Improving the relationship between law enforcement and the African American community in the United States is a big challenge, but it’s also a very important one. There has been a long history of pain and unfair treatment. To move forward, police departments need to make real changes. One of the most important steps is being honest and accountable. Many times, when police officers do something wrong, especially to Black people, nothing happens. This makes people feel like the system is unfair and that officers feel they are above the law. To fix this, police departments should have rules that make sure officers are held responsible for their actions. Body cameras should be used, and if someone is hurt or killed by police, the case should be looked at by people outside the department. When people see that justice is taken seriously, they will begin to trust more. Another way to improve things is by building better relationships. Police officers should be part of the community, not just show up when something bad happens. They should go to local events, perhaps visit schools. This helps both sides see each other as human beings. When people feel safe around police, they’re more likely to work with them and report crimes. Police training also needs to improve. Officers should learn about bias, how to talk to people from different backgrounds, and how to calm down tough situations without using violence. Training is important, but the culture inside police departments must also change. Officers should be praised for showing kindness and using good judgment, not just for making arrests. Law enforcement should also listen to Black voices. Leaders in the African American community know what their neighborhoods need. Police departments should invite these leaders to share their ideas, help make policies, and speak up when things aren’t working. Real change can only happen when both parties work together. Lastly, we have to look at the bigger picture. Many problems police deal with, like homelessness or mental health could be handled better by social workers or support programs. If we invest in schools, jobs, and healthcare, communities will be safer, and we won’t rely so much on the police to solve every problem. In the end, building a better relationship will take time, but it’s possible. With respect, listening, and real action, law enforcement and the African American community can move toward a future built on trust, not fear.

One movie that has had a significant impact on me is The Hunger Games. It started as a challenge from my teacher to get me to pursue reading more variety yet it resulted in what I would go as further to say life changing. While it’s a dystopian story set in a fictional future, its themes hit close to home, especially when you start to notice how much of that fictional world mirrors realities in our own. The Hunger Games is about power, inequality, and resistance. The Capitol represents a wealthy, ruling elite that thrives off the labor and suffering of the districts. The people in the districts work endlessly, barely surviving, while the Capitol citizens live in excess and are largely disconnected from the suffering they benefit from. Watching this as a young girl and now a teenager, I started to see how this reflected growing economic inequality in the real world. There are people today who live in unimaginable wealth while others struggle to afford food, healthcare, or education, often within the same cities or countries. What impacted me most was how the Hunger Games themselves were used as a tool of control. Forcing children to fight to the death wasn’t just cruelty. It was a message, stay in line, don’t rebel, and remember who's in charge. That concept made me reflect on how media, fear, and distraction are sometimes used today to shift attention away from deeper issues. We’re often flooded with entertainment and impressive headlines, but important conversations about injustice, climate change, or systemic racism can be pushed under the rug. The film pushed me to think deeper about what we consume and how it shapes our perceptions. Katniss Everdeen’s journey also left a powerful mark. She never set out to become a symbol of revolution. All she wanted was to protect her sister. But through her small acts of defiance, she inspires an entire movement. That reminded me that resistance doesn’t always start with huge speeches or grand plans. Sometimes, it starts with one person doing the right thing, even when it’s dangerous. It showed me that change often begins when ordinary people stand up, speak out, and refuse to accept injustice as the norm. The story also speaks to the power of narrative and image. The Capitol carefully controls the narrative. But when Katniss challenges that, she shows how storytelling can be used to either uphold or dismantle power. This made me realize how important it is to question the stories we’re told. About people, politics, and even history. To seek out the truth for ourselves. The Hunger Games may be fiction, but its warnings are very real. It taught me to pay attention to inequality, to question the systems we live in, and never underestimate the impact of individual courage. It made me think more deeply about the world I live in and inspired me to be someone who not only notices injustice but actively works to change it.

