The dangers of social media and overuse of technology are often neglected to cater to a virtually-consumed culture. Individuals must be cognizant of the behaviors they are promoting by investing in modern gizmos; for instance, many apps use positive intermittent reinforcement algorithms to hook users. Mind-controlling algorithms use one’s virtual data to formulate effective tactics to keep them online, creating addiction. Technology offers us many conveniences, but there are psychological concerns we must become aware of. After watching ‘The Social Dilemma,’ I recognized manipulation occurring within myself and my community. Everyone has the right to understand the world behind their phone screen. If we allow novel apps to control our thinking, we will forget how to think for ourselves. Staring at screens for hours disconnects us from the real world; we observed this phenomenon within vulnerable students as they were forced into remote learning during COVID quarantining. Computers can play a positive role in education, but overuse does more harm than good. How much screen time can we utilize before falling prey to addiction? Is there a way to increase the positive benefits and decrease the negative ramifications? There is no denying that computer programs provide learning opportunities that cannot be replicated with the traditional chalkboard. However, the side effects of screen time are often counterintuitive to learning. Screens keep us in a distracted state, incapable of thinking on our own and unable to focus for a lengthy time. This is exactly opposite of the kind of brain we need to be ready to learn and make good choices. If the computer is doing most of the thinking for us, are we really learning? If you are not choosing what you pay attention to, are you in control of your life? There is hope: in-person social interaction is a valuable remedy to limit technology’s ramifications. While many teenagers roll their eyes when their parents recommend they put the phone away to get in touch with the “real world,” parents know best. This dilemma can be better understood when comparing individuals to apple trees. When the tree is isolated in the woods, it is solely capable of undergoing photosynthesis and producing oxygen. However, when the apple tree is placed within a park surrounded by other apple, pear, plumb, and peach trees, conditions favoring the formation of symbiotic relationships allow other beings to thrive off the tree’s bearings: its produce feeds the hungry, its branches become a playplace for children, its canopy creates shade, and its trunk is used to create building materials. Just as the tree has so much more to offer when it comes into public view, we must not live in isolation behind a screen, but rather thrive through interpersonal connections that cannot be replicated using technology. At the point where technology degrades humanity, we need to see it as intrinsically evil. We need to maintain our creativity, thus maintaining the ability to outsmart our devices and establish mutually beneficial relationships with the surrounding world.

Throughout high school, I have consistently pursued art both outside and inside the classroom. Initially, signing up for a school art course was a tough decision to make; its label as a regular class would bring down my GPA, thus causing me to not achieve the highest class rank possible. However, looking back, I am thankful that I have stuck with art throughout high school. I’ve decided to take a long-term approach that caters to my personal passions, not my short-term GPA. When given loads of free time during the school shut down, my passion for art became solidified as I spent hours with a paintbrush in hand; mixing personalized color palettes mesmerizes me, and finishing an artwork provides me with a deep sense of satisfaction. Looking back, I am extremely thankful that I was given time to develop my creative self. As mentioned earlier, the struggles of isolation during COVID quarantining and my selection of art electives causing me to fall out of the top 10 in my graduating class made my artistic journey not all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, it would have been quite easy to view such obstacles as a "sign" to change paths, find a new hobby, and move on. However, benefits do not come without challenges. Ironically enough, such struggles bring us greater happiness and fulfillment as we discover our true devotion to our hobbies. We must focus on the positive outcomes when dealt with negative roadblocks. We must focus on the strength we gain through struggle as to not get bogged down with momentary adversity. Allowing vivid paints to flow freely across the canvas enables me to enjoy life's small moments, using unprecedented color mixing to create a magnificent masterpiece. Focusing on positive outcomes when dealt with negative roadblocks is a philosophy I've acquired as the global pandemic forced artists to adapt to unprecedented circumstances. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many public education systems. An institution claiming to cater towards the unique needs of its students fails to promote the true talents and aspirations of its student body by cutting funding towards "needless" arts programs. Most prominently in today's world, we praise artistic achievements, as seen through the popularity of the film industry, fast fashion trends, and song lyrics; however, we repress such creative, out-of-the-box thinking as educational institutions bind the limits of the brain between textbook pages. I have experienced such imaginative hypocrisy myself as a student striving to pursue an art career throughout middle and high school. Only when I recently enrolled in the Advanced Placement Studio Art program did my peers view my artistic talents with some genuine recognition. As I pursue a lifelong career in the realm of applied arts, I hope to restore students' intrinsic yearn to learn by applying the creative arts to make learning an increasingly personalized experience. Ultimately, I believe this to be one of the most cynical contemplations: the individuals whom the public eye labels as 'ingenious' are unfortunately seldom seen as the true 'geniuses' in this world.

