During my sophomore year in high school, I took a concurrent enrollment Intro to Business class, where you can earn both high school and college credits in one. After that first taste of college, I became motivated for more. My mom and I signed me up for more courses to take at night, after school and during summer breaks. These community college courses were nothing like high school. Not only was I getting to pick out classes that piqued my interest, but I was experiencing a whole new world of opportunity. Education is an opportunity. The opportunity to learn about new things. The opportunity to grow not just your knowledge, but also yourself. Taking these college courses has helped me discover things about myself that I never knew before. I've learned the personal ways I like to manage classes and stay on schedule. I've learned to step out of my comfort zone and talk to new people. Community college has given me the opportunity to meet all kinds of people of different ages, genders, backgrounds, and upbringings. As a 16-17 year old, I found myself developing connections with people almost double my age and collaborating with people who are completely opposite of myself. Education has given me the opportunity to network with others, and learn to work with anyone. As much as education is an opportunity to learn and an opportunity for self discovery, it's also a valuable tool. Educating yourself, whether it be taking classes, reading a book, or listening to a mentor serves as a stepping stone to reach your goals and improve yourself. The more you know, the more likely you are to make informed decisions, advocate for yourself, and take the necessary steps to achieve your dreams. Since my sophomore year 2 years ago, to me entering my senior year now, I have developed a love for learning and a passion about receiving an education. Because the classes I'm taking are geared towards a Business Transfer Associates Degree, I actually get to learn about things I enjoy. I constantly find myself enthralled in each subject, highlighting sentences in the class textbook, watching videos, and asking questions. Between all the classes I've been taking, I have accumulated enough credits to graduate high school a semester early, this upcoming December. With the following spring semester open, I plan on going to community college full time and finishing up my 2-year Business Transfer Associates Degree. Once I have that done, I hope to continue my educational path into a four year institution to obtain a Business Bachelors degree. Even when I have completed all my schooling, I still plan on educating myself and learning new things each and every day, so that I can continue to have that opportunity for growth and self improvement. I am passionate about receiving my education because, gaining knowledge is a valuable tool towards fulfilling your aspirations and it serves as a portal for myriads of opportunities - from self discovery to new experiences.

Attached on bus door 142 in Fairbanks Alaska was a note that read, "ATTENTION POSSIBLE VISITORS. S.O.S. I NEED YOUR HELP. I AM INJURED, NEAR DEATH, AND TOO WEAK TO HIKE OUT OF HERE." The note was accompanied by a stack of books, a back pack limited with only the bare necessities to survive the wild, and the body of adventurer, Chris McCandless. This peculiar scene sparked the interest of writer, Jon Krakauer, who would go on to publish, Into the Wild. A book that follows Chris' adventure and his attraction to freedom. Chris entered a journey of self discovery, releasing himself from societal expectations, the race for wealth/the American dream, and any commitments tying him down. Chris thought the best way to break free from the routine of society was to leave behind his money and material belongings, end contact with his family, and follow nature's call. His adventure lead him all over the united states, allowed him to meet all kinds of people, and experience the abyss of freedom. The final attest was to survive alone in the pits of Alaskan Wilderness. Although Chris's competence and intentions are debated, I greatly admire him. I may never be able to live off of nature, but his courage to break the status quo and follow his heart is inspiring. He tested his inner most self and took an unconventional path to do so, not allowing others expectations or the pressure to conform to society stop him. I admire his drive, his perseverance, and his commitment to following his own journey. Whether or not you agree with his approach, it's undeniable that we could all learn a few things from Chris: especially to stay true to one self and never letting anyone get in the way of pursuing our dreams/journey.

I've heard this piece of advice from my mom, dad, my high school's personal finance teacher, even random Tik Tok videos. This advice seems oh so simple, and it's just one word... to SAVE! Out of all the advice I've received, "Lillian, save your money" is by far what I've heard most. Not only is this advice extremely easy to do, but it provides you with three monumental advantages: (1) financial security, (2) financial freedom, and (3) opportunity to accumulate wealth. Putting money away, whether it's here and there or a set amount each month, can help one account for emergencies/unexpected costs. You never know what life will throw at you- or if your car engine decides it doesn't want to start anymore. If one has money saved they'll be prepared for any situation. Saving money for emergencies, gives you that sense of security that if things should go wrong, that safe guard called savings is there to help out. Saving your money also provides financial freedom. Knowing that your set in case something happens allows you to spend the rest of your money as you please, without stress. Your savings can give you flexibility when making financial decisions/big purchases and can give that freedom of choosing what to do with your money. When you save money you also build up wealth and get the opportunity to take calculated risks when it comes to investing or business. Saving money helps you avoid debt, and have the backing to pursue any endeavor. By far this has been the most helpful piece of financial advice I have ever received. The benefits are undeniable, and can really help me prepare my future. I've began to follow this advice, putting away any extra money where I can and hope others follow this advice too!