I believe that understanding how power works is the first step to creating real change in the world. That’s what draws me to political science. It offers a powerful lens through which we can examine how governments function, how laws are made and enforced, and how justice is carried out. It also helps us recognize who holds power, how that power is used, and most importantly, how ordinary people can influence the decisions that shape their lives. Political science allows us to explore both the successes and struggles of societies. It helps explain why some nations thrive while others face ongoing challenges. By studying different political systems and historical patterns, we learn about the importance of democracy, civic participation, human rights, and leadership that is both transparent and accountable. These lessons are especially important in today’s world, where inequality, political division, and global challenges like climate change demand urgent and thoughtful responses. The choices we make now will affect generations to come, and political science gives us the tools to understand the forces that drive those decisions. What excites me most about political science is how it reveals the power of individuals and communities to make a difference. Many people, especially those in marginalized or underserved communities, often feel like their voices don’t matter. They may feel disconnected from political systems that seem distant or unresponsive. But political science teaches us the opposite. That every voice has the potential to spark change. Whether through voting, peaceful protest, community organizing, or advocacy, people can influence policies that impact their everyday lives. I am especially passionate about making politics more inclusive. Historically, many groups have been left out of political conversations, and their needs have been overlooked. I want to use what I learn in political science to change that. My goal is to work in law and public service, where I can help create spaces where all people, especially young people from disadvantaged backgrounds feel empowered, informed, and encouraged to participate. I believe that when people understand how systems of power work and how they can get involved, they are more likely to take action and inspire others to do the same. For me, political science is more than just a subject, it’s a tool for justice. It gives us the knowledge to question unfair systems, the courage to stand up for what’s right, and the skills to help shape a better future. I hope to use this field not only to study the world but to help change it for the better. Through political science, I want to help build a society where everyone has a voice and a fair chance to thrive.

I’ve always heard the word success. In school, I was told, “You have to be successful, don’t be a failure.” At home, I heard, “Make success your priority; be the best of the best.” For a long time, I never truly understood what the word meant. It started to feel more like an expectation than an achievement, almost like an insult. I thought, if everyone kept repeating it to me, they must not believe I am capable of achieving success on my own. Because of this, I developed a negative association with the word, and for a while, I struggled to define what success looked like in my own life. I didn’t want my future to feel like a never-ending competition. But over time, I realized that success isn’t about living up to someone else’s definition. It’s about finding enjoyment in what I do. Success, to me, is having a career I enjoy, being financially stable, and making a positive impact in someone’s life. It means helping my community, standing up for those who don’t have a voice, and making meaningful contributions to the world around me. Success isn’t measured solely by wealth or status but by the sense of accomplishment I feel when I help others and work toward my goals, no matter how big or small. One of the most significant ways I plan to achieve success is by becoming a lawyer. I want to stand up for people who have been overlooked, fight for justice, and work toward reducing inequalities in society. My dream is to be an advocate for those in need, ensuring that fairness and justice are accessible to all, regardless of their background or circumstances. I don’t just want to make a difference in my community, I want to make a lasting impact on a larger scale. Pursuing a college education is the next critical step in making this dream a reality. However, financial constraints remain a challenge. This scholarship is essential to my continued education, as it will allow me to focus on my studies rather than financial stress. It will provide me with the opportunity to work toward my goals and give back to my community without the constant worry of financial barriers. I am determined not to let my circumstances define me. Instead, I will use my experiences to fuel my ambition and push forward. To me, success isn’t about perfection. It’s about resilience, growth, and the ability to create meaningful change, one step at a time.

