As I was growing up, my dad commuted to the city, so I spent a lot of time with my mother. I remember one day, I stood behind the curtain, in my yellow onesie adorned looking out for my dad's black boxy car. "Bye daddy" my tiny voice squeaked out, tinted with sadness. But as I turned around, my mother was there smiling, just like always. She ushered me over to continue playing with blocks, I was building a cathedral. "You're going to be an architect one day," she said, proudly. My mother has never let me believe I will ever be anything but what I want to be, and anything less than amazing. She believed in me when I did not, and could not believe in myself. Helping me with difficult math problems she did not begin to understand, or listening to me talk about issues I had with my body. She defended me when my fourth-grade teacher called me a "sinner" for my behavior, when in reality it was ADHD. My mother is the strongest woman I know. She fights every demon and adversity that comes her way and rarely shows pain. Her actions have helped me believe in myself, in facing challenges. Part of her resilience comes from her faith. Born in Michigan, she was adopted by a minister and his wife and spent her childhood moving around small towns, listening to not only her dad's words - but that of the Heavenly Father. She was and continues to be strengthened by the grace of God. From a young age, she brought me to church but never forced her beliefs down on me. She planted the roots, strong and deep, but my faith grew from my own desire and understanding of God. The foundation she built for me dug deep into my heart, helping me not to waver and give in to the devil's temptations. I tend to dwell on the past, which can become destructive, but each time I find myself thinking of how things could be different, my mom reminds me that God has a plan, and I need to trust in it. Like my mother, God loves me so much and wants the best for me. It is why he sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. These two pillars of my existence have led me to my passion for giving back to others. I long to dedicate my time and abilities to those who need it. Especially helping to spread the word of God. In high school summers, I spent my time on mission trips rebuilding homes. The work was hard, laboring away for hours under the hot sun but incredibly rewarding. One night of a trip at bible study we were learning about the parable of the lost sheep, and how Jesus left the 99 to find the one. This is not only an amazing embodiment of Christ, but I also see reflections of my mother taking care of not only me when I felt like the lost sheep, but everyone.

Two and a half years ago, I had decided to return to soccer after a much needed break. Going back into sports requires regaining the physical, tactical, technical ans psychological aspects of the game. And for me, it also meant regaining confidence. I was too hard on myself and I took others' words too much to heart, comparing them to the bullying I had experienced three years prior. At tryouts, despite working hard through pain, the stress of school starting again and visiting my mom in the hospital, I was not met with the result I desired. I was put on JV soccer for the third year in a row. In my head, making varsity would have proved myself and the people who put me down wrong. The feeling of not being freat overwhelmed me. Everyone had always told me that I was good at soccer, but to me at the time, being labeled JV meant I was not good enough. After a few days, I accepted it. I realized that I could still make the most of my experience. I could give it my all, not only for myself but for the team and for everyone who had ever doubted me. I strived to be a leader, especially for the younger members of the team. My efforts were rewarded as my coach, Richard picked me to be captain. He believed in me as a captain, player, future coach, and person. Knowing that someone believed in me felt amazing, and helped heal the wounds of the past. One day, my former coach and mentor Harry reminded me of a game where I let in a goal I really should not have, and then five minutes later, I wanted to come off with an injury. While my injury was really, psychologically I had convinced myself that it was worse than it was. The pain of my teammates' words stretched beyond my emotions. Having experienced just a few of the many psychological issues athletes face, I have a strong desire to dedicate my work to making a change and helping reduce the stigma around mental health. Like I had for many years, too many athletes keep their issues bottled up inside until it blows up and the damage is much harder to repare. I hope to work alongside athletes through sports journalism, psychology and coaching to not just help them survive the game, but truly thrive in all aspects.