Although I always love a book about wizarding worlds or teenage vampires, my favorite book is quite the opposite. After being assigned to read, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, I was unable to put the book down. I instantly became enthralled in the mix of themes ranging from history, racial inequalities, medical ethics, all the way to familial relationships. After Skloot learned about "HeLa", the first ever immortal line of cells, used to achieve things like the HPV vaccine, eradicating polio, and genome mapping, she set off to find out more about the woman who the cells originally came from. The book bounces back and forth between present and past to recount the life of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken without her consent, and the aftermath that followed. Skloot takes the reader on a journey of the past exploring Henrietta's tough upbringing and the racial inequalities taking place in the mid 1900's as well as some insight about the loose ethical obligations in the medical field at the time. Then the reader gets brought back to the present to explore the medical advances that came from Henrietta's cells along with the path her family and children took towards the acceptance and understanding of the legacy Henrietta unknowingly left behind. This book is my absolute favorite because of the vast amount of topics it covers. After learning about the things Henrietta had to over come in her life while still putting her loved ones first, I am inspired by her tenacity. I am even more inspired by her children's perseverance from losing their mother to focusing on the positive that came from a bad situation. Skloot does a phenomenal job at story telling while probing at difficult subjects and truly gives Henrietta the recognition she deserves.

"Creative." One of the first words listed under the skills column on my resume and one of the first adjectives I'd use to describe myself. A lot of times when people hear that word, they automatically think of something like painting or sculpting. However creativity is so much more. I by no means am a good artist, in fact if you were to ask me to paint something you'd probably think it was done by a three year old. What I am good at is generating new ideas and thinking outside the box. Creativity isn't just art, it's being innovative, it's being original, it's generating new ideas, it's using your imagination, and it's doing so in all types of avenues from- yes painting, all the way to problem solving. I use creativity in my life, when it comes to thinking outside the box and generating new ideas. I'm constantly trying to find the best, most efficient way to do something and often times I need to get creative to do that. For example, in school if I'm working in a group and one person is struggling, I use creativity to think of the best way to include that person, ensuring they feel comfortable. When I had my own side hustle selling Spotify music plaques, I had to brainstorm new ideas on how to inform the market about my product, and one of the ways was sending free items to influencers in exchange for product reviews. If there's a problem that needs solved, instead of giving up or accepting defeat, I think of creative solutions around it. Creativity is what you make it. I use creativity everyday in life, from problem solving to brainstorming. Instead of going for the obvious, I try to be creative and efficient in everything I do.

1.)Why I deserve this scholarship wouldn't be because I love learning, and am trying to take more college courses. No, no, I deserve this scholarship because I'm the worlds best BURGLAR! Banks? I've snatched billions, Jeff Bezos can't compare. Cars? Lock your Ferraris because I'm coming. Houses? Keep them windows shut or else your T.V's... goneya. After years of snatching it's time I get some reward for those righteous deeds, this scholarship would be just that! 2.)My goals 100% aren't to get a business associates degree at my local community college and then transfer to a four year institution. Even more so my goals could never be to one day operate my own business. Instead my goal is to retire burglary to become a couch potato. I hope to reside on the couch, only eating potato chips and drinking Fanta. My goal is to be one with the couch, spending my days watching Stranger Things and Greys Anatomy. 3.)Adapting to the life changes following my parents divorce, watching my mom overcome her alcoholism, and just navigating the world as a teenager is easy breezy. The biggest obstacle I will have to overcome is figuring out how to change the T.V channel without getting up, once I become a couch potato.

A couple of years ago, in an effort to scrape up some extra summer spending money, I started my very own side hustle. It was called "Lillie's Customs", where I would sell handmade customized glass song plaques on Instagram. Doing this not only earned me a profit, but taught me so many things such as customer service, marketing, budgeting and product handling. I actually ended up selling over 100 items, but more importantly I discovered my love for business. In order to continue my new found passion for business, I started taking concurrent enrollment business classes at my high school helping me earn both college and high school credit. Then eventually I began taking summer and night courses at my local community college to help me earn more college credits relating to business. Now I am on the path to graduate high school a semester early so that in spring of 2023 I can go to community college full time. My goal is to get my Business Transfer Associates Degree at Arapahoe Community College and then transfer to a four year institute to obtain a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree. Between Lillie's Customs and all of the things I have learned from my courses so far, I know business is my passion and that it's what I want to pursue as my future. I have come to love all aspects of the things that go into a successful business and am eager to learn even more. In the future I hope I can use the skills and knowledge obtained from these college courses to run my very own business.