Giving back to my community has played a significant role in shaping who I am today. From an early age, I knew I wanted to help others, but I feared that financial struggles might limit my ability to achieve my dreams. Coming from a low-income family, I have seen firsthand the inequalities that many people face, and this has only strengthened my determination to make a difference. My experiences in community service have further fueled my passion for helping others and solidified my desire to pursue a career in law. Over the years, I have contributed to my community in various ways, including volunteering at my local library, tutoring elementary students, and participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program through the Boys and Girls Club. I have also returned to my middle school to assist teachers and support local events, as well as lead my own as part of a non-profit mental health organization. These experiences have shown me the power of small acts of kindness. Whether it’s helping a struggling student gain confidence in their abilities or giving teachers and parents a little extra support in their busy lives. Seeing the joy and relief in others when they receive help has been incredibly rewarding, reinforcing my commitment to continue serving my community. Through these experiences, I have learned that a strong community is built on people willing to uplift one another. Tutoring students, for example, has shown me the direct impact that support and encouragement can have on a child’s confidence and academic success. When I see a student leave a session feeling proud of their progress, it reminds me why giving back is so important. These moments of connection have motivated me to do even more and find ways to create a lasting impact. These experiences have also shaped my career aspirations. I have always been interested in law but was unsure of what role I wanted to take within the field. Until now. I want to be a lawyer who stands up for those who need a voice. I hope to help people receive justice and work toward reducing inequalities in society. My ultimate goal is to make a lasting impact, not just in my community, but on a larger scale. Pursuing a college education is the next step in making this dream a reality. However, financial constraints remain a challenge. Scholarship support is essential for my continued education, as it will allow me to focus on my studies and my goal of advocating for those in need. I am determined not to let my circumstances define me. Instead, I will use my experiences to fuel my ambition and work toward creating positive change, one person at a time.

Ever since I was a young child I realized that not everyone has the same opportunities or privileges. It was a hard truth to come by but when it came to me, I knew I wanted to make a difference. Coming from a low-income immigrant family I experienced many inequalities that I would never have even imagined. In elementary school up until grade 4 I was not completely proficient in the English language and mostly spoke in Spanish. I struggled to make conversations or even simply ask to go to the restroom but due to this, I noticed how cruel or how unconditionally supportive some people are. A time I vividly remember is when my school was offered a field trip to the local art museum. I only heard about the field trip after it was too late to sign up but that was only because of my teacher's efforts. There was limited space on the bus and the school was reaching out to the parents to ask for permission to take their child on the trip. I learned that i was not even considered for a spot. I was told that this was because there was a priority to give the opportunity to the kids and families that spoke English since they would enjoy it more. I was 7 years old. It never occurred to me that my native language would hold me back from having such experiences. My teacher was furious and she went on about how unfair that was. She cared enough to speak up for me when I couldn't do it for myself. I was disappointed but I was not going to continue to let that happen to me. This however is not a pity story. I have not only felt it myself but I have also seen these inequalities with other people and i am looking to change that. I have always been interested in law and I could never decide what rank of the law I wanted to be a part of until now. I want to be a lawyer. I want to defend the people that need it and be the voice they need. I hope that one day I will get to say that I have helped thousands of people receive justice and see those inequalities grow smaller and smaller. I hope to be a light in someone's life and make a positive impact not only on my community but in the world.

My mother along with some of my aunts would take me and my cousins to our local thrift store once a month to pick out a toy. It was a small town and we would walk forty minutes from the trailer park we lived in to the store. While me and my cousins raced the parents talked. We would return to our homes and play with our new toys, we had little money but we were happy. We've always tried to budget but what can you really budget if there's nothing to budget? Anyway despite all of the struggles with money and trying to get the bare necessities, my family overcame it. I say my family because it was not only me that went through that and I would like to recognize my parents for always putting us children first. Letting us eat before they did and making sure we were always warm and had toys to play with. After graduation, I hope to attend a four-year college then go into law school and use my knowledge of both languages to be a voice for those who need to be heard. I am actively working on my goals by contributing in community service events as well as hosting them and helping out in any way that I can. My lifelong dream has always been to be able to help people but I feared that money would get in the way of my dreams. Coming from a low-income family, I am determined not to let my circumstances define me or my aspirations. Scholarship support is essential for my continued education, as it will alleviate the financial burden and allow me to focus on my studies and my goal of helping others.

