Without band my life would be dull, or at the very least it would be very different. Band is my favorite activity; I love music, making it and listening to it. Music helps me express myself and de-stress. I play the clarinet and am learning to play the tenor saxophone for my school jazz band. It’s amazing to me that we can use an object made of wood or metal to create such beautiful, complex melodies. Band has taught me so much, but the most valuable lessons I’ve learned are that I belong and that I have the ability to persevere. Band has given me a family full of people who love and support each other. I love my band directors. They have fostered a sense of community in their students. In my band, I know that I am special and important. I love the long bus rides home and feeling that I belong. I know that even when I make a mistake, even when I fall, my friends will always be there to cheer me on. No one member of the band is more important than another. We are a team. We've been through hard times together and I know we will always be there to support each other. Band has given me the ability to persevere. Last year, a friend of mine passed away unexpectedly. I was distraught. I felt so bitter, I didn't think it was fair. I didn't know how to keep going. The next day in the band we played "Nearer, My God, to Thee" and I cried. I felt this sense of peace and suddenly I didn't feel so alone anymore. For the rest of the year, the songs we played seemed peculiarly suited to help us through our time of grief. Band has added something to my life that I did not realize I needed. It has given me a community and shown me that I have the strength to keep going. It has allowed me to share a piece of myself and some of my story with others.

My goals for the future are to go to university and graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. I want to work at a hospital as a float pool nurse. I hope to help make treatment more pleasant for hospital patients and staff. In my future career, I’d like to be a float pool nurse; I do not want to work in only one department. I want to see patients of all ages with various problems and to experience working in every single part of the hospital from the operating room to the neonatal intensive care unit. I hope that I can make medical treatment less frightening for patients. When I become a nurse I intend to treat every patient like a family member. I want to make people smile even though the grass might be greener outside of the hospital. I know many of my friends and family members have bad memories of the hospital. It is important to me that people have a good experience at the hospital and feel safe staying there. I also want to help make the hospital more pleasant for the staff. Medical workers face stress, heavy workloads, long hours, life-or-death decisions, high pressure work environments, and a learned perfectionist attitude. Anxiety and depression are very common among healthcare workers. I can’t cure my coworkers, but I can show them love, understanding, and support. I want to encourage them and be there when they need a helping hand. I am working hard to achieve my goal of becoming a nurse. I am applying for as many scholarships as possible, applying for work study, and looking for a part-time job. I want to dedicate my life to serving others. With hard work and determination, I know I can achieve my goals.

Community service is a vital part of my life. I am involved in multiple service organizations, but I am most active in the National Honor Society, Acteens, and Rotary Interact Club. I was inducted into the National Honor Society in 2019. My chapter of NHS has participated in the local "Share your Christmas" canned food drive for many years. We’ve served at the King Ranch Breakfast. My favorite NHS service project was the "Socks for Seniors" sock drive for the local nursing home. Acteens is a service group for high school girls sponsored by the Woman's Missionary Union. In Acteens, we have packed Thanksgiving Food Boxes, with dry and canned goods for local families. We packed backpacks with school supplies for poor children. In 2020 when it was difficult to meet together, we made masks for hospital workers. My favorite project was the Acteens Day of Kindness. We delivered flowers, water bottles, snacks, and words of encouragement to people around town. Interact is a high school service group sponsored by Rotary International. I have been a member of Interact Club for 2 years and I am serving as the Sergeant at Arms. We have held a food drive for the local food bank, "Socktober" sock drive for the homeless shelters, and an Interact Coat and Blanket Drive for the women’s shelter. Acteens, NHS, and Interact are only a few of the many organizations I've had the opportunity to serve with, but they have some of the most important experiences of my life. I've learned the importance of community, the joy of serving others, and gratitude for all that I have. Most importantly I've learned that I want to dedicate my life to serving others as a nurse

