1. "Let's go fly a kite, Up to the highest height Let's go fly a kite And send it soaring Up through the atmosphere Up where the air is clear Oh, let's go fly a kite" This was my favorite song as a kid. Along with my bizarre fascination with thunderstorms, where my sister and dogs cowered in the corner, I went to the windowsill to watch the lightning show and shiver with the thunder. Meteorology has always fascinated me, and as I got older, I learned about the unique and beautiful science that creates the thunderstorms and aurora borealis of my childhood. From clouds to snowflakes to everything in between, I love learning about the natural systems behind the beauty and even better, explaining it to my friends and family to share the wonder. The troposphere, where most weather takes place is 18 miles tall, with a lot of room for nature's displays. To me, that is mesmerizing. That is my passion, to explore the atmosphere, to fly the kite up to the highest height, and explore all the air has to reveal. 2. Obstacles will come, no matter the situation. That's unavoidable. What you can control is how you react to them. I have a unique combination of my past, my personality, and the innate amount of perseverance I have, which allows me to work with obstacles. It was a bit of a learning curve to understand how to make those three things work together instead of against each other, and some days it's still hard. Nevertheless, obstacles will come whether you are prepared or not. So, growing up in a small town, I don't care what anyone thinks about me. I have a somewhat obnoxious personality or quirkiness that makes me either loveable or annoying. I'm over it. I am who I am. Above all, I am strong. I have no fear to ask for help, to show emotion and to lean on others. 3. The wonders of the atmosphere also comes with enormous danger. Millions of people die each year, especially in impoverished countries because they are unprepared for weather events. As a meteorologist or a scientific researcher, I can help educate civilians and advise governments in what to do to minimize damage. This can help more people be safe and prepared to deal with the dangers of weather. This, along with advancing weather prediction technology can keep even more people safe. On a more personal note, I am committed to living below my means in order to sponsor as many children as possible through Compassion International.

"No Matter How The Wind Howls, The Mountain Cannot Bow To It." Mulan was, in a word, determined. She would join the army and defeat the Huns no matter who stood in her way. She broke the boundaries of gender roles and showed that women could be soldiers and strong as well as men. I think this is particularly profound considering the recent trend that women can only be strong when they have become men. She shows that women can be women and strong in their own right. Additionally, she was driven. Her work ethic and the transformation of training were what drove her to success. The workout montage is specifically impactful. After all, if Mulan, a poor Chinese girl, can get into shape and be a disciplined soldier, so could I. She is the perfect role model on how applying yourself to your passion can change your life. She is able to be uncomfortable to get what she wants, something not many people can do nowadays. Mulan is not just independent, but she is strong. She shows that there is no shame in being feminine. She shows that you can be simultaneously independent and strong while being in love. She is independent in spirit but dependent in relationships. In comparison, we think of Elsa from Frozen as being an independent woman, but why? She doesn't want a man? Fine, but that does mean there is shame in wanting it. Is Mulan less strong than Elsa because she is in love? No, I would argue Mulan is even stronger. When she is tired, someone can hold her up. Someone to know her completely. Two heads are better than one after all. When Elsa is tired, Anna can help but not in the way a boyfriend or husband can. Mulan is stronger because of it.

"Mikell, do you need some gloves?" "No, that's alright, I like to feel the dirt on my skin." I went back to weeding. My youth group was volunteering in our community, my group helping weed an older lady's garden, my favorite task. Any career where I can continue to get my hands into nature is going to be fulfilling for me. This desire points me to becoming a scientific researcher. I would be working on the field, analysing data and collecting samples. As for what type of researcher, I'm looking into doing something with botany, hydrology or geology. As to which field, I'm unsure but that's why I'm majoring in environmental science, a space to explore all of concentrations. Specfically, I grew up on the shores of Lake Superior and I want to do all I can to help with the invasive species crisis while also helping to allow for a flourishing economy that simtlously creates a space for a blossoming ecosystem. Even though so much has already been discovered about the natural world, to me, a highschool student, its still a mystery. I want to learn all I can about the environment, learn its secret language. Each leaf, rock and squirrel has its own path. From pinecones to snowflakes, they all have a unique journey from formation to end. I want to learn about it all, and then go see it in action. Each earth system is perfectly interconnected with each other, a balance I want to spend my life studying. It would be my absolute joy to spend my career in this field, researching, studying and discovering the book of nature. While making new discoveries is not necessary for my success as a researcher, it would be awesome. Along with my own study, I can help others to remember and connect with their inner child by reminding them about the intricacy of the environment. To hearken back to the days of old, when humans lived under the whims of the natural world and spent every second in it. This is what we were made for, learning about nature. The environment is healing, whether its a thunderous storm or a sea of grass. Reminding people of that would be the cherry on top of an already fulfilling career. With a world that seems to lack in wonder, it would be my honor to help others rediscover the simple beauty that occurs all around us.

