I have been battling mental health issues since I was 9 years old. I thought that everyone was like me and didn't eat breakfast. It wasn't brought to my attention that this was an issue until I slowly stopped eating lunch in addition to not eating breakfast. If I did eat lunch or breakfast, have no fear I would just throw it up when no one else was around. I've always believed in God and have been raised in a Christian community but I could never grasp how my God took my best friend away from me at the age of 13. Why couldn't it have just been me? The grief was almost too much to bear. I didn't feel pretty or worthy enough to even still be on this earth. Maybe if I just went home to be with the Lord everything would get better. By my freshman year of high school, I was still starving myself and purging; criticizing myself constantly, and weighing myself daily. I happened to be in a Spanish I class with one of my best friends and she went to grab my lunchbox because she was hungry. As she grabbed it she made some comment that my lunchbox was extremely light. I will never forget the look of horror when she opened my lunchbox to only find a lifesaver wintergreen mint and a packet of cheese crackers. "Madelyn! You have a serious problem I think you have an eating disorder!" I was in such denial at the time that I thought she was just being flat-out ridiculous. It wasn't until a couple of months later that I was officially diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, body dysmorphia, severe anxiety, and severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. When I first started my therapy (and anti-anxiety medication) three years ago I did not realize that my face was sunken in, I was taking the highest dosage that a person could take without overdosing, and I was skin and bones-- literally. I did not realize that I was so close to death that I almost had to be admitted to an inpatient facility in Dallas to get hooked up to a feeding tube. As for the friendships and relationships that I had during that time, I realized that my friendships helped encourage my bad behavioral habits and wanted me to suffer because they were not truly my friends. Now my friendships and relationships are healthy and I am always giving advice to other people so that my friends never have to go through what I went through. The main reason why I want to be an elementary school teacher is so that these kids have a firm foundation and a person that they can rely on so that they will be less likely to develop mental health disorders. I want these kids to never have to go through the pain that my family went through watching me suffer and not being able to change my mind about any of my actions. The only advice I can give to someone battling mental health is that you have to be the one to want to get sober. No one else can do it for you. Battling mental health is battling an addiction; an addiction to a "source of security" that is false and does not benefit anyone. I am happy to say that I have been sober and clean from all of my mental health issues for over a year now and I have put in a lot of work and effort to get there too.

We were 7 years old at the time when my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. Second graders don't think too much when someone says that they are "sick" but this wasn't the type of sick that I was used to. I didn't know at the time how educated I would become in sarcoma (bone) types of cancer. My friend ended up having Ewing-Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, that was in his ribs. That was a 2-year long battle that ended with him getting 3 of his ribs taken out and left him with a scar that went from the middle of his back to the middle of his chest right above his stomach. He did go through chemotherapy and radiation but I thought that everything was fine since God had miraculously healed him. Soon enough 5 years later, he started complaining that his right knee was hurting and that it wasn't just a strain or a deep tissue bruising. After a full body scan, osteosarcoma an even more aggressive type of cancer was found in his femur and a couple months later all over his body. We were 13. I didn't realize until that final diagnosis that he would never graduate from high school, college, or middle. He wouldn't have his first kiss, get married, or have a child of his own. He later passed away on May 11th, 2020. His legacy has proven to me that our time on Earth is valuable and cannot be wasted on pointless things that will not matter years from now. He has inspired me to be the best version of myself that I can be, inspiring others to raise awareness for childhood cancer when I have the opportunity. Being a teacher is what I'm called to do in life and I believe that by being a teacher I can help our next generations learn and grow for the better. Our first years of life are fundamental and need to be filled with good teachers who are passionate and want to be in the classroom. My best friend still managed to continue with his education while he was battling cancer because his teacher was there for him and was willing to accommodate him. I am more than willing to do that with my future students. His future kept him going and wanting to keep fighting and that's one of the things that has kept me fighting through my darkest moments. If he can go through this terrible experience with a smile on his face and still praise the Lord, then I can do and deal with whatever I'm struggling with at the moment. I thank the Lord every day for my beloved friend because there will not be a day that goes by that I do not think of him and what I can do to be more like him.

