Learning for me is extremely important. I remember one of my teachers telling me how important it is, because the less you learn and use your brain, the weaker it'll be and the less you will remember. To summarize his words, he said, "If you were a football player, you'd expect them to keep exercising their bodies, right? They wouldn't be sitting around, waiting for the next game. They'd be running and lifting weights, and they'd keep pushing themselves to run faster and lift heavier weights. Your brains are like that. They need to be challenged, and exercised with new knowledge, so that it stay strong for a long time." I want to keep learning, and 'exercise' my brain, in order to have a healthy, active mind, that is able to recall important information at a moments notice. There are many different ways to continue learning, and one of my favorite are video essays, where they present a slide-show, alongside and in-depth explanation about their topic of choice. They can range from anywhere to how ants count their steps, or how the end of the world is coming. This broad variety of information is always interesting to learn about, and sometimes so intriguing, you research it more just to fact-check, and you end up in this spiral of new information. Other methods I have come to enjoy is listening to podcasts. Especially when it is one person who has no idea about a topic, and an educated person joins them on set to explain it, and answer their questions. One of my all-time favorite methods, though, is listening to music. While childish and silly, it is honestly incredibly useful, and I still remember the order of the planets from a song I listened to when I was six years old. This method may be a little harder to use, as only basic information could be shared through song, and may not answer all the little questions one might have. There also may not be a strong variety of topics out there for a person to write a song about, but it is still possible! Of course, if all these method fails, nothing can beat a simple trip to the library to read a new, and exciting, book.

There are so many unique things in this world, and what I love most about the world is how much of it is now explainable through math! What made me start loving it started with me helping my father with projects around the house. He'd ask me to measure a wall, so we could figure out how much paint to buy, or to find a certain area so we knew how much wood to get. I got to connect with him through math, and he taught me many important skills I still use. As I continued to grow, I learned how much math was involved in the world, from building houses, to building spaceships! I was fascinated by how the world could be explained through numbers, and as more things become known, the more math finds a way to explain it. It is also something incredibly important, as it helps keep records of where money is coming and going towards, and those numbers help calculate how much minimum wage should be, what the average price of gas should be, and more. Using math to be able to help the world run smoothly is what intrigues me. While I may not be as smart as Einstein, I do love the how incredible it can be, and how the understanding of gravity, light years, etc., enables us to travel further out towards space, and take photos of galaxies billions of light years away from us.

I have a beautiful, obnoxious, and spoiled blue-grey Weimaraner named Pike (after a Star Trek character), who does not understand that he's not, in fact, allowed to jump over the fence, dig holes, or bring random tree branches inside the house. Of course, he gives me the puppy-dog eyes, a kiss on the nose, and a tail-wag. He is a huge help in my life. Without him, I would never even go outside. He barks and growls at me, at seven, on the dot, to get up, get his favorite toy (an old, muddy tennis ball), and play catch with me. His enthusiasm to play makes me more enthusiastic to get outside and do more, and is probably the only reason I don't run out of breath after climbing up a hill for five seconds. (Especially with the amount of times I have to catch him after he escapes the confines of our fenced yard). He sleeps right beside me when I am at my desk, whether working on homework or browsing YouTube, and all I need to do is look over my shoulder and see my dog belly-up with his paws flailing about in the air. My goofball of a dog has made me so happy, and I couldn't even imagine my life without him!

1.) The stars aligned and told me so. 2.) I really want to teach a donkey to fly. Like, not with wings, but an actual airplane. Maybe I'll start by teaching them how to fold paper planes. 3.) I once swallowed a piece of gum and didn't choke on it.

To remind my family and friends how much they mean to me, I will always make sure to say "I love you" before leaving the room, even if we never talked, even if we had an argument, or whenever I feel like they need to hear it. Sometimes I will walk into a room just to be near them, as a silent way to let them know I find comfort in their general area. If I have an argument with someone, I always tell them, even when mad, that I love them and will eventually forgive them, I just need to be frustrated at them right now. Sometimes, as I am passing by, I will just let them know for the sake of letting them know. I offer to grab them a drink or a snack if I am headed in that direction, whether to get food for myself, or I am just nearby. I try and finish some household chores before my Mom get home, so she does not have to stress about a messy house, with tons of chores to be finished. Sweeping the house, emptying the dishwasher, etc., are simple things that help tidy up the house. I know how wonderful it is to come back home to a cleaner house. I always remind myself of how important it is too make sure they know my love for them. I know some who struggle to express their love, verbally or physically, and sometimes their past holds them back. I will never, ever, hold them accountable for not being able to do this, because as long as they know they're loved, then I am happy.

Joy is like a warm hug on a cold, rainy afternoon. It is something that I want to cling to for as long as possible. It can be so hard to achieve, yet something that comes so easily. I am so lucky to have family and friends that can make me feel joy in a heartbeat. I don't need to go on thrilling rollercoaster rides or skydiving, all I need to do to seek it out is to sit down and goof around with my friends. Whether that be in the comfort of my own home, playing video games with them, or out in the town at a mini-golf course or a bowling alley. And when I can't hang out or relax with friends, sometimes sitting down and watching the rain fall is just as joyful, and a bit more peaceful. I occasionally draw, sometimes it'll be my mother sitting in her chair reading a new book, or it'll be my dog fast asleep on my bed. Feeling happiness can be difficult to achieve, because there are so many variables that come with it. You have to complete a whole bucket full of chores and problems in order to remove the stress that blocks your way to happiness. But feeling joy? That moment does not need to be eternal, it just needs to be. It is that moment were everything suddenly becomes bright, when all you want to do it remember that moment forever. And when that moment is engrained in your memory, you know that you will always feel joy, no matter how brief.

