I believe music is powerful. A good song can lift anyone's spirits, shake up a dance floor or give some inspiration for the rest of the day. There are many songs that are special to me and that instantly transport me back to a special moment. But perhaps the song that has impacted me the most, is The Happy Birthday song. The one everyone knows and loves, that special chime of family and friends belting in awkward unison in a dark room, barely lit by a handful of candles. And the birthday guest, sitting there smiling because no one knows just what to do when people sing to them (and if it's really bad, they'll probably start singing along too). Everyone that has ever existed, and will ever exist, is bound to have a birthday, even if they never celebrate it. And every one of those people has their own complicated and complex lives. Bad days turn into bad weeks, turning into disappointing months. Those are bound to happen. But life is not about lingering in the pits, but about having the ability to look beyond those potholes. A way to do this is to simply have something to look forward to. It never has to be big, it only has to be big to you. In fact, why not call it a little thing. Friday is probably the most universally looked forward thing ever. Someone else can look forward to unwrapping that video game they've been saving for a special time or making cupcakes just to bring a smile to their face. For me, this little thing is birthdays. I can say that these days in general are memorable to me, not just my own. My family and I have a sort of unspoken tradition of going out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants for one of our birthdays, sometimes even throwing mini surprise parties into the mix too. Every time it's the same. I subconsciously count down the days until I can give my mom her perfectly selected present, or reveal that envelope encasing a heartfelt message to my dad. And because life is bound to happen, a bad day was most likely experienced earlier that week. But the beauty of celebrating someone else is that it allows for us to step away from our own bubbles of life, and appreciate each other, in turn, celebrating ourselves too. A sudden stillness sweeps. The lights are out and the countdown begins. None of us would ever dare sing in front of each other, and yet, here we are performing together. The Happy Birthday song forever trapped in all of our minds, able to be recited without the slightest heistation. At this very moment, life stops, and I am here. I've been looking forward to this little thing. And I can't wait to look forward to it again.

Scrolling through the channel listings had become a mindless task. Sitting on the couch, finding something to watch on television, just to be entertained for a while. I came across the movie Jungle Book, the new one, that I had not seen before. I could have never expected what would happen next. The visuals, the beautiful and vibrant colors, the sight of Mowgli with all the animals, was shocking to me. Just months before, being 13 years old, I decided that I no longer wanted to be a veterinarian (which I had planned to do for many years before). But with the sight of that film on my television, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was going to act. Years later, that strong desire I felt remains consistent, now not only wanting to star in films but also create them. I am currently in the second year of my IB Film course and am working on a major project. My comparative study, where I am researching and examining two similar films. This is a project that has been anticipated in my class for quite a while and has finally arrived. Not only will I be doing extensive research on both of my films, but I will also be creating and editing a 10-minute video to compile this research, and lastly create the voiceover to top it. The IB program will end soon, with me graduating from high school later this year. But it will not be the end for me. I plan on taking my passion for film into my college education and experience, ultimately majoring in Film Production. I am excited to dive deeper into the things I love and become educated immensely on them, to turn that desire and passion into a career. Long ago, my mother told me "When you do what you love, you never work a day in your life". I was young, and though I heard her, I did not understand. Now without a doubt, I absolutely know she was right. College is an amazing place to be, and an opportunity of unmeasurable value to those who wish to gain that desired knowledge, and become armed with the education and skills they need to live out their dreams. Receiving the Amplify Continuous Learning Grant would do exactly that for me. I would apply this grant to my tuition, to not only delve into the expansive material provided during higher education, but to also learn skills like directing, video editing, and screenwriting to continue to guide me down my path of filmmaking. The path of film is the one I love the most, and that is the direction I am delighted to go.

Meet Jay! He is a mini schnauzer mixed with a border collie, and he is four years old. These are photos I took, living in the moment, enjoying our time together. With these pictures, I realized how sweet and handsome he is! Jay really is a good boy!