Life is full of obstacles, but what I've found is that you must keep going. You have to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. For me the biggest obstacles I had to overcome were the changes that came into my life following my parents divorce. The first change was my living situation. At six years old, I sat idly by as I watched my mom pack up her things and move them into a one bedroom apartment which we shared on Sunday's, Monday's, Tuesday's and every other Saturday. The other days of the week I stayed with my dad in our old, half empty home. Accommodating to this change was the first challenge of many, but it taught me that by continuing to move forward and taking it day by day, things get easier. Not long after, another change came. My mom met a guy. At first I had mixed feelings about him. I was glad he made my mom happy, but young me resented him. However with persistence in building a good relationship and continuing to move forward I have come to love this guy and am so grateful to have gained an amazing bonus parent. Life changes are an obstacle to everyone, but by persevering you will come to see that everything works itself out in the end. The obstacles and emotions that came from the divorce seemed world ending in the moment, but looking back I now see how overcoming these obstacles had a positive outcome. I have a strong relationship with my dad, an amazing role model of an independent mom, a supportive step parent, and most importantly the knowledge that if we persevere and continue to move forward, no matter how hard things get, everything will be just fine.

Living in colorful Colorado has blessed me with the opportunity to experience nature at it's core. In fact, five minutes behind my house is the most wonderful hiking trail. It begins at a nice park with an open field and then it turns to a dirt trail surrounded by the woods. The trail goes up and down and wraps around a huge hill, once you reach the flat top you can see the silhouette of pikes peak and directly on the other side you can see the tops of Denver's sky scrappers. The feeling I get when I reach the top is indescribable. Between the sound of the birds chirping, the light air hitting my lungs because of the high altitude, and the vast openness around me, it seems that all my problems disappear. I love nature because it gives me perspective. Seeing the beauty and vastness of the wild world reminds me that any problems or inconvenience I have is minimal in the grand scheme of things. Being out in nature allows me to realize how blessed I am and how truly amazing it is to be alive. Nature to me isn't only a source of clarity, but also a reminder of all my blessings. I show my appreciation for the great things nature gives by being environmentally cautious. When hiking or exploring I make it a point to pick up trash I see on the ground so that those who explore after me can get the same positive experience from nature. I show my appreciation for nature by also respecting it, that is why I never harm wildlife or destruct wild plants. By being cautious of these things I can fully appreciate the tranquility and virtue of nature, as well as protect it so others can also enjoy.

A few years ago if you were to ask me if I had finished my math homework that's due tomorrow I would have said, "what homework?" Now however, all you have to do is take one look at the myriads of sticky notes posted around my desk and my carefully color coded calendar, mapping out each school assignment and event, and you can tell the positive difference in my study habits. Although my post-its and planner are great tools, when it comes to my study strategies it is all about the mindset. Before, I would procrastinate and struggle to find the motivation to want to study, but now with a change of mindset I complete my assignments and study for exams with ample amounts of time and because of that not only have I been able to get straight A's, but also have developed a passion for learning. What I do is keep my eye on the big picture. My goal is to obtain a Bachelors of Business Administration College Degree and one day own my very own business. I know that in order to do those things I need to get good grades and develop productive work habits. My mindset is to focus on the goals ahead of me and that helps motivate me to achieve academic success. My goal of getting a business degree and having a positive mindset has also motivated me to take college courses at my local community college as well as advanced placement classes that can help me earn college credits. Yes, organization, flashcards, and repetition are excellent study strategies, but ultimately the best strategy is to have the right mindset and focusing on the big picture. With a positive and motivated mindset comes not only academic success, but success in accomplishing your goals.

You never know when someone needs encouragement or that extra nudge to keep going. The thing is encouragement doesn’t always need to be some grand gesture. The best way to encourage those around you is through kindness and positivity. By being kind to others and staying positive, I encourage those around me. Last summer I was taking a business class at my local community college. Each student had to give a ten-minute presentation in front of the class. On one of the presentation days, it was a girl who had a stutter’s turn. You could tell she was super nervous and having difficulty getting her words out, in the middle of her presentation she paused and glanced at the audience in front of her. When her eyes matched mine, I made sure to give her the biggest smile and a nod of encouragement. From then she was able to continue with her presentation and do a stellar job. In this moment that small act of kindness was enough to encourage her to keep going. By just spreading a little kindness and positivity you can encourage anyone. Texting a friend, letting them know that you care for them can be enough to encourage them to keep going another day. Complementing someone on the positive work they have accomplished, even if they feel like they’re in a rut can encourage them to continue pursuing their goal. Simply patting a coworker on the back and telling them “Hey, you got this!” can be just enough to remind them that they can continue moving forward. You never know who may need the encouragement, but by being kind to everyone - even strangers you can help them to keep going. With kindness and focusing on the positive of every situation I encourage everyone around me.

