Math isn't a random series of numbers and algorithms, it is a necessary basis for everything in the world. In every class I'm in, I'm always amazed to see math's applicability. Whether I need to perform calculations and analyze data in a lab for my science class, adjust my speed based on the hills and slopes during a cross country race, or even gain new perspectives of historic events, math has an infinite number of applications. Although I have always been fascinated with math, my love for the subject grew when I was assigned to build a 3D bridge out of cardboard in Geometry. I was amazed to see how something so seemingly complex could be easily constructed if you determined the right angles and side lengths. I resolved to pursue math as far as I could. I love teaching myself new math concepts, and even took the AP Calculus BC test, despite only being in AP Calculus AB, purely because I love to learn. Math provides me with a new language to communicate in. I love that there is always a right answer to be found if you follow the steps. Mistakes aren't bad, they're an integral part of the learning process and lead you towards the solution. As someone who grew up with Selective Mutism, fears of failure and judgement often kept me from talking to others. Yet through math, I began comparing answers with friends and even raising my hand to share in class. Math pushed me out of my comfort zone and left me with a desire to challenge myself - whether through advanced classes, social interactions, or branching out to other mathematical topics. In my high school's math club, I was challenged with complicated math and logic problems, learned concepts not covered in class, and competed in the American Mathematics Competition. I began holding weekly tutoring sessions for other high schoolers, which I still continue today, to help others understand why I love the challenge of math. I know that math will be prevalent in every aspect of my education and I can't wait to inevitably expand my knowledge of math.

As far back as I can remember, I have been fascinated with STEAM. I have always loved math and science, and was inspired to follow in the footsteps of my grandpa who was a doctor and my grandma who worked on the International Space Station. It took me a while to find my voice, but I am passionate about advocating for change in these fields. Before high school, I had let Selective Mutism take over my life, becoming mute and freezing in social situations that made me anxious. I believed that without a voice I would always be insecure, lonely, and just invisible. A girl once physically tried to make my mouth move in an attempt to make words come out, asking “Why aren’t you talking?”. I was intimidated, embarrassed, and scared all at once. Luckily, my teacher immediately intervened to see if I was alright. Experiences like this taught me that with the right support anyone can thrive. I found my support in Hispanic peers in my STEAM classes. In addition to being categorized as unintelligent or careless from not speaking in class, instant judgments about my learning capabilities were made solely based on being a Hispanic woman. In my classes, I connected with so many others who shared the same experiences on a regular basis. The sheer quantity of both racial-minorities and females who had also been reduced to being voiceless from society’s expectations fueled my desire to push myself when I knew I could do better and to never give in to the fear of standing apart from the crowd. I discovered a need to learn, to understand the world around me. In high school, I realized the value in collaboration that I had previously overlooked. I began signing up for AP classes, teaching myself subjects not offered, and pushing myself to get as much as possible out of school by participating in class. Through STEAM classes I have the opportunity to not just learn, but to act. Climate change, for instance, was a concern for me after learning about its causes and rate of progression in AP Environmental Science. Through participation in my school’s minority-led environmental club, Amplify, I was able to hold clothing exchanges to combat fast fashion, distribute metal boba straws at school, and work with climate organizations like BAYCS and Dispatch Goods to host events educating local communities on the importance of sustainability. One of my long-term projects has been implementing reusable containers into Alameda restaurants. I found myself yearning to do more, but was still hesitant until a few peers urged me to step outside my comfort zone. We led an event educating hundreds of shoppers about hydrofluorocarbons, drew attention to businesses using climate-friendly refrigerators running on carbon dioxide and propane, and met people interested in donating or partnering with our cause. My Hispanic peers in STEAM have consistently supported me and were a key reason that I have broken out of my shell. Stepping out of my comfort zone has and always will be a challenge for me. In the future I anticipate risks to come in many forms, yet the personal growth that arises from both success and failures is irreplaceable. I truly believe that advancements in STEAM — whether it’s cures for diseases, advancements in engineering, or breakthroughs in research — have the power to make such a large impact in the world. The Morgan Stem Diversity in STEM Scholarship would help me become financially secure during college so I can invest my time in pursuing my passions in advocacy and research, and become a voice for the voiceless.

