I have been a good student but never the most excellent. The work put in to be where I am at today is so great, that I couldn't even list all the names of those who helped me, coached me, guided me, gave advice, or supported me on multiple levels, even if I wanted to. What I did learn through persistence was that it pays off. Seeing myself at a 4.o GPA after applying myself is satisfying, getting money based on my hard work is satisfying, and getting jobs based on my merit is satisfying. Work ethic matters, perseverance matters, persistence matters. I did have to delay gratification to see the fruit of my labor, I did have to sacrifice what I thought was most enjoyable for the stuff that would be more enjoyable later down the road. The path of persistence isn't always candy and cake, but it pays off. Stay steady!! and good luck! Thank you!

I grew up on a farm, so I have plentiful experience with farm animals. The more I grew the size my knowledge and love of animals grew. I loved the way I learned they not only help the earth, and replenish it, but how they have decorated the earth with beautiful examples of variety and diversity. One of the things I wanted to be when I grew up was a veterinarian. Then I wanted to be a marine biologist, so the scope of what kinds of animals I love to see and learn about is a wide range. The only line I draw is between animals and insects, I like insects, but I can't say I absolutely love them! I think they are cool, but I don't think I'll be keeping any for pets super voluntarily. How land works is so fascinating too. One of my favorite memories of science was geology in middle school. As far as hobbies go, I hike and run, and love to be in nature. The beach is my favorite place in nature, and I am confident nature will remain a very important element for the rest of my life. Thank you!

The wisest thing I’ve heard come from someone speaking in front of me, to me, are these: Keep your dreams bigger than your memories. I will not name him, but I attended a youth service in California a couple of months ago, and the man who preached said these words. I wrote them down, and I took the message home with me in my heart. I will likely quote these words for a very long time. Keeping your dreams bigger than your memories means you don’t look back so often as you look forward. You don’t daydream about what could’ve happened so that what is happening in the present doesn’t turn into wasted moments. Nostalgia can rob you of your peace and hope for future dreams God has given you to pursue. I often catch myself reflecting on moments ‘what would’ve happened if I had done something else’. But a would’ve, could’ve, isn’t going to help me seize this present moment and live it to the fullest potential possible. That night I was reminded to keep my eyes forward and not to worry about what may come. If there’s a dream, there’s hope, and there in hope, there’s a future.

Questions (answer all): 1. Why do you deserve this scholarship? I deserve nothing but I am blessed with everything. 2. What are your academic and/or career goals? I want to remain humble and I hope to help as many people as I can. 3. Tell me about a time you’ve overcome an obstacle. I have overcome this world with my faith in Christ. I got sick in the fall of 2021, I started having seizures. I had never had seizures before in my life. By the grace of God and many many prayers, I got to go home and I am back to normal. The doctors never did find out exactly what caused all my sickness.

The most helpful financial advice I have ever received is don't take out debt and be a friend to everyone. I really didn't think about debt because I had no reason to while I grew up. I think about it a lot more now than I did because I have a little! I was warned about the effects of debt, but I confidently say I didn't listen much. I am lucky I didn't go too deep because I know of some stories and examples in my personal life, where people did get deep. One of the ways I found this advice was by seeking it out. I started looking for ways to get out of debt in addition to applying the wisdom I already had. I got into a little debt and pulled out a little money for my first year of college. I quickly realized I did not like the decision I had made, but I dealt with it because it was wholeheartedly my choice. I made up my mind to not add any more debt to my little pile. Living by this principle has allowed me to freely spend, while saving great amounts, for a college student, and be more grateful for the things I took for granted. As a sub piece of advice to fill in the second 'friend' part of this statement, never "lend" money to a friend. If you are going to give money to a friend, gift it, and don't expect a thing back!! Thank You

