My life is easy ..... that's what people may see from the outside looking in. I have a loving family, two dogs, a beautiful house with a warm bed, clothes galore, a car to drive me to my job, which allows me to spend time with my friends. What people don't see is the struggle it takes to get out of bed some days, the panic attacks in school, anxiety that takes over my very being. The simple pleasures of coming home from school, work, swim team practice to a place of safety means everything. My fears dissipate, my stress lowers, my anxiety takes a break. I get to climb into my warm bed, snuggle up to my dogs, who just want to love me, turn on my tv and just let my mind relax. Worries for the day or the next day can wait. A warm cup of tea, music in my ears, maybe even a paintbrush in my hand. These little things in life may look insignificant to some, but for me .... the little things in life are everything. My favorite place with my favorite people doing my favorite things bring me such joy. But, even more so, it makes me feel better. And that, that right there, makes me happy.

Equality. Compassion. Empathy. Kindness. All things I am passionate about. All things I strive to help others have. My legacy ... it's hard to think about something that hopefully won't be for a long time. But for me, I am hoping people will remember my name fondly. I hope people remember me as someone who always stood with the underdog, who fought for and with the women who have suffered at the hands of others be it physically, emotionally, financially, sexually. And that I stood for the people who are transgender and just want to love themselves and to feel loved by others. I hope people remember that I fought for people who are fighting for equality against discriminatory actions. My legacy will mean that I have done everything I could and that I am no longer here to help others fight in their fight against a world that can be so cruel. Diversity is something that should be treasured and celebrated, not used to destroy others. My legacy will mean that I have lived my life as honestly and lovingly as I possibly could. Hopefully setting an example to others on how to treat people with respect. I hope my legacy means people hear my name or see it in print and see that everything I stood for was for the better good of mankind. Equality. Compassion. Empathy. Kindness.

I have ADD and anxiety. I have worked my entire life to get both under control. I have moments where I may be overwhelmed with too many tasks to complete at once and then the anxiety kicks in because I'm overwhelmed. But I have spent my entire life learning that repetition and routines are the key to my success in anything I do from school, swim team, work and my art, which has made me independent. I am smart and tenacious and hyper-focused, but those are the attributes I use to make my own decisions, to learn from my mistakes. I have been taught and use many techniques so that I can figure out how I get things accomplished with the way my brain works. All of these life lessons, experiences and mistakes have taught me that if I stick with it I will accomplish what needs to get done, but on my terms. Being independent allows me to balance school, work, sports and friends. By being independent, I am applying to schools outside of my hometown and away from everything I know. But my independence provides me with the courage to do just that. My independence will carry me through life because I know that I am the one person I can depend on all the time is me. I will make sure my life is full of everything I need.

My legacy ... it's hard to think about something that hopefully won't be for a long time. But for me, I am hoping people will remember my name fondly. I hope people remember me as someone who always stood with the underdog, who fought for and with the women who have suffered at the hands of others be it physically, emotionally, financially, sexually. And that I stood for the people who are transgender and just want to love themselves and to feel loved by others. I hope people remember that I fought for people who are fighting for equality against discriminatory actions. My legacy will mean that I have done everything I could and that I am no longer here to help others fight in their fight against a world that can be so cruel. Diversity is something that should be treasured and celebrated, not used to destroy others. My legacy will mean that I have lived my life as honestly and lovingly as I possibly could. Hopefully setting an example to others on how to treat people with respect. I hope my legacy means people hear my name or see it in print and see that everything I stood for was for the better good of mankind.

Joy is standing on a pool deck at 5:00 a.m. smelling chlorine. I know, it sounds like a typo. But it's true. The smell of chlorine motivates me to get up at 4:45 to be at a 5:00 a.m. swim team practice. You get to the pool, it's quiet, small ripples in the water from the pool system gently pushing the water. The blue lines on the bottom of the pool are clear, the lane lines are floating, and the smell of the chlorine opens your nose and your other senses follow, and then comes the smile because I am in my happy place. Chlorine means that I am able to move my body in ways I didn't know I could. Chlorine motivates me to try harder to be faster and faster with each lap. Chlorine means that my brain that is sometimes overwhelmed with anxiety becomes relaxed and focused on the one thing I love to do the most. Swimming is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Chlorine has made my body and my mind stronger. Chlorine has given me the opportunity to push myself to be the best self I can be in the pool and then out of the pool. The workout makes me feel great, and the endorphins help to carry me through my day so those moments when I'm overwhelmed just may not seem as tough. My swim team had an undefeated season this year, with personal best times. My teammates are incredibly supportive of each other, cheering each other one, celebrating the victories and hugging out the defeats. Joy is being with likeminded people who love the smell of chlorine. To give back to others what so many have given to me. Joy.