Happiness is key - you have probably heard this many times, but it is true. I am driven by a desire to make other people happy. Like many others, I have been through great suffering, and would not wish that upon anyone, especially those struggling with their mental health. The greatest inspiration in my life came from these words: "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated" - Maya Angelou. Experiencing failure is part of human existence. When faced with a defeat, it is easy to give up. However, the beautiful thing is that we have the opportunity to keep going, to keep fighting. We can lose a few battles, but win the war and make the most out of our lives. I am very self-critical, so it can be especially difficult not to succumb to defeat after getting knocked down. A few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I thought there was no point in keeping on fighting. I wanted to end it all. But I didn't, and I am eternally grateful for that and for all of the people who helped me through it. Since then, I have found a purpose, an idea of where I am going. I am studying psychology. I am curious as to how our mind works and would love to learn more about our motivations. I am excited to grow and know that this is only the beginning; there is still much more to be done. Years ago, this new adventure would have terrified me. But now, it is an encouragement. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, that what is seen as negatives is either a lesson or a blessing. I believe there's always more to be done, so keep going, keep fighting. Let's make the world better.

I have often thought to myself: is learning just memorization, creativity, and functioning? No. Learning is how we grow and explore the amazing, ever-changing world we live in. It can occur anywhere but educational institutions are extremely powerful, however, educational inequality prohibits individuals from reaching their true potential. While writing this my roommate is on the phone with her partner as they figure out how they can pay for college. My roommate stressed how important education is in our world today saying that it is "usually needed to succeed" Her words ring true. Education is key to our existence. I am so grateful for the education I have been given as it provided me a wealth of information ranging from traditional subject knowledge, to how to live my life- how to love, how to make friends, how to grow and so much more. Because of my mom's jobs at my school, I was able to attend private schools for ten years. Many people think of private schools as having a better education, this is not necessarily true. However, compared to my local public school, I was able to have stronger relations with my teachers, had incredible experiences both in the real and academic worlds, and had a 100% graduation rate and college matriculation. Everyone should be able to have an equal right to expand themselves, and one of the most crucial parts of their lives through education.

Like many others, I’ve been affected by various mental health issues. These have been perpetuated by COVID-19 and social media. I wanted to work from a topic that I could connect to so I could better represent the emotions and significance of my images. The question that guided my work was, “How can I visually demonstrate the impact of various factors on mental health?” In the future, I hope to continue visualizing difficult and often challenging emotions and experiences in a beautiful way.

Happiness is key - you have probably heard this many times, but it is true. I am driven by a desire to make other people happy. Like many others, I have been through great suffering, and would not wish that upon anyone, especially those struggling with their mental health. I hope to end the stigma around mental health. The greatest inspiration in my life came from these words: "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated" - Maya Angelou. Experiencing failure is part of human existence. When faced with a defeat, it is easy to give up. However, the beautiful thing is that we have the opportunity to keep going, to keep fighting. We can lose a few battles, but win the war and make the most out of our lives. I am very self-critical, so it can be especially difficult not to succumb to defeat after getting knocked down. A few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I thought there was no point in keeping on fighting. I wanted to end it all. But I didn't, and I am eternally grateful for that and for all of the people who helped me through it. Since then, I have fought against the stigma of mental health through photography and social activism. I have grown in my faith, wisdom, and strength. I have rebuilt homes for people who lost theirs in natural disasters. I have found a purpose, an idea of where I am going. I have just started studying psychology. I am curious as to how our mind works and would love to learn more about our motivations. I am excited to grow and know that this is only the beginning; there is still much more to be done. Years ago, this new adventure would have terrified me. But now, it is an encouragement. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, that what is seen as negatives is either a lesson or a blessing. I believe there is always more to be done, so keep going, keep fighting. Let's make the world a better place.

