"Toilet Paper" (written in the midst of the pandemic) I burst through the door of the local food lion fighting middle aged women who were also out buyin' I knew where to go I ran to the back but to my horror I found only one on the rack I went for the item but before I could I got hit by a cart by a mom from my hood Our alliance had been broken no more "mom squad" All along that lady had only been a fraud She took the last toilet paper leaving me barren but I should have known better than to trust a Karen

“Why aren’t there any mermaids in the touch tank?” This is one of the many questions I get asked when I volunteer at the touch tank of the Virginia Living Museum. Volunteering at the Virginia Living Museum is one of the best choices I have made; I have an opportunity to work with wildlife and pass on what I have learned to my community. One slow morning a little boy walked up to the tank. He asked why we did not have mermaids in it. I explained to the boy we didn’t have mermaids but we did have other creatures he could find in the local watershed. I could see his immediate fascination. The boy hung out with me for an hour asking questions about various crabs and starfish. Some may have found it annoying to have a small child badgering them with questions, but I was happy to answer him. I saw myself in that child’s raw curiosity for the environment. I found it important to encourage the boy’s interest because that is exactly what I would have wanted as a kid too. My lifetime fascination with wildlife made it obvious I would choose to go into environmental sciences. Every morning I would watch Crocodile Hunter or Big Cat Diary on Animal Planet then binge Wild Kratts after school. All these things had a heavy emphasis on different animals' interactions with their environments and the importance of protecting them. This fostered my love for nature and led to the passion I have now. When I went to the zoo as a kid I thoroughly enjoyed learning about all the exotic animals, but I also felt sympathetic for them. I saw that while the animals are entertaining to look at, life in a cage or small enclosure is not an enjoyable one. Yes, some animals were there for breeding programs to help endangered species, but this just further angered me. The animals were endangered in the first place as a result of humans, and the best we could do was stuff them in a measly enclosure and make them reproduce. This experience of educating kids and going to the zoo gave me insight into the balance between humans and nature. That balance is necessary to maintain in the best interest of animals and ultimately humans. I feel one of the ways I can make a change and restore harmony is by becoming a conservationist. Environmental science is the first step in my journey to protect animals and demonstrate the importance of coexisting with nature.

When thinking of Iceland, most people immediately think of a small, distant, and frigid country. What many people don't know is Iceland has been home to a huge scientific breakthrough regarding climate change and limiting carbon emissions. To start, Iceland is already a very environmentally friendly country; 80% of the country's power is generated from geothermal energy and renewable resources. Geothermal energy releases only a small amount of carbon compared to fossil fuels, but researchers in Iceland still wanted to limit that amount. Scientists were able to find a way to capture the carbon released from their power plants, then reinsert it back into the ground where it mineralized, or turned into rock, in about two years. This new method is just the start of what could be a new initiative to stop climate change. Imagine if every power plant began using this process to help reduce carbon released into the air. It would be monumental in stopping global warming and saving the Earth. My favorite part of this discovery is that it was out of the goodness of heart. Iceland is already surpassing other countries in how low their carbon emissions are. Still, scientists wanted to reduce what tiny imprint their country had to an even smaller amount and ultimately provide a method that could help countries reduce their carbon emissions.

The scene in front of me was abysmal. A bloody mass of feathers hung limply from my over-excited dog's mouth. My dog's exhilaration quickly turned to guilt when he saw how angry I was. He quickly dropped the rooster he had assailed and I hauled him back to his crate. I was not just furious at him, but the people who caused this needless pain to occur. You may be wondering how this situation even happened in the first place. To start, I am an avid animal lover. Somehow I've persuaded my mom to let us adopt a cat, a dog, and eleven chickens. Well, we have two dogs, but the second is not one I approve of. One could say he is the bane of my existence. "But Kendall, you just said you love animals! How could you dislike your pet?" Well to that I say, my second dog is a merciless animal assassin. No amount of training or disciplinary action can stop him from attacking wildlife, which I then try and rescue because I simply can not let them die. The routine of my dog maiming animals and then having to see them in pain is just too much for me. The second piece of this story revolves around impetuous people. The day before the chicken massacre, somebody dropped off a rooster in our yard. He was obviously somebody's abandoned pet, as he had a no crow collar on and followed me around. The owners ran off before my mom and I could confront them about dropping off their pet either to die or for us to care for. Sadly, this is the case for many roosters when people tire of their crowing. I wanted to take him in, but we already own an aggressive rooster who would probably kill him. I left him out for the night, hoping the perpetrators would come back for their chicken. The next day I woke up to the heart-wrenching scene I described earlier. Now, no need to worry. My instincts kicked in and I immediately provided aid to the rooster, who I named Pablo. Pablo was barely clinging to life, his back feathers were all missing and he had serious bite marks all along his body. I washed Pablo off to prevent infection, hand-fed him water and nutrient-rich foods, then held him in my arms for the entire day because I did not want him to die alone. Pablo is not the same bird he was thanks to his owner's inhumane decision to just discard him. The thought that at times people who can no longer care for their pets will just abandon them somewhere to die makes me angry and disappointed in humanity. In the future, I hope I can make an impact on society by advocating for all living things to be treated as they deserve. When you adopt an animal it is your job to care for it, and if you no longer manage it, it is your responsibility to look for suitable alternatives. Every animal's life matters, even if it doesn't conform to yours.

