Feminism. To me, feminism is power. Feminism is equity. Feminism is knowing that women have been underestimated, undervalued, and underappreciated for centuries. Feminism isn't just the desire to change that, but it's the action. Feminism is working toward a world where small girls aren't told that if a boy pulls their hair, it's because they like them. Feminism is working toward a world where a female employee gets paid the same as her male counterpart. Feminism is working toward a world where a woman can go to a doctor and be respected and heard when she expresses concern. Feminism is working toward a world where women can walk down the street and know they will make it safely home. Feminism is working toward a world where women's deodorant is the same price, despite the flower graphic or the pink cap. Feminism is working toward a world where women can go to a clinic and make a choice about what they want to do with their bodies, instead of letting the world of politics make that choice for them. Feminism is working toward a world where women are valued equally. Feminism is important because women are people. Many women have the ability to get pregnant or carry children, and yet, their maternal labor goes unacknowledged. Many women work hard in their jobs, and yet, their professionalism is ignored. Feminism is important because these issues are systematic and unethical. Feminism is important because women are the future. Without them, the world would cease to exist. Without them, things would fall apart. Feminism is important because there is no reason feminism should need to exist in the first place. We should have been respected from day one. We should have been appreciated, cared for, and acknowledged. We shouldn't have to make an entire movement to get voting rights. We shouldn't have to protest to gain rights over our own bodies. We shouldn't have to be part of an organization to be listened to. Feminism is important because society decided that women were unimportant. And feminists have decided to rectify that blasphemous narrative. My mother has always been inspirational to me. Maybe that's because she was the first woman in my life, but her life story is one that encourages all women to stand up against society's idea of how women should be. She had three children, surpassed 300 pounds, and became a stay-at-home wife and mother. This job, respectable on its own, was not a choice. Her husband forced her to stay at home and live a miserable life. She was told she would never become someone worth a dime. My mom, eventually, got a divorce. She lost 300 pounds, gave birth to me, and was a full-time student while working three jobs. She eventually got remarried and acquired a stable job in which she would become extremely successful. She shaped my view of feminism and how women can do anything, even if society chooses to shoot them down. I admire her. Because of this, I have chosen to take action at my school. I am currently in student government at my school on a board of only female officers. I am also in a One-Act Competition play that features the mistreatment of women in healthcare facilities such as hospitals and mental institutions. I am an outspoken advocate for women's rights, and I participate heavily in my Women's Studies course. I feel passionate about women's rights and feminism because, as a woman myself, it can be difficult to speak out. That is why I do it-- for those who are too afraid.

I was never really decisive as a child. I didn't like to make choices because I don't like to stick myself in a box. That's exactly the reason why I am choosing Performing Arts - Theater as my career. I can do so many things as an actor, and I can be so many people. Having this sort of opportunity is vital for me because I don't have to stick to one box. I can be an actor, but I can be a princess, a villain, or even a shadow. Acting gives me the spontaneity and mixture I am looking for. In my senior year of high school, I was cast in the incredibly tasking One-Act Competition Production. We performed the play "Nellie" by Robby Steltz, and it was moving. I had never felt something so empowering as walking across that stage as a completely different person. I was consumed by this character. I knew her from head to toe. When I planted myself on that stage, everything I knew was left behind. I embody my character. This was the first experience I had to be someone else-- to live another life. One reason why I love theater so much is that it brings a whole new meaning to stories you have heard time and time again. I love to watch theater, as well as participate in it. In my junior year of high school, my school's drama department performed "Cinderella." Most people had heard the story before, but this show changed the entire meaning of it. It made it new and bold. It was exhilarating to watch. For me, being on the stage is indescribable. I love being able to tell someone's story. I believe that's a big reason why I am so passionate. I love bringing a character to life and showing people who this person is. Another reason why I am so passionate about theater is because of the family it creates. Having a cast and crew full of people I might not even know can be scary, but it's beautiful to know that by the end, I may have a new group of people who care about me. I love how connecting acting can be. Not only can you find yourself and your peace within people on stage and backstage, but in the audience as well. As someone who also loves to watch productions, sometimes I feel so connected to actors who make you care about their characters. Theater creates so many connections whether that be emotional, personal, or professional. I also pursue other fine arts such as visual arts, music, and dance. These things assist in the career I am pursuing because they give me the ability to see the shows I am in with another perspective, as well as the ability to appreciate art I normally wouldn't notice. This is a key factor for me because I love to have a variety of skills and hobbies. In short, I am extremely passionate about theater and the characters for several reasons, but mostly because theater is a way to connect with people and it has so much meaning. Theater brings people from all different places and backgrounds and gives them a place to be together. Theater is something that welcomes everyone, and I value it for that reason.

The bright lights shine in my eyes. The gentle sound of a heartbeat pounds against my eardrums. The smell of unwashed patients and disgusting food in the bowls in front of them makes its way through my nostrils. I am the nurse. My job is on the line if I make one mistake. I am the nurse. I feed the patients in front of me, many of them rocking or gagging. Some of them even hallucinate. I am the nurse. My voice rises from my chest--loud and horrifying. I yell at the girls to eat while slopping inedible mush into their bowls. I am the nurse. And this is the asylum. In my senior year of high school, I was cast in the incredibly tasking One-Act Competition Production. We performed the play "Nellie" by Robby Steltz, and it was moving. I had never felt something so empowering as walking across that stage as a completely different person. I was consumed by this character. I knew her from head to toe. When I planted myself on that stage, everything I knew was left behind. I embody my character. This was the first experience I had to be someone else-- to live another life. One reason why I love theater so much is that it brings a whole new meaning to stories you have heard time and time again. I love to watch theater, as well as participate in it. In my junior year of high school, my school's drama department performed "Cinderella." Most people had heard the story before, but this show changed the entire meaning of it. It made it new and bold. It was exhilarating to watch. For me, being on the stage is indescribable. I love being able to tell someone's story. I believe that's a big reason why I am so passionate. I love bringing a character to life and showing people who this person is. Another reason why I am so passionate about theater is because of the family it creates. Having a cast and crew full of people I might not even know can be scary, but it's beautiful to know that by the end, I may have a new group of people who care about me. I love how connecting acting can be. Not only can you find yourself and your peace within people on stage and backstage, but in the audience as well. As someone who also loves to watch productions, sometimes I feel so connected to actors who make you care about their characters. Theater creates so many connections whether that be emotional, personal, or professional. In short, I am extremely passionate about theater and the characters for several reasons, but mostly because theater is a way to connect with people and it has so much meaning. Theater brings people from all different places and backgrounds and gives them a place to be together. Theater is something that welcomes everyone, and I value it for that reason.