Happiness is key - you have probably heard this many times, but it is true. I am driven by a desire to make other people happy. Like many others, I have been through great suffering, and would not wish that upon anyone, especially those struggling with their mental health. I hope to end the stigma around mental health. The greatest inspiration in my life came from these words: "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated" - Maya Angelou. Experiencing failure is part of human existence. When faced with a defeat, it is easy to give up. However, the beautiful thing is that we have the opportunity to keep going, to keep fighting. We can lose a few battles, but win the war and make the most out of our lives. I am very self-critical, so it can be especially difficult not to succumb to defeat after getting knocked down. A few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I thought there was no point in keeping on fighting. I wanted to end it all. But I didn't, and I am eternally grateful for that. Since then, I have fought against the stigma of mental health through photography and social activism. I have grown in my faith, wisdom, and strength. I have rebuilt homes for people who lost theirs in natural disasters. I have found a purpose, an idea of where I want to go next. Next year, I will be heading off to university to study psychology. I am curious as to how our mind works and would love to learn more about our motivations. I am excited to grow and know that this is only the beginning; there is still much more to be done. Years ago, this new adventure would have terrified me. But now, it is an encouragement. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, that what is seen as negatives is either a lesson or a blessing. I believe there is always more to be done, so keep going, keep fighting. Let's make the world a better place.

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated" - Maya Angelou. Experiencing failure is part of human existence. When faced with a defeat, it is easy to give up. However, the beautiful thing is that we have the opportunity to keep going, to keep fighting. We can lose a few battles, but win the war and make the most out of our lives. I am very self-critical, so it can be especially difficult not to succumb to defeat after getting knocked down. A few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I thought there was no point in keeping on fighting. I wanted to end it all. But I didn't, and I am eternally grateful for that. Since then, I have fought against the stigma of mental health through photography and social activism. I have grown in my faith, in wisdom, and strength. I have rebuilt homes for people who lost theirs in natural disasters. I have found a purpose, an idea of where I want to go next. Next year, I will be heading off to university to study psychology. I am curious as to how our mind works and would love to learn more about our motivations. I am excited to grow and know that this is only the beginning; there is still much more to be done. Years ago, this new adventure would have terrified me. But now, it is an encouragement. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, that what is seen as negatives is either a lesson or a blessing. I believe there is always more to be done, so keep going, keep fighting. Let's make the world a better place.

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated" - Maya Angelou. Experiencing failure is part of human existence. When faced with a defeat, it is easy to give up. However, the beautiful thing is that we have the opportunity to keep going, to keep fighting. We can lose a few battles, but win the war and make the most out of our lives. I am very self-critical, so it can be especially difficult not to succumb to defeat after getting knocked down. A few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I thought there was no point in keeping on fighting. I wanted to end it all. But I didn't, and I am eternally grateful for that. Since then, I have fought against the stigma of mental health through photography and social activism. I have grown in my faith, in wisdom, and strength. I have rebuilt homes for people who lost theirs in natural disasters. I have found a purpose, an idea of where I want to go next. Next year, I will be heading off to university to study psychology. I am curious as to how our mind works and would love to learn more about our motivations. I am excited to grow and know that this is only the beginning; there is still much more to be done. Years ago, this new adventure would have terrified me. But now, it is an encouragement. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, that what is seen as negatives is either a lesson or a blessing. I believe there is always more to be done, so keep going, keep fighting. Let's make the world a better place.

