Josh is one of the funniest people I have ever met. He was only fifteen and yet he had the poise of a standup comedian and the most contagious laugh. I had always wanted to be closer to him, and I finally got to in freshman year. He chose the seat next to me in my physics class, and suddenly a friend group of four was formed. Elijah, Jiya, Josh, and I were inseparable. We didn't learn nearly as much as we should've in that class, but if I'm being honest, our teacher was a little crazy. Josh and Jiya would either sleep or do their geometry homework while Elijah and I would play competitive Crossy Road (we had just discovered there was a two-player mode) and make silly freshman jokes. Elijah and I were also band kids and would annoy Josh beyond reason by talking about our long hours of marching practice. Jiya didn't mind--she was used to me at that point. After two months of this, we hear that school will be closed for two weeks. I was really worried, I didn't want to be away from my friends for that long as I was honestly struggling a bit mentally, granted, who wasn't? Two weeks turned into two months, and suddenly Josh stopped responding to our group chat. We assumed he was somehow busy, until April 2nd, 2020. Around four am, Elijah texted me that Josh had posted something incredibly concerning on Instagram, and when I woke up at eight the next morning, that post had been deleted. Around five am that morning, Josh died. I had heard so many stories about people losing loved ones to suicide, but you never, ever think that it could happen to you. Josh would make jokes about dark things like that, but I thought he could never be capable of such a thing. I was fifteen, so of course I was depressed much like all other teens during the lockdown, but I never imagined truly getting to that point. The only other time in my life that I remember crying like that was when my childhood dog died back when I was nine. Devasted is an understatement, and even writing this I'm tearing up a little... The next day, another of his close friends and I met up and went on a long walk to talk about our favorite memories of him. A few days later, a Zoom funeral was held by his parent's church, where they talked a lot about him and wonderful memories, but I felt that they left out so many important parts about his life and what made him, him. I was left without closure, and there was nothing I could do. Almost three years later, on October 8th, 2022, I got together with Elijah and Jiya and we had a bittersweet 18th birthday party for Josh. That was one of the last times I ever saw Elijah. Even now, I know he blames himself for Josh, and I hate that he does. He stopped showing up to school this year a week after Josh's 18th birthday, and he finished school online. Josh's death hit those of us close to him so unbelievably hard, and completely changed my worldview. After a few years, I've learned that I need to ask for help when I need it and to be there for those who are feeling down. I won't ever forget Josh or the powerful impact he had on me. He's still the funniest person I've ever met.

As a Marine Sciences major, I plan to use my degree to save shark populations around the globe. When I was younger, an environmentalist came to my elementary school and gave a lecture on how sharks are just as harmless or dangerous as our own pet dogs, and since that day it has been a personal mission of mine to do what I can to help the ocean's most beautiful predators. Without keystone species such as Great Whites along the East Coast, the food web will crumble. Sharks have survived five mass extinctions, but they are dying at an alarming rate during what some have considered the sixth mass extinction. Spreading education about the calm nature of sharks and how important they are to our world will decrease the misconceptions that people have about them--this will directly impact the amount of environmental activism for these gentle giants. As a student teacher for second graders this year, I have demonstrated my passion for proper science education and encouraged many of my students to research other marine life for fun. Thomas, one of the sweetest kids I've ever met, came in with a small paper he wrote about the history and evolution of the Giant Squid and other related squids such as the Taningia Danae, or Dana octopus squid (our personal favorite). Three other students have come into school to show off their National Geographic books on different marine life and their importance to our world as well, and I couldn't be more proud of them. While these kids are incredible, I have also helped to educate people my age. Recently, I went canoeing in the Chattahoochee River with some friends, and we picked up every piece of trash that we saw along the way. We ended up with over seven pounds worth of garbage that we then recycled properly or gave to animal exhibits to use as enrichment. It was empowering that my friends looked up to me to teach them the differences between certain recyclables as well as how to keep our local waters healthy. A close friend of mine even used me as an example in an essay she did titled, "The Dwindling Shark Population and Why it's Our Fault". My passion extends beyond tangible impact as well: I have emailed back and forth with my state governor to sign or propose certain bills about increasing environmental awareness. I have supported OSEARCH, Save the Whales, Kuleana Coral Restoration, and several other large-scale organizations working towards cleaning and restoring our oceans. I've been specifically supporting OSEARCH for years now; keeping up to date with the animals they have tagged and becoming incredibly attached to Ali the whale shark. Marine life conservation, particularly with sharks, is by far the most important cause in my life. Having the credibility of a degree in the field will make it easier for me to spread information, and I can't wait to use my degree to continue to work toward a cleaner Earth, full of graceful sharks, peacefully minding their own business.