I can say that I have had many experiences where I demonstrated leadership. These include being a choreographer for my dance class and also teaching those dances to the students in my class and this has influenced not only me but the people in my class by giving them more confidence and motivation to continue to do what they love. At first, I struggled with having the patience to deal with everyone's different level of learning and understanding but it has truly helped me grow my patience and has made me more connected to my community. I love getting to dance at community events or elementary schools and seeing all the amazed faces, filled with encouragement to try something new and longing to put themselves out there too. I am also involved in my Spanish Society as the event coordinator, where I’ve organized community events such as movie nights and a Hispanic Heritage Show that brought together performers from across the valley. My role required me to manage logistics and communicate effectively with team members. While there were some disagreements about how to approach certain tasks, I was able to resolve disputes by clearly assigning roles and responsibilities, ensuring that everyone felt heard and understood. With this role, I along with my group members have made fun events more accessible not only to our school but our community. Another leadership role I hold is as Vice President of the Youth Council for the Global Reach non-profit organization, where we focus on mental health awareness. I’ve organized workshops on breathing techniques and other mental health strategies to help people cope with stress. Through this opportunity I have been very grateful to make new connections with people I would not have been able to otherwise and I can see a difference being made with every event/ workshop we do. I plan to continue to be part of this organization and then perhaps further along the road, create one myself and be able to fulfill the needs of those minorities and underserved populations. Advocating for autism awareness and leading these events has taught me how to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, which has improved my public speaking skills and strengthened my ability to inspire others. Having an autistic brother, helping out had made me much more understanding and while helping others, I had very good reprocutions. These events have greatly impacted my life and there is a clear difference in how they changed me as a person. They have shown me the importance of empathy, clear communication, and collaboration skills that I will continue to develop and carry with me in the future.

Billie Eilish’s music has been a guiding light through some of my darkest moments. Her song “idontwannabeyouanymore” talks about self-depreciation and insecurities toward yourself. I listened to that song daily when I was in middle school, when I was also facing similar issues. My middle school years were dark and filled with hate that I had for myself out of nowhere. I wondered when and how that switch happened but I was stuck in a void of self hate and depression that I could not pull myself out of. The song reassured me and made me feel like I was not crazy and that others had and maybe still feel that way and it gave me a sense of hope to see such a talented and big celebrity come out and say that they had also dealt with those emotions. I felt seen and not alone anymore. The song “Bellyache” has also been a staple piece in my playlists. She talks about guilt and being left with the effects of your actions. It stuck out to me because of the metaphors that she uses and the way it is like a story with music. After listening to the lyrics and thinking about what she truly meant, it reminded me of myself. It was parallel to the guilt I felt when standing up for myself. She says “ I thought that I’d feel better, but now I got a bellyache” which was exactly what I felt. I learned to know how and when to stand up for myself and I now knew that it was necessary to not let myself be disrespected yet I still felt guilty when I did stand up for myself. I then started my journey by learning the tough balance between self-respect and caring for others' feelings. Her song “Happier than ever”. This song helped me through friendship breakups throughout my high school years. The song was released when I was in ninth grade and that is when I started to differentiate who were my real and good friends and the people who just did not care about me and did not benefit my life and my future. While that was a very hard thing to learn and a skill that I am still working on, her song was like an escape for me. A way that I could scream my heart out and release those built-up emotions. Although her song was about a romantic relationship it resonated with me through my platonic relationships and I learned how important and valuable they are. The impact of Billie Eilish’s music on my life extends far beyond mere entertainment. These songs are not the only ones but the ones that most helped build the person who I am today and helped me through my hardest times. Without these songs, I truly believe that I would be lost and I would not have found that same comfort in something other than music.