Speak is the most powerful book because it tells the story of those without a voice. I came across Speak when researching the history of controversial books for a school assignment. After learning about the plot, this book immediately piqued my attention. The novel’s main character Melinda Sordino experiences the effects of Selective Mutism, a condition I’ve shared for the past fifteen years. I was told about my diagnosis from a young age but have never seen it portrayed in literature before and the few people I confided in had never heard of this condition either. For the first time I truly felt seen, heard. Unlike physical disabilities, Selective Mutism is not noticeable from the outside. Decisions in life are often dictated by the most vocal people, while the quieter ones fade unheard into the background. Speak reminds us of the unheard population out there and serves as a reminder to be inclusive. Just because someone is quiet doesn’t mean they aren’t a person deserving of the same respect. Regardless of if someone is outgoing or introverted, has a disability or not, everyone can resonate with the passionate messages portrayed in this book. Despite Melinda’s attempts to fit in, her reputation is a ruined when she calls the police during a party when she was raped. What damages her more than that night was the way everyone passive-aggressively bumped into her in the halls, ignored her, or spread rumors. Not one person bothered to find out the truth and ask if she was alright. The smallest acts of kindness can have a huge impact on someone struggling, yet are so easily forgotten. Through the story of one high schooler, Speak strengthens relationships through advocating for empathy and not anger. Even though I can easily see myself in Melinda’s shoes — getting picked on and judged each day for not speaking up — I too was reminded to make more of an effort to connect with my friends, especially when that meant stepping outside my comfort zone. Speak shares the experiences of a condition so easily ignored by society, but reminds us of the most important aspects of life: when we struggle through challenging times other people are all we have and one small comment can either bring joy just as easily as despair. Be kind, you never know what others are suffering through silently.

To me, music has never been just about the rhythm or euphony but the emotional connection. I love analyzing lyrics of my favorite songs because they reveal powerful messages that have the ability to make a change in anyone’s mindset. As a student who loves the applicability of math and the thrill of solving a complex problem, “Logical” immediately piqued my interest when listening to Guts for the first time. The repetition of the ending lyrics “I know I could’ve stopped it all/God, why didn’t I stop it all?” seems to describe my life perfectly. I’ve always been somewhat of a social outsider due to my Selective Mutism. When I was young I often froze and became mute whenever someone talked to me. I let the label define me and gave up all hope of change. I began mentally obsessing over my appearance in social situations and how I would be judged. I couldn’t talk and refused to share why, but was internally desperate for control over everything else. Through perseverance and the support of multiple speech therapists I have made so much progress over the years. I can now talk to new people and raise my hand in class. Yet, there will still always be some fear and anxiety associated with social situations. This anxiety often causes me to criticize my past mistakes and replay moments in my head, cringing whenever I felt I made an error. There have been so many times I’ve asked myself “Why didn’t I do this differently?”, alternating between “I should have just raised my hand!” and “I shouldn’t have said anything!” I’ve been diligently working on transforming this mental chastisement into optimistic feedback and I’ve begun to realize that the consequences of every action aren’t always clear. Sometimes things happen for no reason and nothing I did could have changed it. Letting go of this form of control is hard but it’s already changed my life for the better in so many ways. In addition to reducing stress, I can feel better about my small achievements like answering a question in class and focus on improving myself in the future instead of dwelling on the past. I believe acknowledging the limitations of control and letting this mindset go is something that everyone should strive to do in their own lives. Hearing Olivia Rodrigo emphasize it in one of her songs made me feel like my challenges were real, justifiable struggles and not just a silly goal. I will never be able to thank artists like Rodrigo enough for making me feel seen and heard in this overwhelming world where everyone feels invisible at some point.

Seeing how many people struggle to create a safe, enjoyable life drives me to find even small ways to make a positive impact on communities. I find that the best way to do so is through getting a valuable education. For me, an enjoyable class is not just an easy course load or getting high grades, but one where I can learn and expand my knowledge. Science stands out in particular because the material covered in those classes can be directly applied to this constantly changing world. They often fall under the stereotype of being impossibly difficult and even useless, but I have been able to connect them to so many areas of my life. The judgment and competition in these fields as a shy Hispanic female make it difficult at times to continue, but leaves me even more determined to succeed. Without perseverance, I wouldn’t be as dedicated or ambitious, missing out on many opportunities. While exploring my interests in STEAM, I have discovered so much that can be transferred to my life. The need for repeated trials and variables when doing a lab and wrong answers to an equation taught me that mistakes aren’t always wrong. In fact, they are often welcomed as a starting point for growth. Changing my mindset from striving for perfection to appreciating failures, I’ve become more confident and willing to take risks I never would have otherwise. I’ve realized so many instances where knowledge from class lectures can be taken a step further to influence others outside of a classroom. In my AP Environmental Science class for instance, learning about how the majority of global warming is only due to a small percent of the population (wealthy and large corporations) yet has an inequitable impact on the poor inspires me to focus on changing policies in larger companies and educating the public. I joined clubs like Amplify at my school centered around improving the environment, and am partnering with local climate organizations and businesses. Pulling knowledge from many scientific fields like environmental science, biology, and chemistry; I have held information booths about the use of refrigerants and greenhouse gasses, encouraged restaurants to switch to reusable takeout containers, and been a part of organizing school events focused on environmental change. Learning about the negative consequences of overpopulation and habitat damage drove me to volunteer at the local animal shelter. I actively support felines there and prepare them for adoption. Parallels like these between my education and community contributions sparked an interest in further studying science and math, as well as signing up for more challenging AP classes. My passion has also helped me to connect with teenagers who I would not have met otherwise. As a child with Selective Mutism, I would often freeze and become mute in public situations. This made it difficult to form social relationships, and despite significant progress, it can still be challenging to talk with others. In both my advanced STEAM classes and the initiatives I pursue outside of school, I have met peers with similar interests and gradually overcome my social anxiety. Our collaboration has strengthened ideas so they can be successfully implemented into society more than I could ever have done on my own. Having successfully made so much progress myself, I now want to continue giving back to my community through modern research in science. I do not anticipate that pursuing my interests will be easy, but I am willing to continue working against the criticism in hopes of making others’ lives less challenging and strengthening my own identity.