1. Well, my friend, this scholarship methinks I perhaps deserve in order to fund my lifelong dream to major in grass growing. There's the saying that goes "sit around and watch the grass grow" (or something along those lines); however, this cliche phrase has actually ignited my future career goals. The blades of grass that ever-so-delicately caress my fingers are green, just like the money I'll receive from this scholarship! 2. As I've mentioned earlier, my primary career goal is grass growing. I plan to attend a two-month university (currently undecided) in order to venture out of my comfort zone, placing me in a new environment containing grass blades differing from those I've observed in my own backyard! With a magnifying glass in hand, I hope to enrich my studies by thoroughly documenting any alterations in the pigment of grass blades. 3. Well, my friend, an obstacle that methinks I have overcome includes the death of my grandma- I cannot quite recall her name, although she has impacted me in great ways. Sitting atop her throne of a black rubbery wheelchair, its wheels screeching and squealing across the floor, she was always up for an adventure of any sorts. I miss my Memaw oh so much.

One morning, my art classmate (who I will cal Jacquelyn to protect her privacy) was sitting in my passenger seat on the way to an art club volunteer event. She began to elaborate upon her troublesome home situation, her lack of a house to stay in some nights, and her tendency to seek attention from boys to feel appreciated. As much as this made me want to scream out in surprise, take immediate action, and take Jacquelyn into my own home, I later had an eye-opening realization; rather than solving the problem single-handedly, it was my role to carefully listen to her, providing Jacquelyn the emotional support needed to solve her problems through her own initiative. I was doing the exact small thing that I was supposed to do: listen. Turning towards me, she firmly stated that I was one of the only people who had ever truly listened to her life story without condemning her, shutting her down, or yelling at her. She was so genuinely appreciative of my presence, and that brought tears to my eyes. In return, I emphasized how she deserves my undivided attention as she most definitely matters. I admire Jacquelyn for her strength and perseverance in the midst of such heartbreaking scenarios; being able to go throughout life with such heavy burdens makes her evermore honorable to me. Sitting next to Jacquelyn enabled me to invest part of myself into her life for the better by providing her with both an ever-eager art critic and a shoulder to lean on during traumatic times. In all honesty, I, too, have benefitted from befriending my art peer as it became clear that we are all united by being simply human. Despite our different backgrounds and past experiences, we all share a common desire to be heard.

In order to live life to its optimum potential, balance is key, as I have learned throughout my high school athletic experience as a distance runner. One cannot consistently thrive by making lifestyle choices that solely prioritize mental practices. During the pandemic, challenging myself academically was an outlet for me to channel my stress and provide daily routine, although I also needed to make time to paint, run, and spend time with family to become the best version of myself. The phrase "hitting rock bottom" applies both figuratively and literally to my cross country conference championship. As I attempted to speed up hitting the final straightaway, my knees buckled underneath me as my body collapsed into the gravel. Struggling to get up on legs that felt like spaghetti, I somehow managed to wobble a couple meters across the finish line and faint into the arms of a teammate. My tendency to go the extra mile applies beyond distance running; it also shapes my study habits. I’ll continuously work on assignments until I deem them the best work I can muster, which entails giving up sleep. It's a positive characteristic to have a strong work ethic, but I also realize that it can lead to distorted thinking when I put my own health and well-being in jeopardy to achieve the unattainable perfect outcome. Regaining consciousness several minutes later, I was diagnosed with exercise-induced exhaustion. I am aware that my perfectionist tendencies can be both beneficial and detrimental to me. Trying to set a personal record at the meet after staying up late many nights in a row to study and write scholarship essays was more exhausting than I envisioned, and I realize I have physical limits. Since the day of my collapse, I have worked to re-prioritize a mind-body-spirit balance.