My sock rapidly tapped the floor. My teacher had taken away my shoe; the sound was too much of a distraction for the rest of the class, but this was my distraction. The same teacher suggested to my parents that I get tested for a learning difference. After extensive tests, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. I was very fidgety, distractible, and disorganized - things that were evident to not just myself but others around me. And years later, this still rings true. Many relationships have been influenced by the effects of my ADHD, even to the extent where I have been called a “burden” and “draining” because of it. Everyone has parts of their identity that they cannot change, and for me, that includes my ADHD. That being said, it is not my sole identity. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, an athlete, an aspiring psychologist, and so much more. Furthermore, growing up, I was completely oblivious to the fact that both my mother and father had depression. I was under the impression that people who have depression were always visibly sad, such as my “step” sister, who had bipolar disorder and had frequent manic episodes. My perspective started to change when I sat with my psychiatrist for a regular check-in on my ADHD medication, and she said some of my symptoms could be a combination of anxiety and depression. This came as a complete shock to me. While I knew I had been really sad and stressed, it was nothing like my sister’s episodes or when my dad would spend days in bed. That same day I learned my mom had depression and realized that maybe I was more like her. My mom has always been really happy but hardworking, which explained her stress to me. But as I grew up, I saw the little things - the half-hearted smile or a twitch that could be attributed to depression and anxiety not just in myself but in my family as well. I learned that it was okay not to be okay and that I was not alone. In the times when I most wanted to give up, these thoughts are what kept me going. I believe this is something that everyone, regardless of whether they are battling their mental health or not, should hear. Please never forget this. Currently, I work to destigmatize mental health, while not romanticizing it. I created a photography portfolio where I looked to express different influences of mental health including technology and the coronavirus pandemic. To inform my work, I created a survey, conducted interviews, and attended a workshop on mental health during the pandemic. But this is just the beginning. Matters like these fascinate me. In university, I want to study psychology to learn more about why people are the way they are how mental health plays a part in our development and behavior. But furthermore, I don’t just want to learn, I want to take action.

My family and I are relocating back to the United States after living in London for the past five years. When we do, my mother's new salary will be halved. On top of college, my family has to find a way to pay to move, for my brother's wedding, and medical expenses, among other things. Having free healthcare has been luxurious for my family, especially as it has saved us from tens of thousands in cancer treatments, therapy, physical therapy, surgeries, doctors appointments, scans, and more. It is likely that we will have similar fees in the coming years as well. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Two summers ago, just before my Junior year, I became friends with Hayden Messina when we were assigned to be counselors for the same group. We had never really talked to each other despite Hayden having gone to my brother-school (the counterpart of my former all-girls school), being in my group at camp for several years, and having friends in common. A large part of our communication had to do with the campers. One time, we were at the pool and had campers all over us. “First one to the end of the shallow end wins,” Hayden said. “You are so going to lose.” And for the record, I won. Other conversations mostly consisted of the basics, little details about our lives. But it never felt forced or awkward— it was always very natural, which is something I felt comforted by. It wasn’t till Friday that week that we really started talking. We were in the staff room while a play was being performed for the whole camp. We talked non-stop about everything and definitely annoyed the other counselors by doing so. While it was not a long amount of time that we talked, there was a lot in there. Sometimes conversations just flow and you get lost in them, and that is exactly what happened with Hayden. Later in the summer, Hayden and I were sitting on the grass during lunch. He was eating a box of California rolls from a local market. The sun shone down brightly, making his hair appear a fiery red, and his eyes like honey. Our campers ran around playing tag, which was chaos. Back that first Friday, Hayden told me about his crazy roommate. I don’t remember how, but we again got to the topic of school. Hayden said he hoped for a better roommate—but all I hoped for was friends. “I am really worried about making friends. My best friend just moved away and I was already bullied in school last year,” I admitted to him. His mouth opened wide, his body turned away slightly and he didn’t speak for thirty seconds. This was the first time we had ever really had a pause in the conversation. Usually in this situation, I would worry that I had messed up. I would apologize for saying anything. But with Hayden, it felt different. I knew that this idea was very new to him. My breath still hitched in my throat and I added “I just don’t know how to make friends.” He finally said, “When you go back to school, just be like who you are at camp, and you will make friends.” “You think so?” I asked and without hesitation he replied, “I know so.” I believed Hayden. I went into school confident. I talked to new students and tried to get closer to some acquaintances. I really did try. I just couldn’t do it. I want to be the person that I am at camp. I want to be me, but I just can’t. I don’t know what is stopping me. It feels as if I have just climbed many high mountains, and I am almost to the top of the hardest, tallest, most slippery one yet. I reach up for the final step, and I fall back down again. Although I did not succeed, I will never forget Hayden's kindness towards me.

