Living in Alabama can be a challenge at times. There are many wild and dangerous animals, as well as tornadoes, flash floods, and severe heat waves and droughts. Living with autism is a challenge all the time. I never know when it is my turn to speak, when to laugh, when to be quiet, trying to figure out if I am missing any social cues, having to turn down hangouts with friends because I am feeling burnt out, and much more. In a way, living in Alabama and living with autism overlap in ways that we may have never thought of before. I always remember being treated as a wild animal, as if my peers seemed almost afraid to interact with me, and I was scared to interact with them. I was always scared to be around other people because I felt that they might be a snake in the grass; most likely harmless, but it is still important not to poke them with a stick. Alabama's weather is always a marvel. There is an old saying that goes 'If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes', and this could not be any closer to the truth. Sometimes, with autism, I constantly feel like there is a storm going on in my brain, going from a tornado to a sunny day, to a flash flood, to a severe no-burn zone drought. I find it hard at times to make plans or accomplish simple tasks due to the wild amount of weather changes going on in my head (and it most likely does not help that it is 104°F outside either). While Alabama has its challenges, it also has its wonderful and amazing qualities. Alabama is known for its wide range of biodiversity and beautiful hiking trails and waterfalls. After a long, hot hike, there is nothing better than taking your shoes and socks off and playing in the nice, cool water. While I may not know how to respond to certain social situations, I do know how to be a good listener and show compassion. I am very good at helping people follow rules and am always very punctual. To me, while having autism can be hard, like the first part of a hike, there are also times when it is rewarding, like the nice cool shaded creek. While living in Alabama is hard and having autism is also hard, I would not change it for the world. These two things have shaped me into the person I am today, the person I am still turning out to be. I want to succeed in college to be an inspiration to other autistic people, to show them that while life may feel like a bunch of mosquito bites, there is always a strawberry popsicle around the corner.

Sitting down at my desk, I looked up and saw my 5th-grade teacher, my favorite teacher. I admired the way that she treated all of her students and showed compassion and kindness to all. To 5th grade, Makayla, Mrs. Atkinson made all the difference in what she wanted to do in her life. She wanted to inspire children and make a difference in their lives. She still wants to, even at 18 years old. I still remember when I completed my first live theater performance, and she was there, she saw me, hugged me, and told me she was proud of me. I had never had a teacher tell me that they were proud of me for anything outside of an academic achievement. It made me feel, like for one minute, that I did not have to be the perfect A+ student that I was told I had to be, I could have other interests and hobbies outside of school and good grades. Even after I had left the 5th grade and her class, whenever she saw a show I was in and she saw me, she always told me how proud she was. That made me realize that I mattered outside of grades and school and that my hobbies and interests did not have to be reading or writing essays.  I knew God put me on this Earth to teach, I believe that it was Mrs. Atkinson who made me realize that I was called to teach. I saw her kindness reach all types of students. Even when I started high school, she still loved her students and worked hard to show them compassion and love. It was Mrs. Atkinson that made me realize that one positive teacher will always outweigh the negative ones.  I remember when I heard the tragic news that Mrs. Atkinson had passed, I immediately had flashbacks to how much she loved all her students. I remember telling the younger kids how much they would love her, how much I loved her. I noticed how much the entire community was affected as well. The school started what they called a “Karen Closet” (caring closet) named after her, Karen Atkinson. We all reflected on how kind and loving she was. I have never heard anyone ever say a mean or ugly word about her; everyone loved and respected her.  Mrs. Atkinson’s legacy has positively encouraged me to be the next “Mrs. Atkinson” for other students. To love all the kids regardless of who they are and what their life goals are, to know that at the end of the day, they matter as people, regardless of their grades and test scores. I want to be the teacher that kids can tell anything they want, to be the teacher that kids talk about for years after they have left me. I want them to know that they are more than a number; they are people who are worthy of love and success. Because of Mrs. Atkinson, I am ready to empower the next generation, to show them how much they are valued and worthy. And through that, I find extreme female empowerment.  Being in Girl Scouts for twelve years, I have met many empowering women. They have altered my life in positive ways, my mother, aunt, and my hairstylist, who has overcome breast cancer. However, no people have made a larger impact than my teachers. They have shown me that you can be strong yet graceful, strict yet understanding, but most of all, you can be kind and loving no matter what.

