Throughout history, we have witnessed ecosystems get exploited, exhausted, and abused. In modern times, it is undeniable that we are facing the consequences of our actions. Climate change, wildfires, pollution, extinction, and the rising acidity in the ocean are intense dangers threatening our resources and future life on Earth. For the sake of our future generations, it is important to address these pressing issues before the damage is irreversible. Failure to act immediately will only lead to more damage. The more we wait, the more complex and costly the solutions will become. The functions of our ecosystems are often underappreciated. While making a small change may not seem like a big deal, it can ultimately alter the ecosystem. Washington State has experienced this with the Elwa River. A dam was constructed to supply nearby towns with electricity. While the dam had its benefits, it also negatively impacted the salmon population.`The dam prevented salmon from swimming upstream to mate, causing their numbers to decline rapidly and nearly face extinction. This change made a domino effect that impacted many different species that depended on the salmon for food. Fortunately, we were able to ensure the future of the salmon by removing the dam. Many may feel hopeless, thinking that the task is too vast to conquer. However, strength is found in numbers. To establish a sustainable future, cooperation at all levels is essential. Recycling may feel insignificant, but it makes a huge difference on a large scale. Becoming conscious of our carbon footprint is another great step. Governments can exert significant influence over industries and businesses. By uniting and working together, change is not only possible, but it is within our grasp.

When I was a little girl, I remember the excitement I felt walking home and turning on the TV to watch my favorite TV show, Girl Meets World. It quickly became the highlight of my middle school days. As I watched the show, I started seeing myself in Maya Hart-her struggles with finding her identity, her low self-esteem, and her lack of confidence. I found comfort in being able to relate to her character and share similar experiences. Maya helped me navigate my first middle school years, offering a sense of understanding and support during that time. Unfortunately for me, the show ended before I could finish middle school. Then, COVID-19 robbed me of a portion of my high school experience. I never truly socially recovered, but I soon discovered Sabrina Carpenter's music career. Songs like Mona Lisa and prfct became my favorite. I remember playing Singular: Act 1 on repeat on the way home from school, letting her music become a comforting soundtrack to my daily life. I've continued to look forward to hearing more of Sabrina's music as she has grown as an artist. Recently, she's gained popularity with songs like Expresso and Taste. I think it's amazing that I can share my taste in music with a growing number of people. It feels like a full-circle moment to have Sabrina's music accompanying me through such a crucial coming-of-age period in my life.

In recent times, there has been a lot of protesting on the matter of pro-life or pro-choice. There are numerous facts that each side uses, but it is easy to become lost in the matter. Some might think that this is just a woman's right, but in reality, it is a matter of life and death. I may not have personal experience with abortion or know someone else who has. However, it is still important to have an opinion. A common defense from pro-choice is that the fetus is not alive. This is untrue, as life begins at conception. As told by all sex education classes, once the sperm meets the egg, the cell starts replicating. It is obvious that this life cannot be supported on its own, but it has unique qualities of life. Babies in the womb have been known to exercise their bodies, stretching, kicking, and reacting to their mother's laughter. The movement of the body shows that the fetus is at least somewhat conscious of its surroundings. Miscarriages are unfortunate but are a reality for some women. Even though the baby is at high risk of death, it still has a chance at survival. When doctors are doing what they can to save the baby, they are not "bringing the baby to life," they are trying to keep the baby alive. Deciding to have an abortion should not be an option, let alone an easy decision. Women have been influenced into believing that having abortion rights is empowering. What they fail to realize is the emotional, physical, and psychological consequences of their actions. Having an abortion does not make them more or less of a woman. Instead, it is a deeply moral decision that has life-long impacts on the body and mind. I am inspired by the dedication of pro-life supporters as they go and debate against large groups of people. Their passion and dedication to life have amazed me. Volunteering to put yourself in these debates, even with high protests and emotions, requires extreme courage. While I may have been in a position to be involved in large public debates, I hope to contribute to support pro-life by offering to help those who are confused and need some guidance in any way I can. Methods of guidance will be sympathetic and respectful interactions about the sacredness of life. I don't want people to view pro-life as insensitive and uncaring towards women's rights, as this is not the case. Pro-life is about advocating for the life that does not have a voice and for the care and value of developing life. I believe that it is important to support life and support women in ways that truly empower them.

My favorite AP class was biology. I had a deep interest in biology starting from the biology classes in middle school. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this experience, making it difficult to adapt to a hybrid learning style. However, once we returned to the regular school schedule, I was excited to start AP Biology at the high school. I quickly found myself captivated by the subject. We learned such an abundance compared to previous biology classes. We dove deep into the functions of each organelle and DNA and protein synthesis. My favorite assignments were the hands-on labs. One of the most memorable experiences was when our teacher set up a "crime scene" scenario. By using gel electrophoresis to match DNA, we identified the "killer." This was when I discovered that I wanted to explore more in this field. I took a wide variety of STEM classes, including athletic medicine, geometry, and algebra. I enjoyed all these classes as I got to be hands-on and learn new skills that I could apply to my everyday life. Fortunately, I entered the Running Start program at my local community college. This provided access to many resources. I have been able to take a more diverse amount of science classes like chemistry, animal biology, environmental issues, and geology. I immediately fell in love with these subjects. I was amazed at how interconnected they are and how far science has advanced. One area I have never excelled in was math. However, the college setting has made it easier to learn the material. I have noticed a difference academically and in confidence, these factors have been growing with each class period. Not only have these classes deepened my passion for science, but they have also pushed me to be more physically involved in my community. I started volunteering with small things like serving food at my church, and then I started exploring a different field of volunteering. I started joining work parties, picking up trash, and pulling invasive weeds from nearby neighborhoods. This taught me the importance of being involved and helping my community. Being present builds new relationships and develops trust with the people. My dream is to continue on this path and expand my knowledge even further. I am excited about the opportunities in the future and am committed to furthering my education in the sciences. While I have a strong passion, I cannot achieve it alone. With support from generous donors like you, I can focus more on my studies and less on the financial burden of tuition.

