My name is Kiley Robertson. I am an average kid. Or so I like to say. I’m not really sure what all average entails. I was diagnosed with depression when I was six. Most of my family has depression. I was also diagnosed with ADHD when I was in middle school. That comes from my dad I think. And my therapist tells me I also have anxiety. But what teenager isn't like that? Sometimes, it is hard. Life is hard. Dealing with these things is hard. Knowing you will have to for the rest of your life is harder. But there is hope. My dad, suffering from many of the same things I do, just graduated Texas Tech with his masters. I am so proud of him. He gives me hope that I too can overcome the abnormalities in my genetic makeup, and become something extraordinary. I’m a reader and a writer, like my mom. I write poetry that I later turn into music. I keep a steady journal. I love reading my mother’s from when she was my age. I write for fun — fantasy fiction mostly. My mom always wanted to write children's books. She hasn’t given up yet. My mom gives me courage to keep trying. Even when the rest of the world says ‘no’, she teaches me that my ‘yes’ is the one that matters. I used to hate my depression. I hated my anxiety and my ADHD. I felt like they were a curse put on me and my family. But I have come to realize that they can also be strengths. Because of the guiding hand of my mother, I have learned that it is my depression that fuels my empathy. It is my ADHD that fuels my productivity. And it is my anxiety that fuels my determination to succeed. Becoming a high school English teacher will be hard. But being a teacher of passion and creativity and expression will be harder. But I am so excited to use my gifts to guide the future generation to love literature as I have come to do. Reading and writing are creative expression in its rawest form. Every person needs an outlet. This has always been mine. Writing out my feelings and finding new ways to explain it have brought me to know myself, something I want for all of my future students. It will be my great joy and honor to educate the next generation in my love and passion, as well as guiding them on the path to their own. I am aware that this path will not be easy. But that is a part of the reason I so desire to archive it. I know that the reward will be worth much more than the difficulties that will present themselves. Not everyone will learn to love literature. But hopefully, all will learn to respect its importance and the freedom that accompanies

My name is Kiley Robertson. I am an average kid. Or so I like to say. I’m not really sure what all average entails. I was diagnosed with depression when I was six. Most of my family has depression. I was also diagnosed with ADHD when I was in middle school. That comes from my dad I think. And my therapist tells me I also have anxiety. But what teenager isn't like that? Sometimes, it is hard. Life is hard. Dealing with these things is hard. Knowing you will have to for the rest of your life is harder. But there is hope. My dad, suffering from many of the same things I do, just graduated Texas Tech with his masters. I am so proud of him. He gives me hope that I too can overcome the abnormalities in my genetic makeup, and become something extraordinary. I’m a reader and a writer, like my mom. I write poetry that I later turn into music. I keep a steady journal. I love reading my mother’s from when she was my age. I write for fun — fantasy fiction mostly. My mom always wanted to write children's books. She hasn’t given up yet. My mom gives me courage to keep trying. Even when the rest of the world says ‘no’, she teaches me that my ‘yes’ is the one that matters. I used to hate my depression. I hated my anxiety and my ADHD. I felt like they were a curse put on me and my family. But I have come to realize that they can also be strengths. Because of the guiding hand of my mother, I have learned that it is my depression that fuels my empathy. It is my ADHD that fuels my productivity. And it is my anxiety that fuels my determination to succeed. Becoming a high school English teacher will be hard. But being a teacher of passion and creativity and expression will be harder. But I am so excited to use my gifts to guide the future generation to love literature as I have come to do. Reading and writing are creative expression in its rawest form. Every person needs an outlet. This has always been mine. Writing out my feelings and finding new ways to explain it have brought me to know myself, something I want for all of my future students. It will be my great joy and honor to educate the next generation in my love and passion, as well as guiding them on the path to their own. I am aware that this path will not be easy. But that is a part of the reason I so desire to archive it. I know that the reward will be worth much more than the difficulties that will present themselves. Not everyone will learn to love literature. But hopefully, all will learn to respect its importance and the freedom that accompanies it.