I love to sit down and draw, taking my time and trying to draw what I see in front of me. I always try to twist what I see in front of me into something more fantastical, because I love reading fantasy books. Whether that be incorporating small fairy's hiding behind some flowers, or a giant tree guard protecting a meadow. As mentioned above, I love to read fantasy books. They're some of my favorite, especially if it is a retelling story, such as Beauty and the Beast, or Robin Hood, and more. There are so many creative ways to retell those stories, and I love to read them because you have a general idea of what'll happen, but there are still twists and turns that excite you along the way. I also love to sing. I have thousands of memories from my exhausted siblings asking me to stop singing because I had been for far too long. Five seconds later, I forget they even asked and I'm belting out the song that is stuck in my head. I joined choir as an outlet for this built-up love of singing, and while that certainly doesn't stop me from singing at home, it does lessen the frequency at which I do.

I am fueled by my friends, family, and my lovely pups. My friends are very wild, while I am much more quiet and reserved. They always make sure to find a way to include me, even if I want to stay silent and just observe, whether that means I get asked simple yes-or-no questions, or if I am the judge to some competition they're pulling. They make me so happy, because I know I don't have to stress myself out by trying to fit in with loud extroverts. My family, who raised me right, is extremely accepting, and always teaches me the right values. I love my parents so much, and I am so blessed to be raised by them, when I know others are far more unfortunate than I. They are so patient with me, even when I struggle with horrible anxiety, and find creative ways to help me overcome my struggles. My two dogs, Bones and Pike, are two Weimaraner's who have too much energy, and constantly make me laugh. I am fueled by them because their happy little tails that wag when the see you first thing in the morning makes me so happy, and encourages me to keep going through the day. I am also motivated by my choir class, which gives me an opportunity to sing and be a part of a large group who share my interests. They are so fun to be around and make sure everyone feels included.

I am motivated by simple gestures. A wave from a friend when you see them across the room, or a light-shoulder check when you pass each other through a hall. A smile from a loved one when you first wake up in the morning, even with wild bed head and horrible morning breath. A small kiss on the cheek before you run out the door. These simple gestures, from my friend and family, are what motivates me. They give me the strength to carry on with my day, even if someone rude tries to ruin it. Knowing that I will see these gestures practically anywhere I go, such as a compliment from a stranger, keeps me moving because it feels so uplifting. If I were to go on a jog, occasionally I would hear someone call out "You got this!", and I would laugh and run faster. Even if I were sitting down and reading a book, someone might give a slight smile as they pass by. Or when someone holds the door open for you. I wake up tired, ready to go back to sleep, but I know that there are these people out there that are struggling as much as me, and maybe all they need is a nice and simple gesture. I love feeling so happy to see these people that I love, who don't even need to try to make me feel better. They are what motivate me.

The song that inspires me the most is not some famous, loud pop song. It's extremely peaceful, soft, and melodic. That song is "The First Rain And You" by the Flashbulb. This song has calmed me down many times, when I was angry, sad, anxious, and depressed. It feels as like I am breathing air in the middle of a forest, with no pollution whatsoever. It's refreshing and exactly what I need when I want to feel some sort of inspiration; whether it be for writing an essay, a short story, or a poem, drawing or painting, and more. I can find so much comfort in this song, and other times such deep sadness. I draw from those emotions and work them into whatever piece of artwork I may be composing. As the song starts up, the inspiration is slow-going, but as it continues, a story begins to build up in my head, until it becomes vivid and clear in my mind. I find a way to put that story into words, or through strokes of my paintbrush. Other times, this song has inspired me to just keep going. Some days the pressure just builds and builds, to the point where I want to collapse on my bed and sleep for a thousand years. Then this song reminds me of all those happy moments, where all I needed was one hug from a friend, and I could feel like I could breath again. The feeling this song evokes in me gives me the inspiration to be the one who hugs my friends, and lets them know they are never alone.

Confidence is doing something even though the thought of it can make you cry. And even when you do cry, you work in small increments until you can think of it without crying, then do it without crying, and do it for longer sections at a time. No matter amount the fear you may hold, confidence is learning how to do something anyway. This is how it was for me and driving. I was petrified at the idea of driving on the open road, where, in my eyes, anything could happen and there was no control. The idea of being in control of the car itself terrified me, that I would burst into tears the moment my parents brought up the idea of driving. I wanted to be able to drive, it was a vital skill I needed to learn, so I talked with my parents and we came up with a plan. Slowly, I desensitized myself to the idea. I would driving up and down my hill a few times, for however long I could handle. We added more and more different steps, and while I personally don't think I am ready to test myself to get my license, I have managed to shed a lot of my fear by slowly progressing towards my goal. This has inspired me to do many things I have been to scared to do, such as getting a job, entering competitions, and more. While much of my time is presently taken over by school work, I am still trying to do new things every day.

I am someone that is ready to shed their anxieties and brace the new year being the best version of themselves and being braver then ever before. As someone who has never taken any risks or done anything life-changing, I am ready to take control into my hands and try new things and meet new people. I want to audition for a choir solo, enter an art competition, and maybe even submit a short poem. I want to learn to drive, and get a job. I am ready to face reality, no matter how scared I may be.