As a proud member of my community, I strive to be able to give back in any way that I can, spreading a positive impact to everyone I come in contact with. In high school, I became a part of an organization called LEAD Legacy. It is a program provided by the school in order to help promote student leadership and give students a voice in how the school is run. I became a co-chair of the Service team, where I was responsible for helping students become better servants both at school and in their community. This experience has taught me not only how to be a leader, but how to have a servant's heart. I believe that serving others is one of the most fulfilling things anyone can do. It creates a sense of community and belonging. The connections you make with the people you serve are unlike any other. In this role, I strive to create an inclusive environment for everyone involved in service events. I want people to feel cared for, valued, important, and loved by those around them. Furthermore, I have been fortunate enough to go out and volunteer with many organizations such as Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding and Respite in Krugerville, Texas. I have always had a passion for horses and so I thought I would be able to share my talents to help people in need. As I was there, I learned a lot more than I ever thought I could. I have used this opportunity to create connections with people who needed me. One of my favorite connections was with a girl named Kasey. She was a client at Blue Sky and was the sweetest girl you could ever meet. I was able to get to know her, and she made me just as happy as I hoped to make her. Throughout my high school experience on the service team and as a volunteer at many organizations, I have been able to create an inclusive environment not only at my high school but in the community through numerous acts of service. I hope to be able to continue helping others even after I leave high school. The skills and experiences I have acquired over the years to continue serving. In the future, I hope to be an OBGYN where I can truly make strong connections with the people in my community as I help several women through a really important time in their life. Through serving as a high schooler, I learned that I deeply value all the connections I made through serving in my community and I want to be able to create strong connections through my profession, using my talents to be a doctor, as well as a friend to those in need.

The meaning of life seems like such a complex idea that has stumped people for years, but as a Christian, this answer is very clear to me. My purpose in life is to worship and bring glory to God. I have been guided through life by my identity in Christ, and it is my purpose to praise him for everything he has done for me. God is the reason I wake up every morning and live each moment to its fullest. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “...Whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.” No matter what we do in life, we should do it for God. He created us for this purpose and this purpose only. We are not here for our own sake, but God’s sake. Many people try to find meaning in worldly possessions such as love, drugs, education, and other pleasurable ideals. Ultimately, these do not lead to fulfillment. Over time, one can be left feeling a sense of emptiness and depression. This is because those words items are not why we are here on this earth. In John 4:13-14 Jesus says “...whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” If we give our life to Jesus and his purpose, we will be filled with the Holy Spirit, our life will finally have meaning, and we can truly carry out our purpose on this earth as followers of Jesus Christ. I try to fulfill my purpose by being spreading the word of God to everyone around me. By showing others the truth, I am fulfilling my purpose as well. Through spreading the good news, God is gaining all of the glory we can offer to him.

For most of my life, I wanted to be a lawyer. My mind was set, and nothing was going to change it, or so I thought. In my sophomore year of high school, I realized where my real passions lie: medicine. I learned that a career should be about interests and not money. My career change was a drastic turn in direction, but it was not a hard one to make. I remember sitting in the lobby, waiting to go talk to my own OB/GYN. Looking around the room, I saw a woman. She was gently resting her hand on her round stomach. I couldn't help myself from watching her. It was so fascinating to think about how a small child was growing inside her stomach. Suddenly, something clicked. As strange as it sounds, I found my true passion at that very moment. I finally understood that my true dream is to be an OB/GYN. Over time, I continued to research the specifics of this job: both pros and cons. This made me even more convinced that this was the path for me. I want to make a difference, helping bring humanity's future into this world. One day, they will be the ones running our countries, schools, households, and so much more. Life itself is a beautiful masterpiece, and like art, it has to start somewhere. There is a long process involved when creating art. Most of the time, the beginning stages are overlooked, but they are crucial to this process. Those beginning stages are where I want to make my impact. I can't wait to be in an operating room and just say, "Welcome, little one. It's time to start your journey."

Friendships are the connections you make throughout periods of your life. They can shape you in so many ways, and they help you become the person you are meant to be. I would even say my friends have saved me from some of the lowest parts of my life. Towards the beginning of high school, I was going through some difficult times. My insecurities overwhelmed me in every aspect of my life. I felt invisible and alone. Confiding in people was never my strong suit, and so I never told any of my family or friends what I was feeling. It was something I had to fix on my own. Eventually, I began to reach out about these things to a friend of mine. She was the one who helped me through my darkest moments. Because of her, I sought out people who truly wanted to help me. I even tried out for the school musical because of her. She convinced me I needed a distraction from academic pressure. She was right. Those few months were the happiest I have ever been. I made so many connections with people who changed and challenged me in so many ways. I don't know where I would be without them. I learned to trust in others and let them help me through tough times. We can't always do everything ourselves. My friend pulled me out of a deep hole and showed me the benefits of having friends you can rely on. “What are friends for,” is a common phrase. Over time I developed an answer to this question. Throughout life, people are put in our lives to help us grow. They build us up at our lowest points and guide us to become the best version of ourselves.