Understanding the nature of our universe is a very difficult thing to do. If I'm being completely honest I don't think that we'll ever be able to fully understand the nature of our universe, but I do believe that we can learn more about our world through the way we learn. Learning is a crucial part of understanding the way other people's minds "work" and function. Learning can help others learn more about themselves and others. Learning opens endless possibilities and opportunities for others that can benefit future generations and our current society and the world that we are living in. I am going to teach kindergarten or third grade so that I can help those kids learn and grow for the better. I believe that our first 20 years of life influence who we become as people and what beliefs and opinions we develop. Our universe is not solely made up of nature, it is also made out of people. "The universe doesn't revolve around you" is a phrase that we all commonly hear but what most people don't realize is that in a way the universe kind of does revolve around us; the way we are living is affecting our universe and environment. I want to educate our future generations about living sustainably so that our world can be around for longer. I want to educate because without educating there is no awareness. If you do not know about something how are you expected to execute it fully and know what to do? You wouldn't because there needs to be that extra push and guidance that comes from a good teacher. A good teacher encourages, uplifts, and supports others and that's what I want to be to our next generations. The next generations are our world's future and the future of our universe and environment. Changing other people's lives can come from a very small thing but our impact is our legacy in life. Legacy is something that everyone leaves behind and I do believe that our legacy is one of the most important things we can leave behind. Legacy does not define who we are but it does define what lasting impact you have on our environment and our universe. I am going to make an impact in this universe and in this world because changing just one person's life is enough for me. I do believe that it is important that we as people work better to understand the nature of our universe because this is the future that we are talking about and the future is very broad, vast, and almost beyond comprehension.

My dream career is to become a kindergarten or third-grade teacher. I plan on getting my masters in Early Childhood Education from Lubbock-Christian University after graduating from South Plains College and Lubbock-Cooper High School. I am passionate about being a teacher because I want to be someone that our future kids and generation can look up to and rely on. I want to be the teacher who wants to be there and help the kids learn and grow for the better. I want those kids to be better than me and always have the resources at school to someone if they need to. I have taught Sunday School at my church for elementary school and I am currently working as a student aid at Lubbock-Cooper High School for "Integrated Physics and Chemistry." I plan on also teaching a children's Sunday school class once I am able to have a steady job and career as a teacher. The sacrifices I have made to get where I am today are great. Since my freshman year of high school, I have been trying to take as many teaching and dual credit classes as I can. I study every day and am fully committed to trying to complete as many of my basics as I can before I graduate from high school. I am constantly applying for scholarships because any bit of money will help me. I have been saving for college and my future since I was in elementary school and all of my life savings are going toward my degree. I have been touring college campuses since my sophomore year of high school just to find that extra confirmation and validation that I am going where I need to be in life after Lubbock-Christian University as a teacher. Serving and volunteering in my community has also proven to me that there needs to be people passionate about their jobs. Some people just go into certain jobs and careers for the money and they are miserable for the rest of their lives. I want to be the person who chooses the teaching and education career not for the money but because I am passionate about it and believe that I can make a difference in these kid's lives. Teaching is solely my passion and what I am called to do in life and I will devote my entire life to this job. Teaching is not only a "job" but it is also helping and guiding the future generation in growth and maturity that will soon be actively involved and making decisions in the world.