My life is easy ..... that's what people may see from the outside looking in. I have a loving family, two dogs, a beautiful house with a warm bed, clothes galore, a car to drive me to my job, which allows me to spend time with my friends. What people don't see is the struggle it takes to get out of bed some days, the panic attacks in school, anxiety that takes over my very being. The simple pleasures of coming home from school, work, swim team practice to a place of safety means everything. My fears dissipate, my stress lowers, my anxiety takes a break. I get to climb into my warm bed, snuggle up to my dogs, who just want to love me, turn on my tv and just let my mind relax. Worries for the day or the next day can wait. A warm cup of tea, music in my ears, maybe even a paintbrush in my hand. These little things in life may look insignificant to some, but for me .... the little things in life are everything. My favorite place with my favorite people doing my favorite things bring me such joy. But, even more so, it makes me feel better. And that, that right there, makes me happy.

I have ADD and anxiety. I have worked my entire life to get both under control. I have moments where I may be overwhelmed with too many tasks to complete at once and then the anxiety kicks in because I'm overwhelmed. But I have spent my entire life learning that repetition and routines are the key to my success in anything I do from school, swim team, work and my art, which has made me independent. I am smart and tenacious and hyper-focused, but those are the attributes I use to make my own decisions, to learn from my mistakes. I have been taught and use many techniques so that I can figure out how I get things accomplished with the way my brain works. All of these life lessons, experiences and mistakes have taught me that if I sck with it I will accomplish what needs to get done, but on my terms. Being independent allows me to balance school, work, sports and friends. By being independent, I am applying to schools outside of my hometown and away from everything I know. But my independence provides me with the courage to do just that. My independence will carry me through life because I know that I am the one person I can depend on all the time is me. I will make sure my life is full of everything I need.

I have ADD and anxiety. I have worked my entire life to get both under control. I have moments where I may be overwhelmed with too many tasks to complete at once and then the anxiety kicks in because I'm overwhelmed. But I have spent my entire life learning that repetition and routines are the key to my success in anything I do from school, swim team, work and my art, which has made me independent. I am smart and tenacious and hyper-focused, but those are the attributes I use to make my own decisions, to learn from my mistakes. I have been taught and use many techniques so that I can figure out how I get things accomplished with the way my brain works. All of these life lessons, experiences and mistakes have taught me that if I stick with it I will accomplish what needs to get done, but on my terms. Being independent allows me to balance school, work, sports and friends. By being independent, I am applying to schools outside of my hometown and away from everything I know. But my independence provides me with the courage to do just that. My independence will carry me through life because I know that I am the one person I can depend on all the time is me. I will make sure my life is full of everything I need.

My legacy ... it's hard to think about something that hopefully won't be for a long time. But for me, I am hoping people will remember my name fondly. I hope people remember me as someone who always stood with the underdog, who fought for and with the women who have suffered at the hands of others be it physically, emotionally, financially, sexually. And that I stood for the people who are transgender and just want to love themselves and to feel loved by others. I hope people remember that I fought for people who are fighting for equality against discriminatory actions. My legacy will mean that I have done everything I could and that I am no longer here to help others fight in their fight against a world that can be so cruel. Diversity is something that should be treasured and celebrated, not used to destroy others. My legacy will mean that I have lived my life as honestly and lovingly as I possibly could. Hopefully setting an example to others on how to treat people with respect. I hope my legacy means people hear my name or see it in print and see that everything I stood for was for the better good of mankind.

