What better way to live if not in kindness? People say that when you help someone else, you are not doing it for them; you are doing it for yourself. I have to say I agree with this statement. I get a sense of accomplishment every time I help someone in need. I don't have a favorite way to help someone else; if they need help, I will do whatever they need if it is inside my abilities to do so. A friend asked me how she could improve her eating habits because she was feeling lethargic; I gave her a list of things to incorporate into her diet and things to remove. She told me later that it helped her just by eliminating sugar. I like to help when I see someone in need; my family drives around the neighborhood looking for homeless people, so we can feed them. One of the greatest things is to see a community come together for the benefit of others. When my town was flooded due to Hurricane Florence, a local businessman donated yards of sand so we could fill sandbags for those still in the possible flood zones. My JROTC class volunteered to help with the physical labor, and together we provided hundreds of sandbags to the community. Helping people is not about how I like doing it; it is about how they need to be helped.

Some people go through life searching for the perfect moment, the perfect object, the perfect person to make them happy. I have learned that I am responsible for my happiness. I can't depend on other people or things to be happy. Happiness is a state I chose to live in. The problem is that we are not taught to appreciate the small things. I am happy every day because I am alive and in the company of my family. With all the craziness of this pandemic; seeing the fear of people close to me, experiencing the loss of my grandfather to the virus, I realize how every moment we get to be here is to be appreciated no matter how hard it seems. I am happy when I play video games with my friends. I am lucky to be able to do that every day. I am happy when I watch a movie with my family. I get to spend time with my parents together. I appreciate that because, unfortunately, many of my friends have a broken family. I am happy I have access to the beach and the pool during summer, so I can swim and spend time with friends. Appreciating the small things I am given every day is what makes me happy. Being in a constant state of gratitude changes one's perspective. I find happiness in my daily life, even when things aren't going my way.

A creative person is never in between a rock and a hard place! Creativity keeps the world turning; innovative technology allows us to control instruments from a different corner of the world. I have never created something, but one day my father needed a ramp to lift the front of the car to fix something underneath it. I looked around and found some scrap wood, we grabbed a hammer and some nails, and in no time, he had a pair of ramps to fix the car. If I had the money and resources I would fix Myrtle Beach's homeless citizens problem! Unfortunately, we have a large population of veterans living on the streets, people that faithfully served our country and now are left to find their fate by themselves. It is sad to see that some of them ended up on the streets with their families. My plan and that is something my family has talked about, is to build a complex where these citizens would find shelter, food, and opportunity. To live there, they would have to find a place to work. We know that not every company is willing to give these people an opportunity, so we would associate with local companies and redirect our residents based on their qualifications. We know they are capable because they didn't start their lives on the street. To be a resident of our complex, they would have to be clean. We believe that personal hygiene is one of the most important things that help a person feel encouraged and lifted. We would provide clean clothes, haircuts, and basic medical and dental care. Our mission would not only be to take them off the streets but to help them get back on their feet with dignity. Cleaning the building would also be a priority; the residents would be responsible for it. Supplies would be provided, and the rooms would be inspected. Being in a clean environment is encouraging and helps create a new perspective. That would encourage residents to create a habit and to be responsible for something that will be helping the other residents as well. I know that this isn't me creating something, a useful object let's say, but I would be creating so much more for these people that have been forgotten by most of society and their governing authorities. I hope that one day I will be able to fund this venture and make a difference in so many people's lives.