My ideal college plan would be to attend the University of Minnesota - Duluth, right in my hometown. I've been accepted already, and I'm currently waiting to see what financial aid they can offer. It is the perfect place to nurture my love of learning and studying the environmental sciences. Duluth is right on Lake Superior, which is specifically the area I want to impact which should make for a beautiful and educational learning environment. As for my studies, I plan to either major in environmental science or on a more specified level, geology/earth sciences. My passion for nature has followed me all my life and I can't see myself studying anything except the environment. My ultimate goal is to become a scientific researcher, which would require me to get my master's. So, I'll definitely do numerous internships while in college and then once I've finished my bachelor's degree. When I go back for my master's will depend on my financial situation, but it will happen, and possibly go for my Ph.D As for my personal goals, I've noticed a bit of arrogance and harsh judgment in my temperament lately, and I want to get rid of that. I want to come across as gentle and kind, not just who I appear to be, but as who I am. I want to be kind. I want to be caring. I believe I can be and I have in the past, but now it's more about sanding out this narcissistic streak and thinking about others instead of myself. It's easy to say, but not so easy to do, especially when reflecting on progress degrades the progress you've made. But I'm trying. I'm thinking outside myself, outside the box I put myself and others into. Its a daily recommitment to try to be a kinder person and sometimes I fail. But I try again the next day. One of the things I'm learning is not only that I need to be kind to others, but to myself. My harsh judgement of others has stemmed from my rigid boundaries that I hold myself to. This education and personal journey will not be an easy one. It will require perseverance, struggle and pushing myself to outside my limits and recreating them. Or removing some unhelpful limits altogether. Giving grace to myself will be a big part of succeeding. But I believe I can follow this path to where it leads, only to find a new journey to embark on.

Throughout high school and middle school, I've concluded that taking care of my mental health is essential to my success. I've been recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, it has become even more important to my wellbeing. Taking care of my mental health is the first step in creating healthy relationships, habits, and overall healthy life. A few ways I do this is taking time alone to recharge, sing, or listen to music. I take hot showers and take special care cleaning my body. I pull back from the go and just be still. This means scrolling through Pinterest, reading Garfield comics, and playing with my two mini Huskies. It means sitting outside on my porch, feeling the wind through my hair, and just sitting and breathing. I also do various breathing exercises and guided meditations which I've found to be the most helpful thing to help me relax. All these things bring my body and mind back to balance, allowing me to jump back into the fray of life with open arms.

"Just do it, it'll be good for you." My brain argues with me "But what if you get rejected?" "No, you can do this." My first interview and my first job. I was terrified out of my mind, I took some deep breaths and walked through the office door. My confidence drove me on, my willingness to step outside of the box. Deep down, I knew I could ace it, but my mind was pushing me down. But it was my self-confidence that drove me on. I knew my references were good, my experience is perfect and even if I didn't get the job, it would be a growth experience. Turns out, I got the job and my confidence skyrocketed. Confidence is knowing you can do it, that feeling in your gut that I've got this. But it also means getting out of your comfort zone, which then expands your confidence. Confidence also means not caring about what anyone thinks and standing up straight to say I know who I am. My confidence comes from knowing I'm a child of God but fear grips me sometimes. Recently I started a Bible study at my school. Public speaking was not a good skill for me, but I forced myself to do it because my school was spiritually dark and lonely. Once the study got started, my public speaking and teaching skills skyrocketed and my confidence got new parameters to live in. Most times the only thing that holds you back from success is yourself. The more you can stretch the boundaries of confidence and self-assurance, the higher chance you have of succeeding. Even if you miss aiming for the moon, you'll still land among the stars.