If there is one thing I have learned during school, it is that knowledge is power. Being well-educated can give us a deeper understanding of the things around us. This gives us the advantage of being able to provide solutions to problems. I have concerns for our future. The world is constantly facing many challenges. A major issue is the damage done to our earth. Over many years, pollution has become a major problem. Lakes, oceans, and many other resources are experiencing degradation. Natural resources provide us with fresh water, quality soil, and food. Because ecosystems provide us with essentials for life, it is important to preserve them. By not finding a solution to the problem, we will only make life harder for future generations. The Running Start program has allowed me to explore a wider variety of classes. I enjoyed the sciences like geology, environmental issues, and animal biology. My interest in ecological matters became more profound. I became connected with the community and gained experience collecting data. When I graduate high school, I want to pursue a degree in the environment. I desire to keep my education hands-on and physically active. Looking into a degree that fits my passion I concluded that I want to become an environmental engineer. An Environmental engineer has many different purposes. The roles include designing systems that regulate air and water quality, evaluating potential negative impacts, applying projects that promote sustainability, and conducting research for new plans. This represents the mission I wish to establish. While including Environmental engineering as a profession, I also aspire to spread the knowledge. Because Strength is found in numbers it is important to involve the community to make change. However, my dreams cannot be achieved alone. While the cost of living increases, it is difficult to stay on top of expenses. With help from generous donors like you, I can focus on my educational path.

Mental health can feel like a wrathful war fighting any clarity in your mind. Some days start assertively knowing what needs to be done. However, as the day goes by it’s easy to get engulfed by the agenda. Other days feels like it is too insurmountable to get out of bed. Battles like these happen to everyone through many stages of life. I hear a lot about how high school is supposed to be an exciting chapter in someone's life. My Uncle shares lots of stories about his escapades from high school. An inevitable function of my brain is to compare myself. Looking back on my high school experience led me to feel regret. Reflecting made me recognize that I have a limited circle of friends, with whom I rarely communicate with. I also don’t engage in many social activities and gatherings. Instead of focusing my time on friends I was obsessed with grades. Homework and preparing for exams occupied my time. Lunch breaks were spent in the library reviewing AP biology. I was proud of the high GPA I maintained but failed to recognize the loneliness it cost me until it was too late. I was not proud of my poor lifestyle and hated the feeling that I'd wasted my high school years. I would feel that I am not doing enough and that I will never be good enough. Soon after the space around me reflected my mental state. My room became a disaster. It felt impossible to maintain any part of it. My bed never got made and heaps of laundry littered the floor and chair. I needed to take back my life. This lifestyle was not healthy and was wasting my time. This became the start of developing a healthy balance. My academic path needed organization. Starting with planning out my assignments after each class. This helped my mind from spiraling into the chaos of trying to do everything simultaneously. Getting out of the house helped clear my mind. It started with walks in between classes then walks during the weekends. Being more socially present in classes helped me gain more friends. My new friend group also got together during the summer. Checking on old friends is important too. My friends I had from middle school would go pick berries and hang out together before school started. I still struggle with maintaining this lifestyle. It is going to take perseverance to keep a healthy balance between my academic and social life. However, I am not going to take time for granted anymore because we never when we will run out.

My grandfather (Gale) was a very well known and loved character. He had an intense passion for all things mechanics. He was a member of the Olympic Peninsula Antique Tractor Engine Association. This association would hold annual tractor pulls at the local airport. I loved spending the day watching my grandfather compete and seeing what other machines he worked on. Over the years he won many ribbons and trophies. When his grandson grew old enough Gale taught him how to set up the tractor and the sled. That was the year they competed together. Watching them work together gave me a sense of comfort knowing that we have a family that cares deeply about each other. I never connected to my grandpa through mechanics, but I enjoyed spending time with him. When my parents needed a babysitter, the grandparents' house was where we went. Me and my sibling would ride the big wheels for hours while Grandpa was working on cars.     Gale taught me not to take the little things for granted. In my eyes, I saw my grandfather as a strong, persistent, loving character. Gale never lost these traits even as his body grew older and got sick. We had decided to get the grandparents and some extended family together for a much-needed reunion. We decided to take a cruise to Alaska. Everything was planned and booked. We got a call from our grandparents asking to come over. There was no hint of sadness or grief over the phone. So, when we went over, we were oblivious to the bad news.   Once at the house, we sat down and were told the heartbreaking news. The doctors had found that his cancer had returned. The doctors also told him that he would not be able to go on the trip because he needed to start treatment right away. This felt like being stuck by lightning. It was hard to accept that my grandfather's body was just not as strong as it used to be. Despite the shattering news he encouraged us to still go on the trip. Going on vacation without my grandparents felt like there was a missing puzzle piece in my heart. The treatment had taken a physical toll on his body. He ended up losing a lot of weight and energy. It was hard to see him in such a weak and vulnerable state. He was in and out of the hospital doing all kinds of treatment. I was too young at the time to understand what treatments he was taking and what was happening to his body. I was scared to hear that he was going home for the last time. He was put on hospice for the last weeks of his life. I felt sick seeing all the needles for pain medication. I remember going into his room to say my goodbyes. My voice was so shaky it was hard to talk. I never thought that a alive person could look so dead at the same time. This was when the realization and weight of the situation hit me. I miss being with him and sharing funny moments and stories. I don't want to think about what I missed out on. I want to remember him for the things he did and the time we did share.