In college, I plan to major in Economics with concurrent study (either a major or minor) in Political Science. This combined course of study will allow me to curate a well-rounded knowledge of the workings of our world, which I plan to then use to help others, especially youth, through a career in public service. My junior year, I joined Gator Buddies. Gator Buddies is a club aiming to foster relationships between general-ed and students with disabilities in my school’s FLS program. I’ve made fun memories and lasting relationships, but this club has also taught me hard lessons in disability law. I learned of the hardships that parents faced in their attempts to provide their children with adequate healthcare, of their struggles to find programs for their child post-graduation. Illinois has one of the most comprehensive youth disability support systems, with public education extending through age 22 and affordable recreational programs available; however, this isn’t always enough, and few states offer even these basic supports. My education will help me enter a career of public service, where I will advocate for laws to better protect and provide for disabled youth and their families. Along with disability legislation, I will also champion public education reform during my time in public service. My work as a math tutor has made me realize that learning diversity, even outside of disability, is hardly recognized in our current education system. Children who need breaks or exercise to help them focus are rarely given these opportunities. Families of children with chronic health conditions often find that teachers are unwilling or unable to keep their child from falling behind. Teens often lack the needed support for future planning or sometimes overwhelming academic pressure. On the most basic level, as a tutor I’ve learned that different students are motivated by different kinds of rewards. Yet, in most classroom settings, grades are the only offered rewards. This acknowledgement of learning diversity must be better recognized in education legislation, which is something I will change during my future time in public service. While my legislative agenda will be a staple to my future career, my role, no matter where I end up in public service, will also serve a more symbolic purpose. I grew up with few female political leaders as role models. More women have broken into the political sphere since, but there is still room for improvement. In a political position, I’d be a role model for young girls. I’d also hope to be a model of cooperation for all youth: I believe in bipartisanship and cooperation, something that today’s adult politicians lack, and this is something that I hope I can help tomorrow’s politicians learn to develop in order to move our country toward a brighter future. My studies of Economics and Political Science will give me the best shot at future political success, where I plan to champion legislation to improve the lives of youth and act as a role model for leaders to come.

To be educated is to be free. Free to find the right answer. Free to ask for help, and to know when to do so. Free to seek growth in discomfort, and to choose growth when opportunities arise. Free to understand the “why”, rather than just the “what” or “how”, behind the ideas and processes that run our world. To be educated is to be free to pursue your interests as far as you can take them. To be educated is also to be free to learn beyond your interests, and to constantly explore. Most importantly, to be educated is to commit to a process of learning that fosters growth in all areas of your life, for the rest of your life. My first step to attaining an education, to continuing my lifelong pursuit of knowledge, is to attend college. There, I plan to pursue a double major in Economics and Government, my two major interests. Learning from people who have extensive experience on the topics that they teach, thus demonstrating their commitment to their personal education, is a great way for me to gain a deeper understanding not only of the topic itself, but also of the “why” behind its importance and the application of that knowledge to life–thus developing my own education. I'd also be able to take classes that don't necessarily relate to my majors, but would allow me to develop a more well-rounded breadth of knowledge, such as in topics like Philosophy and Theology. Attending college would allow me to dive into my interests, explore areas beyond said interests, and grow in new ways. To be educated is to be free, not only free to grow academically and personally, but to grow in all areas of life. After college, I plan to always pursue opportunities for personal growth and learning. One of my biggest goals is to travel the world, experiencing as many different cultures as possible in order to gain a deeper empathetic ability and more knowledge of our world as a whole. Travelling the world is related to my goal of becoming multilingual. In college, I plan to pursue my progress in studying Spanish, but I would also like to learn Mandarin, German, and Swahili, on top of my native knowledge of the English language. Learning these languages would help me to relate to even more people, not only during my travels, but in my everyday life. This knowledge would expand my abilities to relate to others. To be educated is to be free. Free to grow, to travel, to succeed, to relate to others. Learning is incredibly important to me, because it is the best way to reach your full potential and maximize your time on Earth. My next step in my learning journey is to attend college, after that, I plan to maximize my opportunities through travel and language-learning. After that, I plan to always pursue experiences that expand my knowledge and abilities. It will allow me to be free.

Nothing in life is as straightforward as we think it is. There isn't just one way to be successful or to have an enjoyable life. There are thousands of languages and billions of people on this planet; there are so many ways just to greet another person, and you will never greet every single person in your lifetime. It makes life seem big, scary, and impossible to understand. But there's one thing that connects every single person on the planet. It's not a language, ability, or skin color; it's math. Math is constant. Units of measurement might change from one country to another, but the fact that one plus one is two is a constant no matter where you are on Earth. Math is the common denominator across all of humanity. It's what allows us to find common factors that bridge the divides between us. This past summer, I became a math tutor for the first time. I'd worked a few restaurant jobs and wasn't feeling fulfilled, and I wanted to try tutoring instead. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Every day, I'm met with students of all levels of math. One minute I'm helping a student learn how to identify numbers, the next I'm teaching a student how to long divide, and the next I'm helping an AP Calculus student learn Rolle's Theorem. And although my job is challenging at times, it is 100% worth the look on a student's face when they finally understand a concept: pure joy. Math has the ability to bring satisfaction into one's life, and even though I work with students at different levels of math every day, the one thing they all have in common is the look of satisfaction when they finish a page, or a quiz, or simply find understanding in numbers. I love math because it brings people together. Math is something we all use in our daily lives, from a cashier counting change to an engineer designing a skyscraper; it is something everyone can understands, whether it be a kindergartener announcing that they're six and a half or a high school student learning calculus; and, it brings to all ages, from a second grader getting a 10/10 on their homework to a high school student finally understanding statistical z-scores. I love math because it is humanity's common denominator.