I am always looking for another adventure, always on the hunt for the next best thing. How this often looks is, at least when I am with friends, if I want to do something spontaneous and fun, I'll go ahead and do it! If everything works out and it doesn't get in the way of anyone else. I remember the most fun I have had with my friends is when we were all camping or having a sleepover. For some reason, both of those environments bring out the most spontaneity, not only in myself but in my friends! It may have to do with the outdoors and people who enjoy each other's company coming together. Another thing I love is traveling with friends and attending conferences, those are tamer times, generally, we still manage to make the most of our minutes together. I love to paint, draw, write, and sing. I have kept some sort of record of my thoughts since I was about 9, not including schoolwork. I have been painting since I was 2, according to records of my mother. And I started singing around 4 or 5. I remember really getting into drawing because I wanted to be more detailed in developing my painting skills, and that was around 7 or 8. My big picture goals include owning an art business, owning land for my family, getting a degree in something I really enjoy, and working in environments that fuel my growth and inspiration. I am so grateful for my life is fueled by joy! Thank you.

I want to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Christian leadership by the year 2024. I went through a lot in my first two years of college, and this goal is one of those that requires all of my effort and faith. I suffered an illness fall of 2021 that was supposed to put me a semester behind my graduation date. I also transferred to another college after my freshman year, so I had an added incentive to do extra well in my academics. I didn’t want to let myself down. I still don’t, I had the goal to graduate by 2024 since I graduated high school class of 2020. I say if I can do it why not try to do it! My goals for the future include getting a job in strategy consulting within a firm, sustaining an art business, and living the life with my future family, (hopefully entertaining the company of 2 Greyhounds and 2 Siamese cats but we’ll see!) I have goals big and small for my future, but my overall success plan doesn’t change. The big picture goal is to be saved, and one of God’s beacons of light in this world that can get so dark sometimes. I honor all who helped me get here, and I will continue to honor all of those who help me achieve as I accomplish things in life. Giving honor to those honor is due to goes a long way. Thank You!

I have the dream of owning an art business. I dream of working side by side with people to accomplish the big goals they dream of. Letting a dream blossom is the most important part of this dream of mine. After college, I want to work as a strategy consultant. I love the city, but I also equally love the countryside. Thankfully I experience growing up in both environments. 10-20 years from now I hope to have a little land for a family and a separate business. The business on our land will resemble a farm bed and breakfast, maybe a little shop. I would love some horses in the fields too. I lean on God to be my anchor, my hold when I need direction or guidance. At the end of my life, I want to say that I faithfully achieved the dreams and aspirations of my heart, while showing the love and care that God shows his children.

When I wake up in the morning I thank God for another day, I ask him to guide my thoughts words, and actions, and I proceed to talk to him about specific things I have on my mind. I live by a moral code that exhorts me to give thanks in all circumstances, to be glad and joyful in the days the Lord Jesus makes. Keeping an attitude of gratitude has helped me see more blessings than I have time to count, not to mention the wonders it has done for my health. I do a special thing in my prayers sometimes, I list off the "little" things I am thankful for out loud, such as a bed, food, clothing, the people in my life, family, friends, the work I got to accomplish that day and so on. I find that when I do this special thing, I'll often relive the most important moments of my day and get to remember those before I drift off to sleep. I enjoy part of life where I can show my attention to the things that give me joy and strength.

As a devout Christian, I believe the meaning of life is to live life getting to know Jesus. The Bible says God is love, and Jesus is God or Lord. It also says he is friend, strength, hope, joy, and abundance. As I get closer to God myself, I learn that the best thing I could ever do is be more like the God who created me, caring, honest, diligent, patient, and wise. One of the disciples that wrote about Jesus's life after he died and rose again, was Paul. He describes the race of life like this, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Any glory I've been afforded has been given to me at the greatest price. Jesus hung on a cross for the redemption of sins, and the Holy Ghost is the manifestation of the gift of eternal life purchased by that sacrifice. Whether you believe rocks give you superpowers, or you were hatched on mars, God still cares for you and wants you to live freely and in truth. He cares about the light bill that burdens you each month, he cares about your parents' divorce, and he cares about how everything you go through, good, bad, and the worst affects you. He waits to listen to you, you are his child by the Bible’s definition, we are created in the image of God. I think the meaning of life is to lean into love.

