Our ecosystem here on earth consists of billions of organisms working together in the endless cycle we call life. For every species to thrive there is a collective understanding that we must work together in some way or another. Throughout all human history we struggled with the limitations of our own biology. However, during recent millennia humankind has solidified its position as the most dominant species on the planet. With the subjugation of the entire world humans have forgotten the fragile nature of our ecosystem. Overfishing brings thousands of aquatic species closer to extinction. Poaching and illegal distribution has contributed to many creatures no longer being able to coexist with humans like they used to. Why is it that the higher we rise the further the rest of the organisms on the planet must fall? Are you aware that fifty billion chickens are slaughtered every year to meet the ever-growing demand for poultry, and poultry related products. What about most of the world’s agriculture being used to feed livestock. Or what about the fact that most animals people eat daily are so infected and sickly that they must be pumped with anti-biotics for them to be considered safe enough to eat? These are just three of the thing’s humanity has decided to live with because of our inability to obey the laws of nature. We must remember we are not the only organic life that matters. If we do not, we risk complete destabilization of the entire ecosystem. Throughout my life I have connected with animals more than the people I grew up with. One of my favorite creatures is the turtle. I grew up in a dessert environment so you would not have been able to tell me the difference between a turtle and a tortoise. Eventually I understood that I like them both. One lives on the land and the other lives in the ocean. Unfortunately, humans have made both environments hazardous for them. There are organizations and companies working to decrease the negative impact man has had on the world and the creatures in it. But they are negligible compared to the number of organizations working in opposition. It would hurt me to know that I stood by and let turtles, tortoises, and all the other beautiful animals in the world slowly be consumed by humanities need to progress, ignorant of the consequences. Being an advocate to animals is something that has always been a part of me. I currently do not eat any animals or animal products. It's just something I do to lessen the impact I have on the only home any of us have ever known, and the creatures who inhabit it.

My experience in public good might be limited but I am confident my career path and level of experience make me just as likely to change the world for the better as anyone else. I have always been interested in technology and helping others. From an early age I have always been captivated by the amazing things you can do with enough technology and assistance from others. It's common knowledge that the technological innovations made in the past one hundred years have assisted in the daily struggle we call life. From mechanical behemoths to advances in the medicinal and healthcare field, the reach of technology has become so vast that every person in the world carries a computer with them daily. We accomplish so much with what we have now it is hard to imagine a world without our modern marvels. Technology has made the world a more accessible place, however the real miracle of the wonders of the modern era is not the technology itself. It is the people who work to bring innovative ideas and new hardware into being that deserve the credit. I want to be one of those exceptional individuals whose technical ability and optimistic outlook on life has made life better for everyone. Some of my talents include designing and building. I gained these skills while working as a carpenter’s assistant and attending college courses focused on design and drafting. If possible, I hope to one day construct affordable housing for those in need and for low-income families. With that goal in mind, I work every day to improve my skills and gain as much knowledge as possible concerning the issue itself. What is it that contributes to the housing market being so unaffordable to some and not others? There must be an answer. Anything is possible with enough knowledge and resources. Congruently anything is possible with enough time and energy. The problem I choose to address is so large it will take the efforts of many others just to bring this idea to life. But that does not discourage me. The fact is no one should be without a place to call home. For humans to survive we need three essential things. Food, water, and shelter. I plan to make shelter more available and more accessible to those in need of it. I am a firm believer in the power of human ingenuity. I know if we put our heads together there is nothing we cannot do.

When you think of a food that is beneficial to you in more ways than just one what comes to mind? You might be thinking of milk, wheat, or potatoes to name a few. These are good choices, but can they be considered as one of the best options available? When I think of a food that eclipses others in terms of nutritional value, I get one clear picture in my mind. Its orange has leaves on top and can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Yes, the vegetable I am referring to is the almighty carrot. For you to understand why the carrot is the best food out there, I must go back to when I was still a child. I cannot place the day or time in life when I was first introduced to this superfood, all I know is it has been my favorite ever since. I used to eat so many baby carrots my family would compare me to a rabbit. For a long time, my go to snack was a carrot with hidden valley ranch on the side. During my teenage years I found out one of the benefits to my obsession with carrots. While my siblings got glasses, I had to accept the fact that I had twenty, twenty vision. However, it did not keep me from wanting glasses like my older siblings. Good eyesight is just one of the many benefits you get from a diet consisting of carrots. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and low in sodium. They are typically orange but can be white, yellow, and purple. Carrots were once used to treat an assortment of ailments. Carrots can be traced back about five thousand years. Wow, this superfood seems immortal. On top of all these remarkable things carrots are best when paired with other superfoods. Have you ever heard the expression “peas and carrots”? Well, that’s not the only vegetable duo carrots are a part of. There is also carrots and potatoes. Or one of my favorite’s celery and carrots. I eat carrots every day in a variety of different dishes. They can be sliced, boiled, pickled or my favorite eaten raw. Little compares to the crunch of a juicy sweet carrot when you are feeling famished. Although there are many superfoods out there. For me there is one that shines brighter than the rest. It's that amazing root vegetable that has captivated me and others for five millennia.