Books are an open window to the soul. I have to agree with that statement. When I read, I travel to places only my imagination can take me. I do not have a favorite book, but I do have a favorite book series. I have read eleven books from the "Wings of Fire" series by Tui T. Sutherland. It is a fascinating story about different species of dragons and each with their own tribes. The clans have diverse powers, like ice, fire, rain, sand, and the sea. Some tribes are trying to avoid an imminent war, and how the story unfolds is fantastic. The details are richly expressed, and the reader can almost see it. That is my favorite series because even though the characters are dragons, they have human emotions; how the author develops the conflicts and relationships between the dragons has helped me in my own life. The series deal with some unsettling subjects, like murder, violence, and bad parenting. It might be troublesome for a more sensitive reader, but I was able to relate to some of the friendship issues that arose in the story. I believe in loyalty between friends, and I saw that I have made strong, loyal friends throughout my life. I also enjoyed the series for its entertainment factor. Sutherland writes with so much passion you can feel it in her words. The story flows flawlessly, and it grabs the attention of young readers and adults alike. it is the type of book you can just binge read. In a word, the "Wings of Fire" book series is my favorite collection. The incredible writing and story development give you insight into feelings that some people rather leave out of conversations. I can see my kids reading this series in the future.

Self-care is a critical part of a person's life. Unfortunately, it is overlooked by so many people. Blame it on a busy workday, imbalanced schedule, kids, etc. I am fortunate to have parents that recognize the importance of self-care and encourage me to practice good habits that help me maintain a healthy mind and body. I start my day journaling a prayer; I thank God for all I have and all that is yet to come. I believe the sense of gratitude is the key to keeping me focused on the good things that happen to me and for me throughout my day. I have a binder with pictures of places I want to visit and things that I want to have or accomplish, and I look at it every day, so I don't lose sight of my goal. I meditate with audio guidance to become a better person and keep my mind growing and open to new ideas. I like to play video games after school. It helps me relax and gives me time to unwind and talk to friends. Having healthy relationships is also self-care; During summer, I like to swim, play pickleball and go to the beach with my family. We enjoy meals outside on the patio and talk about things we did together. Self-care keeps my mind and body healthy, it gives me the recharge I need to keep going every day. If we don't have a balance in our lives between the things we have an obligation to and the things we take pleasure in, we may end up depressed and with health issues. Spending some time during the day doing something pleasurable is a great way to take care of yourself. We are better when we are well cared for.

We find adversity in all areas of a person's life. For a child diagnosed in the autism spectrum, navigating school is challenging. When I was in elementary school, I needed a teacher's aid in the classroom just for me. I couldn't stay on task and complete assignments on my own. As a developmental disorder, autism impaired my social interactions and communication skills, I couldn't control my emotions, causing an abundance of behavioral problems in school. My dream is to be a Paleoscientist; how was I supposed to achieve my goal if I didn't do well in school? Well, I never gave up, neither did my family. Every struggle with assignments, every school meeting to discuss my Individualized Education Plan, known as IEP, was a lesson well learned. We stayed strong, and I kept improving. The start of high school was also a start at a new state. I was very nervous about starting high school where I wasn't familiar with anyone, and no one knew me. I was allowed to visit the school to situate myself before the school year started, and the people I met were friendly and courteous. It was hard in the beginning. I had trouble once controlling my emotions, a person recorded it and posted it on TikTok. I am happy for my old friends from elementary school that saw it and reported the incident to protect me. I felt destroyed, ashamed, and humiliated. I joined JROTC, and the structured program helped me develop leadership and team-working skills. By my Junior year, I had improved in all aspects and was awarded The Most Improved Cadet by my JROTC teachers. Being the firstborn son to immigrant parents, and a first-generation student to go to a college, navigating the college application and scholarship application has been a challenge in itself. The amount of information that is required is extremely overwhelming to me. I am grateful for my mom being resilient and staying with me while we get through this process together. I pushed through and worked hard; I explored different areas, and I found I have an artistic side. I discovered piano and art. I broke through my walls, and I am climbing high mountains. I am semi-independent, and yes, I am apprehensive about the college journey; coming out of my comfort zone isn't something I can do easily. Sometimes I need a quiet moment during the day, my counselor gave me a breathing strategy to keep myself under control and she allows me to go into her office for a few minutes in order to slow down. I am a good candidate for this scholarship because like Dylan, I did not let my disability stop me from dreaming, improving, and moving forwards. I have a plan for my professional career, I will get my Bachelor's Degree in Biology and get my Master's degree in Paleosciences from Virginia Tech. I want to be a Paleontologist for the Smithsonian Museum and lead new generations to explore this great field of paleontology. As I approach the end of this stage in my life I am happy with what I accomplished. This scholarship will give me the freedom and opportunity to go where no one in my family was able to go before. I learned that my "disability" is my ability and no one will tell me I can't go where my dreams are taking me.