I love to sing and play the ukulele. I got a ukulele for Christmas 2019; it was a gift from my grandparents. I was inspired by a peer of mine, we both participated in our high school's talent show. I painted the back of it so it would mean something even more extra special. Over the next couple of months, I wrote songs and played from time to time, but I never really fell in love with playing and singing like I did when Covid hit my area of California spring of 2020. My family and I moved to different parts of the country, and I had a lot of time I wanted to fill. I began to record songs I wrote and wrote even more songs after I recorded all those songs. At the end of the summer, I graduated, and I had recorded at least 10-15 original songs I mixed. Singing has always been a creative outlet for me, and I would only say I enjoy painting a little more. Finding a way to pair it with the ukulele over the past couple of years, playing when I need a break, or stealing away for 5 minutes to practice a few chords, I hope I get to continue to work on this skill and bring the joy of music to other's ears.

Over time I’ve learned that the faith and the blessings and opportunities I’ve reaped from faithful decisions guide and provide for me, financially, relationally, and spiritually. A little over a year ago I moved to Santa Fe NM for a private college I got into. I needed a church, and everything worked out, I ended up getting a church. In the fall of last year, I fell ill with some pretty horrible side effects and God carried me through to the other side of what could've been a forever disability. Recently I met a major financial goal I set for myself a couple of months ago, and at the time it looked impossible, but here I am writing about it. Jesus's love has not left me alone, and I have learned that the consistent love and care I've experienced through this love keeps me growing, thriving, and seeking better things. In my career goals, I plan to continue to follow his guidance, rely on his wisdom as I have been, and lean into what purposes he has for me. I think when I run into dark avenues, he'll be the light that pulls me through. When I feel hopeless, he'll remind me Victory is bigger. I think when I see dreams slipping through my hands, he'll help me realize they are all just falling into his. He holds my life, and he shows me how to help others lean into genuinely living life. I want to own an art business, so I'll need the strength and courage to lead and creatively take care of the company. My personal art has always been the best when I connected to something larger than myself, I believe in Jesus, so I believe this was him. When I do anything, I want the favor that comes from putting him first in all I do. A verse that is often used but rings true every time is in the book of Mathew. (6:33) "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also." God has helped me work through current issues and look toward the hopes and dreams of the future. God will help me as I encounter different challenges within my work as a consultant, and I believe, my future goals according to his will.

I think my favorite scientific discovery series is the invention of the camera. I want to read more about it, but the first time I learned about how the invention of the camera and photo, I was fascinated with how the chemicals and materials used, all worked together to produce an image. I am inspired by the tenacity of the inventors involved in this scientific chain of exploration. A tremendous amount of courage and creativity is required when you're on the verge of a breakthrough for humanity. I admire the skill and knowledge that everyone included used and produced. Because of the work many contributed to this science, humankind gets to enjoy cameras on their phones, computers, on the side of their buildings, etc., and it is amazing! I hope that people will continue to expand upon photography. It would be interesting to continue seeing how art and science blend within this avenue of discovery.

Esther, (17th book in the Bible) My favorite piece of artwork, though I am a painter myself, must be a written piece located in the Old Testament portion of the KJV version Bible. The book of Esther talks about the importance of standing up for what's right, the beauty of a woman, and the true partnership between man and woman to accomplish large change in the world. This is my favorite art piece right now because growing up I have always been fascinated by how God orchestrated her life story. She is the way that a major nation, Israel, was spared from being completely wiped out, according to the law of the Persians, the people group which she ruled over as Queen. When her uncle pleaded with her to do something about the law, she did something and took a stand, she prepared her actions and put her life on the line in the process of saving Israel. This book is beautiful because when she was going through the process of being chosen as queen, she refused to beautify herself any more than necessary, rejecting anything more than what was recommended by the king's servant. When she was elected as queen, she was reported as the most pleasing to the king, even though she didn't use as much beautification as the other maidens in the running for the position. The way she works with the king and her uncle to accomplish saving her nation, the Israelites, from genocide, is an art. To get a fuller picture of the ups and downs I highly recommend you read the story! Thank you!