As a seventeen-year-old Mexican woman, I have faced both benefits and challenges throughout my life. My first language is Spanish, and although I was born in the U.S. I spent my first six years in Mexico. If I did not spend those years in Mexico I cannot even imagine how I would be as a person. Coming back to the US was difficult for me. I went through bullying and although my teachers tried their best to help me, the language barrier made me feel isolated and different from everyone. My first grade teacher was much different than the rest. Unlike everyone else, she showed how much she truly cared about her students. She would spend her lunch breaks with me and she would point to pictures of everyday things and teach me the name for them. I cherished those moments. This went on for a while and I cherished her. After some lessons, I worked up the courage to raise my hand during class and ask for a pencil. This may seem like a normal task but I was very proud of myself for doing it in english. I noticed the kids in my class trying not to laugh, sound escaping from their mouths but all I could focus on was the smile on my teacher’s face. She was so happy that she didn’t even process what I said and I ended up having to ask my classmate for a pencil. To this day I still think about her and how much she impacted my life. I hope she is living her best life. Many people struggle with self-doubt and resentment toward their own culture, but that has never been my experience. I have always taken pride in my Mexican heritage, even when I was laughed at for the way I pronounced my words or when I just would sit there, blankly staring at my teacher while she read us stories; making up my own as I did not understand anything beyond the colorful pictures. It was hard but I overcame my struggles. I became proficient in the English language and excelled in my classes. Being bilingual has many benefits and the best one has to be being able to help anyone in need. (Although hearing the drama in another language when people assume you don’t speak that language is very fun). From translating important documents to clearing up misunderstandings at the grocery store, being bilingual has allowed me to help people in need. That is what I wish to do in the future. After graduation I hope to attend a four- year college then go into law school and use my knowledge of both languages to be a voice for those who need to be heard.

Billie Eilish’s music has been a guiding light through some of my darkest moments. My top three favorite songs from Billie Eilish are some of her older songs but they still hold a special place in my heart. Her song “idontwannabeyouanymore” talks about self depreciation and insecurities toward yourself. I listened to that song daily when I was in middle school, when I was also facing similar issues. My middle school years were dark and filled with hate that I had for myself out of nowhere. I wondered when and how that switch happened but I was stuck in a void of self hate and depression that I could not pull myself out of. The song reassured me and made me feel like i was not crazy and that others had and maybe still feel that way and it gave me a sense of hope to see such a talented and big celebrity come out and say that they had also dealt with those emotions. I felt seen and not alone anymore. Billie Eilish’s song “Bellyache” has also been a staple piece in my playlists. In this song she talks about guilt and being left with the effects of your actions through metaphors. This song stuck out to me because of the metaphors that she uses and the way it is like a story with music. After listening to the lyrics and thinking about what she truly meant, it reminded me of myself. It was parallel to the guilt I felt when standing up for myself. She says “ I thought that I’d feel better, but now I got a bellyache” which was exactly what I felt. I learned to know how and when to stand up for myself and I now knew that it was necessary to not let myself be disrespected yet I still felt guilty when I did stand up for myself. I then started my journey in learning the tough balance between self-respect and caring for others' feelings. Last but not least i picked her song “Happier than ever”. This song helped me through friendship breakups throughout my highschool years. The song was released when I was in ninth grade and that is when I really started to differentiate who were my real and good friends and the people who just did not care about me and did not benefit my life and my future. While that was a very hard thing to learn and a skill that I am still working on, her song was like an escape for me. A way that I could scream my heart out and release those built up emotions. Although her song was about a romantic relationship it resonated with me through my platonic relationships and I learned how important and valuable they are. The impact of Billie Eilish’s music on my life extends far beyond mere entertainment. These songs are not the only ones but the ones that most helped build the person who I am today and helped me through my hardest times. Without these songs I truly believe that I would be lost and I would not have found that same comfort in something other than music. Her songs have truly helped me become the person I am today, and I am grateful for the profound connection I share with her music.