I am me. How many people can really say they are comfortable in their own skin? How many people allow themselves the opportunity to be who they are, and they want to look, dress, be? There were a number of years where I felt I had to look a certain way, be a certain size, fit in with others, follow the crowd. Then one day after years of feeling terrible about myself and who I was associating with, I "woke" up and said no more! No more of my feeling badly at the size I am and if I'm skinny enough, pretty enough, wearing clothes that aren't what is considered the norm for a high school student. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their skin. Comfortable with their hair color, skin color, smile, size of their hands (I have small hands). I wear clothes that most people in my school don't wear and I love it. Some people don't like them, some people don't understand them, and some people love the fact that I am finally comfortable in my skin that I will wear what I want. I feel good in them, I feel happy in them, I feel like me. I am me.

I stand for those who need support, love, kindness. I befriend those who don't have someone in their corner. I hold hands and signs at protest, crying out for injustices to end. I hope people remember me as someone who always stood with the underdog, who fought for and with the women who have suffered at the hands of others be it physically, emotionally, financially, sexually. And that I stood for the people who are transgender and just want to love themselves and to feel loved by others. I hope people remember that I fought for people who are fighting for equality against discriminatory actions. My legacy will mean that I have done everything I could and that I am no longer here to help others fight in their fight against a world that can be so cruel. Diversity is something that should be treasured and celebrated, not used to destroy others. My legacy will mean that I have lived my life as honestly and lovingly as I possibly could. Hopefully setting an example to others on how to treat people with respect. I hope my legacy means people hear my name or see it in print and see that everything I stood for was for the better good of mankind.

I have ADD and my superpower from this neuro-deficiency is that I am a talented artist. I use painting and drawing to help with anxiety issues and stress relief. ADD will cause me to be hyper focused on the task at hand, until I complete the task. I will sit hours upon hours just letting the vision in my head pour down my arms, into my hands and through the paint brush. To help cope with the struggle of having ADD, I would visit with an art therapist and use that time to learn that I had a true love for painting and drawing. Those visits allowed me time to figure out how to cope with ADD, but it also gave me time with a seasoned art teacher to show me new techniques. I have taken many art classes throughout my high school career to learn as much as I can. I have utilized these skills and new techniques in my own art. Three years ago, I became an entrepreneur by starting my own painting business from my art studio at home. I am commissioned by classmates and work colleagues for specific artwork. My joy in putting these art pieces together increases two-fold when I see the smiles on their faces when I deliver their pieces to them. It took me a long time, but I've learned that I am not different from my classmates. I am me. I am me because I have ADD, not that I'm different because I have ADD. I am loving, create, honest and empathetic, with my own sense of style. I am me.

What motivates me ... chlorine. I know, it sounds like a typo. But it's true. The smell of chlorine motivates me to get up at 4:45 to be at a 5:00 a.m. swim team practice. You get to the pool, it's quiet, small ripples in the water from the pool system gently pushing the water. The blue lines on the bottom of the pool are clear, the lane lines are floating and the smell of the chlorine opens your nose and your other senses follow, and then comes the smile because I am in my happy place. Chlorine means that I am able to move my body in ways I didn't know I could. Chlorine motivates me to try harder to be faster and faster with each lap. Chlorine means that my brain that is sometimes overwhelmed with anxiety becomes relaxed and focused on the one thing I love to do the most. Swimming is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Chlorine has made my body and my mind stronger. Chlorine has given me the opportunity to push myself to be the best self I can be in the pool and then out of the pool. The workout makes me feel great, and the endorphins help to carry me through my day so those moments when I'm overwhelmed just may not seem as tough. My swim team had an undefeated swim season this year, with personal best times, all because of chlorine. I smell like chlorine all the time and I love it.

I have ADD and my superpower from this neuro-deficiency is that I am a talented artist. I use painting and drawing to help with anxiety issues and stress relief. ADD will cause me to be hyper focused on the task at hand, until I complete the task. I will sit hours upon hours just letting the vision in my head pour down my arms, into my hands and through the paint brush. To help cope with the struggle of having ADD, I would visit with an art therapist and use that time to learn that I had a true love for painting and drawing. Those visits allowed me time to figure out how to cope with ADD, but it also gave me time with a seasoned art teacher to show me new techniques. I have taken many art classes throughout my high school career to learn as much as I can. I have utilized these skills and new techniques in my own art. Three years ago I became an entrepreneur by starting my own painting business from my art studio at home. I am commissioned by classmates and work colleagues for specific artwork. My joy in putting these art pieces together increases two-fold when I see the smiles on their faces when I deliver their pieces to them.