During the outbreak of COVID-19, many of the events I was looking forward to were canceled including prom, UIL Contest, parades, field trips, and often school itself. I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I became very lonely and I lacked motivation. I lost several close friends and also had to put my dog down. As I struggled with my grief, I felt very alone. These past few years were extremely challenging for me but during this time, I grew into a better, healthier, and happier version of myself. I explored my passions, prioritized caring for myself, and learned how to let things go. I discovered many things about myself. I love 1940s fashion! My grandmother was a child during World War II and historical clothing makes me feel closer to her, even though I couldn't see her in the midst of the pandemic. I also explored different genres of music from Korean Pop to Italian Opera. I learned that I enjoy many types of music; analyzing different translations of songs is now a special hobby of mine. Another interest I discovered was a love of home decor and interior design. With warm light, flowers, and handmade blankets, my room became a haven. I learned to prioritize selfcare, working out and finding routines that work for me. High Intensity workouts, cardio, and yoga are some of my favorite ways to exercise. I also learned what products to use on my dry, sensitive skin. I started drinking hot tea and the brewing acted as aromatherapy. I learned to soothe and quiet my mind. I made ‘To Do’ lists to empty my brain and implemented morning and evening routines to help me de-stress. I have learned how to let things go. The past few years truly made me realize how much I was holding. During the pandemic, I was diagnosed with social anxiety. I realized I was holding on so tightly to people because I was afraid of being abandoned. It’s ironic that during the most isolated part of my life, I finally discovered that I wasn’t alone. I found that I was loved and I had a great support system of friends and family. I started trying to forgive myself for the past and let go of so many past mistakes and problems. The pandemic forced me to stop clinging to the past and focus on the present. COVID-19 canceled many of the events I was looking forward to. It claimed the lives of people I loved. Although the pandemic seemed to have stolen so much from me, I learned so much through it. I found new hobbies, prioritized self care, and learned how to live in the present.

I love people and I love to help people. In the future I hope to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. I plan to work at a hospital in Oklahoma City after graduation. I want to become a float pool nurse, work as a family caregiver, and help make treatment more pleasant for patients and staff. In the future I want to be a nurse at either Mercy Hospital or INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. I want to be a float pool nurse. I do not want to work in only one department. I want to see patients of all ages, with various problems. I want to experience working in every single part of the hospital, from the operating room to the neonatal intensive care unit. I also want to become my grandparents' caregiver. I will be available to assist with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, dressing, and keeping track of medication. I will pick up any objects my grandparents can't reach and and help keep my grandparents' house accessible for them. It is important to me that I help them feel as independent as possible. I hope that I can make medical treatment less frightening for patients. When I become a nurse I intend to treat every patient like a family member. I want to make people smile even though the grass might be greener outside of the hospital. I know many of my friends and family members have bad memories of the hospital. It is important to me that people have a good experience at the hospital and feel safe staying at the hospital. I also want to help make the hospital more pleasant for the staff. Medical workers face stress, heavy workloads, long hours, life-or-death decisions, high pressure work environments, an unbearable sense of responsibility, and a learned perfectionist attitude. Anxiety and depression are very common among healthcare workers. I can’t cure my coworkers, but I can show them love, understanding, and support. I want to encourage them and be there when they need a helping hand. I am working hard to achieve my goals of becoming a nurse and a caregiver. I am applying for as many scholarships as possible, applying for work study, and looking for a part-time job. I want to dedicate my life to serving others. With hard work and determination, I know I can achieve my goals.

My personal goals are my source of motivation. In the future I hope to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. I want to work at a hospital in Oklahoma City after graduation. My goals for the future are to become a nurse and a family caregiver. It is my goal to work at either Mercy Hospital or INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. I want to be a float pool nurse. I do not want to choose a single department. I want to see all kinds of patients and experience working in every part of the hospital. I also want to become my grandparents' caregiver. I will assist with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, dressing, and taking medication. Most importantly, I will keep my grandparents' house accessible for them. It is important to me that I help them feel as independent as possible. I want to dedicate my life to serving others. I am working hard to achieve my goals of becoming a nurse and a caregiver. With hard work and determination, I know I can achieve my goals.

No successful student neglects studying. It is crucial, not only to earn good grades, but also to learn and retain information. I study using quizzes, flashcards, study groups, and extra practice. Quizzes are great study tools. They are one of the best means for preparing for tests. I find quizzes online using Kahoot and Quizlet. With these, I can simulate the actual test experience while practicing problem solving. For learning vocabulary and terminology, I find flashcards to be the most helpful. I make my own flashcards by hand or digitally on Quizlet. I can even find already made flashcards. Study groups can also be very helpful but are only effective if the people in it are dedicated and serious about their education. I have to choose members for a study group wisely. Study partners help keep me accountable. For subjects that are difficult to study, such as math or science, extra practice is important. Worksheets and practice tests are most helpful. I can find them online, print them, and complete them to ensure I've fully learned the material. Quizzes, flashcards, study groups, and extra practice are a few of my favorite ways to study. They have helped me maintain a 4.0 GPA and, more importantly, acquire knowledge I can use even after I graduate.