Hobbies: an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. Through the mayhem of the pandemic, I was forced to pick up as many hobbies as I could, to fill the time and the stave off the constant loneliness. Online school was too easy, I could get all my work done in an hour every day. So what to do with all this free time? I picked up dream journaling, helpful but also painful sometimes. I started reading again, which was very helpful to put away time, traveling to another place and another time. While reading, I was inspired to start jewelry making, Although I may not be good at making it, I enjoy working with my hands and now I have more necklaces than I know what to do with. One side-effect of reading is that you don't move, so most of my muscles atrophied. So I started to work out, doing Chloe Ting's 2-week shredder. It was killer, but once it was over, totally worth it. I continue it today, and I feel great. Once the pandemic simmered down, most of my hobbies still remain with me. I still go to online school, which leaves a lot of time to spare. While I may not have the talent for fashion, I enjoy buying clothing coloring books, and picking the colors, which feels like art. I'm teaching myself how to paint with watercolor, specifically landscapes, which takes a lot of water and practice. I've got a lot of time to fill, but these are more than times killers. They bring me fulfillment, joy, and skills that I love to practice.

I know it's not popular. I know I wouldn't win this scholarship. But I wouldn't hide the truth for money. It's my choice and I'm glad to take it, even if it's unpopular, seen as intolerance and I'm in a minority. The one thing I would say to the entire world at once would be: "Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is coming." Most people will shake it off or ignore it. But maybe, just maybe, someone will understand its magnitude and respond. I know my entry will be shaken off as religious fanaticism. But someday the truth will come to light. I know it's "my truth", but it's not just my truth. It's the truth. Truth is not inclusive, but exclusive. There is one way to Heaven and that's it. I know it's offensive to the culture and probably most people reading this. But "Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is coming."

Life wouldn't start or slow down when I die. But if I can make a change while I'm here, that's enough for me. If I can impact lives for the better, that's enough for me. I don't care if my name goes down in history or if I'm remembered a thousand years from now. What mattered is that I lived. That I loved. That I overcame circumstances and pandemics and my own bad choices to make the best of life. If I'm remembered at all, I want to be remembered because of making others happy and having a good laugh. That I fought for the truth against a changing world. I want to have loved everyone person who comes through my door. I want to have educated a new generation on the wonders of nature and helped resolve the Lake Superior invasive species crisis. In the end, my life doesn't matter so much as what I stood up for. What impact did I make on the future? Did I help or did I harm? Did I do everything in my power to give glory to my Creator? That's what matters. Not how much money I made, or how popular I was. As for actually dying, I assume, as most people that I'll die of old age, which if you ask me, is pretty boring. What about serving in foreign countries, saving a child from traffic, or dying for my faith? But not because I want fame or look she's helping the less fortunate good for her. I would rather die for someone because of that someone. We only have one life and since it's all I have, I want to give it all for other.

Joy is more than happiness. It's deeper and comes from within. Joy comes from an internal sense of satisfaction and contentment. To me, it's often found in nature, leaves crunching under your feet like potato chips. Or the space between the waves crashing on the shore and the wind howling, the sense of peace that lies beneath it. It's the sunlight streaming through the canopy to create a stained glass window in the sky. But it includes happiness too, like jumping in puddles when it rains or cuddling with a puppy. I've struggled with this because the truth is you can't be happy all the time. Life just doesn't allow that. It wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows. But when the storms do come, they create a contrast that makes the rainbows shine brighter. I've learned to keep this in mind through rough seasons and hard times. One psychologist described it as the feeling you get when you walk into a room and see someone happy to see you. I wholeheartedly agree with this. But seeking joy and trying to harness it and be happy all the time is futile. Instead, it's something you cherish while it appears, feeling content in your situation and seeing the smile on your dog's face. You have to hold joy gently, or else it slips through the cracks in your hand. You can't find it by looking for it, but you can be more attuned to recognizing it, keeping negative thoughts away, and choosing to look on the bright side. Maintaining self-care is also very important for choosing joy. This space you create allows for the moment to creep in and there it is. A sweet smile. Joy.

In all honesty, I do not have a good track record when it comes to listening. Stonewalling, sarcasm, and interrupting are all ex-friends of mine. Then I learned some DBT skills, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and that completely flipped how I listen. A large part of listening is validation, which is repeating what the other person said, basically acting as a mirror so they know that you know what they said. Listening to what people say, whether it's a hard conversation or an easy one, is integral for relationships. I would say it's a skill that's largely been forgotten in our society of culture wars. How I practice my listening skills is pretty easy. I nod when appropriate, this lets them know I am paying attention. I refrain from internal judgment and only give my opinion if it's asked for. Most times, someone just needs to talk it out and process it out loud. The best skill I learned with DBT in regards to listening is called GIVE. Gentle, interested, validating and easygoing. Seems easy, but when you're upset or irritated about something already, then the displine comes into play. The path from bad listening to good is a hard one, but it is the cornerstone of relationships.