Each and every book I’ve read has personally impacted me, but the messages carried by Keith O’Brien’s Fly Girls are unrivaled in its genre. Fly Girls shows an underrepresented group of women trying hard not to gain power and authority, but to continue doing what they love. The female pilots are constantly pushing themselves and accepting the risk of death just to give the younger generation a chance. Although the book features well-known names like Amelia Earhart, it also features less infamous pilots like Thaden, Elder, and Nichols. This book really makes the reader to reflect on what makes someone famous in society. Why do some pilots get celebrated while others are ignored in history books? Is it their connections and publicity that truly brings fame or solely their achievements? While at the start it may appear as if you are reading the stories of heroes from several decades ago, the story forces readers to personally reflect on modern challenges in society and their own lives. People may want to believe that we live in an ideal society that has improved so much since then, but Keith O’Brien reminds us that our flaws still have a lasting impact today. Since finishing this book, I’ve looked back on history with a new perspective. I not only acknowledge the prominent gender inequality in the 20th century, but am able to see how woman achieved so much despite these inequalities. As a woman who has personally encountered this form of discrimination, these pilots are more than just determined fliers. They are role models who inspire me to speak up and make a change in my own community. Society today is still divided and plagued with a multitude of problems. Gender discrimination is still prominent, yet new issues like racism climate change and are also demanding attention. However, no solutions will ever be found unless community members follow the example of the brave women detailed in Fly Girls and find the courage to advocate for their opinions, even if they go against the expectations of society.

Seeing how many people struggle to create a safe, enjoyable life, along with the array of problems they suffer from, drives me to find even small ways to make a positive impact on communities. I find that the best way to do so is through getting a valuable education: not an easy course load with high grades, but classes where I can actually expand my knowledge. By pursuing a career in biological science and math, I have found many instances where the material covered in these subjects can be applied to this constantly changing world. The class lectures also motivate me to do what I can to improve the community I am in. While learning how the majority of global warming is only due to a small percent of the population (the wealthy and larger corporations), yet has an inequitable impact on the poor inspires me to focus on changing policies in those companies and doing what I can to inspire others. Recognizing that climate change is not an issue that can be solved by one person, I held community outreach events on the use of refrigerants and similar greenhouse gasses in order to educate the public. I also utilize knowledge from overlapping scientific fields like biology, environmental science, and chemistry to partner with local climate organizations and businesses, implement reusable takeout containers in restaurants and organize school events. These victories have been successful so far, but I continuously strive to find ways to strengthen the impact by taking on more initiatives this year. Seeing how deeply ingrained math has become in society motivates me to help others realize this. Through participation in my school’s math club, I’ve taught my peers new concepts and the importance of math. I hope to leverage the material in my STEM classes to help others – particularly minorities and lower-income social groups – understand the world around them. As someone who grew up with Selective Mutism and often felt isolated and misunderstood, I am hoping to aid others with disabilities or who are commonly discriminated against. Since middle school, I have been regularly volunteering for the nonprofit organization, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), at one of its local puppy raising clubs. During weekly meetings, I have worked with future guide dogs to train and expose them to new environments and prepare them to become a guide for a visually impaired person. Having gone to several guide dog graduations on the GDB campus, I have directly seen how appreciative and enthusiastic visually impaired clients are to regain their freedom. I am preparing to do puppy sitting for some of the club’s guide dogs this coming year and commit to raising dogs full time in the future. I also plan to continue my weekly volunteer work with Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS). I feel that this is a wonderful way to give back to the community as it not only provides a better future for abandoned or injured animals but also gives people a sense of joy when they are reunited with or adopt a pet. Socializing and caring for the frightened kittens and bunnies is a truly rewarding task and also means future adopters will have to invest less time in training. After seeing how my volunteer work has positively impacted the community, I am determined to continue giving back to society through STEM initiatives and volunteering with local nonprofit organizations.