My Instagram is @kdaughterr. Here are my suggested captions and hashtags. 1. (Squidward meme) Always working hard. #procrastinationnation #sorrymum 2. (Joker meme) When the shower brings out parts of us we didn't know we had. #shampoobottleswholisten 3. (Frog meme) Let him in! #frogs #he'sagreatguy

College is the place many people aspire to be. College is where you learn and dive deeper into your passions, in order to become qualified for your future career. This is why I strongly believe that a college education will help me achieve my own goals of filmmaking, by providing the tools necessary I need to succeed. It was just like any normal day. I sat on the couch and flipping through channels, looking for something to watch. I stumbled upon the 2016 movie, The Jungle Book, which I had never seen. As my eyes were entranced by the beautiful screen, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I know that going to a University and the workload given is not that of an average school. Not only are the courses advanced, but the courses you need are designed specifically to give you the necessary things needed to operate in your desired field in the first place. My goal is to become an actress and a director, creating films that are innovative in entertainment and inspiring for everyone involved. Instead of resting my future in the hands of luck, I prefer to learn and prepare for my future, giving me the headstart of experience and wisdom needed to create magnificent films! Going to college would not only give me information but experience. The major of film production (which I will be pursuing next fall) is extremely hands-on and interactive. During my studies I will be creating my own films with my peers, comparing the techniques of filmmakers across the world, and taking all the knowledge given to me by my professors, to further innovate and expand my own creations! Experience is something you cannot buy, but yet is a daily endeavor of a college student. Imagine this: working for hours on an original screenplay and receiving an A+, when months before you didn’t even know what screenplay format was. Or how about being cast as the lead in your class’s film, when such an opportunity may have taken years to come by otherwise. College is the giver of these experiences, the outlet to receiving these opportunities. Opportunities not to just write about your dreams, but to begin to live them, and practice them, doing what you desire to do in your career. This is the ultimate preparation. Instead of a film school, I will be attending a more traditional University, one that encompasses all types of academics and activities. Filmmaking is my goal, yet I know the entertainment industry is made up of many different interests. All of these different films, relating to the range of people who create them. I know that the world is diverse, and exposing yourself to the many different parts of it is what allows you to grow. This will allow me to develop as a person, while simultaneously creating a new outlook and inspiration to be able to innovate filmmaking.

College is the place many people aspire to be. College is where you learn and dive deeper into your passions, in order to become qualified for your future career. This is why I strongly believe that a college education will help me achieve my own goals of filmmaking, by providing the tools necessary I need to succeed. It was just like any normal day. I sat on the couch and flipping through channels, looking for something to watch. I stumbled upon the 2016 movie, The Jungle Book, which I had never seen. As my eyes were entranced by the beautiful screen, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I know that going to a University and the workload given is not that of an average school. Not only are the courses advanced, but the courses you need are designed specifically to give you the necessary things needed to operate in your desired field in the first place. My goal is to become an actress and a director, creating films that are innovative in entertainment and inspiring for everyone involved. Instead of resting my future in the hands of luck, I prefer to learn and prepare for my future, giving me the headstart of experience and wisdom needed to create magnificent films! Going to college would not only give me information but experience. The major of film production (which I will be pursuing next fall) is extremely hands-on and interactive. During my studies I will be creating my own films with my peers, comparing the techniques of filmmakers across the world, and taking all the knowledge given to me by my professors, to further innovate and expand my own creations! Experience is something you cannot buy, but yet is a daily endeavor of a college student. Imagine this: working for hours on an original screenplay and receiving an A+, when months before you didn’t even know what screenplay format was. Or how about being cast as the lead in your class’s film, when such an opportunity may have taken years to come by otherwise. College is the giver of these experiences, the outlet to receiving these opportunities. Opportunities not to just write about your dreams, but to begin to live them, and practice them, doing what you desire to do in your career. This is the ultimate preparation. Instead of a film school, I will be attending a more traditional University, one that encompasses all types of academics and activities. Filmmaking is my goal, yet I know the entertainment industry is made up of many different interests. All of these different films, relating to the range of people who create them. I know that the world is diverse, and exposing yourself to the many different parts of it is what allows you to grow. This will allow me to develop as a person, while simultaneously creating a new outlook and inspiration to be able to innovate filmmaking.

