Everett Frank lived his sixteen years with exceptional kindness, resilience, and wholeheartedness, enjoying every second of life. I saw those same qualities in my friend Cole, especially during his battle with bone cancer, and after he passed away. It was actually Osteosarcoma as well, if I remember correctly. After his death, I was forced to decide how I would respond to loss. Cole was in our theatre program, and although I wasn’t in theatre myself, many of my closest friends were. I watched their performances often, and I had a few classes with Cole. He had a quiet confidence about him. The kind that didn’t demand attention but earned it naturally. One moment that stays with me happened in geometry class. Cole walked up to our teacher and asked how he could keep his grades strong while he would be in the hospital for an extended time. He wasn’t asking for sympathy. He just wanted to stay accountable. Our teacher told him that he would freeze his grades so he wouldn’t fall behind. Even while fighting cancer, Cole was thinking about responsibility and showing up. When he passed away, it felt like the entire school paused. But for my friends in theatre, the ones who rehearsed with him daily, who shared inside jokes and stage memories, the loss was deeper and more immediate. I watched them struggle to perform in shows without him. I saw how grief showed up in quiet ways such as missed lines, low energy, and tears backstage. The obstacle for me wasn’t just processing my own sadness. It was learning how to support others when I didn’t have the right words. I chose to show up consistently. I checked in with my friends, even when conversations felt uncomfortable. I went to performances not just as a spectator, but as support. I listened more than I spoke. I tried to be steady when emotions ran high. Instead of avoiding the subject because it was painful, I let people talk about him. I let them remember him. In doing that, I learned that kindness often looks like presence. Resilience looks like continuing to show up in spaces that feel different without someone there. Wholeheartedness means allowing yourself to feel loss while still choosing connection. Cole’s life reminded me that we don’t control how long we’re given, but we do control how we impact people. Supporting my friends through those tragic few years changed me. It made me more aware, more intentional, and more compassionate. His resilience in dealing with his illness showed me what strength looks like. My response to his loss showed me who I want to be and who I can be with a little bit of kindness.

I first experienced Wicked during a time in my life when I was trying to figure out who I was and who I wanted to become. What struck me most was not just the spectacle or the soaring music, but the deeply human story at its core. Wicked dares to ask the powerful question of what if the villain of the story was never truly wicked at all? I first found Wicked through my musical obsession phase. I fell in love with Defying Gravity through the soundtrack on youtube. I had not seen the musical when I first found myself infatuated with it. I got to see the musical on broadway with my mom last year and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The movie is just as good and I believe it really resonated with me. It brought aspects of the musical that seemed fictional into reality, further creating a connection with me. Elphaba’s journey resonates with me on a personal level. She begins as someone judged instantly for how she looks and misunderstood before she even speaks. Yet, she refuses to shrink herself to make others comfortable. Her decision to stand up for what she believes in, even when it costs her friendships, reputation, and safety, is incredibly courageous. When she sings Defying Gravity, it feels like more than just a song. It feels like a declaration. It reminds me that growth often requires stepping into uncertainty and trusting yourself enough to rise against the hatred anyway. Glinda’s character also speaks to me in a different, but equally meaningful way. Her evolution from a popularity driven to purpose driven character reflects a truth I’ve learned in my own life that external validation fades, but integrity always lasts. Her friendship with Elphaba shows that connection can transform us, even when our paths diverge. The song For Good beautifully captures how people leave permanent marks on our lives. It reminds me to value the relationships that shape me and to strive to have a positive impact on others. What makes Wicked truly special is how it challenges the idea of simple labels. Good and evil are not always clear cut. People are complex and their motives are not always clear cut. The musical encourages empathy by urging us to look beyond surface narratives and question the stories we’ve been told. That message has influenced how I approach conflict, leadership, and situations in my community. I try to listen more carefully, judge less quickly, and stand firm in my values even when doing so is uncomfortable. Beyond its themes, the music itself carries an emotional power that is unforgettable. Songs like Popular balance humor with heart, while Defying Gravity feels like an anthem of independence. Each time I hear them, I am reminded that embracing individuality is not something to fear but something to celebrate. Wicked is more than a musical to me. It is a reminder that courage is often quiet, that friendship can change us, and that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is defy gravity in our own lives.

A Three Year Document "It's about time for the results to come out" "I know! I really hope I make it!" It's my sophomore year. For my entire high school career, I've dreaded this list. The list of names of favorite presentations that get to go onto the next round of the competition. I've been in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) for quite some time. Today is the day I make it past my state competition prelims. I can feel it. It's part of my routine to sit in the bathroom with my friend awkwardly waiting for the dreaded list. It's quite a sight to see. "Wait - I think it's out," I say with a terrible ache in my stomach" "Holy crap! What's it say?” I can feel my heart jumping out of my ribcage. My eyes start getting heavy, it's time. I open the document. I don't see my name. “It's not there,” I can feel some stray tears dripping down my face. My friend sits there with a frown. It's all over. This was my life. I'm never going to get there. I'm done. I get up from my seat and walk out to go back to bed. Even while trying to go asleep, that failure was always on my mind. *** It's my Junior year in FBLA state competitions. This year, I tried the Visual Design event, something I was scared to try out, but something I'm passionate about. Surprise! Here I am again on the bathroom counter. With a friend by my side. “It's out! Look at it!” My friend shouts out. Ok. It's game time. I open up the list for the third year in a row, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I can't fail again. I just can't. After scrolling through the events for a while, I finally get to my event. It's one of the final letters in the alphabet, so it's one of the last ones. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to calm myself down. It's time. Let's do this. I open them. Visual Design Prelim Winner #6 - Kyrie Rogers I sit there for a second, processing. “I did it,” I whisper with a voice crack. “Wait, you got through?!” my friend gets up off of the floor. She shakes my shoulders in excitement. “Yay! You deserve it Kyrie! You tried so hard!” Eventually, we get up and try to go back to sleep. For the third year in a row, I couldn't sleep, not because I failed, but because my work had been rewarded. I made it to state my freshman, sophomore, and junior years, which is a reward in itself. However, I felt like I was better than that, I needed to grow and achieve more. I engaged with the people around me, interacted more with the judges, and my passion exuded during my presentation therefore pulling in the audience. Finally, with my newfound understanding of the people around me and my passion on display, I broke the state competition prelim barrier and eventually placed 11th out of hundreds. With that successful step achieved, I am ready to push past my next barrier and get to nationals this year. I have now proven that I can reach new heights with the combination of my experiences in these competitions, gaining confidence and showcasing my passions. Nobody can stop what I can achieve. Not even something as small as a preliminary document being read for the third year in a row.