My dream career is to become a kindergarten or third-grade teacher. I plan on getting my masters in Early Childhood Education from Lubbock-Christian University after graduating from South Plains College and Lubbock-Cooper High School. I am passionate about being a teacher because I want to be someone that our future kids and generation can look up to and rely on. I want to be the teacher who wants to be there and help the kids learn and grow for the better. I want those kids to be better than me and always have the resources at school to talk to if they need someone. I have taught Sunday School at my church for elementary school and I am currently working as a student aid at Lubbock-Cooper High School for "Integrated Physics and Chemistry." I plan on also teaching a children's Sunday school class once I am able to have a steady job and career as a teacher. The sacrifices I have made to get where I am today are great. Since my freshman year of high school, I have been trying to take as many teaching and dual credit classes as I can. I study every day and am fully committed to trying to complete as many of my basics as I can before I graduate from high school. I am constantly applying for scholarships because any bit of money will help me. I have been saving for college and my future since I was in elementary school and all of my life savings are going toward my degree. I have been touring college campuses since my sophomore year of high school just to find that extra confirmation and validation that I am going where I need to be. I have also had a lot of mental health battles that I am proud to say I have won. I battled Anorexia Nervosa, bulimia, body dysmorphia, severe anxiety, and severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. It takes a special kind of person to continue on the path that they know they are supposed to be on; I have fought my inner demons to get to the place where I am today. Serving and volunteering in my community has also proven to me that there needs to be people passionate about their jobs. Some people just go into certain jobs and careers for the money and they are miserable for the rest of their lives. I want to be the person who chooses the teaching and education career not for the money but because I am passionate about it and believe that I can make a difference in these kid's lives. Teaching is solely my passion and what I am called to do in life and I will devote my entire life to this job. Teaching is not only a "job" but it is also helping and guiding the future generation in growth and maturity that will soon be actively involved and making decisions in the world.

If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, that book would be "I Still Believe" by Jeremy Camp. "I Still Believe" has impacted my life in many different ways and has even led me to the college that I want to go to. Before this book, I had no idea that Bible colleges and Christian colleges were actual things. I just thought that there were the "party colleges" and the "elite-- non-partying colleges." After I found out that Christian colleges were a thing I started researching and soon after I found Lubbock-Christian University. I'm sure that I would have realized that there are Christian colleges but reading how a Christian college impacted Jeremy's life made me want to find that and experience it too. At the time I read "I Still Believe" I was also going through a very difficult time. One of my best friends had just passed away from osteosarcoma and I was a complete wreck. While reading that book, I realized that I wasn't alone and that other people go through the same things as me. As a reader, there is an almost personal connection with Jeremy Camp and it feels as if he is standing in front of you telling you his testimony. Reading about Jeremy's testimony made me want to find a deeper connection with the Lord and want to let the Lord use me to grow mine for His glory. For anyone going through a dry season of faith wondering if God is even there or if He still cares, He does just trust His timing. If the whole world were to read this book, I believe that the world would be better overall and people would be more grateful for all of their blessings. I also think that reading Jeremy's testimony would lead more people to Christ and help further build the Kingdom of God.

The first memory I have of "I Still Believe" is reading the book when I was in 7th grade. I love true Christian testimonies because they are always heartfelt and genuine and make me look at my own life. I loved the book and a few months later the "I Still Believe" movie came out in 2020. Of course that was during the COVID-19 pandemic so it was not showing in theaters but that didn't matter to me, I bought it as soon as it was available to stream. I knew that I would be emotional during the movie I would be emotional because I too had gone through a similar circumstance as Jeremy Camp did. The same year that movie came out was the year one of my best friends passed away from osteosarcoma. Reading the book helped me remember why I still had faith in the Lord and why I still believed in Him. I read about Jeremy struggling to cope with the situation and the hand he was dealt and I almost felt that I knew him personally because of that. Several times throughout reading the book, I would have to pause and take a break to sob because I did feel Jeremy's pain of just watching Melissa's cancer progress and having nothing to do to make it any better or less painful for her. Finally, the day came when I bought the movie, I tried to prepare myself all day for the emotional roller coaster that I knew would come with watching the movie. What made things even worse was that my parents decided that they also wanted to watch the movie with me so that we could all have a "family movie night." I was terrified. Of course, I started sobbing, feeling God's presence throughout the entire movie, and after the movie was over I spent time meditating on it and reading my Bible. "I Still Believe" helped me realize that there are Bible colleges and Christian universities out there and that I don't have to go to "party college." The greatest impact that I can give to "I Still Believe" is helping me find Lubbock-Christian University-- my dream college. That is now my main goal is to go there and learn more about the Lord while working toward my master's in education. This movie has given me hope and has led me to amazing places. College is an important decision and I am so blessed to know that someone else's testimony has impacted my life for the better and is guiding me on the right path.