Empathy is the uniquely human skill for sharing someone else's feelings. It is crucial for forming and maintaining personal relationships. I practice empathy by getting to know people, listening to them, and offering words of encouragement. I get to know people personally. I try to recognize their unique situation and feelings. Many people are struggling with tough problems. It is hard and often uncomfortable to understand everything they are going through. After listening to them and identifying with their difficulties, I do what I can to help them. Sometimes the best thing I can do is to listen. I try to listen objectively and attentively, without passing judgment or letting my mind wander. Many people wish they had someone to listen to them, so I listen to people when they want to talk. I advise people when they aren't sure what they ought to do. I put myself in their shoes and tell them what I would do in their place. However, I do not force my opinion on them and I encourage my friends to make their own choices. Most importantly, I offer words of encouragement. Empathy is the foundation of human connection. People need kindness and understanding to survive. I prioritize showing empathy by understanding people, listening to them, and putting myself in their shoes.

In five years I hope to have graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. My future career goals include becoming a nurse and a family caregiver. In the future I want to be a nurse at either Mercy Hospital or INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. I will be a float pool nurse. I do not want to work in only one department. I want to see patients of all ages, with various problems. I want to experience working in every single part of the hospital, from the operating room to the neonatal intensive care unit. I also want to be my grandparents' caregiver. I will live with them and be available to help them. I will keep track of medications and administer insulin. The most important thing I can do is assist with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and dressing. I will pick up any objects my grandparents can't reach and and help keep the house accessible for them. It is important to me that I help them without making them feel dependent or troublesome. I want to dedicate my life to serving others as a nurse and a caregiver. With hard work and determination, I know I can achieve my career goals.

Creativity is very important to me. It brings joy to my life and to the lives of others also. I harness creativity to make art, music, and food. I create art to display what I feel. I love sculpting with clay. It's as though I can capture something I love and hold it in my hands forever. Painting is similar but less tangible. It must be felt with the heart instead of the hands. I take photographs to make time stand still. I can create wonderful places and people with just a pencil and paper. I love music, it helps me express myself. I discovered my passion for singing at a young age. I also love the clarinet and the tenor saxophone. It’s amazing to me that we can use our voices or an object made of wood and metal to create such beautiful melodies. I make music for other people and for my own amusement. I choose to play music that creates deep emotions like peace, joy or passion. Baking and cooking provide me another creative outlet that brings me joy. I love to change recipes and make them my own. When I’m missing ingredients I make do without them. Often, I think these foods taste better than the original recipe. I make food not only to feed people but also to delight and comfort them. Being creative makes life more interesting. I try to be creative daily, whether drawing, painting, sculpting, singing, playing music, cooking or baking. Creativity allows me to share a piece of myself and some of my story with others.

I know many people who feel alone or forgotten. They're very important to me because I know how they feel. I try to encourage people by complimenting them, checking on them, and simply being there for them. I try to compliment everyone I meet. They aren't always deep compliments but they're always genuine. I want people to know that they're smart, brave, talented, funny, sweet, or easy to talk to. I tell people when I admire their outfit, smile, skills, or goals. I want people to know that they matter and to make them feel important and special. I try to be supportive and check on people when they're struggling. I text my friends when they're sick to make sure that they have everything that they need and are on the mend. I call my grandparents at least once a week to make sure that they take their medicine, eat regularly, and most importantly feel loved. I text my cousin funny messages and videos to cheer him up while he is in the hospital. I make sure to check on people when they've been through something difficult such as a breakup or the death of a loved one. I don't want anyone to cry alone. I try to be there when people need me. I make meals for people, help with everyday tasks, but the most important thing I can do is listen. I try to listen attentively, without passing judgment or telling people what to do. Oftentimes people don't want advice, they just need someone to listen. I try to understand what people need. I encourage them with kind words, expressions of concern, and a shoulder to cry on. If I can make just one person feel less alone in this world, I will have my reward.

My goal for the future is to go to university and study nursing. I will maintain a 4.0 GPA and graduate with honors so I can be eligible for the best scholarships possible. At university, I intend to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. I want to work at a hospital in Oklahoma City after graduation. In order to accomplish my goals, I am applying for scholarships, applying for work study, and looking for a part-time job. I am applying for as many scholarships as possible. I subscribe to multiple scholarship search applications and am applying to scholarships for both college and for the local hospitals. I'm working hard and I will continue to do so in university. I plan to apply for work study on my university campus. If eligible, I will work on campus to help pay for my schooling. Work study is very convenient, as the university will be considerate of my college schedule and course load. Work study students are only allowed to work on campus for a limited amount of hours, allowing plenty of time for study. Currently, I am studying for my Phlebotomy certification; with it, I want to work over the summer, after school, and on school breaks at a lab, clinic, or blood bank. I enjoy my Phlebotomy class, especially, because I feel that it brings me one step closer to my dream job. I am working hard to achieve my dream job of becoming a nurse. Applying to many scholarships and working on and off campus are all means to my goal. Success, to me, is graduating with honors, obtaining my dream job as a nurse, and living debt-free. With hard work and determination, I know I can achieve my goals.