The life of Baloo, the bear from The Jungle Book, is simple yet fulfilling. Calmly floating down rivers, back scratches on trees, singing jazzy jungle songs, and eating fruit all day sounds like quite the dream. Baloo's tranquil approach to life is the main reason he is my favorite Disney character. Baloo is unique in that he lives his life how he wants to, ignoring societal pressures. The other jungle animals may think Baloo is just a lazy slacker with no goals, but in reality his main goal is to just be happy. I love how Baloo isn't materialistic and takes pleasure doing the little things in life that others often skip over. The characteristics of Baloo's lifestyle really resonate with me because it has taught me not to take life for granted. I always shared a very deep bond with my Dad, and The Jungle Book was one of our favorite movies to watch together. Eventually my dad was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's, and he passed my Sophomore year of high school. During that time I also had various AP classes and exams to try and manage. Sometimes the days would be bleary and not much seemed enjoyable with all the stress I was under. What brought me back on those days was the ideals of Baloo. I would take a step back from the sports, the grades, and my father to just enjoy life. In true Baloo fashion, I would lay in my hammock and just listen to the birds, I would eat fresh watermelon from the fridge, or I would sit outside and just feel the warmth of the sun. Even now I still do these things when I feel overwhelmed or just not happy. By taking a page from Baloo's book I am able to appreciate the simplicities of life. Even though it may seem Baloo lives a barren life, all he needs are his "Bare Necessities". It's admirable how Baloo isn't fulfilled from extrinsic values like validity from the other animals or any kind of payment. I've learned from Baloo that it's important to give yourself time to be worry free and just do what makes you happy.

Whenever I glimpse a ball hurtling at me at over thirty miles per hour, I am in my element. As a competitive athlete, I live for the thrill of the score and the camaraderie of my teammates in soccer and volleyball. I have played soccer from pre-school into high school, so it has become a fundamental part of my life. The sport is so much more than just kicking a ball around; it has a tight knit community behind it. My soccer team is more of a family than just a bunch of friends. One thing not many people know about me is that in 4th grade my dad was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's. Over time he started to decline and he needed constant care. I had trouble telling others about my situation, but when I told my soccer team they immediately had my back and were there when I needed people to talk to. During Sophomore year of high school my dad passed away. My team understood the emotional toll caring for my father for the past few years had taken on me, so they did everything in their power to make sure I was okay. My team even dedicated a game to his honor, which meant the world to me. If I hadn't played soccer I don't think I could have made such loyal and true connections. I joined soccer out of love for the sport, but I found most of my games were coached and refereed by men. When I grew older and saw more women referees come into such a male dominated scene I was awe inspired. My passion for soccer gave me that zeal for “girl power” and let me to join a family of girls who kicked both butt and balls. Now as a high schooler I myself have started refereeing soccer. It allows me to stay active in the community and to serve as a role model that younger girls can look up when they play. Refereeing soccer has also made me more resilient. Every time I ref there are always going to be parents or players who will not agree with a call I make. I have been met with yelling and screaming, but I have learned not to budge on my position. Reffing soccer taught me to be confident in my decisions and has allowed me to serve as a good example to younger girls. Sports teams are where I started to build self esteem and grow in my athletic skills. It was also where I found my people. Sophomore year in high school coaches selected me for first-team all state status for volleyball and second-team all-region for soccer. More importantly than this though, I can say these sports have given me everlasting friendships and opportunities to inspire others.