When I think of the phrase "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" I think of celebrities and their mysterious affairs. I don't think of the movies or the TV shows that Hollywood produces, I only see the people. People who were once "normal" before they got "famous." People who didn't realize what a living hell their life would be after everyone is constantly watching and criticizing them. The fame only looks good from far away before you're actually in it and you cannot escape it. If I'm being honest I feel bad for these people who are celebrities because I think that they don't fully realize what they are getting themselves into. I feel that once you get your "first taste" of attention you are constantly left searching and grasping for more until there is nothing left. I also think that Hollywood corrupts a lot of good people. We need more good role models for the next generation to look to. Drinking and partying is not the role model that our kids need to be looking up to and following their every move. Our children want to be fun and cool and do what all of the celebrities, cool people, and popular people are doing. I think that if celebrities were to denounce vaping, smoking, drinking, drugs, and starving themselves because it "feels good;" our kids wouldn't be so inclined to follow the trends and the new thing that everyone's doing. I understand that everyone has their problems and their own "inner demons" but I do believe that Hollywood could be doing a good job of describing how they have overcome their problems and how the rest of society can do the same. I want to think of Hollywood and tell my children, " 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' this celebrity denounced how working out for hours every day is unhealthy and they also said that you look perfect the way you are." I want these "standards" for how women are supposed to look and dress to disappear because celebrities and other influences of the world have finally realized that you can look and dress the way you want to without trying to impress some boy and seek his attention. I want the "always wearing makeup" standard to disappear because I want young girls to love themselves first and not feel the need to make themselves look better. I want them to wear makeup if they want to not because they feel like they have to. The whole point I am trying to convey is that I want Hollywood to have the hope to have a better impact on society and the younger generations the next time I think of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."

The definition of success in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary states that success is "a degree or measure of succeeding; favorable or desired outcome; one the succeeds; obsolete" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). My "desired outcome" is that I will graduate from Lubbock-Christian University with a master's degree in early childhood education. After I obtain my master's degree, I want to teach either kindergarten or third grade at an elementary school. I want to get married, have four kids, and raise them with a husband who will love them more than anything else in the world. I want my kids to be a beacon of light for those in the world who need to see God's light shining down in a world full of darkness and pain. The reason why I've chosen to be a teacher is because I believe that this is the most important job that anyone could have or even pursue. It takes a special person to want to teach and have the gift and ability to teach. I am blessed to have that gift and ability to do so and I often get asked by other people "Why would you choose to do this?" I simply answer with the fact that these kids are our next generation. These kids need someone to love them, look up to, inspire them, and help them so that they can learn and grow. I want to be in a grocery store and see one of my previous students years later and have them tell me hi and tell me how I helped influence their lives. Even if that only happens once for me in my lifetime I still believe that it will all be worth it in the end. I have been wanting to be an elementary school teacher since the 6th grade; without a doubt in my mind, I know that is what I am called to do in life. I want to give other kids the opportunity to realize what they have the potential to do in life if only they achieve it and work hard. Success is not defined by how many awards you've gotten over the years, or how much prestige or recognition you receive from higher officials or people in higher positions than you. Success is not defined by your status and power in a business or company. Success is not defined by how much money someone makes per year or the house that you live in. Success is defined by the little things that you accomplish over time that leave a lasting impact that makes our world and our community a better place. My definition of success is what everyone should strive for in life. Getting this opportunity for a scholarship will help me not go into financial debt after I graduate from college. This opportunity will show me that there is hope for my future and I am not overachieving or thinking too big. This opportunity will also give me the push to keep working hard because what I'm doing will be worth it in the end.