I love people and I love to help people. Community service is very important to me. I am involved in multiple service organizations, but I have learned the most from the WMU Acteens, National Honor Society, and Rotary Interact Club. Acteens is a service-based church group for high school girls sponsored by the Woman's Missionary Union. I have participated in Acteens for 3 years. In that time I have packed Thanksgiving Food Boxes, with dry and canned goods for local families. We packed backpacks with school supplies for poor children. In 2020 when it was difficult to meet and volunteer together, we made masks for hospital workers. My favorite project was the Acteens Day of Kindness. We delivered flowers, water bottles, snacks, and words of encouragement to people around town. Volunteering with Acteens has taught me how little it takes to make someone happy. The people we helped were always so grateful; it didn’t matter if we gave them a whole family meal or just a water bottle. I’ve learned how simple and gratifying it is to serve the community. The National Honor Society is an organization for high-achieving students who want to become leaders and forces of good in their communities. I was inducted into NHS in 2019. In my chapter of the NHS we have participated in the local "Share your Christmas" canned food drive for many years. We’ve served coffee at the King Ranch Breakfast. My favorite NHS service project was the "Socks for Seniors" sock drive for the local nursing home. The National Honor Society has taught me that the small projects are just as important as the large ones. In the NHS, we have set high goals, we promote large fundraisers, and we work on international projects. However, we don’t forget to serve the local community first. Interact is a high school service group sponsored by Rotary International. I have been a member of Interact Club for 2 years and I am now serving as the Sergeant at Arms. Our club is fairly new, but already we have held an Interact Canned Food Drive for the local food bank, "Socktober" sock drive for the nursing homes and homeless shelters, and an Interact Coat and Blanket Drive for the homeless shelters and women’s shelter. Interact club has taught me how much I have and take for granted. I have learned about the living conditions of the poor and homeless. Interact has taught me that there are so many things we can do to help the needy. Acteens, NHS, and Interact are only a few of the many organizations I've had the opportunity to serve with, but they have some of the most important experiences of my life. I've learned the joy of serving others, the importance of small projects, and gratitude for all that I have. Most importantly I've learned that I want to dedicate my life to serving others as a nurse.

Life would be dull without hobbies. They are meaningful to me because they add something to my life and to my character. My favorite hobbies are singing, drawing, painting, and reading. They help me to relax, to learn, and to cultivate skills. One of my favorite hobbies is music; I love making and listening to music. Singing helps me express myself and de-stress. I love musicals, particularly Les Miserables, the Phantom of the Opera and the Sound of Music. I also play clarinet and am learning saxophone. Art is another creative outlet for me; through art, I can display what I feel. Sometimes my art is very sad and I don't color it but just use black and white. Other times I don't bother with pencil or any kind of reference and dive straight in with watercolors or oil pastels. Along with art and music, reading is one of my favorite pastimes. A book is a great comfort when I feel stressed. Reading is a wonderful escape from reality. However, it can also teach lessons about life. I feel that I've learned a lot from books, not only about life, but also about myself and the person I want to become. Music, art, and books are very important to me. They fill the empty places in my life. I can never be bored because there is always something interesting to do. My hobbies keep my mind employed as well as my hands.

School can be exhausting; some days feel like weeks and some weeks feel like years. After a difficult week of school, it's crucial to relax. I implement relaxation techniques both mentally and physically. Relaxing my body is necessary for calming my mind. I drink hot tea because the brewing acts like aromatherapy. I take hot baths; the warmth soothes sore muscles. I spend extra time on my skincare and make sure to moisturize thoroughly. My favorite way to relax is with a weighted blanket. It is soft, comforting, and feels like a warm hug. I have also found a few ways to soothe and quiet my mind. I make ‘To Do’ lists to empty my brain so I don’t have to remember all of my responsibilities 24/7. I pray about my worries. Praying about my burdens is a way of putting them down. I have created morning and evening routines that help de-stress and feel prepared for the next school day. Guided imagery is one of the most important parts of my routine and the last thing I do at night. I imagine a safe, peaceful place, I go there in my mind, and I rest. Rest and relaxation are necessary for me to stay healthy. My life is often stressful; the homework, the projects, the tests, and all the social interaction at school are physically and mentally draining. I prioritize relaxing my body as well as my mind to stay at my best and ensure top academic performance.