My name is Kiley Robertson. I am an average kid. Or so I like to say. I’m not really sure what all average entails. I was diagnosed with depression when I was six. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in middle school. And my therapist tells me I also have anxiety. But what teenager isn't like that? I have four siblings, of which I am the middle. Sometimes I feel forgotten or unwanted, but that just comes with being a part of a crowd. I’m a reader and a writer. I write poetry that I later turn into music. I keep a steady journal. I write for fun — fantasy fiction mostly. I am also proud of my previous UIL journalism editorials. I have written some features too (I even got one featured in the yearbook) but I’m more proud of my argumentative pieces. I spend a lot of my time reading, more than watching TV certainly, and probably more than I should. I have always loved school and tend to keep my grades up to satisfy my own ambition. As of currently, I have a 99 point GPA for all of high school. This being said, I would like to stay in high school. Not just because I’m good at it. But because it is a constant challenge, as I am sure it will continue to be when I return as an English teacher. I am so excited to use my passions of reading and writing to inspire others to learn and to love literature as I have come to do. When I was a kid, I refused to love reading because my mother wanted me to. But as I have grown into my own person, I have realized how deep my imagination goes and the gratifying satisfaction reading and writing produces as an outlet for that creativity. It will be my great joy and honor to educate the next generation in my love and passion, as well as guiding them on the path to their own. I am aware that this path will not be easy. But that is a part of the reason I so desire to archive it. I know that the reward will be worth much more than the difficulties that will present themselves. Not everyone will learn to love literature. But hopefully, all will learn to respect its importance and the freedom that accompanies it. Through reading and writing, i have learned to express my voice in a thousand different ways. No two people write the same. No two people think the same. No two people should. It is my dearest hope, that through my career as a teacher, I will be able to help the future of this nation rise up, speak out, and be proud of who they are. As a child of five, as one average kid in a thousand schools of millions of average people, I have found a way to be heard, and in the process, I have found myself. I hope I can do that for other people.

My name is Kiley Robertson. I am an average kid. Or so I like to say. I’m not really sure what all average entails. I was diagnosed with depression when I was six. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in middle school. And my therapist tells me I also have anxiety. But what teenager isn't like that? I have four siblings, of which I am the middle. Sometimes I feel forgotten or unwanted, but that just comes with being a part of a crowd. I’m a reader and a writer. I write poetry that I later turn into music. I keep a steady journal. I write for fun — fantasy fiction mostly. I am also proud of my previous UIL journalism editorials. I have written some features too (I even got one featured in the yearbook) but I’m more proud of my argumentative pieces. I spend a lot of my time reading, more than watching TV certainly, and probably more than I should. I have always loved school and tend to keep my grades up to satisfy my own ambition. As of currently, I have a 99 point GPA for all of high school. This being said, I would like to stay in high school. Not just because I’m good at it. But because it is a constant challenge, as I am sure it will continue to be when I return as an English teacher. I am so excited to use my passions of reading and writing to inspire others to learn and to love literature as I have come to do. When I was a kid, I refused to love reading because my mother wanted me to. But as I have grown into my own person, I have realized how deep my imagination goes and the gratifying satisfaction reading and writing produces as an outlet for that creativity. It will be my great joy and honor to educate the next generation in my love and passion, as well as guiding them on the path to their own. I am aware that this path will not be easy. But that is a part of the reason I so desire to archive it. I know that the reward will be worth much more than the difficulties that will present themselves. Not everyone will learn to love literature. But hopefully, all will learn to respect its importance and the freedom that accompanies it.