"and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7 KJV I learned a very important principle by reading my Bible, that many, especially in America, may not see eye to eye with me on now today: Debt is bad, and being a forever borrower of money is disappointing. Growing up a middle-class kid in California I often didn’t have to think about money. When money got low, I had parents that made it feel like we still had things of value in our life. We were taught to be grateful for the little things, food to eat, a dress, a new pair of shoes, the ability to walk around nice parks, that kind of thing. When we went on road trips, we were able to stop and get snacks, we could order about anything we wanted on the menu at McDonald’s, and life was good. I got older, and I learned about different ways my parents and family members, friends, and their family’s handled money: some things that I knew weren’t the best things to do with money, but overall, I never really knew how to apply much of what I was learning until I had the money. I grew up Christian, but no way did I hear this principle taught in Sunday school. King Solomon was the richest, and the wisest person there ever was, but I didn’t know he knew that borrowing was not the greatest. Debt isn’t worth anything (at any amount). Debt put a strain on my confidence in my abilities and my confidence in others around me, putting a strain on my life and heart. This priceless experience kept me from squandering any more money and confidence, the minute I stopped borrowing!

The active skill of forgiving. I have learned forgiving is hard sometimes. Over time I think more and more about the things that I am learning that I can see really helping down the road and the things I may not be able to see the full benefits of now. When I was first taught to forgive, I would say it looked a little like trusting someone would stick up for me, even when I couldn't see immediate justice recompensed on the enemy. Maybe someone took my toy, and I wanted to get it back and maybe even take their toy, but instead, I was trusting the knowledge that I was given by a wiser person (my parent or babysitter), to know that justice would be served, eventually, even if I didn't know about it when it finally took place. I say it's hard to forgive because it involves letting the wrath and vengeance go. I want to hold it all because I feel like it is mine to hold onto, when in fact it is not. That hurt and anger belong to the wrongdoer. Holding onto anger and hurt has caused me more hurt and anger of a deeper caliber compared to the hurt and anger I decided to let go or forgive. I have learned forgiving someone doesn't mean you are putting your stamp of approval. It does mean that you are no longer in the crosshairs of a volatile situation that involves the true consequences for the offender. Forgiving does not mean living in a cycle of abuse, and forgiving does not mean that you continue to do the same thing either. Forgiving may look like a conversation, an action, or a prayer. What true forgiveness does is passes the judgment to whom it really belongs.

I have been gifted with a unique skill set. Over time have tried to use my skills and talents to bring people joy and help people connect. In high school, I used the abundance of creativity and opportunity to help support hate crime victims. In college, I have expanded upon my abilities in terms of making art and marketing art. I remember the story my mother always tells me, the story of how I first started to create art. I would often get frustrated as a child and so to try and appease my attitude, my mom would put me in a corner of the garage with paint supplies and some sort of material to paint on and tell me to have at it. I say her training was a success because, I say, out of everything, I do in my life today, I paint the best. I want to own an art business, and over time this dream has morphed and evolved through different paths I wanted to make a career. What I know is how I've seen art impact people's hearts and minds, whether it be in religion, social justice, or war. We memorialize tragedies like the holocaust in museums and visuals of the war and lives that were affected. We honor with masterful crafts like banners and flags solidifying the colors and shapes, and figures, that represent us as people, cities, states, and nations. Big corporations have made their stamp on society with logos that, good and bad, reflect their level of impact in the lives of their consumers. The aim of my art has always been to point people toward a larger world, a larger view, or a vaster idea. I do enjoy inspiring others, but I want most to glorify and honor the one that gave me the ability to perform. I want the art to sing the words of the song in the people's hearts. I want to sell originals, but I would like to bring in other artists and mediums and continue to expand the knowledge around how art impacts the world all on its own. Dolly Parton really inspired me when she started to pay for her employees to pursue their dreams of better education, so I will be having a lot of that kind of thing in my company! ;) Thank you.