Ever since I was younger, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian and possibly major in zoology. My dad would take me to zoos almost every week, and those visits became a favorite part of my life. I loved to watch how the animals interacted and found myself staring at their beauty. When my parents started to notice my passion, they frequently watched veterinary documentaries about medicine and the medical treatment of animals. With my parents encouraging me towards veterinary care, I couldn't stop researching and reading. Because of these experiences in my younger years, I have developed a passion for animal biology and sciences. That small push towards this field set me up for what would be a journey of animal obsession and a pursuit of my goals. In my later years, I believe this started in my freshman year, when I started really building my veterinary portfolio. One of the many events that set me up for a veterinary field was when I shadowed a local veterinary clinic. It was spectacular to say the least, and I think those were the best couple of months I've experienced. As the head veterinarians did their exams and talked to customers, I watched silently while taking in every piece of education I could. I talked with veterinary technicians about their jobs and even shadowed them occasionally. I learned how to draw vaccines, do exams efficiently, run blood, clip nails, do dentistry, and more. I had watched many surgeries, such as foreign body surgeries, neutering, spaying, and even an ACL tear surgery. Throughout this entire time, I watched with my jaw completely open. Like in the cartoons I used to watch as a kid. During this experience, I believe that I solidified my passion and found myself thinking, "This is the coolest thing in the world." I feel as though it's appropriate to bring up my current job at the same veterinary clinic where I shadowed. My job is called a Kennel Technician. I clean the clinic and take care of the animals recovering from surgeries. I am finally getting a glimpse of what it's like to work in the veterinary field. I experienced things that I hadn't before, such as machinery and how the background of a veterinary clinic functions. I've learned it truly takes a team, and that fact has made me even more excited to study veterinary medicine. I have realized that veterinarians have to rely on their team, and that creates a community. Seeing this community has pushed me towards seeing the positivity in this field of study. It really is a community of friendly people who rely on each other. That has really pushed me towards studying in this field. Throughout my veterinary experiences, I think I have solidified my goals quite well. To me, it is as simple as saving animals' lives and connecting to the community. We should foster the beautiful curiosity of animals and ensure that they prosper. Animals should be able to live happy, long lives with their humans. I also have a goal towards connecting with the community. When I was growing up, I always tried to connect with everyone around me. I truly believe that connecting with the community creates new views and opinions that can be accounted for in any decision-making process. Animals and communities are intertwined, and they impact each other in every way. I want to help make sure that the bond stays connected forever.

Ever since I was younger, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. My dad would take me to zoos almost every week, and those visits became a favorite part of my life. I loved to watch how the animals interacted and found myself staring at their beauty. When my parents started to notice my passion, they frequently watched veterinary documentaries about medicine and the medical treatment of animals. With my parents encouraging me towards veterinary care, I couldn't stop researching and reading. Because of these experiences in my younger years, I have developed a passion for animal biology and sciences. That small push towards this field set me up for what would be a journey of animal obsession and a pursuit of my goals. In my later years, I believe this started in my freshman year, when I started really building my veterinary portfolio. One of the many events that set me up for a veterinary field was when I shadowed a local veterinary clinic. It was spectacular to say the least, and I think those were the best couple of months I've experienced. As the head veterinarians did their exams and talked to customers, I watched silently while taking in every piece of education I could. I talked with veterinary technicians about their jobs and even shadowed them occasionally. I learned how to draw vaccines, do exams efficiently, run blood, clip nails, do dentistry, and more. I had watched many surgeries, such as foreign body surgeries, neutering, spaying, and even an ACL tear surgery. Throughout this entire time, I watched with my jaw completely open. Like in the cartoons I used to watch as a kid. During this experience, I believe that I solidified my passion and found myself thinking, "This is the coolest thing in the world." I feel as though it's appropriate to bring up my current job at the same veterinary clinic where I shadowed. My job is called a Kennel Technician. I clean the clinic and take care of the animals recovering from surgeries. I am finally getting a glimpse of what it's like to work in the veterinary field. I experienced things that I hadn't before, such as machinery and how the background of a veterinary clinic functions. I've learned it truly takes a team, and that fact has made me even more excited to study veterinary medicine. I have realized that veterinarians have to rely on their team, and that creates a community. Seeing this community has pushed me towards seeing the positivity in this field of study. It really is a community of friendly people who rely on each other. That has really pushed me towards studying in this field. Throughout my veterinary experiences, I think I have solidified my goals quite well. To me, it is as simple as saving animals' lives and connecting to the community. We should foster the beautiful curiosity of animals and ensure that they prosper. Animals should be able to live happy, long lives with their humans. I also have a goal towards connecting with the community. When I was growing up, I always tried to connect with everyone around me. I truly believe that connecting with the community creates new views and opinions that can be accounted for in any decision-making process. Animals and communities are intertwined, and they impact each other in every way. I want to help make sure that the bond stays connected forever.