When I was but six years old, I was diagnosed with both ADHD and depression. This, in turn, put a lot of strain on me as a child in school and outside. On many occasions, i would come home crying to my ever loving mother because I couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble: to focas. It has taken me years to work out coping mechanisms that would allow me to stay engaged in school work and to stay emotionally balanced. To this day I still struggle, but I am ever improving. When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, it took us a long time to find a medication that worked: one made me tired all of the time, one made me angry whenever it wore off, etc. By the time I was eleven or twelve, I went to my mom and told her that I wanted to do it on my own. I hated taking the medication, and even more still, I hated depending on it. I hated the feeling that I was broken and needed to be fixed. So we talked to the doctor and eased me off of my ADHD medication. Since then, i have learned to manage my impulsive desires and inconsistent energy levels to accommodate with my surroundings in school, work, and church environments, and focas my attention to become successful in most areas of my life. The depression is yet still an ongoing issue. Since first starting medication in early childhood, we have both increased and decreased the dosage of my medication, in addition to fluctuating between different brands in an attempt to find one that is compatible with both my personality and developing adolescence. In addition to antidepressants and ADHD medication, I also requite a mood stabilizer to maintain consistency with the chemicals in my brain. I still hate the feeling of being dependent on medication to function appropriately in society. However I have also learned that it is not near the worst possibility that might have come to pass: some people have learning disabilities and yet still some don’t have a fully functional body. I have learned to be grateful for the readily availability of medicare at my disposal. I know that there is a possibility that I may never be able to come off of my depression medication. But I also know that this is a kind of disadvantage that I am able to manage. I can make a life for myself regardless. And I plan to.

When I was six years old, I was diagnosed with depression and ADHD. As a result of this, school was always a bit of a struggle to me regarding focas and motivation. In fact, my mother tells me that I used to get so excited just coming home from elementary when I didn’t get into any trouble because it was such a rare occurrence. However, it was in fourth grade that I realized my love of writing thanks to my teacher Mrs. Merphy. I recall she decorated her classroom with all things Micky Mouse and continuously inspired me to write whatever was going on in my head at the moment. Her love of fairytales is what first inspired me to write my own. It is because of her that my love of writing blossomed and as a result, I was able to discover my strengths in school and hone my focas into academic achievement. Through writing, I learned to express myself in ways that assisted with my depression and ADHD and helped me learn to love school and learning in itself. Since the fourth grade, I have enjoyed taking electives such as creative writing my sophomore year, journalism my junior year, writing plays, poetry, and short stories in my spare time, and additional creative writing clubs prior to high school. One day, I hope to publish my own novel in addition to inspiring others to do the same. In addition to all of these activities, i have also learned that I enjoy and am rather good at writing editorial and feature pieces in UIL competitions, and argument essays in my AP Language and Composition class. In this class I have also learned over the past year, the powerful impact writing can have on the world in studying letters and addresses to the public over the course of history. The reason I want to be an educator is because I want to inspire people to love writing as I was so inspired. I want to make learning fun and create an environment where every student or child has the tools they need to express themselves in individualism and creativity. My ultimate goal in this line of work would be to have my name in a dedication of a book, weather it be a personal memoir or a fiction novel of some kind or another. I firmly believe that the success and thanks of a student to a teacher, is the greatest reward life has to offer, and is the level of reward I wish to achieve.

When I was six years old, I was diagnosed with depression and ADHD. As a result of this, school was always a bit of a struggle to me regarding focas and motivation. In fact, my mother tells me that I used to get so excited just coming home from elementary when I didn’t get into any trouble because it was such a rare occurrence. However, it was in fourth grade that I realized my love of writing thanks to my teacher Mrs. Merphy. I recall she decorated her classroom with all things Micky Mouse and continuously inspired me to write whatever was going on in my head at the moment. Her love of fairytales is what first inspired me to write my own. It is because of her that my love of writing blossomed and as a result, I was able to discover my strengths in school and hone my focas into academic achievement. Through writing, I learned to express myself in ways that assisted with my depression and ADHD and helped me learn to love school and learning in itself. Since the fourth grade, I have enjoyed taking electives such as creative writing my sophomore year, journalism my junior year, writing plays, poetry, and short stories in my spare time, and additional creative writing clubs prior to high school. One day, I hope to publish my own novel in addition to inspiring others to do the same. In addition to all of these activities, i have also learned that I enjoy and am rather good at writing editorial and feature pieces in UIL competitions, and argument essays in my AP Language and Composition class. In this class I have also learned over the past year, the powerful impact writing can have on the world in studying letters and addresses to the public over the course of history. The reason I want to be an educator is because I want to inspire people to love writing as I was so inspired. I want to make learning fun and create an environment where every student or child has the tools they need to express themselves in individualism and creativity. My ultimate goal in this line of work would be to have my name in a dedication of a book, weather it be a personal memoir or a fiction novel of some kind or another. I firmly believe that the success and thanks of a student to a teacher, is the greatest reward life has to offer, and is the level of reward I wish to achieve.