LadyBug CA. I grew up interested in science. One of the earliest memories I have of school is working in the garden of Lady Bug preschool in California. The kids and teachers just crushed bowls full of eggshells. We all were called outside to spread the eggshells around the bases of the tomatoes and strawberries. I'm pretty sure there were other plants too, but for my memory’s sake, I just remember tomatoes and strawberries. I have other early memories like this one, and they have stacked up, giving me fond moments of scientific exploration to reflect upon. I wanted to become a veterinarian for as long as I can remember. I also had a few other dreams, but I knew I loved animals and I loved science. So, veterinarian science is what I pursued in high school. I carried my love of science into college, but in my freshman year of college, I realized that I didn’t want to follow the veterinarian path. I want to own my own business. If I was going to pursue a career as a veterinarian, I would’ve opened my practice and gone about a career that way in the long run. Using my experience in the sciences, in STEM, I want to not only own an art business, but I also want to use my experience to affect people positively. Science and art, business, and exploration pair very well. After I graduate from college, I would like to pursue work as a strategy consultant for McKinsey. I know that as a business consultant I will be working with infinite amounts of scenarios and hard problems, kind of like how math presents. I desire to succeed in my work environment and help others in their success. This scholarship, my stem degree, and consulting help me accomplish the big-picture goal. Having a heart for people and caring about them ties all of this together. I wanted to serve people with my talents when I was young, and I still want to serve people with my talents now. Getting the opportunity to build a place, and environment, where people are helped, encouraged, positively tested, challenged, grown, stretched, and changed- is my goal with the business. I desire all of that in the job position too. If it doesn’t already exist, I know I can create a work environment where all those things will thrive. I still love animals and I have made a place in my life goals for that love to continue to blossom. As I work in consulting, my goal is not to snuff out my love of art or science but to add the foundation for those to flourish in different ways throughout my life. This is why I am interested in STEM and some of what I hope to accomplish through my career.

Every moment is important, and you could see victory. Victory is like being aware of all the problems you can think of, but at the same time looking at potential victories that tower over all the problems. Even if it's allowing ourselves to entertain the thought of looking past our problems, that little action blossoms into a larger action. Eventually, you'll find yourself in the midst of a vast field of flowers, all painted and raised high by the thoughts and actions you took, planted, little by little, to look out past your problems, and focus on wins. If I come across a thought like, "you could never obtain that great job you want after college," I choose to believe the best. I'll believe "You can get that great job after college". I choose to encourage myself, and I don't back down. I am an Apostolic Christian so my prayer and reading of my Bible really help to soothe my heart and relax my spirit when I encounter potentially stressful things. Lastly, when I choose to act on my hope over my hopelessness, I make a firm decision in my heart, and mind, that no matter what may stand between me and victory, I will continue to live in a life where good wins over bad, there is a purpose, and I gain strength in being joyful. The Bible says that laughter is like medicine. I know there is the science that supports this proverb, but often, when I wasn't even thinking about it, I knew the best thing I could do amid the problems I was facing was laugh. I bet many people share the same kind of moment. Staying optimistic has taught me how to be strong, have a truer heart, and taught me to genuinely laugh.