I was born on the shores of Lake Superior, the largest source of liquid freshwater in the world. Connects the Midwest to the rest of the world through its extensive shipping network. And yet, its ecosystem is suffering. Not too long ago, zebra mussels and sea lampreys invaded and now pose a threat to the entire ecosystem. I grew up in her cold waters and watched helplessly as invasive species began to ravage the environment. It's not just the invasive species harming the ecosystem though, but also overfishing, the old mining industry that was never cleaned up. I will solve these problems. I just need the education to get there, allowing me to learn from the best minds in the country and work alongside similarly goal-minded students. I'm older now. I know I am not helpless. But to make lasting change, I need to be a scientist, allowing me to research eco-friendly solutions and credibility. College is the first step to helping solve this problem. I will be majoring in environmental science, then possibly going on to get my master's degree. STEM is a male-dominated field, there's no doubt about that. But we women have just as much to offer to science as men. As a woman in this field, I will be making waves and I can use that to fuel my goals and inspire other young women to join me. We are not the weaker half of our species, but equal. We are not No field of science is complete without representing the entirety of our species, as each gender and race has something unique to offer. STEM is the driving force for innovation, which is the fuel for each generation. If we don't have equal representation in STEM, we wouldn't have equal representation in innovation. Minorities will be left behind as the world pushes into the future without them, to no fault of their own. But as the world pushes into other future, their success is short-lived, especially if they are only focusing on one aspect of the population to drive. STEM and innovation are something we all have to carry and then we will all benefit. I have a passion for Lake Superior and I want to preserve her beautiful environment for generations to come. This requires college and overcoming the male stereotype of the STEM field. I will pave a way for other women like me. I will help solve Lake Superior's environmental problems. I will advocate for minorities in STEM. From there, the world is my zebra mussel.

I know no one had an easy time in the pandemic. I know I probably had it easier than others. But that doesn't negate my own struggles. I came into the pandemic with a "breakup" from one of my closest and longtime friends. She controlled the friend group and therefore I was oblivious. So, for me, the pandemic was a good break from the drama at school. But it also meant I was already incredibly lonely and now three months stuck in my house with one friend to talk to. awesome. But then the snow started to melt, something we always look forward to in northern Minnesota. The rains came and sprayed away all the gunk from the last year of winter. Then the grasses began to grow and the flowers followed. In a time when the world was in chaos, nature continues. seasons change and since I was home so much I got to see these processes up close in a whole new way. I created a nature guide to document all the flowers from my backyard, I watched the birdfeeder outside my window eagerly. I took our garden back from the raspberry bushes. Simple things but yet that's the motivation to get up each day. find a new type of flower. eat a yummy snack. check on my sunflowers. The smell after it rains. Each one was a figurative (and sometimes literal) rainbow out of the storm.

Lake Superior is the largest source of liquid freshwater in the world. Connects the Midwest to the rest of the world through its extensive shipping network. And yet, its ecosystem is suffering. Not too long ago, zebra mussels and sea lampreys invaded and now pose a threat to the entire ecosystem. I grew up on Lake Superior's shores and watched helplessly as they began to ravage the environment. But now I'm older. I know I am not helpless. But to make lasting change, I need to be a scientist, allowing me to research eco-friendly solutions and credibility. College is the first step to helping solve this problem. I have a passion for Lake Superior and I want to preserve her beautiful environment for generations to come. For now, though, I work at my local nature center, working as a counselor in training to educate kids about the beauty of the lake and the shores she supports. It's not just the invasive species harming the ecosystem though, but also overfishing, the old mining industry that was never cleaned up. I will solve these problems. I just need the education to get there, allowing me to learn from the best minds in the country and work alongside similarly goal-minded students. From there, the world is my zebra mussel.