My sock rapidly tapped the floor. My teacher had taken away my shoe; the sound was too much of a distraction for the rest of the class, but this was my distraction. The same teacher suggested to my parents that I get tested for a learning difference. After extensive tests, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. I was very fidgety, distractible, and disorganized - things that were evident to not just myself but others around me. And years later, this still rings true. Many relationships have been affected by the effects of my ADHD, even to the extent where I have been called a “burden” and “draining” because of it. Everyone has parts of their identity that they cannot change, and for me, that includes my ADHD. That being said, it is not my sole identity. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, an athlete, an aspiring psychologist, and so much more. Two years ago, I asked my science teacher when I would get my test back, as everyone else had already gotten theirs. I had taken it with my accommodations, and it turned out she had forgotten to get it, something that was frustrating but not uncommon. But what really bugged me was the words that came out of her mouth when I reminded her, “Oh, you’re one of my special kids,” as if having this learning difference made me so different from everyone else in the classroom. Furthermore, growing up, I was completely oblivious to the fact that both my mother and father had depression. I was under the impression that people who have depression were always visibly sad, such as my “step” sister, who had bipolar disorder and had frequent manic episodes. My perspective started to change when I sat with my psychiatrist for a regular check-in on my ADHD medication. She said some of my symptoms could be a combination of anxiety and depression. This came as a complete shock to me. While I knew I had been really sad and stressed, it was nothing like my sister’s episodes or when my dad would spend days in bed. That same day I learned my mom had depression and realized that maybe I was more like her. My mom has always been really happy but hardworking, which explained her stress to me. But as I grew up, I saw the little things - the half-hearted smile or a twitch that could be attributed to depression and anxiety not just in myself but in my family as well. I learned that it was okay not to be okay and that I was not alone. In the times when I most wanted to give up, these thoughts are what kept me going. I believe this is something that everyone should hear regardless of whether they are battling their mental health or not. Please never forget this. Matters like these fascinate me. In university, I want to study psychology to learn more about why people are the way they are how mental health plays a part in our development and behavior. But furthermore, I don’t just want to learn; I want to take action.

My sock rapidly tapped the floor. My teacher had taken away my shoe; the sound was too much of a distraction for the rest of the class, but this was my distraction. The same teacher suggested to my parents that I get tested for a learning difference. After extensive tests, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. I was very fidgety, distractible, and disorganized - things that were evident to not just myself but others around me. And years later, this still rings true. Many relationships have been affected by the effects of my ADHD, even to the extent where I have been called a “burden” and “draining” because of it. Everyone has parts of their identity that they cannot change, and for me, that includes my ADHD. That being said, it is not my sole identity. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, an athlete, an aspiring psychologist, and so much more. Two years ago, I asked my science teacher when I would get my test back, as everyone else had already gotten theirs. I had taken it with my accommodations, and it turned out she had forgotten to get it, something that was frustrating but not uncommon. But what really bugged me was the words that came out of her mouth when I reminded her, “Oh, you’re one of my special kids,” as if having this learning difference made me so different from everyone else in the classroom. Furthermore, growing up, I was completely oblivious to the fact that both my mother and father had depression. I was under the impression that people who have depression were always visibly sad, such as my “step” sister, who had bipolar disorder and had frequent manic episodes. My perspective started to change when I sat with my psychiatrist for a regular check-in on my ADHD medication. She said some of my symptoms could be a combination of anxiety and depression. This came as a complete shock to me. While I knew I had been really sad and stressed, it was nothing like my sister’s episodes or when my dad would spend days in bed. That same day I learned my mom had depression and realized that maybe I was more like her. My mom has always been really happy but hardworking, which explained her stress to me. But as I grew up, I saw the little things - the half-hearted smile or a twitch that could be attributed to depression and anxiety not just in myself but in my family as well. I learned that it was okay not to be okay and that I was not alone. In the times when I most wanted to give up, these thoughts are what kept me going. I believe this is something that everyone should hear regardless of whether they are battling their mental health or not. Please never forget this.