My answer is constantly changing for which "Team" I'm on. I read the books before I started watching the TV series. For the 1st book: "The Summer I Turned Pretty" I was Team Conrad then my answer changed to Team Jeremiah for the 2nd book: "It's Not Summer Without You." As for the last book in the series: "We'll Always Have Summer" I went back to Team Conrad. Conrad represents everything that people look for in a "first love." He has a mysterious personality, charming and dazzling good looks, and an amazing sense of humor that lights up any room that he walks into. Even though Conrad may seem stand-offish and indecisive, I would argue that Jeremiah takes a very immature approach to "winning Belly's heart." Jeremiah is constantly stirring up drama and trouble with Conrad and is in most cases the instigator in almost all of the fights between the two brothers. Jeremiah, in my opinion just happens to be the wrong guy at the wrong time. He and Belly are better as friends more than anything. There is no denying that the chemistry between Belly and Conrad is strong. She makes him want to be better and even brings out the more sweet and sensitive parts of him that few people can find. It takes a very special person to relate to and connect with to do that. I strongly believe that Conrad is misunderstood. In a way I kind of think that he's like an M&M. M&Ms have a strong and hard candy shell but once you break into the chocolate piece of the M&M, it is sweet and melts in your mouth. This is just another example of how genuine Belly and Conrad's relationship is. They aren't trying to force anything which is how Belly and Jeremiah's relationship appears to be. In the "game of love," nothing can be forced. You cannot fit a puzzle piece into a spot where it does not belong and that is the equivalent of Belly and Jeremiah's relationship. Belly and Conrad are clearly in love when they have their small alone moments together. Jeremiah was not there for Belly when he said that he would be at the debutante ball and Conrad was the one who had to step in and fill Jeremiah's place. In a way I guess someone could say that Jeremiah loves Belly but it is not to the extent that Conrad does. Conrad gives Belly meaningful gifts such as the infinity necklace and all of Jeremiah's gifts are surface level. There is no one else that I can picture Conrad with other than Belly and I can't picture Belly with anyone else than Conrad.

I believe that giving back to the community can be done in any way, shape, or form. I want to be a kindergarten or third-grade teacher because I believe that the world needs more teachers who are passionate and want to be there in the classroom working with the students. Being there in the classroom with the students is a great way to give back to the community. I have been giving back to the community since 2017 when I first started volunteering at my local library (at the time) in Maryland. I had the privilege of working with the children in that Anne Arundel County community and providing them with books that interested them and got them excited about learning. They wanted to choose their books and wanted to be able to tell me how excited they were about earning their free book at the end of the summer reading program once they completed their hours. I volunteered with that program and that library for 3 years until COVID-19 happened and the program and my library closed for several months. Since then I am proud to say that I am currently volunteering in a freshman integrated physics and chemistry class as a student aid/assistant (or as my school likes to call it a PiSigma). This is a "class" that I am currently taking voluntarily and I believe that this is a great experience for when I finally get into the education field someday. I am constantly learning from my students every day and they show me time and time again that teaching is something that evolves and is constantly changing. Teaching is a lot like volunteering, you must have the passion, drive, determination, and motivation to do it or you will be miserable doing so. Being a teacher for these kids means being someone they can look up to and rely on. It means being kind and loving in your community. After all, these are the kids that are the future of our community and the next generation. We need to show them how to give back so that they can do the same for the generation after them. There needs to be more teachers in the world, specifically teachers who want to be there and help the kids grow. Having that passion, drive, determination, and motivation stated earlier will make our world better. Volunteering is important but I would argue that teachers are a way of volunteering and giving back to the community.

I am part of the Gen Z era and I am terrified that I will "inherit a bankrupt country and world. Millennials are setting Gen Z up for failure. Gen Z will constantly continue making the world and especially the United States of America, go further and further in debt by the trillions. How can Gen Z "fix all of the problems" going on in the world when the world keeps evolving and changing? We are living in a new day and era than Millenials were. Life evolves and so do people so why would Gen Z want to write letters when they can just send a text or post something on social media? Social media is a luxury that Gen Z has and uses that Millennials will never fully understand. A major problem with Gen Z is the fact that most people do not want to work. COVID-19 has taught people that the government will just hand out "free" money for the people who just want to sit at home and do nothing. This "free" money they are receiving is NOT free! This is the government's money that we are spending still causing us to go further into debt and causing inflation to rise. The difference between the present-day and the Great Depression is that the people living through the Great Depression did not have the luxury of technology for communication. There was no internet so people could not work from home and did not have that convenience. I do not think that Gen Z will become "The Greatest Generation 2.0" because Millenials are part of the reason why the world is going into continuous debt. Gen Z will not be able to "fix" this problem and neither will the future generations. Our only hope to get our nation and the world out of debt is some miracle that will revolutionary change the world (such an invention as the internet) or the holy reckoning.