When I was six years old, I was diagnosed with depression and ADHD. As a result of this, school was always a bit of a struggle to me regarding focas and motivation. In fact, my mother tells me that I used to get so excited just coming home from elementary when I didn’t get into any trouble because it was such a rare occurrence. However, it was in fourth grade that I realized my love of writing thanks to my teacher Mrs. Merphy. I recall she decorated her classroom with all things Micky Mouse and continuously inspired me to write whatever was going on in my head at the moment. Her love of fairytales is what first inspired me to write my own. It is because of her that my love of writing blossomed and as a result, I was able to discover my strengths in school and hone my focas into academic achievement. Through writing, I learned to express myself in ways that assisted with my depression and ADHD and helped me learn to love school and learning in itself. Since the fourth grade, I have enjoyed taking electives such as creative writing my sophomore year, journalism my junior year, writing plays, poetry, and short stories in my spare time, and additional creative writing clubs prior to high school. One day, I hope to publish my own novel in addition to inspiring others to do the same. In addition to all of these activities, i have also learned that I enjoy and am rather good at writing editorial and feature pieces in UIL competitions, and argument essays in my AP Language and Composition class. In this class I have also learned over the past year, the powerful impact writing can have on the world in studying letters and addresses to the public over the course of history. The reason I want to be an educator is because I want to inspire people to love writing as I was so inspired. I want to make learning fun and create an environment where every student or child has the tools they need to express themselves in individualism and creativity. My ultimate goal in this line of work would be to have my name in a dedication of a book, weather it be a personal memoir or a fiction novel of some kind or another. I firmly believe that the success and thanks of a student to a teacher, is the greatest reward life has to offer, and is the level of reward I wish to achieve.

Only one, wow. Thats a hard question. I would have to say The Alchemist. Although it wasn't my favorite book to read plot wise, I do believe that if everyone were to read it, they would gain some powerful insight. The plot of The Alchemist follows a young man on his journey to discover who he is and who he wants to be. Throughout the book, this young man explores new cultures through travel, the concept of falling in love, leaving behind what he thought was love, and learning to grow into himself and standing up for what he believes in. Throughout this book, there is a continues theme of foretelling omens, conversing with the universe, and discovering the path of which one's destiny trails down. The reason I think this book would be a good choice for every person to read, is that it dives into the development of identity and the purpose of life. In the book, the young man is in search of treasure, but love interrupts him. Then he saves an entire village. Then he is drawn back to the place he started. He talks to the sun and the wind, asking for assistance in the tribulations of life, before discovering that he can overcome them himself. The book is centered around the phycological progression of the mind throughout life, and what events and elements effect the choices we make and the resulting effects. It is this reason that I believe that it deserves to be read. The insight it gives and inspiring enlightenment it provides would do well to guide others in their own endeavors, weather they be financial, personal, or spiritual. Diving into the mind allows people to become more keenly aware of who people are and who they wish to become, along with how to get there. This book inspires self-improvement - something I think is vitally needed.