My sock rapidly tapped the floor. My teacher had taken away my shoe- the sound was too much of a distraction for the rest of the class, but this was my distraction. The same teacher suggested to my parents that I get tested for a learning difference, and after extensive tests, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. I was very fidgety, distractible and disorganized - things that were evident to not just myself, but others around me. Furthermore, growing up I was completely oblivious to the fact that both my mother and father had depression. I was under the impression that people who have depression were always visibly sad, such as my “step” sister who had bipolar disorder and had frequent manic episodes. My perspective started to change when I sat with my psychiatrist for a regular check in on my ADHD medication and she said some of my symptoms could be a combination of anxiety and depression. This came as a complete shock to me. While I knew I had been really sad and stressed, it was nothing like my sister’s episodes or when my dad would spend days in bed. That same day I learned my mom had depression and realized that maybe I was more like her. My mom has always been really happy, but hardworking, which explained her stress to me. But as I grew up, I saw the little things - the half hearted smile, or a twitch that could be attributed to depression and anxiety not just in myself, but in my family as well. I learned that it was okay to not be okay and that I was not alone. In the times when I most wanted to give up, these thoughts are what kept me going. I believe this is something that everyone, regardless of if they are battling a mental illness or not should hear. Please never forget this.

My journalism class always started by watching CNN 10. I vividly remember the one January day when anchor Carl Azuz said that a virus named “Coronavirus” was spreading across Wuhan, China, making people sick, and even killing some. Unfortunately, like many things on the news, it was devastating to learn about, but it felt far away. However, writing this almost a year later, COVID-19 could not be any closer to home. In March, much like the rest of the world, I was sent into distance learning. As someone with ADHD and who greatly appreciates hands-on learning, this time was challenging for me. As I spent endless hours staring at Zoom, the words spoken to me went straight through my head. Every day felt the same. Teachers would ask how we are- like anything had changed in two days. Mentally, I was exhausted from this seemingly endless repetition. I missed living and not knowing what was coming next. My depression also worsened. I learned that physical isolation resulted in me isolating myself from my usual pleasures. Fortunately, I ended the school year proud of how I did and received the best grades yet as a reward. While some friends traveled the world, my summer was spent mostly at home as my father is both older and has several preexisting health conditions, making him extremely at risk of getting the virus. One night in November, I was awoken by my mother, who looked completely panicked. “Your dad has fallen and cannot get up,” she said. We rushed into her bedroom, and sure enough, my dad was kneeling next to the bed, shaking. He was feverish and struggling to breathe. We called an ambulance, and it took four of us to get him up. It felt like hours and seconds, but dad was soon off to the hospital. He returned home almost a week later, and within a day, the hospital called and said that my dad had tested positive for COVID-19, meaning that he had gotten it while he was there. My mother and I had already been in contact with him, as we had to help him move around, so we both tested positive for the virus. In fact, on my birthday, I opened a package thinking it was a present, when in fact it was a COVID-19 test. Luckily, my family had minimal symptoms, but I was tired and could not think properly, making school even more difficult. I thought distance learning was hard, but having everyone else in the classroom, while you are there through a computer screen, often forgot about is worse. The worst parts of the experience were seeing my family be nothing like themselves and hearing my dad blame himself for why we were all sick. It is now January 2021. I have spent my break seeing peers travel the world and break the rules by hanging out with friends and family. I have not seen my brother in a year and a half. I could not see my dying grandma, as my mom did not want me to miss school. I have not been able to travel back home, back to the place that makes me the happiest. It pains me to see people, especially my friends thinking that ignorance is bliss and that they are bigger than the virus. People are dying. In the UK, COVID cases are the highest they have ever been; hospitals are overwhelmed with patients and have been destroying old levels and departments to make more room for oxygen and treatment for the virus. I wish life were normal, but the reality is that it is not the normal we hope for. This is the new normal, and people have to deal with it.