Speaking your mind requires much more than a strong tone and a loud voice. In order to speak your mind, you must have confidence. I derive my confidence from knowing that the information I am about to speak is not only truthful, but also right. By right I mean constructive, ensuring the things I speak out loud are meant to elicit positivity and can serve some good. To garner the confidence to truly speak your mind you must also be respectful. I stay committed to speaking my mind, but I do it in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone or cause malice. I speak my mind with purpose and respect to those around me. When speaking your mind, you must be empathetic to those who are listening and hear out other opinions, even if they are different from your own. This way speaking your mind can lead to something positive and beneficial. I stay committed to speaking my mind by being confident and respectful. Once I have those things, I know for a fact that the words I say will be taken seriously. I know for a fact that the words I say can make a difference. I know for a fact that speaking my mind can not only inspire and uplift those around me but that speaking my mind can also lead to positive change in the world. People don’t always realize how much of an impact words can have, both positive and negative. That is why I stay committed to speaking my mind, but I do it in a way that will leave some good. Afterall, all great movements, all great ideas, and all great change came from people who spoke their mind and they did so with confidence and respect.

There are so many things that fuel my life and why I do things. My goal to get straight A's fuels my academics, my love for fitness fuels my gym visits, my commitment to learning fuels me to try new things and stay open-minded. However out of all the things around me, the main thing that fuels my life is my mother. With out my mom I would not be the person I am today. She is the embodiment of a feminist. A go getter who lives her life unapologetically. A strong, smart, independent, take charge woman who is kind and beautiful on the inside out. Having her as a role model fuels me to try to be the best person I can, to be kind to those around me, but to also know my worth and follow my dreams. Not only does my mom fuel me to be a better person, but without her support I wouldn't have been able to navigate the complex world of concurrent enrollment and enrolling in college courses. Last year my mom heard about concurrent enrollment at our local community college and immediately encouraged me to pursue taking college courses that could count as both high school and college credit. After taking some at school, I fell in love with these classes. With my moms support she helped me enroll in summer and night classes on top of that, helping me continue to learn and work towards a college degree. She has been my rock and source of encouragement throughout all of my life, and because of that I will be graduating from high school a semester early so that I can go to community college full time in the spring. My mom's amazing character and support to follow my dreams fuels my life.

All around me there are myriads of things to be grateful for, from the computer keyboard below my fingers as I type this essay to the roof over my head. When Covid-19 first began, I picked up the practice of journaling. Each night I write down three things I am grateful for. This practice has completely changed my mindset and altered how I view things, for the better. When one sits down and really writes down the things they are grateful for, the small worries and problems vanish, and one can see how truly blessed they are. Before journaling, I would easily get hung up on the small stuff; being embarrassed by saying the wrong answer when my teacher called on me or annoyed because my parents wouldn't take me to get Chick-Fil-A. However, after taking some time each night to write down the things I am truly grateful for, those small worries become minute. Writing the things I appreciate helps me see the big picture, allowing me to see how blessed I am. I am so grateful to be able to go to school and get an education. I am so grateful to even have the option of going out to eat. Those are things people take for granted, but when you write it out you realize that there is so much more to be grateful for then to get hung up on. How I live with gratitude and appreciate the things I have is through journaling. By writing down the things I am grateful for I have learned not to fret about the little inconveniences, but instead be thankful for all the blessings and privileges I do have. Journaling has helped me become more positive in my thinking and more aware of how amazing my life really is.

From skydiving to tasting the world's biggest cheeseburgers, people cultivate a bucket list of must tries and goals. One of the first things on my own bucket list is to travel the world. Experiencing different cultures, trying new things and meeting people from varying backgrounds is something I dream of. I have had the opportunity to accomplish this in part from traveling some with my parents. Visiting places like Mexico and Sweden, I got to experience the beautiful cultures of both. In Mexico I got to see the clear beach, try authentic Mexican foods, learn about Cozumel’s rich Mayan history and talk to some of the locals, getting to know about their personal lives. In Sweden I got to speak Swedish and hike through lush forests. I also partook in the infamous Swedish ‘fika’, where you drink coffee, snack on a sweet pastry, and chat with comrades. Although I have already partially accomplished this bucket list item, I want to travel even more in the future and visit places in the Mediterranean and Asia, so that I can continue to learn and appreciate all cultures. The next item on my bucket list is to one day start my own business. Last year I created, Lillie’s Customs. A small side hustle where I sold customized song plaques through Instagram. I ended up selling over 100 items, but more importantly I discovered my passion for business. With Lillie’s Customs I learned many skills such as social media marketing, customer service and financial budgeting. To cross out owning my own business off of my bucket list, I plan to take college classes and obtain a business degree where I can build those skills and learn even much more about the business world, and one day have all the tools to start my own.