I didn't always want to be an actress. In fact, for many years, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I would imagine myself in the long, white doctor's, coat, taking care of dogs and cats all day. This thought excited me because of my love of animals. And I still love animals! But it wasn't until one day, I realized I actually didn't want to become a doctor, something I didn't realize a vet actually was when I was so little. There where even small moments when I considered being a professional basketball player, dancer, or even a lawyer (I was strangely convincing when I was little!). But I knew none of those things were truly meant for me. It wasn't until I was 13 years old when the movie Jungle Book (2016) came out when everything changed for me. Watching that movie, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to act! The cinematography, the story, the direction, the acting, everything about that film just inspired me in a way I had never felt before. And since then, I have been taking steps to accomplish my dreams of becoming a professional actress and director! I have taken acting classes, joined audiovisual and film classes at my high school, and even got the opportunity to be an extra in a major Hollywood movie! Now, I am looking forward to attending college. After many unsuccessful searches, I have finally found the perfect one for me. I will be able to take classes in film acting, filmmaking, and production, exactly the education I have been longing for. In my education, I would like to achieve learning what I need to know to not only be successful but to have fulfillment from my future career. I hope to make student films, write screenplays, and learn about the operations of a set because this is what excites me. Then, everything I have learned with this education, I will apply to my career. With the film acting classes, I will have had training and a head start in my field, being able to give amazing performances, both creatively and technically. Since I also want to be a director, with this education in filmmaking, I look forward to creating visually stunning films as well as stories that captivate the audience through emotion and the technicalities that come with filmmaking. I am also aware of the inclusivity and pay gap for women, especially in Hollywood. As a young black woman, I am especially susceptible to this. I value success not only for me but for all the other women in my field. Representation matters. For me to be a prosperous woman in my field, I would be inspiration to and the voice of my fellow actresses and female directors, of all races. I aspire to be a major factor when including more diverse roles and jobs in the films I create and to fight for equal pay for the women who go unrecognized. This is what I hope to achieve in my future and so much more. And I can't wait to get there!

Hello! My name is Kyndal Daniel and I am a 16-year-old student, currently attending Lamar High School. In my life, I have tried many new things. I love sports, and I have loved them even when I was just a little girl. So my parents and I decided to experiment and find the right sport for me. During the next few years, I participated in jujitsu, baseball (being one of the only two girls in the entire league!), gymnastics, and even trying track and field. I enjoyed playing all these sports, but I continued to jump around a bit until I found the one for me. It wasn't until 6th grade when I finally met my match! I joined the basketball team and played for 3 years, until the end of 8th grade. I learned that I loved basketball and I still do. But, graduating from 8th grade, I realized that basketball was not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Also during this time, I felt that I would become a veterinarian, and stuck with this for a while. As time went on, I also grew out of this idea. I was left with no idea for my future. It was until one day, I sat down and watched a movie that had recently come out. I watched Jungle Book (2016) and suddenly, I knew what I would be doing with the rest of my life. The cinematography, the story, the acting, and everything else drew me in so quickly. And since that moment a few years ago, it has been clear that my future lies in acting, directing, and filmmaking. To start to prepare for this, I began taking acting classes. Because of my health, I had to drop out momentarily. Then I rejoined acting classes, but again, decided to take a step back due to circumstances (including coronavirus). When I went to high school, I signed up for an Audio Video class and an extensive IB Film course. I am now in my senior year of high school, currently taking IB Film part 2, and Audio Video 2, that will resume at an off-campus career center for high schoolers, also interested in getting a headstart in their careers. And two summers ago, I was allowed to be an extra in an upcoming movie! I took a road trip down to Mississippi with my family, and my niece and I were extras in the birthday party scene. And a last-minute surprise was presented to me when it was revealed that I would be the birthday girl! Now, I am applying to universities, and I will be majoring in Film/television production and Screen Acting. Every day, I am doing my best to prepare for my future, but most importantly I know it is all in God's hands. In my future, I hope to achieve dreams in film production that I haven't even dreamt of yet. Since I am a young, black woman, I also am excited to advocate for other black women (and women in general) in the film industry. I will fight for representation and equal pay for women in the industry, making Hollywood a better place for all to work and create in. I look forward to my future, and I am so excited to get there.

The biggest role models in my life are my parents. Sure, there have been many people in my life to inspire me, but no one has shaped my life as my mom and dad have. My parents are both, hardworking, motivating, and supportive people. I watch my parents and how they have overcome so many obstacles in their personal and professional lives. Take my mom for example she is a manager for Tarrant County in information and technology. Not only is she one of the only women managers in her field, but she is also a black woman. Then there is my dad, who also like my mom, overcoming all odds, became an entrepreneur. He created his very own independent process service business, running it himself, and teaching himself everything. I aspire to be an actress, and I am extremely grateful to have such amazing parents by my side. With their own relentlessness, they have taught me that nothing is impossible and that I can achieve all my dreams, with them and God by my side. And the best part is, they make it look easy!