suicidal. I saw the pain on peoples faces, I thought about those that I loved. I couldn't imagine doing that to my family too. I vowed to seek help, to work on myself because I couldn't bear to see the pain on peoples faces. I always struggled with anxiety, for as long as I could remember. When I turned 12 everything changed, right before the pandemic I spiraled into depression. I thought that the world would have been better off without me, that my life had no real purpose. The pandemic made it worse, the isolation and being deprived of social interaction made it hard to seek help. That was 7th grade for me. The amount of times I would wake up and wish the sun didn't rise, to just sleep forever and rest. My freshman year I met someone, an older student who acted like an older brother, he helped me and offered me guidance but that was short lived. From looking at him for help he started coming to me, I talked him off the ledge more times than I can count on my hands. The relationship became toxic fast, he guilt tripped me into staying, that he'd die without me. It didn't end well. I picked up an addiction during this time, a self-harm one. I watched the students around me pick up addictions all the time, this wasn't new. Kids who started vaping in 6th grade, the kid next to me in math always came to school in the morning high as a kite by 7:30 am. I had a friend who stole her parents beer to cope with her own mental health, she ended up expelled after overdosing in the bathroom. I was surrounded by broken kids, of course I became damaged too. Why were kids, literal children hurting themselves and taking their lives? Why did I think I would be another number on the toll, another statistic to the amount of teenagers who struggle with mental health. Enough was enough. I finally got help, help that I fought for years to get. Yet I still struggle. I am now over 2 years clean, attended therapy for about 3 years, surrounded myself with friends that truly value me and my time here. I may not pursue counseling as a career, or become an esteemed psychologist with multiple written books, but I became someone to go to. To provide support and acceptance to those who were in the same boat as me, to keep my promise and do what I can to get better. I did projects on mental health conditions to better understand what people were going through, I offered my hand when someone needed help to stand up. My younger self would be proud of all that I've done.

Mental health has become a big topic in the world today, so much so that younger generations have spoken out about their own struggles as mental health issues continue to rise. I was someone who struggled. My friends have struggled. My family has struggled. Millions of people have struggled. When I was around 11-12 years old I fell into a deep depression that only got darker as the years went by, my whole life I've struggled with anxiety that was often played off as "shyness." I did not want to live past 14, I didn't see a life I wanted past that point, until a tragedy happened. One morning I woke up to my mother popping into my bedroom a little before I had to get up for school, she told me someone close to us took their own life. He was a teenager, about my age. Following the funeral I saw the hurt and sorrow marked on everyone's faces, I felt a stabbing guilt for even thinking about taking my own life at this point. Now that I saw the hurt that follows it. I then understood the phrase "suicide doesn't end the pain, it transfers to someone else." His younger sister, who was one of my close friends practically dragged me into a hug, it broke my heart to see her in so much pain. From that day forward I swore to never plan on taking my own life, to brave out the constant battles, and to work on gratitude. It was hard, it seemed almost impossible some days but I kept my mind trained on one goal and that goal was to keep on living. To work on myself and my relationships. I found myself a support system, people with similar struggles, people with very different struggles to mine, but it made me feel less alone and more seen. These people are now my closest friends, I see them more as family. My mental health has shaped my relationships in a way, both good and bad. Starting with the bad, I always drew in validation by the people around me, I needed them to be okay and in turn they needed me to keep going. It became toxic and too dependent very quickly, that taught me to seek validation from myself and to learn how to live for myself rather than for others. With the good it made me more understanding about others struggles, I listened and empathized with others because I knew what it was like to struggle myself. My understanding of the world was very dull when I was in a really dark place, I thought the world sucked and everything about life wasn't worth it. As my bearings got lighter after I found support, a therapist, and took the brave step of reaching out for help when the weight got too heavy to bear, I started to see the light more. I sought out to learn more about nature and it became a very calming/grounding place for me, I discovered a love for hiking and canoeing along with it. I found joy and light in the little things, and didn't take those things for granted anymore. I realized I wanted to make the world a better place, not take myself out of it. To pursue science, to help animal life depending on bodies of water and people too. Sparking the new goal of completing college and never giving up to someday work in the field to help the Earth. Mental health has always been something important to me, it's something I'm very passionate about. If it wasn't for my interest in the topic and my own hard work, dedication and others support to help myself heal I wouldn't care enough to form new friendships, heal relationships, realize the toxic ones I should let go, and find the motivation to strive towards my goals. I still struggle with my mental health to this day, but I know it gets easier and my hard work will pay off one day.