Christmas morning 2015 started like any other. My family woke up in our pajamas that we opened the night before. My brother and I took pictures on the stairs, and then my parents grabbed some coffee. We then opened our stockings, and soon our gifts. At one point, my parents said that my brother Zack and I had presents to open at the same time. Curiously, I ripped my open, and it was a calendar of London, England, which we had visited a few weeks before when my mom was interviewing for a job. Zack got a ‘Visit London’ book. “I got the job,” my mom said excitedly. I was delighted, imagining how in half a year, I would be calling London my home. I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, I had traveled, but Jersey was all I had really known. I was leaving behind almost everything I had ever known- my house, education, friends, family, and so much more. I became fascinated with discovering the unknown. At first, that was new cultures I found myself around, both at my school and within the city, new places in London, and worldwide. All of these experiences opened my eyes and changed the way I approached life. Instead of appreciating diversity, beauty, and freedom when it comes, I sought it out. They also provided me with crucial life skills, including communication, responsibility, and more. Having gained these things, I will, and have already gone out into the world ready to share this way of life with others. I then became curious about what else I could truly learn. I wanted to answer my own questions, as well as others. Questions plagued my mind, especially about why we are the way we are. Part of the explanation I have developed is due to our culture and our environment, the nurture side, if you will. But I wanted to know why my mind worked the way it did, and I found some answers in my AP Psychology class. But I still have so many questions. I still want to learn more about the little things that make us so unique and so beautiful. I want to find other things that will open my eyes to the world, and I know that given a chance, I will be able to do this at university through research opportunities and a strong education. And I may not find the answers, but I will never stop trying. This will help me grow in the future and keep working towards my goals as I know I can always get a lot more than I realize from them. Over the years, I have realized that when you are truly living, learning, and loving, you will not have all the answers and that there is beauty in that. But knowing you might not fully get there should not stop you from going as far as you can. I have always thought, “why not” and this essay, this lifestyle is my “why not.”

Our names are crucial to our identity. When I was born, my parents placed three names in a hat, Billy Alexandra, Cecily Willow, and Kira Evangeline. My half-brother, Zachary, drew out Kira. Without him, I could have been a completely different person. This not only applies to my name but my interests as well. Zack was and is an avid soccer player, so of course, I wanted to play too. Soon after starting, I fell in love with the game. I played with the same recreational organization that he did. I even tried out for the travel club he played for but did not make it past trials. Zack told me never to give up, and so I kept going. Six years later, my brother watched me save a penalty to win a Barcelona Football (soccer) Club camp tournament. One of my fondest memories involves Zack’s influence on me. I was seven years old and in his room, probably bugging him (because what else are younger siblings for?) when he had me help him with his calculus homework. I worked my way through the problem, and he told me I got it right. I was so proud of myself for being able to do the same things as Zack. It was only years later, when I thought back to that moment, that I realized Zack was probably just building my confidence by telling me I was correct. I have always admired Zack because he knows what he wants, aims for it, and does not settle for less. An example of this was eight years ago when he applied to colleges. He knew which school he wanted to go to and believed he could get in, so that was the only school he applied to! Luckily, he was accepted and loved it. Zack taught me to reach for my dreams. Years later, it is my turn to apply to college, and I have so many dreams. My brother currently works as a middle school math teacher in a great school district in New Jersey. He found the love of his life, proposed to her, and they got a dog. This is still only the start of his journey, and I know that there are so many more amazing things to come in my life, just like with Zack. Zack has always been incredibly hard-working and works just as hard, if not harder, for others’ success, over his own. He is a coach, a friend, a brother, a son, a teacher, and so much more. He not only inspires me but others every single day. I have tried to emulate putting others before myself through supporting my friends, volunteering, and becoming a soccer coach and camp counselor. Additionally, I am applying for scholarships so that my parents do not have to take money out of their retirement funds to pay for college. This is especially important to me as one of them is already retired, and the other is near retirement. I know that my University experience will help me give back to others in many ways, just like Zack.