“Why aren’t there any mermaids in the touch tank?” This is one of the many questions I get asked when I volunteer at the touch tank of the Virginia Living Museum. Volunteering at the Virginia Living Museum is one of the best choices I have made; I have an opportunity to work with wildlife and pass on what I have learned to my community. One slow morning a little boy walked up to the tank and asked why we did not have mermaids in it. After explaining to the boy we didn’t have mermaids but we did have other creatures he could find in the local watershed, I could see his immediate fascination. The boy hung out with me for an hour asking questions about various crabs and starfish; some may have found it annoying to have a small child badgering them with questions, but I was happy to answer him. I saw myself in that child’s raw curiosity for the environment. I found it important to encourage the boy’s interest because that is exactly what I would have wanted as a kid too. My lifetime fascination with wildlife made it obvious I would choose to go into environmental sciences. Every morning before I would watch Crocodile Hunter or Big Cat Diary on Animal Planet then binge Wild Kratts after school. All these things had a heavy emphasis on different animals' interactions with their environments and the importance of protecting them, which fostered my love for nature and led to the passion I have now. When I went to the zoo as a kid I thoroughly enjoyed learning about all the exotic animals, but I also felt sympathetic for them. I saw that while the animals are entertaining to look at, a life in a cage or small enclosure is not an enjoyable one. Yes, some of the animals were there for breeding programs to help endangered species, but this just further angered me. The animals were endangered in the first place as a result of humans, and the best we could do was stuff them in a measly enclosure and make them reproduce? This experience of going to the educating kids and going to the zoo gave me insight into the balance of humans and nature, and how that balance is necessary to maintain in the best interest of animals and ultimately humans. I feel one of the ways I can make change and restore harmony is by becoming a conservationist. Environmental science is the first step in my journey to protect animals and demonstrate the importance of coexisting with nature.

"Toilet Paper" (written in the midst of the pandemic) I burst through the door of the local food lion fighting middle aged women who were also out buyin' I knew where to go I ran to the back but to my horror I found only one on the rack I went for the item but before I could I got hit by a cart by a mom from my hood Our alliance had been broken no more "mom squad" All along that lady had only been a fraud She took the last toilet paper leaving me barren but I should have known better than to trust a Karen

Most athletes know what it's like when their best friend and teammate isn't there at practice, suddenly you have no-one to warm up with and time goes by much much slower. Growing up I always had the best practice partner, my dad. From the age of 4 I was in the backyard with him passing the soccer ball and chucking a football. I excelled in a wide range of sports, but my favorite was soccer. This sport helped me establish a deep bond with my father, who grew up playing soccer himself. For a while my dad was my righthand man and buddy to enjoy sports with, until he was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers in fourth grade. At first it was not huge struggle, my father was still able to go outside and knock the ball around me. By sixth grade, only two years from when he was seemingly fine, my dad was homebound, retired from work, and unable to be left without supervision. I learned to be patient and observant through aiding my father, it was similar to managing a toddler. This became a stressful balancing act of trying to be there for my dad but also living my own life. It also forced me to mature at a young age trying to be there for my mom, dad, and self. Sophomore year of high school my dad passed away. It was right in the middle of finals, AP exams, and soccer season, the sport that we shared so closely. It was incredibly hard for me to return to practice with the constant reminder of my dad engraved in the field I played on. For a bit practices were dull and I lacked the passion I had once played with. What I learned that year is that soccer not only bonded me with my dad, but with my teammates too. I struggled to tell my teammates and friends about what was going on. It was hard to explain my situation, even though I was going through something incredibly real. This was a large emotional obstacle for me to overcome, but when I finally reached out and let down some of my walls every one of my teammates had my back and were gracious enough to lend a hand when I needed it the most. My friends were able to drag me out of my slump and make soccer into something I enjoyed again. Sports let me join a tight knit community I otherwise may not have been able to find. In the future I aspire to be the kind and gracious people my teammates were. They held no obligation to deal with my problems, but they embraced me with open arms and took the time to make sure I was okay. I have learned that I need to live life to the fullest and be kind to every person I meet because I never know what they may have going on in their personal lives. I will make sure I am there to unconditionally support people around me the same way my own teammates did, because a little love sure does make a difference.