I think like many children of single parents, the largest hardship my brothers and I have faced is seeing the financial hardship that comes when there are less than two parents in the home, working. Though we have lived a privileged life, in America, living in high-income areas like Berkeley CA, and enjoyed things like birthday parties on our birthdays, presents on Christmas, and special treats, we still had times when we worried about how we could afford certain things. We didn’t travel very much, and we lived frugally, buying what we needed and living within our means. We were taught to savor the good times and to look forward when the bad times came. My family placed significant emphasis on education. The belief is that if I did well in school, I would have more financial support and freedom when I got older. I believed this too even when I didn’t know about a direct connection between the two ideas. Today I believe that doing well in pursuing your education is limitlessly valuable, but another valuable lesson I have learned is just because you work hard in math class in high school, you aren’t guaranteed a well-paying job that will give you more financial abundance than your parents. I worked as a lifeguard my senior year of high school making a little above minimum wage in the city of downtown Berkeley. Previous employment looked like a full-time babysitter in the hills of El Cerrito. I started working as a babysitter when I was 12. Starting easy, I learned to make the most of my opportunities, I learned to make the most sense of my time. I always wanted to be an artist, but then I fell in love with animals. I then wanted to be a veterinarian. I held onto that dream in my heart, I held on to my love for animals too, but art started to tug me again. When times got hard, I turned to painting and drawing. In elementary, I wanted to start several businesses, one of them including a Honey business. I took several art classes in high school but maintained my interest in science. I loved singing and performing, but I knew that I didn’t want to pursue a career in entertainment long term. In my senior year of high school, I decided I would try to pursue a career either in Art, or Science as a Veterinarian. I got into my dream school, for art, Brown in Rhode Island. But I didn’t go. Today I am choosing to be fiscally conservative toward my degree, and I am planning to open an art business in the future. I am pursuing a 4-year degree in business, as well as educating myself on all the things I love, science, art, business, conservation, and the list goes on, including a whole bunch of faith. Growing up in financial hardship instilled values such as, working hard, being smart, and doing the best with what you can within me. I am utilizing my smarts by doing well in my classes and avidly applying for scholarships! I am utilizing my diligence by being persistent in my goals to invest money, save, and create a life where I have the fiscal freedoms beyond what I dreamt of. I am working hard in all areas of my life, to grow and inspire others with this fact; doing what’s best is always a beautiful decision. I am working towards an internship with a large strategy consulting company and studying all the things I need to properly start and sustain my art business.

Commissioner of The Arts. I read the application details last night and I had the next week and a half to get the position of Commissioner of The Arts. I was a senior in high school and applying for a position in executive student government at a large public school; something I didn't think could ever pull off. So, I needed 2 references from teachers that were relevant to my position, and one reference from a teacher or individual of my choice. In freshman year I took a ceramics class and a beginning drawing class as a junior student. I never took another class in either subject. I had a minimal history with both teachers but when I asked for their support over the next couple of days, they not only enthusiastically offered their help, but they helped me get everything in I needed in order to meet my deadline. I could've faced a failure. I could've had a setback getting everything together. But rather, as I was under great pressure, I kept my focus well balanced, supported by adults who believed in me. I kicked into a higher gear because I had such a small window of time to present a reputable, honest, trustworthy representation of my influence in the school. Berkeley Highschool has a little over 3,000 students, I was kidding myself if I could say I made a real difference in the lives of even 200 people. But maybe I did. What I did do was expand upon my dream to help every person, I laid out my goals at the very beginning of my pursuit. In the interview, I said that communicating positivity through art and gathering all different kinds of individuals using artistry, is one of the best things I could offer. Within a couple of months, some teammates and I put on a 'Fight Against Hate' campaign that was endorsed by the city of Berkeley CA. We had a wonderful on-campus event and a city-funded one downtown. And over the year I was in the position, I helped my team with their student events, the school’s events, and community events. After my position with the Berkeley High School Elective branch officially came to an end, I learned about how truly tenacious I had to be in applying to be in this position. I learned how to be more efficient with my time from the time I was rushing around for references to the time I was hurrying around the corner to our city event. I learned to take advice and work under pressure as well as rely on genuine connections to help me in the long run, compared to relying on shallow connections. I am so privileged to have been a part of the great experience of our student government. Thank you.

