I am proud to be an American because I have the possibility. And with possibility comes opportunity. I am fortunate to be able to utilize my voice and to speak and act freely. I am especially grateful because I grew up with past reminders of my heritage. In the early 20th century, my great-great-grandfather was shot outside his home in rural Russia (the Soviet Union at the time) by the Bolsheviks for being a priest, and because he promoted religion. After this devastating moment, my family fled and immigrated to America, so their future family could have a life where they wouldn't be afraid to believe. I am incredibly grateful that they made this decision, so my family today can live freely and openly. I am proud to be able to use my voice for what I feel matters. Yet I am also immensely honored that I live in a country where every single individual will not be targeted for any specific belief by the government. Unlike in so many countries today, the foundations of America have been built upon the structural beliefs of freedom and individual liberties. However, in today's world, discrimination has not fully been eliminated. While our Constitution does provide for the five freedoms-speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition- not all of these rights are accessible to every single person in our country. Our country is currently filled with a great amount of hate and division. Certain individuals are condemned simply for having certain beliefs. As much as this is a governmental problem, it is mainly up to the citizens of the United States to put in the effort to be kinder to one another. This is not to say that we all need to change our beliefs into one large unified idea. This, in fact, seems quite possible. Yet, we must learn to accept others' beliefs, even if we may not agree with them. This will reduce restenment in our society, which is so prevalent today. A main factor that prompts enmity in our society is the internet. It is significantly effortless to express hate and discrimination behind the screen, compared to face-on confrontation. Instead of fostering hate within this modern and technological community, it is imperative to spread love and acceptance. The closer our society gets to promoting the acceptance of other viewpoints and love despite indivuality, the closer we get towards a free and intact nation.

Imagine this moment: you’re standing on a stage, and the eyes of the people that hold your fate are locked on you. You are all alone on the stage for the next five minutes, and your ultimate goal is to display yourself to the best of your ability. You feel shaky and unsure. You introduce yourself, take a deep breath, and sing. During freshman year, I auditioned for my first musical. For the audition, each student had to pick a song for the role for which they wanted to be considered. This would be my first time being evaluated at a high school level. No pressure, right? At that point in my life, I had zero confidence in my abilities. I was hardly known in high school, let alone in the Drama Club. I felt invisible, a symbol of insecurity. So with my lack of confidence, I decided to only sing for the ensemble role, not bothering to take a risk and go for a bigger character. Seconds away from singing, being stared at from top to bottom, I anxiously made my way through the song. I couldn’t wait to get off that stage. Struggling with anxiety for the majority of my life, it always contributed to restricting my performance abilities. Anxiety can be compared to the waves of an ocean. Like high tide, life can get overly stressful and out of control. And like low tide, life feels easier. But the waves never stop crashing, just like the anxiety that I experienced every day. But, surprisingly, theater seems to pull back the tide, easing those extreme waves. I was astonished at how ironic it was that performing in front of hundreds of people could erase my anxiety. By the end of freshman year, I had already found my place. I already felt like I had a family to lean on throughout the often tumultuous days of high school. One of the most heartfelt and favorite traditions I learned about in drama was something called Inspiration. Right before a performance, all the cast and crew gather around in a circle and one by one each of the seniors share their personal story in the center. Sometimes seniors describe their experience in drama, others thank their friends, but the most notable speeches have been vulnerable ones in which they could share their deepest stories. If everyone is so open with themselves and can share their personal stories, maybe I can stop holding myself back and learn to be vulnerable too. By the end of junior year, I truly felt welcome in the Drama Club. The moment I heard my name announced for the title of Drama Club President, I couldn’t believe it. The Drama Club thought of me as the face of the program? “I can't think of anyone else more deserving of the title,” my director enthusiastically said to me. Those words would infuse me with the confidence I needed for senior year. Recently, I completed a show in which I landed my first-ever leading role, and it was finally my turn to be in the center of a circle surrounded by a club that has been so dear to me throughout my four years of high school. My growth in the theatre community has given me the confidence, leadership skills, and strength to strive to be a better person. It has given me the ability to feel comfortable with my image and encourage myself and others to follow their passions - because mine has helped me with the ability to overcome any barriers that come my way.

Imagine this moment: you’re standing on a stage, and the eyes of the people that hold your fate are locked on you. You are all alone on the stage for the next five minutes, and your ultimate goal is to display yourself to the best of your ability. You feel shaky and unsure. You introduce yourself, take a deep breath, and sing. During freshman year, I auditioned for my first musical: The Addams Family. For the audition, each student had to pick a song for the role for which they wanted to be considered. This would be my first time being evaluated at a high school level. No pressure, right? At that point in my life, I had zero confidence in my abilities. I was hardly known in high school, let alone in the Drama Club. I felt invisible, a symbol of insecurity. So with my lack of confidence, I decided to only sing for the ensemble role, not bothering to take a risk and go for a bigger character. Even so, there was a chance I could be cut from the show. Seconds away from singing, being stared at from top to bottom, I anxiously made my way through the song. I couldn’t wait to get off that stage. Struggling with anxiety for the majority of my life, it always contributed to restricting my performance abilities. Anxiety can be compared to the waves of an ocean. Like high tide, life can get overly stressful and out of control. And like low tide, life feels easier. But the waves never stop crashing, just like the anxiety that I experienced every day. But, surprisingly, theater seems to pull back the tide, easing those extreme waves. I was astonished at how ironic it was that performing in front of hundreds of people could erase my anxiety. By the end of freshman year, I had already found my place. I had gained many new friends and already felt like I had a family to lean on throughout the often tumultuous days of high school. One of the most heartfelt and favorite traditions I learned about in drama was something called Inspiration. Right before a performance, all the cast and crew gather around in a circle and one by one each of the seniors share their personal story in the center. Sometimes seniors describe their experience in drama, others thank their friends, but the most notable speeches have been vulnerable ones in which they could share their deepest stories. The first time I heard an Inspiration, I thought to myself, A club that acts more like a family is something I should never let go of. If everyone is so open with themselves and can share their personal stories, maybe I can stop holding myself back and learn to be vulnerable too. By the end of junior year, I truly felt welcome in the Drama Club. Recently, I completed a show in which I landed my first-ever leading role, and it was finally my turn to be in the center of a circle surrounded by a club that has been so dear to me throughout my four years of high school. My growth in the drama club has given me the confidence, leadership skills, and strength to strive to be a better person. It has given me the ability to feel comfortable with my image and encourage myself and others to follow their passions - because mine has helped me with the ability to overcome any barriers that come my way.

While most people own a dog or cat, my family owns a bunny. Oliver, a Netherland Dwarf, is the light of our household. Little did we know that a four-pound bunny would change our lives. Oliver has brought my family together even when making no sound. He would make us laugh and squeal even during any situation. While curious, he would still choose to sleep and eat rather than to run around and play. When we'd take Oliver outside, he would sit and eat the grass for hours instead of frolicking around. Little moments like that light up my childhood.