"I chased some ideal my entire life" - a line from Olivia Rodrigo's song 'Pretty Isn't Pretty Enough' from her Guts album that has resinated with me since I first heard it. Olivia, I believe, will be a passing artist, just because her sound is so tuned to todays trends. But her lyrics make a point to relate to teenagers everywhere, and I believe will remain true for decades to come. In this song, Olivia's whole point is that the standards society has put on women is crushing. Since social media began to skyrocket, mental heath and body image have been at a constant and terrifyingly steep decline. I can't think of a single teenage girl I know who thinks her hair is absolutely perfect, or thinks her bra and/or hip size is just right, or who feels like they don't need to be anything for anyone but themselves. No. No one is confident anymore. Because there are models in adds everywhere you turn, and influencers who's eyes sparkle and their hair falls just the right way. Because of social media, we think that this is the standard of society, so that's the standard we set for ourselves. This leads to eating disorders, self harm, and outright depression. But not only that, because of this, it's also the idea we push onto other people. And so we talk, and gossip, and criticize. All the while feeling insecure ourselves. But it is the persona of confidence that shields the self-consciousness from view, making other feel the push of these same standards as well. She's doesn't love herself or her body, but she acts like she does, and then turns around and makes fun of someone else for what they look like. We tell each other that if we don't look perfect, we aren't worth it. Aren't worth talking to, speaking up for, loving. And this 'Ideal' that Olivia is talking about that she has been chasing her whole life, so have we. This is it. It's the idea that perfection is the standard. It's the thought that we aren't worth anything at all if we don't look like the cover of a magazine. And regardless of if she's rated a one or a ten, she still believes this way. "If only my nose was a little smaller." "If only my hair were straighter." "If only I was thinner, or taller, or my eyelashes were longer or my skin clearer or my face softer or my lips pinker" or anything else that might be even imaginable down to "I wish I wasn't me." And that's the real problem. We get to a point where we don't even what to be who we are anymore. We wish we were the girl on the cover of that magazine. And that's why Olivia's lyrics resonate so true with her audience. Because she speaks the truth about herself, outing her worst faults with utmost candor, and it applies to everyone else. It deffinelty applies to me.

My parents got married right out of high school, and immediately decided to start a family. They proceded to have five children in the span of eight years. All of this while both of my parents were still in college. My mother graduated, however my father dropped out in order to support our family, working for UPS. When growing up, we moved a total of six times in the span of my birth to my freshman year due to financial instability caused my both of my parents returning to school for one reason or another. Summer of my sophomore year, my father was accepted into a prestigious theater program at Texas Tech in Lubbock that prompted us to move across the state. Since then, I have gotten a job and helped pay for my family's bills with a total amount exceeding five thousand dollars. However, schooling isn't the problem in any of these scenarios. It's timing. For example, my mother went to school to become a teacher. My dad never even got to finish because they started a family without the proper preparations. They had no savings, were still taking out student and personal loans with little plan as to how to pay it back, and were both on beginners salary. As my Father ascended in station at UPS and our family grew, my mother went back to school in order to be qualify for a promotion to a Special Ed coordinator. But with my father's rising station came a requirement of more schooling as well to become a manager. When we get to Lubbock, my mother goes for her masters, and so does my Father at Texas Tech. In any case, what I have learned through their tribulation is excessive planning. Yes, I understand that unexpected things in life happen. But some of those things that will happen could be avoided using foresight into financial preparation. For example, the change of current financial status does not garante future status. Savings should never be a optional deduction, and the carving of them out should only be aplicable in case of an emergency not covered by insurance. Loans and bills should be paid back in full before even considering purchasing something of want. And opportunities to ascend are fantastic, but not at the expense of stable living. All of this I have learned through my parents. Through all of our financial ups and downs, they have put us kids first. That's part of why I feel responsible assisting as I am at the moment. But it has lead me to crave a steady lifestyle, with a inclining saving account and budgeted spending. I don't mind not having all of the material things I want, as long as I consistently have what I need. In learning from my parents past, I have forged a steady future for myself and future family.