Writing has always been a form of escape for me. I can jot down my notes, my plans, ideas, feelings, and best of all: my own stories and my own characters. I have a love of making characters and creating their stories, I find joy in seeing their stories and development progress and I write each paragraph, each chapter of the three I am currently writing. I also have a love of poetry, both reading and writing it. I rarely show anyone or read it aloud but recently I tried public speaking and read a few of my favorites out loud about the depths of relationships, all original pieces about my own experiences that got me to the districts round of forensics. It feels good being able to read my work and seeing the love for my own work reflected off others who share my love and passion for writing. Writing and reading pretty much goes hand in hand. I love reading and getting lost in authors works, taking inspiration from them to add it to my own pieces. It's calming, it helps express words that I can't find the voice to say aloud. As the school's resident "quiet kid" this holds very true for me. I often prefer writing or even typing up a story, I seem to always have much more to "say" that way. Writing gives me a voice and I'm sure many others can relate to that as well. Seeing parts of myself in my own characters as I give them experiences similar to mine makes others feel seen, just as reading books about characters with similar experiences, identities, and personalities make me feel seen. To further my education I wish to use my writing skills and love for storytelling to help me publish my findings in the science world. Even though I'm pursuing science, writing is still a big part of it. To publish research, data, scientific journals, and my own experiences. Many scientists are also authors, take Rachel Carson for example. An American Marie biologist and writer, credited for advancing marine conservation and the global environmental movement. I own a copy of her book "Silent Spring," and she's someone I look up to as I pursue marine science myself. I hope to be an author as well to publish writings similar to hers as I further my education. Writing is something very important to me, and just as it was my voice, I hope to use writing to be the oceans voice.

Ever since I was a little kid I had a fascination with the ocean and marine life. I thought the vast body of water was beautiful and held unique and diverse creatures. It's a career I'm looking forward to pursuing, not for money or to become a famous scientist, but to protect our oceans. One of my biggest career goals is to make the world a better place and to do so I wish to pursue marine science to protect our oceans. Many living things rely on the oceans, even people. So I'm going to work hard to ensure those resources are protected. Many marine animals and organisms are endangered, the vaquita porpoise being the most critically endangered marine animal. Sea turtles, sharks, rays, marine mammals and even birds that rely on the ocean are somewhere on the NOAA bracket for endangered or threatened species. As a huge animal lover and someone who cares deeply for them, I hope to help them in the near future as I pursue a bachelors degree in marine science. I'm planning on taking an ecology and environmental route when pursuing marine science, which is the study of "relationships among living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment." Paired with environmental science, it includes the solution to environmental problems. Taking these routes I can study endangered species and how they interact with their environment, and what variables in their environment can cause further harm to the species. Whether that might be a human or natural disturbance. If by this case it was an environmental issue of pollution, I can work on the initiative to solve said environmental problem. Whether it'd be pollution, over fishing, too much boat traffic, toxic algae blooms, or any other factor that could cause harm to the environment and the organisms relying on said environment. I hope to someday get a masters or even a Phd for marine sciences so I can further become an expert and conduct my own research on helping and protecting our oceans. I've done many projects on this topic, a short one about marine biology itself and a year long one about endangered marine species and conservation in general. Last year I worked on a career project about different marine science jobs and which ones I'd personally pursue and how to get there. This year I even took the responsibility of taking care of hermit crabs, which can live in either salt water or freshwater. To expand my research, I plan on working in any body of water. Lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, estuaries, and of course oceans to help protect all our bodies of water. Working in the ocean is a dream for me, being able to help protect the ocean will be an even bigger accomplishment. I hope to make a change one day.

