This may sound weird but I love math because of the role it plays in art. This is something you don't typically hear from mathematicians, but when I joined a math club in elementary school it really started my love of math, based on its hidden art and consistency. It's a concept that always makes sense and has a right, and wrong, answer. In life, math is everywhere, and it unlocks the door to so many projects, constructive, chemical, physical, and so on. Math allows you to create art in ways that many other people can’t comprehend, and yet they are still amazed by architecture and chemistry. Math is such a key part of art, and I think it's important that people understand that math isn't all work or a chore. Understanding that there is so much more to the equations, and algorithms are important. People see things they enjoy on a surface level and forget the role that math plays in all of it. Formulas are hidden behind the magic of chemistry, and the accomplishments in astronomy. Calculations form budgets and create a feeling of financial security. Similarly, calculations allow people to go further than ever before, 1,359 miles, the grand canyon, the sky is endless, and the stars are more condensed than ever before. Math allows people to travel, and it's these experiences that make life worth living, and yet people don't take note of that. I hope that next time you think about math you consider all the things it leads to, and all the magic it allows in our world. Imagine all of the people it inspires without them even realizing it. Next time you consider the value of the effort put into an algorithm, don't doubt its worth in our world.

Throughout life, people go through a lot of loss causing many setbacks. Personally, I have an abundance of people to talk about however, I feel I must be honest about the biggest tragedy for me which was the loss of my dog just a few months ago. Before you question how I loved a dog more than my family members allow me to explain. My family has always been in pieces, and those who didn't pass when I was very young drowned their sorrows with drugs and alcohol. Fortunately, my parents never slipped into our generational habits but that didn't stop the rest of my family. The reason my dog took the place of my loved one in this essay is that he was the only one who took care of me growing up in a house of severe neglect and emotional abuse. “Monster” was born when I was 3 years old. Named for his massive size due to a genetic mutation, Monster was a beautiful purebred Doberman Pinscher. He taught me that large dogs can be just as docile, stoic, and kind as any other dog. When we moved to our current neighborhood a series of unfortunate events occurred that laced my nights with fear at just 7 years old. I started to get really sick and had little understanding of why I felt this way, but it was only getting worse. At this time my family would lash out if they saw me crying, and Monster became the only one I could rely on. Monster had decided he was going to sleep in my room and refused to leave my side which began our beautiful friendship. Some experiences shared with Monster that solidified our friendship include, the time I was standing on a frozen pond and he rescued me when the ice broke dropping me into ice-cold water, and I also had a series of late-night events where people would bang on the doors and windows in the dead of night, and Monster lovingly allowed me to latch onto him and snuggle with him in his little dog bed. From Monster I was able to have the parental figure I couldn't get from my own family. 2 years ago Monster fell ill and when we consulted the vet we learned that he had prostate cancer. Throughout his whole illness, he rarely allowed anyone to see just how much pain he was in. As months turned into years and he began to decay physically and emotionally we knew it was almost his time. My mother confronted me and explained how she was certain he was only holding on because he didn't want to leave me no matter how sick he was. After graduation, I was informed we had scheduled a date to have Monster go through at-home euthanasia. I couldn't process what I was hearing despite being aware of the circumstances and trying to come to terms with losing a dog, a parent, and a best friend all in one. I spent the next 5 days creating a bucket list for Monster and checking off all the boxes. I threw a party and invited everyone I could to give him a proper send-off with his all favorite foods. When the time came the sedation set in and he passed away in my lap. I felt like I couldn't breathe and I didn't want to move, I didn't want to leave him. But I did and through tears I watched them drive away with him. Not knowing if his spirit was conscious if he was alone, or how he was, finally broke me. All I wanted was to stay with him. When I planned my future everything was based on opening an animal shelter in his honor. This has been the plan since I was in 5th grade, and this is what I want now more than ever. However, to get a good enough job to fund it I must attend further education to have a very successful career. As time passed and my heart ached, I realized that many people are grieving in many ways and in the area I live in there is little to no free support for mental health. This inspired me to plan a mental health support group that is free of charge and available every day. I want to help people like me, and animals like Monster. Anytime my confidence wavers I remind myself that I have to live for the both of us, and extend the kindness and support he gave me. Anytime I question my ability to travel or experience joy, I remind myself that I'm living and traveling and experiencing for both of us, and I shouldn't hold back for any reason.

Daughter of the Universe Sister of the solar system, Heliocentric in nature Thrives in the light, and dances in the wind Moving through time with the fluidity of the waves Connection, the need to feel every molecule at once, and the love for the little The hope for Freedom and the knowledge of necessary restraint never the less A resident of shared space craving the freedom of a world outside of the concrete jungle she is confined in Connection to what is truly home. -Lexy Stanley