When I see the phrase "growth mindset," I always think of Jim Kwik. He is a mind and memorization coach, and one of my favorite quotes from him is this: "we all have vast potential inside of us, levels of strength, intelligence, focus, and the key to activating these superpowers is unlimiting yourself." How much growth can we get when we take the limits off of ourselves? When we have a growth mindset, we open our eyes to what everyday moments teach us. I don't want to be stuck with old-fashion knowledge. I want to learn how to become a better person, a better student, and a better leader. My parents are always encouraging me to learn new things, to open my mind to new perspectives. For me, that's growth. They supply me with books on self-development for my mental strength and faith. We like to meditate on the words of successful people like John Assaraf. He teaches us to continue growing, either in business or in our personal lives by being open to new information. Developing the ability to listen is a great way to keep a growth mindset. I am a teenager, and we learn that the hard way. We have a lot more to gain when we become listeners and not talkers. I keep my growth mindset by being an observer of all that surrounds me; there is a lesson to be learned every minute. Being a good listener is one of my strengths. That helps me keep my mind open and ready to grow to become a better human being.

Adversity is found in all areas of a person's life. For a child diagnosed in the autism spectrum, navigating school is challenging. When I was in elementary school, I needed a teacher's aid in the classroom just for me. I couldn't stay on task and complete assignments on my own. As a developmental disorder, autism impaired my social interactions, communication skills and I couldn't control my emotions, causing an abundance of behavioral problems in school. From a very young age, I dream of becoming a paleontologist. My family encourages me to go after my dreams. I always tell everyone that a person without a dream is like a ship without a captain. Paleontology is not a profession with a variety of job offers, but it is my passion, I will follow it because I know, in my heart that Paleontology is my calling. I admire nature and all that it encompasses, how perfect and in harmony the past and the future are in terms of biology. I have a conviction that by studying what we inherited from nature, we can understand the present and improve the future. I will study hard, and it will take a long time to get my Paleontology degree. This scholarship will help me get my Bachelor's Degree in Biology and in pursuing my Master's Degree in Paleontology from Virginia Tech. My goal of becoming a Paleontologist is what moves me to pursue my degrees. I plan on starting with an Associate Degree in Science from Horry Georgetown Tech. Transfer to Coastal Carolina to get my Bachelor's Degree in Biology. After that, I plan on Attending Virginia Tech to get my Master's Degree in Paleontology. My goal is to work for the Smithsonian Museums. I admire what they do to contribute to our culture. There is so much we can unearth and discover. Leading a team of young paleontologists on an expedition is another one of my goals. To get people involved and interested in discovering what these amazing creatures behaved and looked like. Expanding my education and getting a Ph.D. is also in my plan, I have not decided where to take the course, but I have been researching universities in Europe. Should be interesting to study abroad and observe a different culture. I will stay strong in my path and always tell everyone to do the same, no matter how hard it may seem.

My name is Liam Del Bosco and my favorite hobby is playing video games. I play games that help me with management skills, like the Jurassic World Evolution game, where I have to build a park and manage assets, visitors, investments, and staff. Some of my games help me develop hand-eye coordination and reflexes, and some others are just for fun. I also like to take walks in the forest trail at the park near my house. For a more active hobby, I play pickleball with my family and friends. I enjoy reading Christian books and watching movies and TV series, we are currently watching The Mandalorian. For times I want to wind down, I like drawing and coloring; I like creating Kaiju creatures and giving them a whole background. I also enjoy taking care of my fish tank and learning about exotic fish. Now for my passion hobby, I collect dinosaur models. I have over 100 high-quality, beautifully crafted animals and I know all of their names and the manufacturers! I just took piano classes for my elective and I really like it. I am keeping my notes so I can continue to practice, I also found that music is a great way to destress and increase dopamine levels. We have a very united family and we love doing all this together, we share hobbies so we could increase quality family time. That is what makes having hobbies very special in my home.