I am so excited that "1989 (Taylor's Version)" is finally here. I was 7 at the time when the original album was released and I remember not knowing what to think of Taylor switching genres. She has proved herself time and time again that the "old Taylor" is still the same as the "new Taylor." My boyfriend claimed to hate Taylor Swift's music but the first song I ever showed him was "You Are In Love." He had no idea that it was Taylor Swift and he loved that song. That song perfectly described me and my boyfriend's relationship and how we both felt about each other at that time. Some songs on "1989" are not nearly as serious and sentimental such as "Welcome To New York" but that still does not mean that they are not good songs. When I first entered the Lincoln Tunnel going into New York, that was the song I was playing as I was marveled by the Big Apple. "Clean" such an underrated song perfectly describes how I felt about my mental health a few years ago. I was stuck in this terrible state of mind that I could not get out of, but when I finally did I realized that I could never go back to living that way. "Ten months sober, I must admit/Just because you're clean, don't mean you miss it/Ten months older, I won't give in/Now that I'm clean, I'm gonna risk it." I could not phrase this better myself and when I realized that Taylor was going through some of the same mental health issues I was, I was able to relate to her on a whole new level. This year I also lost a lot of friends and friendships that I thought would last forever. My best friend of 5 years and I are no longer friends. She was not the same person that I used to know. People do grow and change and when I was mad at her and myself for putting up with all of the problems and red flags I would listen to "Bad Blood." That song not only represented the rage I felt toward her but it also represented the betrayal and hurt that I felt having to leave that relationship behind and let it go. When I first saw the title of the vault track "Suburban Legends" I didn't know what to think. This is currently my favorite vault track because it's the one that I relate to the most. "I broke my own heart 'cause you were too polite to do it." I always try to blame myself for every little thing that goes wrong and I need to stop doing that. "When you told me we'd get back together/And you kissed me in a way that's gonna screw me up forever." This lyric in my opinion is the most raw lyric from the vault tracks. My soundtrack for 2023 would have to include all of the songs from "1989 (Taylor's Version)" but if I had to pick my 5 favorites I would choose: "You Are In Love," "Welcome To New York," "Clean," "Bad Blood," and "Suburban Legends" because of all of the memories that go with those songs for me.

The first Taylor Swift song that I ever heard was "Love Story." This was the song I would turn up to full volume in the car and scream-sing. But the first song I fell in love with was "All Too Well." That song represented lyrically how I felt about the loss of one of my best friends. The "Red" album was what made me fall in love with Taylor Swift's music. I saw the "Red Tour" in 2013 in Pennsylvania and even bought several posters and the "Red" CD at the concert. I played that CD until it got scratched and physically would not work anymore. Christmas of 2013, I wanted a guitar because I wanted to be "the next Taylor Swift" and learn how to play the guitar and piano just like my icon: Taylor Swift. I got a purple beginner guitar but that was enough for me and the first song I learned how to play on that guitar was "All Too Well." For my elementary school talent show that year, I sang "All Too Well" and moved the entire audience with her song. Everyone can relate to at least one lyric in that song, for me it was, "And I might be okay but I'm not fine at all." As I started to mature and begin middle school, I decided that I wanted to learn how to play the piano. Can you guess what song I played? "All Too Well" and I pretended like I was her at her Grammy performance of the song. By the end of middle school, my family and I had decided to move back home to Texas from Maryland. Before we left Maryland, I played "All Too Well" on my piano and when we finally got to Texas that was the first song that I played. I began to fall back in love with vinyl records when I started high school and that's when "Red (Taylor's Version)" was released with the original 10-minute version of my favorite song. That was the first song I played on my vinyl record player and the "Red" album was also the first album that I did buy on vinyl. Taylor Swift's "Eras" has helped me realize how much everyone changes as they age. In a way, I feel like I have grown up with Taylor Swift. When I listen to her music now, there is always a deeper meaning and connection because the older I get the more the meaning of each song changes for me. Her music has helped me get through many tough times in my life such as mental health issues which I have now overcome. "All Too Well" will always be my favorite song but what's most meaningful to me about Taylor Swift is the memories that I will always have thinking about her and "All Too Well."