It was September 30th, 2022, when I was fitted for my first pair of pointe shoes. I had been taking dance for four years at this point, and ballet only for two. My teacher, classmates, and friends encouraged me to work on my technique and strength so I could take the point test and begin a lifelong dream, which at the time seemed impossible. I worked hard doing calf raises and other exercises wherever I could, and took my pointe test seven times before I passed and was officially ready to be en pointe. It was also earlier that year that I had started helping teach the toddler dance class and taking a more serious approach to dance classes. I worked hard, watched lots of videos, and asked for direct feedback from my teachers. At first, I did not notice my improvement. I thought I wasn't good enough, that I never should have followed the dream I had. This thought followed me for years until recently when one of my dance teachers told me how proud of me she was. She said I had grown so much and admired my ability to take corrections and accept feedback. One of my other teachers told me she was impressed by the fact that I was such a strong and dedicated worker. I saw how the younger kids looked up to me and loved me. These principles made me remember that I did not have to be the best; I was trying, I was dedicated, I was being inspired, inspiring other people, and I was enough. I came to realize that doing something I loved made me a better person, even if I was not the best at it. I came to enjoy seeing all the students walk into the room, and I was sad when the dance season was over. I look forward to waking up early in the morning and doing long days' work at the dance studio and theater to work not only on myself, but also with kids, to inspire the next generation, and help them become the best version of themselves that they can be, to assure them that it is okay to not be the best at what you do, all that matters is that you try and put in the work, you show your passion and dedication, and you love what you do. Watching my tippy toes on recital day is such a bittersweet moment. I am so proud that we made it, that their tears, tantrums, and laughs were worth it. However, I am sad knowing that the year is over, I will never have the same experience I had with these kids ever again, but I know it will all be worth it to see how well they turn out in whatever they do in life. That is my why; that is why I think I am so passionate about the arts. We are such a large and wonderful family. I know I can have someone to support me and inspire me, and I can do the same for others. Even while I am at college, I know I will not be able to dance as much as I do now, but I will have the lessons, friends, memories, and passion I have found with me forever and always. I plan to carry on these values as I begin to study for education, to always remind kids that no matter what, be your best self, try your hardest and that they matter regardless of their success.

It was March of 2018 and I found myself in a new situation. In a small dance studio anxiously holding audition sides preparing to read in front of casting directors and at least 30 other kids. My 11-year-old self had never done anything like this. A few days went by as I was anxiously waiting to hear back from the director to see what the outcome of my first musical would be. I remember when my mom pulled into the driveway and said she had gotten a call from the director and offered me an ensemble role. It was then I started around 6 weeks of rehearsals to prepare for the first of my very many community theater productions. I remember walking into my first few rehearsals, sitting quietly by myself, feeling anxious about what others thought of me. I was very lucky to meet one of my now best friends during this time. She came up, introduced herself, and informed me that we were now friends. It has been this influence that has made me go up to newcomers introduce myself and make that first connection to make them feel welcome. For 8 years now, I have been a part of my local non-profit community theater family called Self Express Productions. During this time, I have had the chance to volunteer with their sister organization, Song and Dance Studio, where I have been taking dance classes for the past 8 years and volunteering for the past 4. I have learned so much from the experiences I have gained and have changed immensely over these past few years. I am now more confident in talking publicly and initiating relationships. I have met so many fantastic people who have taught me the importance of community and collaboration. The experiences I have gained from volunteering have taught me many things. They have taught me discipline, dedication, commitment, and accountability. They have also taught me the importance of self-expression. I was, and still am, at times, a very shy person. Doing community theater and dance has taught me how to be more open. I am better able to stand up for myself and what I believe in. It has introduced me to many types of people and ideas that have helped me grow as a person and performer. I have learned the importance of discipline and accountability by showing up to rehearsals, having younger kids look up to me, learning lyrics and lines, and memorizing dances. When I first started dance, I did not realize how vital it was to work on things not only while in classes but while at home, too! This has helped me learn the importance of sitting down and finding time to work on what needs to be done. These values have helped me succeed in working jobs and succeeding in school. In the future, I hope to see more people, young and old, show up to participate in productions and dance classes and learn the importance of community collaboration. I hope that participation in these events will help encourage a safe environment for people who are trying to find themselves. Over the years, I have quite literally watched kids grow up, not only in height and age but in dedication and kindness. I have seen these people show kindness to everyone including those who are different from them. I hope people learn the value of discipline and dedication so they can succeed in all aspects of their lives, big and small.

Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world is a challenge. It is even harder when you go through life being undiagnosed until you are 17 years old. My whole life, I have always been told things such as, 'You're being too picky,' 'Why are you so dramatic,' 'Just try it,' 'You are so ungrateful,' and the list goes on. I am very fortunate in the sense that my parents were willing to listen to me when I brought up that I thought I might be autistic, possibly because my older cousin has autism, and ASD is genetic. My experience has made me into the wonderful hodgepodge of who I am today. It has allowed me to connect with those who need a special connection, it gives me a way to better understand myself and helps me prepare for the future. While I was not diagnosed until later in life, my older cousin was diagnosed around two years old. Growing up, both of our parents worked full-time jobs, so our grandparents kept us during the day, meaning I spent a lot of time around her. It was hard to understand why she did not want to play with me or try new things. I wanted to be her friend and show her I cared. So, I began to ask questions about ASD, and as I grew older, I continued to study to learn what autism was and how I could help make a meaningful connection. Since I was learning how to empathize and understand at an early age has allowed me to help people when they need someone, regardless of who they are. I am often seen as the 'therapist' or the 'mom' friend. When people are upset, they come to me because I know I can and will help them. Having ASD has allowed me to feel what others feel, and that has allowed me to help them with their troubles. Something I have always been curious about is why people do the things they do. During my freshman year of high school, I had a complete mental break; I did not understand myself. I have gotten help and am doing so much better. However, during this time, I realized there was something that had not been taken into account. I was looking for a video to watch and stumbled across one titled "Times I Should Have Realized I Was Autistic." Interested, I clicked on the video and began to watch. As the video progressed, I began to realize that I related to most of the things that were brought up in the video. I was worried that I was just being paranoid, so I went online to take autism assessments. After getting results that said I was possibly autistic, I talked to my parents about the possibility. When I finally received the diagnosis, I was able to have a greater understanding of myself. ' This has helped me take care of myself and better understand the people I care about. As we move on into the future of understanding ASD, I also move into my future, the one of going to college. I plan on majoring in Elementary education. I love kids and want to ensure that everyone has the chance to succeed. I believe that being autistic will better help me with these goals. I am equipped to handle all types of students, neurotypical or divergent. I want to inspire and show kids that regardless of who they are or what they have, they can be successful people. I want to inspire them while showing love.

Do you ever think about if your life was a movie, what would your soundtrack be? For me, it would be songs from Taylor Swift's 1989 album. My name is Makayla Long, and welcome to my 1989 (Taylor's Version) scholarship essay! Taylor Swift has been a massive part of my life growing up, especially her 1989 album, it helped me with friend breakups to needing a mid-day pick-up. My soundtrack would consist of Welcome to New York, Shake it Off, and Now that We Don’t Talk (from the vault). To kick off my soundtrack, we will start with Welcome to New York! Welcome to New York is the opening track of 1989. The song talks about how Taylor was welcomed to New York, and how she loved it. I am entering a new era, my college era. I have been thinking about college since the 6th grade. I remember being in 8th grade at a Christian Youth event, I discovered my dream college. All the lights, sounds, and crowds didn’t bother me, I knew I wouldn’t change a thing. The excitement I felt when I stepped up to their booth, the warm feeling I had when I walked away. Those feelings have stayed with me for four years. My heart is set and it said Welcome to New York, it's been waiting for you. Fellow Swifties, we are midway through this soundtrack. Now onto Shake it off! What else is there to say? A song about what to do when haters will hate, and fakers will fake. You shake it off, keep walking, and never miss a beat. I have always been different from my peers my age. I often was bullied for my differences, and it hurt always being an outcast. I remember as a kid some of my ‘friends’ would not let me sit with them because of how different I was, they were worried about their social status. It wasn’t until this year that I finally realized that haters will hate. I now realize the impact the song had on me. It’s shown me that I’ll never miss a beat because I’m lightning on my feet and that’s what they don’t see. The final song in 1989 (Makayla's version) would be Now that We Don't Talk (from the Vault). In this song, Taylor writes about a boy that she used to be close to, but now they don't talk. She says she called her mom and said it was for the best, she had to remind herself the more she gave him, the less he wanted of her. I have recently been through something similar. I transferred schools halfway through my sophomore year of high school and for some reason all of my ‘friends’ decided to slowly fade away. It seemed like Taylor the more I gave the more they wanted me less. The more I listened to the song I realized that I can’t stay in a relationship where the more I give the less those ‘friends’ call me. The song gave me closure in a way that I never got or will get from those people. Thank you for riding along with me through 1989 (Makayla's Version) soundtrack. This album gave me so much hope and confidence. It has made me confident and helped me to shake off bad feelings, it has welcomed me to a new genre of music, and it has made it easier now that we don't talk. I hope you all enjoyed this special edition of 1989 (Makayla's Version).