Adversity is found in all areas of a person's life. For a child diagnosed in the autism spectrum, navigating school is challenging. When I was in elementary school, I needed a teacher's aid in the classroom just for me. I couldn't stay on task and complete assignments on my own. As a developmental disorder, autism impaired my social interactions, communication skills and I couldn't control my emotions, causing an abundance of behavioral problems in school. My parents were convinced that the biomedical treatment for kids on the spectrum would help me, and they were right. As my digestive system healed, I began to improve my social and communication skills. By middle school, I was a little more independent, but still needed a lot of help from my mother to complete assignments at home. That was distressful for my parents, as every mother and father dream of their kids going to college and having a successful career. My dream is to be a Paleoscientist; how was I supposed to achieve my goal if I didn't do well in school? Well, I never gave up, neither did my family. Every struggle with assignments, every school meeting to discuss my Individualized Education Plan, known as IEP, was a lesson well learned. We stayed strong with my biomedical treatment, and I kept improving. The start of high school was also a start at a new state. I was very nervous about starting high school where I wasn't familiar with anyone, and no one knew me. I was allowed to visit the school to situate myself before the school year started, and the people I met were friendly and courteous. It was hard in the beginning, once I had trouble controlling my emotions, a person recorded it and posted it on TikTok. I am happy for my old friends from elementary school that saw it and reported the incident to protect me. I felt destroyed, ashamed, and humiliated. I joined JROTC, and the structured program helped me develop leadership and team-working skills. By my Junior year, I had improved in all aspects and was awarded The Most Improved Cadet by my JROTC teachers. Being the firstborn son to immigrant parents, and a first-generation student to go to a college, navigating the college application and scholarship application has been a challenge in itself. The amount of information that is required is extremely overwhelming to me. I am grateful for my mom being resilient and staying with me while we get through this process together. I pushed through and worked hard; I explored different areas, and I found I have an artistic side. I discovered piano and art. I broke through my walls, and I am climbing high mountains. I am semi-independent, and yes, I am apprehensive about the college journey; coming out of my comfort zone isn't something I can do easily. Sometimes I need a quiet moment during the day, my counselor gave me a breathing strategy to keep myself under control and she allows me to go into her office for a few minutes in order to slow down. As I approach the end of this stage in my life I am happy with what I accomplished. This scholarship will give me the freedom and opportunity to go where no one in my family was able to go before. I learned that my "disability" is my ability and no one will tell me I can't go where my dreams are taking me. 1- To get a college education to me is the first step towards my goal of becoming a Paleoscientist. It means making my family and myself proud of what I can do. It is moving forwards to my professional success. 2- When I am not in school I like playing video games with my online friends. I live in South Carolina, so the weather here is almost always great, so I go to my subdivision park and play pickleball with my family and friends, when we are finished I take walks in the trail around the park and observe nature, I love animals, that is one of my favorite things to do. When I am at home I also like to read books, watch an encouraging message from our Pastor on Youtube, practice piano, draw dinosaurs, and enjoy a good meal with my family. 3- I feed my curiosity by reading about subjects that interest me. I have a fish tank, so I am always looking for a way to improve the quality of the water, and the best tank environment for the fish I have there. I am truly passionate about dinosaurs, so I am always looking for news of new fossils that are discovered. I have encyclopedias on Dinos that I do some research on, and I find good knowledgeable you tubers that give interesting information. I also talk to people around me about things that they like, and I always learn something new. Diversity is what fascinates me. We just had family from Brazil visit us and I was able to observe some of their culture and customs, and even though we have a language barrier because I don't speak Portuguese and they didn't speak English, we were able to communicate and learn from each other.