“A patch of grass! Looks nice to lay down in.” We all have an inner voice, and I hear mine loud and clear during miles of cross country races. “But what if the grass has dog poop in it? You wouldn’t want to get all smelly, would you?” Such comical internal conversations provide crucial motivation to keep running. However, “what-if” statements can also be our biggest obstacles. When I first considered the possibility of trying out for my school’s respected cross country team, I heard a much less comical voice. “What if the other runners have more experience than I do? What if I’m not good enough?" I just about talked myself out of the idea altogether; however, fate did me in as the coach’s daughter overheard my interest. One call from coach later, I reluctantly agreed to take a chance by attending a summer practice. The “what-ifs” faded away upon realizing that each runner on the team began by attending their first practice one morning, just as I did. False illusions of doubt were later replaced by affirmations of confidence as I fell in love with the rhythm of shoes on pavement. The upper-classmen runners I once looked up to have now moved on from high school, and I've moved into the role model spot for the new runners. I always tell them my backstory and how terrified I was to show up for my first practice or fail at the first meet. But we all have to start somewhere. We have to tune out a panic-stricken inner voice when faced with novelty. We have to find a new voice. Now, whenever taunting negative thoughts argue that the grass looks like a good place to relax, I’m able to counter them with a new perspective, keeping me on track.

The dangers of social media and overuse of technology are often neglected to cater to a virtually-consumed culture. Individuals must be cognizant of the behaviors they are promoting by investing in modern gizmos. Mind-controlling algorithms use one’s virtual data to formulate effective tactics to keep them online, creating addiction. Technology offers us many conveniences, but there are psychological concerns we must become aware of. Everyone has the right to understand the world behind their phone screen. If we allow novel apps to control our thinking, we will forget how to think for ourselves. Staring at screens for hours disconnects us from the real world; we observed this phenomenon within vulnerable students as they were forced into remote learning during COVID quarantining. Computers can play a positive role in education, but overuse does more harm than good. There is no denying that computer programs provide learning opportunities that cannot be replicated with the traditional chalkboard. However, the side effects of screen time are often counterintuitive to learning. Screens keep us in a distracted state, incapable of thinking on our own and unable to focus for a lengthy time. This is exactly opposite of the kind of brain we need to be ready to learn and make good choices. There is hope: in-person social interaction is a valuable remedy to limit technology’s ramifications. While many teenagers roll their eyes when their parents recommend they put the phone away to get in touch with the “real world,” parents know best. At the point to which technology degrades humanity, we need to see it as intrinsically evil. We need to maintain our creativity, thus maintaining the ability to outsmart our devices and establish mutually beneficial relationships with the surrounding world.

Throughout high school, I have consistently pursued art both outside and inside the classroom. Initially, signing up for a school art course was a tough decision to make; its label as a regular class would bring down my GPA, thus causing me to not achieve the highest class rank possible. However, looking back, I am thankful that I have stuck with art throughout high school. I’ve decided to take a long-term approach that caters to my personal passions, not my short-term GPA. When given loads of free time during the school shut down, my passion for art became solidified as I spent hours with a paintbrush in hand; mixing personalized color palettes mesmerizes me, and finishing an artwork provides me with a deep sense of satisfaction. Looking back, I am extremely thankful that I was given time to develop my creative self. As mentioned earlier, the struggles of isolation during COVID quarantining and my selection of art electives causing me to fall out of the top 10 in my graduating class made my artistic journey not all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, it would have been quite easy to view such obstacles as a "sign" to change paths, find a new hobby, and move on. However, receiving joy does not come without challenges. Ironically enough, such struggles bring us greater happiness and fulfillment as we discover our true devotion to our hobbies. We must focus on the positive outcomes when dealt with negative roadblocks. We must focus on the strength we gain through struggle as to not get bogged down with momentary adversity. Allowing vivid paints to flow freely across the canvas enables me to enjoy life's small moments, using unprecedented color mixing to create a magnificent masterpiece.