I am amazed by a human’s ability to keep on pushing forward despite many obstacles that challenge their progress! I value my life and the lives of others, and I am so inspired when people use their hopefulness to help others. I value my ability to conjure up hope in the hardest times. My hope is that I would lead an inspiring, meaningful, successful life full of courage, perseverance, and patience. In middle school, the staff campaigned for the principle of perseverance. Teachers and parents hung posters, said heartening words over the intercom speaker, and made their best efforts to help each of us where we really needed it. That word, distinctly being campaigned by ‘Perseverance’, has brought me over many obstacles I have run up against, in school, life, etc. As a child, I grew up in a middle-class, hard-working family. My mother and father both worked full time at some point in my young life and worked with diligence. I saw them work office jobs, work in our church, and work on a farm that was the manifestation of their dream. I also saw the hard times that came with opposition, in relationships, in dream making, and within finances. But I distinctly remember, even when I went through my little problems, my parents, encouraging adults, my teachers, and my older friends always told me to keep going, to keep on, to be honest about my fear but to always be courageous. I have a dream of owning an art business and providing more financial freedoms than even my family had. I want to see the impact I have as a positive, truly difference-making, stain on the negativity and enemy of joy and contentment of this world. I have been through thick and thin with people, and what always amazes me is someone's tenacity- "the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip" (Oxford Languages). I have been inspired by true leaders and reviled by dark dictators. The differences that set leaders apart from dictators are courage, perseverance, and patience. This is really my hope for every single person. I appreciate all the examples of each of these three within my own family and history (ancient and current). I have so much to learn but I am excited. Living openly and loving consistently we can open others to hope, courage, and inspiring goodness, that encourages them to persevere in the hardest times of their lives!

Against Hate Week 2 years ago, I was elected Commissioner of The Arts in our Highschool's Executive Student government. I knew going in I wanted to use my position and connection in the art community to use our skills and talents to promote a positive message. I had already been involved in student allyship the past three years, and I wanted to do something that would top all of what I did up to this point. So, some friends and I began to brainstorm. A representative from the city of Berkeley visited our school and was wondering if our team would do something that promoted a view of positivity against discrimination. We gladly excepted the project. We got the approval of the president and adults that would be involved, and we set our sights forward. Deciding we needed to get the school in on the action and behind the movement, we started promoting our Action Against Hate Week over the intercom and through posters posted on walls all over the school. It was so awesome seeing multiple people come together to make this thing happen. We continued to put everything together and eventually, Monday of Action Against Hate Week came around. Each day we read about diverse kinds of individuals who were subject to hate or discrimination, but not to scare, to educate, and we made sure that that message came across by ending on an encouraging note, asking people to sometimes just simply be aware of the language used around them and or show more love towards those you know could have it hard. I wrote the scripts for the intercom stories, and while I sat in my room writing and researching, I began to feel how large of an impact not only my actions, but my words could have on other people. I took this sobering lesson throughout the week. Toward the end of the week, my team and I received an email from the Representative of the city of Berkeley, offering to host an event under our campaign. We needed to take this message to the streets. Any kind of movement toward bettering our hearts, minds, and souls through hope, through hopeful action, is a necessity. At the event, someone who had a first-hand experience with hate directed toward her wrote a poem for the event and was planning to present it. I am sorry I don't even remember why she couldn't make it. I read the poem for her that day. Like the moment I had when I was pouring over the scripts, I took it all in. I am so glad I got to share a good message and be a conduit for hope and peace through this whole project. Be a peacemaker!

I want to own my own art business. I am studying to be an ethical leader, in my work, my business activities, and in my personal endeavors. I know that to own a business, I need to know how to sustain a business. I want to dive into strategy consulting after college. In order to learn about the mechanics of running a successful organization, I am hoping to be a great teammate and employee; contributing to all I can and doing the best I can in all I am put over. My smaller long-term goals include owning land, investing in other businesses all over the world, and making positive contributions to the progress of humanity. Owning land lends its hand to establishing a long-lasting impact in America. I also would really love to live on a big stretch of farmland with my (future) family. Investing in other businesses builds connectivity and community on a large scale, allowing me to catalyze positive change in the world, eventually, on a very large scale. Making positive contributions to the progress of humanity means that we can do things like explore space and our oceans, continue to develop good medicine, and explore more ways to conserve and take care of what we are given to steward like the earth, the animals, the different environments we live in, etc. I want to give people hope and help inspire them to make the life they want for everyone. I am currently attending a community college in Arizona. When I graduated high school I applied to all different kinds of colleges. I did get into my prestigious dream school. I went to Berkeley High School for four years, and I learned an immense amount about leadership, relationships, efficacy, and impact. I want to say I graduated with the absolute answer to whatever questions I could encounter. Fortunately, I left with more questions than when I walked through the glass doors of campus in my first year of high school. What I did know was that I was more earnest than ever to forge a meaningful mark on this world's history. This scholarship will go toward paying for my academics at Rio Salado College and in 2023, Liberty University. I will graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Christian Leadership and Business Management (BS). Thank you for providing the opportunity for students to build upon their academic careers, including me.