Excited does not even begin to explain how I felt when I first started my own business. I don’t think happy is the correct word because I just did not know how to feel. My emotions were everywhere and yet I remained optimistic and positive. It felt amazing to be able to use everything I have learned from construction, carpentry, and design to chisel out a path of my own. It took a while, but I would not have changed a thing because all the ups and downs led me to where I am. My business is centered around designing and making things like furniture, statues, and figurines. I came up with the appropriate name,” Design Make Enjoy”. Naming it was not easy because I wanted it to explain what the business was about while also being easy to remember. I use the skills I have been mastering since I was 10 years old. In school my favorite subject was art. I won the art award in fifth grade and was hooked by that point. As I got older, I used graph paper to make my drawings more concise. That lead me to designing and drafting. In 2020 I began a program that allowed me to get hands on experience as a carpenter. I learned how to frame walls, use a tape measure, and construction math. But what really motivated me was the carpentry side. I enjoyed making furniture and picture frames and jewelry boxes and so many other things. I wondered how I could take it further. Was there a way for me to bring two things I enjoyed doing together? If so, how would I go about it? What would be my end goal? I asked myself these questions until I got my answer. Currently I am going to college seeking a certificate in CADD technology. CADD is short for computer aided design and drafting. If you don’t know, many of the blueprints used today are CADD drawings. But the applications for design software doesn’t end there. I use CADD for 3D modeling. This comes in handy when I want to model a statue or a figure. It helps me visualize and plan out certain designs. I am also able to print 3D models using a 3D printer. I am very passionate about my business because it allows me to take my creativity to new levels and explore different avenues of imagination. I plan on continuing my business and growing it as much as possible. In the future I hope to inspire others to follow in my footsteps and use their skills to achieve their goals.

Excited does not even begin to explain how I felt when I first started my own business. I don’t think happy is the correct word because I just did not know how to feel. My emotions were everywhere and yet I remained optimistic and positive. It felt amazing to be able to use everything I have learned from construction, carpentry, and design to chisel out a path of my own. It took a while, but I would not have changed a thing because all the ups and downs led me to where I am. My business is centered around designing and making things like furniture, statues, and figurines. I came up with the appropriate name,” Design Make Enjoy”. Naming it was not easy because I wanted it to explain what the business was about while also being easy to remember. I use the skills I have been mastering since I was 10 years old. In school my favorite subject was art. I won the art award in fifth grade and was hooked by that point. As I got older, I used graph paper to make my drawings more concise. That lead me to designing and drafting. In 2020 I began a program that allowed me to get hands on experience as a carpenter. I learned how to frame walls, use a tape measure, and construction math. But what really motivated me was the carpentry side. I enjoyed making furniture and picture frames and jewelry boxes and so many other things. I wondered how I could take it further. Was there a way for me to bring two things I enjoyed doing together? If so, how would I go about it? What would be my end goal? I asked myself these questions until I got my answer. Currently I am going to college seeking a certificate in CADD technology. CADD is short for computer aided design and drafting. If you don’t know, many of the blueprints used today are CADD drawings. But the applications for design software doesn’t end there. I use CADD for 3D modeling. This comes in handy when I want to model a statue or a figure. It helps me visualize and plan out certain designs. I am also able to print 3D models using a 3D printer. I am very passionate about my business because it allows me to take my creativity to new levels and explore different avenues of imagination. I plan on continuing my business and growing it as much as possible. In the future I hope to inspire others to follow in my footsteps and use their skills to achieve their goals.