Our future is shaped by the leaders and supported by it's followers. Without leadership who would take a stand? Who would make decisions and delegate tasks at hand when no one is brave enough to raise their voices and take charge themselves? I myself have years of leadership under my belt, I can say for certain that leadership is a skill anyone can work on and master. As the schools designated "quiet kid" who rarely spoke up, it was unexpected to see me grow into a leader. Science is all around us. There are many types of studies of various topics. Science helps us learn about these unknowns and questions we have, without it science and many many remarkable scientists conducting studies how would we get the answers to things we question ourselves but never sought to find the answer? We wouldn't know what lies in the depths of the sea without marine scientists. We wouldn't understand the physics and logic of the world around us without physicists. Or even know about the living world around us without the study of life - biology. Many things we know today that has become common knowledge is because of scientists who took charge and sought out answers. Take gravity for example, that's common knowledge. We all know what it is and how it works but who discovered it? A scientist, Issac Newton. Science is more important than people realize. But how does science and leadership go hand in hand when shaping the future? Leadership is a quality people look for when hiring someone for a job, any science field is no stranger to that quality. Leadership shows you have responsibility, dedication, that you're dependable and someone others can go to or look up to. Many scientists work in the field or have teams dedicated to one research or study, someone needs to know how to take charge and delegate tasks. The future is shaped by many many things, but good leadership and a wonderful generation of new scientists can help the world move forward. To help expand our knowledge about the world and beyond it. With the state of the world right now, leaders and scientists are needed more than ever to ensure that the many issues we face today are handled, dealt with, and to prevent further progression. As someone who looks forward to going into the science field to hopefully make the world a better place one step at a time, I can say that I am working for a better future. I hope people can see and understand how much more important leadership can be and that anyone can be one with the proper motivation and encouragement, because we need that right now.

"You should be a marine biologist," my grandma remarks, smiling down at four year old me, her eyes crinkling as she smiles. It's a memory I hold very dear to me, a moment I didn't comprehend as a four year old in the Walmart checkout just spewing random ocean facts about my favorite creatures. Now when I look back and I see the state of the world, the ocean, the marine life, and even our other bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and streams, I realized I wanted to make a change. A chance to help our Earth and take an environmental route towards our oceans to hopefully reverse some of the damages. This journey will be arduous and challenging, sparking feelings of doubt and hopelessness but in the end I'm sure it would be worth it. I don't need to be a hero or a famous scientist that did something remarkable who wins prizes and awards, I'm simply a person who has seen the state of the world, experienced it, and wishes to do anything no matter how small to make a difference. My school has taught me to be very goal-oriented, to keep them reasonable and specific. It's a skill I'm very grateful for. To be able to know your limits, to create a timely goal that fits your needs, the ability to reflect or revise on them once you accomplish or don't accomplish them. My goal is to make a difference as a whole, to study bodies of water to make them safer and work towards a better ocean for the next generations. I wish to at the very least receive a bachelors degree and work in a laboratory to research findings and data, eventually working my way up to receive higher degrees to open up more opportunities. To specialize in specific species to better understand them and how to dispose of threats causing harm to them. I hope to use my art to inspire and show awareness as a side, to use a portion of that money raised to donate to conservation organizations. My school has opened many opportunities for volunteering that can better help me in the field and working with experts on different issues. But I can only volunteer for so long until I need to make a living on something that is important to me. As my dad would say, once you find a job you love you won't have to work a day in your life, because once you find something that speaks to you and peaks your interest you'll never get bored of it. However, in order to reach my dream and accomplish my goals I need to pursue a higher education, but I need help and support to get there. I am grateful for the support system I have, to encourage me and to keep pushing me to do great things but I need a little more to help me with my career goals. This scholarship can be another helping hand to get me where I hope to be one day, to be a scientist helping the world one step at a time.