Towards the close of my freshmen year, I was ready to end my career as a competitive gymnast. Cross country running had been a nagging consideration, and I finally had the time to pursue it. Becoming an avid runner has been one of the best decisions I have ever made; it has provided me with a new confidence. During the midst of a global pandemic, it has been an outlet to channel my stress and provide daily routine. Gaining a platform as a respected role model was an unexpected outcome of winning two state championships. I plan to pursue this mind-body-spirit balance by becoming a part of a collegiate running club. Throughout high school, I have consistently pursued art both outside and inside the classroom. Initially, signing up for a school art course was a tough decision to make; its label as a regular class would bring down my GPA, thus lowering my chances of earning the highest class rank possible. However, looking back, I am thankful that I have stuck with art throughout high school. I’ve decided to take a long-term approach that caters to my personal passions, not my short-term GPA. When given loads of free time during the school shut down, my passion for art became solidified as I spent hours with a paintbrush in hand; mixing personalized color palettes mesmerizes me, and finishing an artwork provides me with a deep sense of satisfaction. Looking back, I am extremely thankful that I was given time to develop my creative self.

Virtual instruction has become prominent, and it is evident that some students thrive when given the opportunity to take education into their own hands while others struggle. But why? Does the issue lie within the way educators deliver a common curriculum to all students, or is it due to a students’ fixed mindset? How can creative arts and extracurricular activities be applied to make learning a more personalized experience? I desire to become a part of the community that ponders and implements proposals to foster student engagement. Coming from the public education system myself, I have an accurate understanding as to why many middle and high school students lose motivation in the classroom. My goal is to lower these tendencies among youth by combining the psychology of learning, education, and artistic creativity in order to reverse the stigma associated with boring classroom experiences. Such an improved learning experience can be addressed in today's classroom by fostering increasing interaction between students and other grade levels. Such interaction among age groups promotes leadership skills and strong character in upper grades. Younger grades would simultaneously benefit as a “work your way up” mentality would be introduced within a school place, thus preparing one for the workplace. Less traditional teaching methods allow for learning to be exciting, personalized, and intrinsically motivated as opposed to a daily chore. Instead of structuring daily lesson plans around a common core checklist, extra curricular activities should be implemented to celebrate a students' unique talents. By spending less unproductive time in the classroom, more time can be freed up for hands-on experiences, from painting to computer programming. Following the school shut down, I felt helpless upon watching student after student struggle through (or even give up on) virtual instruction. Thus, after noticing an employment opening for a YMCA school-aged counselor, I jumped at the opportunity to assist the kids in my community. As I helped students with their remote learning assignments in between crafts and group activities, a desire to create a world of motivated, excited learners was ignited inside of me; I wish to research the reasons why some individuals are motivated to learn using a growth mindset while others lack motivation. All in all, the quality of meaningful studies should be prioritized over the quantity of temporarily mastered skills, whether that be while learning the ABCs or studying the Pythagorean theorem. I hope that my studies in the realm of education allow me to implement such principles into the classroom setting, allowing school to be a pleasing privilege as opposed to a dull, stigmatized institution.

As our cross country state championship drew closer, coach grew nervous as the pandemic put our potential victory in jeopardy. He had good reason to worry; athletic defeats due to mandated quarantining of star competitors swarmed the media. This prompted coach to form a solution with our principal: all varsity cross country athletes could not attend in-person school the week before the state meet. The idea was presented in a positive light as coach had intentions to keep his runners safe and healthy. Being physically present in school posed risks to our well-being; interaction with COVID "germ-carriers" was inevitable. After considering my coach's proposal, I concluded that the idea wasn't ethical. If the high school wasn't safe and healthy and contained “germ-carriers,” why should any students attend school? Sharing my view as an upperclassmen role model solidified a new team decision: the varsity runners will attend in-person school as no human being is more important than another.