My favorite book to film adaptation is somewhat of a conundrum. See, when I was a kid, I hated reading. Mostly because my mom wanted me to read because she loved it so much. And for whatever reason, that meant I had to spite her. However, after letting my pride go and finally sitting down to read, one of my favorite childhood books became that of an adaptation of Cinderella. Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine. And it is still one of my favorites to this day. In fact, it was only about a month ago that I read it again in one sitting on a Saturday. The main adaptation, is that Ella is "blessed" with a curse of obedience. And I just love how adding one simple element to the story creates an enormous chain reaction that results in being kidnapped by Ogres, forced to attend a Finishing school, be a slave in her own home, and nearly murder the love of her life. It's this little added element that makes it one of my favorites. Because even though the Idea of Cinderella wasn't original, by twisting this one aspect of the story, Levine created an entirely new feeling to the story, and captured my heart along with it. Now, even though the movie came seven years later, I think it is still one of the best book to movies I've ever seen. Not because it was accurate (goodness no). But because it kept the same feeling of the book, except it grew up with me. When I first read the book, I was probably around ten. Ella in the story starts as a mere child as well, so I felt connected to the story: invested. But by the time the movie came out, I was older, wiser, less of a dreaming child (that's a lie). But I was older. And when I watched the movie, I could see Ella the same way I saw myself. It was like seeing a childhood friend you haven't seen in years show up at the same school again. The story was turned around; characters were added and some not at all what I had imagined. But it was the feeling of the story, of the plot and triumph and failures and love and loss and hope and heartbreak, that called me back and refused to let go. It was a piece of childhood that grew up with me that made me love it still. And THAT is what makes Ella Enchanted so great.

If I got to direct a crossover show between my two favorite Disney shows, I would have to pick Wizards of Waverly Place and Austin and Ally. Now, I know this may seem a strange combination to pick, but bear with me for a moment if you would. It's got to open in Ally's Fathers store. Alex, dragging Max alongside her, accidentally popped into their store when she was trying to get them to the top of London Tower to throw eggs down at passerby's down below. So, egg carton in hand, Alex and Max pop up on the stairs right as Ally and Dez are coming down to meet Trish for Austin's concert at the State Fair. Max and Dez hit it off immediately, getting into a heated debate of who can play the tuba with their nose the best. And over the loud symphonies, Alex gaslights Trish and Ally into thinking they were distracted when they came up the stairs and where there the whole time looking for... a French Horn (which Alex did not know was an actual instrument.) After some convincing they end up going to Austin's concert together, and procede to run away from Justin as he appears looking for them, including a chase scene through the round and ends up with them all on stage and Justina singing a very bad "You are my sunshine" with Alex saving the day with magic, summoning a very confused Taylor swift. But Justin is still mad. In an accidental (caused by Alex of course) magic fight between her and him, they manage to turn Trish into a pig, who then runs in the crowd recking havoc. Alex, Justin, and Austin stop their fight to chase Trish, who runs out of the concert and into the petting zoo. Justin, seeking the help of authorities, calls the Game show master, and they are transported to the magic competition arena to play jeopardy to cast the spell of who knows her best. (Of course Austin thinks its a real game show, not wizards.) Austin slowly begins to realize that he doesn't know his best friend very well, and theres no hop bringing her back. Somehow, towards the very end, Dez and Max find their way in and Dez answers every question ridiculously correctly, winning the spell that will grant Trish to be human again. In the end, they all go back to the Music Store. Austin thinks he was dreaming. Trish just remembers falling asleep at the concert and has a weird craving for corn, and Dez thinks he's an alían. Before leaving, Alex gets Austin's autograph and says she will sell it for $150 to Harper who will use it as a centerpiece in one of her outfits. Everyone exits and the store lights turn off. ...Then Justin walks around the corner in the dark realizing everyone left him. He turns around to spell himself home and we see a pig's tale handing out of his pants. The end.