Growing up I remember being taught about the food pyramid in school. As I got older, I saw less and less of it. Being an adult, I now know the reason. For a long time, what we considered to be a healthy diet was not as healthy as we thought. It would not be a stretch to say every person wants to be as healthy as possible. If that is true, then why is it that the United States is the leading country in obesity and other health related illnesses like high blood pressure and diabetes. When you take this into account there can only be one answer. It is the food! More specifically the food choices. If it were easy to just change our diet because of how it affects, us and our health there would not be as many foods related to health problems. History has taught us even though we know something is bad for us and our health, it does not mean we immediately stop doing it. One of the biggest obstacles we face when trying to be healthier is the types of foods society has been teaching us, our parents, and our grandparents were good. It has been engrained in us that these foods are healthy and there is no environmental consequence for damaging our ecosystem with things like overfishing, methane gas, and pesticides. I believe the things we choose to eat and the amount of food we eat has a huge effect on how healthy we are. I have seen lectures, documentaries, and seminars about how our diet can influence our overall health. Although it is a personal decision on the type of food someone eats, things like the media, availability, and cost play a role in it as well. It might sound all bad at first, but the truth is people are getting better at eating healthier. Fast food restaurants are one of the biggest threats to healthy eating habits. But they too have begun to offer more healthier options. Diets like vegetarian, keto, and vegan have become more popular as well. It sounds simple right? Just eat better and you will be better. Studies have shown that people who try to eat better also try to be healthier in other aspects of their life as well. I choose to be a vegan because I believe it will help me live the healthiest life possible.

It can be scary being allergic to certain foods. Especially if you are like me and the foods you happen to be allergic to are used in a variety of different dishes. I must be on guard always and know what to take if I happen to slip up and ingest something I should not have. Shopping for food can be a pain, and buying processed foods requires me to read the ingredients list (sometimes twice). It can be stressful having certain sensitivity to numerous foods but if you make a decent effort to avoid them you should be fine. What surprises me is how little people know about the types of food allergies there are in the world. Peanuts being one of the most common, but it is not like that is the only one there is. For example, I am not allergic to peanuts however, I am allergic to sunflower seeds. So far, I am unsure if I am also allergic to sunflowers themselves, but I have not had the inclination to evaluate it. After I found out my allergy the doctor let me know this allergy might extend to other types of edible seeds. It was a shock to me because I had no idea allergies could work in that way. From that point on I avoided any type of seed. Poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, even sesame seeds just in case. My sensitivity to foods does not end there. I have been lactose intolerant for as long as I can remember. Knowing this did not stop me from eating cereal but it did make it hard for me digest it. Another thing that surprised me about food allergies is how they can develop as you grow older. Not only that but the danger of ingesting these foods can increase. Even though you had no sensitivity as a child that might not be the case in your adult years. This scholarship would help me going forward in my battle against foods that are harmful to me. I also want to help more people understand the signs of a potential food allergy they might have. I want people to be aware that it is a possibly that funny feeling you get after eating something, or that itching in your throat you feel after swallowing something could be related to a sensitivity to that food or one of the ingredients.

My generation is full of people who understand the wonders of technology. We have the knowledge and intuition necessary to stay safe and connected using all the mechanical and technological advances available to us in this modern age. But what about those who came before us? Seniors are prime targets for scams ranging from sweepstakes winners all the way to fake investing opportunities. That is why my coworkers and I educate seniors on how to safely use technology, the internet, and internet services. We have all heard the saying," It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.", it definitely is a challenge, but it is not impossible. Experience has taught me the biggest hurdle in learning about something new is the willingness or the want to learn about it. When it comes to the internet and devices like smartphones, it has become more of a necessity rather than a privilege to know how to use them. With this being the case, the demographic most likely to be taken advantage of online is the older generation. Why? Because they did not grow up surrounded by the things we have today. Which is why it is easy for them to be overwhelmed by the technological boom that has taken place in the modern era. Luckily there is a solution. Just find people who are willing to help educate others on how to properly traverse this digital labyrinth. Last month we began our second year of Internet literacy classes for senior citizens. I had so much fun doing it the first time I was ecstatic when I found out we were doing it again and surprisingly so were the seniors. It turns out they had the will and determination to learn about the internet as much as anyone. In each class we teach them about different tips and tricks to keep their important information safe. We provide them with their very own tablet so they can practice using it during class. We also go over things like the app store, making calls, health and wellness, and how to identify and avoid scams. If it was not for this class, I would have never known just how much older people enjoy using technology. It has opened my eyes and taught me so many different things. We laugh, joke, and learn from each other. So, the next time your grandparents ask you to help them send a picture to so and so, just know they will not ask you again if you show them how to do it.