Statistics is one of my favorite ways to apply the math I learn, so far. I’d love to apply what I know about statistics in the future, the more I learn about math. In high school, I began algebra and geometry, but in senior year I had the choice of which math class I could take. I chose stats (statistics). In college, I learned about some of the origins of math, geography with Ptolemy, and Euclid. It was pleasant to study because, in my freshman year of high school, I fell in love with geometry. I feel very privileged to have been able to not only enjoy my math, I am grateful my enjoyment grew into studying to become a consultant, using math for businesses, and eventually using math to support the growth and vitality of my art business. Many are aware of the stigma against math, but I think that if more people were exposed to how math is truly used, for a preschooler this looks like asking your preschooler how many babies they see in the cashier line, and helping them out with the number; for a middle schooler it’s quoting a statistic about how many kids his or her age exercise or play a sport, and for a college student it may look like studying an ancient mathematician who proposed some of the world’s first theories about space and time. I found a true love for the way that probability can present interesting scenarios that spark encouraging conversations: Conversations about the health of populations, rates of highs and lows in health data, and ethical and non-ethical methods of representing data. I remember wondering as a child, ‘how many people would buy honey if I started a honey business?’ ‘How many people would come to an event I set up based on the amount of participation previous events received?’ Data like this can be represented by statistics, which can then be represented by pie charts, diagrams, etc. The area where art and math mix sparks my joy. I am inspired by scientists like Albert Einstein, Newton, and Edison. All of them used their knowledge to completely change the world. Over time, I’ve grown to appreciate mathematics in all facets of my life from how much a product or food helps people, to how much I can earn through my investments. I am excited to continue to see more of and grow the influence math has on my life.

“The Salvation Army has had no new success; we have only done an old thing in an old way” - Evangeline Cory Booth. Why Evangeline Inspires Me. Evangeline Cory Booth grew up in a large family in London. She was the daughter of missionaries that founded The Salvation Army and was aware of the impact hope could have on the world. She became General of The Salvation Army, despite many challenges and opposition. She took hold of the morale passed on by her parents and chose to fight for the futures of those around her despite the vicious ridicule of people who were also close. Evangeline’s story helps me realize my tenacity in hardship and find hope in impossible situations. Her story connects to me on a more personal note. When my grandmother was young, she lived with several brothers and sisters out in the country, daughters, and sons of a farmworker. Her dad would bring them to a Salvation Army station to pick new pairs of shoes and toys. My grandma recalls, often, a moment when she got the best new pair of shoes ever. She elaborates, each time she retells me, about the moment because of the closeness of it, to her heart. Because of the kindness and work of Ms. Booth, my grandmother was a first-hand recipient of a blessing the Salvation Army made possible. Without the details my grandma gave me about her upbringing and the impact the Salvation Army has had on her life, I do not think that I would hold Evangeline’s story so near to my heart. I plan to become a friend, someone who finds others by asking questions and getting to know the needs of those around me. Evangeline saw the need for education in underserved areas and she stepped up to serve those communities by starting a school. She didn’t have the best experience with people who fought against the purpose in her heart, she had many foes over her lifetime, but she died as a shining example of perseverance and servitude. I want to see and lead people according to how they respond to hope and a true desire to better themselves and others around them. We know that leadership is so layered and developed differently for all different kinds of great leaders. I hope that as I progress through school and my jobs, and career, I would lend my talents and my resources to make a great deal of impact on our world.