My generation is full of people who understand the wonders of technology. We have the knowledge and intuition necessary to stay safe and connected using all the mechanical and technological advances available to us in this modern age. But what about those who came before us? Seniors are prime targets for scams ranging from sweepstakes winners all the way to fake investing opportunities. That is why my coworkers and I educate seniors on how to safely use technology, the internet, and internet services. We have all heard the saying," It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.", it definitely is a challenge but it is not impossible. Experience has taught me the biggest hurdle in learning about something new is the willingness or the want to learn about it. When It comes to the internet and devices like smartphones, It has become more of a necessity rather than a privilege to know how to use them. With this being the case, the demographic most likely to be taken advantage of online is the older generation. Why? Because they did not grow up surrounded by the things we have today. Which is why it is easy for them to be overwhelmed by the technological boom that has taken place in the modern era. Luckily there is a solution. Just find people who are willing to help educate others on how to properly traverse this digital labrynth. Last month we began our second year of Internet literacy classes for senior citizens. I had so much fun doing it the first time I was ecstatic when I found out we were doing it again and surprisingly so were the seniors. It turns out they had the will and determination to learn about the internet as much as anyone. In each class we teach them about different tips and tricks to keep their important information safe. We provide them with their very own tablet so they can practice using it during class. We also go over things like the app store, making calls, health and wellness, and how to identify and avoid scams. If it was not for this class, I would have never known just how much older people enjoy using technology. It has opened my eyes and taught me so many different things. We laugh, joke, and learn from each other. So the next time your grandparents ask you to help them send a picture to so and so, just know they will not ask you again if you show them how to do it.

Growing up I remember being taught about the food pyramid in school. As I got older I saw less and less of it. Being an adult I now know the reason. For a long time what we considered to be a healthy diet was not as healthy as we thought. It would not be a stretch to say every person wants to be as healthy as possible. If that is true then why is it that the United States is the leading country in obesity and other health related illnesses like high blood pressure and diabetes. When you take this into account there can only be one answer. Its the food! More specifically the food choices. I believe the things we choose to eat and the amount of food we eat has a huge effect on how healthy we are. I have seen lectures, documentaries, seminars etc. about how our diet can influence our overall health. It is a personal decision on the type of food someone eats. However, things like the media, availability, and cost play a role in it as well. It might sound all bad at first but the truth is people are getting better at eating healthier. Fast food restaurants are one of the biggest threats to healthy eating habits. But they too have begun to offer more healthier options. Diets like vegetarian, keto, and vegan have become more popular as well. It sounds simple right? Just eat better and you will be better. Studies have shown that people who try to eat better also try to be healthier in other aspects of their like as well. I choose to be a vegan because I believe it will help me live the healthiest life possible.

When I was younger I did not see my mom often. I was aware she spent most of her time working to provide for her children so I did my best understand her situation. We were as close as time would allow us to be. Some times we would enjoy our weekends together just the two of us. What makes that significant is the fact that I have 6 older siblings. My mom and I always had a special bond unlike what she had with my brothers and sisters. Maybe it was because I was the youngest, or maybe it was some other reason, I will probably never know. From a very early age I was expected to have an understanding of numbers and especially money. Money was never easy to come by and as hard as it was to obtain it would be gone just as easy. I noticed many things about the work ethic my mom displayed at home and at work. It both inspired and confused me. I could never understand why the person who worked the hardest would get paid the least. But my mom never complained she just performed her duties to the best of her abilities. Little did I know I was being taught something in those moments. I realized the character of a person can show in their work. I also learned it dose not matter what you do, or what position you are in, or how much you get paid, the only thing that matters is how you carry yourself. I learned that being professional and a hard worker is something that has value. That led me to decide on what career suited me the best. I am currently going to college to obtain a certificate in Computer Aided Design and Drafting or CADD for short. It is one step I am taking to achieve my goal of being a business owner. On and off campus I still use the skills my mom taught me. It takes a high level of financial literacy to be able to support yourself, pay for necessities, go to work, and go to school at the same time. I am only able to succeed in all these things because of what my mom showed me as a child growing up with only one parent in the home. The lessons she taught me will stick with me forever. I will always have great respect for her and I hope to make her proud in the career path I have chosen.

I work at a non-profit and everyday I wake up and go to work with students who might not have the skills necessary to be successful in life. I enjoy what I do and I actually feel bad for anyone who has a job that they don't enjoy going to. How this relates to my bravery is the fact that I was one of those students over 2 years ago. It wasn't an easy transition but I made the decision to help others the same way the people I work with helped me. After being in my position for a little while I have a greater respect for teachers and educators. Its not easy but the rewards make it worth it. I work beside one of the most knowledgeable construction teachers in the field and I have learned so much from him that when necessary I instruct the students in his place. Many people might not think this qualifies as being bold or brave. To them I say Its not often an introvert gives a class on how to properly use hand tools.