There are many factors that can impact your health and therefore your life, for the better. I'll do my best to highlight what those are. The best thing you can do is diminish all significant stress factors. Research shows that 90% of all illnesses are caused by stress. This means maintaining balance in all areas of your life, mentally, emotionally, and physically. It means taking genuine rests, putting down the phone, and leaving work at home during vacations. Part of living healthy is listening to your body. All bodies and therefore health routines are unique. You need to get the sleep your body needs and take care of your body when it's sick. Your body isn't just a machine that can keep going. It will allow you to reach your goals, but you need to love it back, otherwise, you will suffer. As for diet, limiting processed foods and refined sugars can be hard in our culture, but choosing carrots over Doritos will help your body and mind in the long run. Plus, having a majority of fruits and veggies in your diet is always a good thing. With exercise, it's recommended to have at least 60 minutes of activity every day. This can be broken into small increments, finding small ways to walk more. Our world runs on tech, so canceling screen time is impossible. You should put it down before bed, and put it away when you don't actually need it. A large part of living a healthy lifestyle is that it's a process. You wouldn't get it right all the time and the definition of a healthy lifestyle is different for every person, just as everyone's body is different, needing different things. Our days are ultimately numbered and we can live that way, for today's health.

I want a good education. I want my character to be kind, humble, and Christ-like. I want to help solve environmental issues in the Lake Superior ecosystem. But how do I get there? well, I maintain perfect grades and scour the web for all the scholarships I can find. This puts me as a frontrunner for colleges, along with my various leadership positions. From there I am determined and invested in getting the best education within my reach. Then I can use the knowledge I've learned to help others and the environment. As for my character, it's largely on myself, taking advantage of opportunities to be kind and help others, through volunteering and the mundane life with family. After all, kindness starts at home. But I can also read relationship books, research worldview, and learn how to get along with people who don't agree with me. It seems like a very simple virtue, but in this day and age, it's crucial. From there I leave it in God's hands. I've already seen growth in this area and I'm excited to see what else He will do. Lake Superior has been damaged by industry, invasive species, and overfishing. By majoring in environmental science, I will be able to help these issues on a large scale, learning about them and how to help. For now, I keep my ecological footprint small with recycling and donation. I continue to educate myself on the Lake Superior ecosystem, and the unique habitat that it is. I see my goals on the horizon and I work day by day to reach them, however long it takes.

Me and my friend Lily were walking out on the beach in mid-winter. Maybe not the smartest decision, but a memorable one nonetheless. It took us four years to get to this point. From friends of friends to best friends, talking about our dreams for the future. But the best friendships aren't made, they're born. Born from circumstances, shared experiences, convenience, and group projects. They can last a day or last a lifetime. The origins and depth of a friendship can differ as much as those who share them. But they all have one thing in common, care. They care enough to ask about your weekend, you care enough to ask about their dog. This glues the friendship against the tide of time, made in laughter, inside jokes, and shared obsessions. It's a process of sharing a life, taking both work and spontaneity. But you can't take part in one without it changing you. For me and Lilly it was all of the above, creating a lifeline through the pandemic. We are friends, we share a friendship, for another year or decade. We have made an impact on each other for the future.

We all know the situation. The line for the new amusement park ride. You're on hold yet again. The infamous line at the DMV. An ad has to play before you can watch the video. Life is full of waiting. You just can't escape it. So do yourself and others a huge favor: Be patient. In our "me-first" world, patience is a simple, yet crucial virtue. Yes, waiting is hard and you've been on hold for an hour already. In the long run, it will help you from having a meltdown in the lobby while your wife is giving birth. But patience isn't just a virtue, it's a discipline. I try to practice patience in all the waiting scenarios mentioned above. How? Deep breaths, doing self-care, distracting myself. I simply wait without being angry or frustrated. After all, no one appreciates the honking driver in a traffic jam. That driver is no help to anyone, making everyone around him mad and escalating an already tenuous situation. So I strive not to be that driver or that person or that customer. By keeping myself calm it helps others stay under control, helping everyone. Patience pays off in the long run and ultimately it's about more than your mindset. Although that is important and a good discipline for all areas of life, it's not just for you. By being patient you help others around you, preventing a chain reaction. Patience helps you from making silly mistakes when you rush, hurting yourself and others. Of course, building a discipline takes time, requiring further patience with yourself. In the end, it's worth it, benefiting you and your peers.

There's no food, no water. The sand is black and coarse, drawing blood in windstorms. The sparse bamboo is cut and filled with vicious fire ants. It started out as a missions trip for five college friends in memory of the sixth member of their group, so says the back cover, Uncharted by Angela Hunt. Their boat sinks in a storm and they wash up on the most miserable island imaginable. After three weeks of barely any sustenance, they are suffering but somehow don't die. They make a boat but the current kept changing unpredictably. I couldn't put the book down. Besides surviving, the drama is unforgettable. The group used to be close, but now life has torn them apart. There's a divorced couple, desperately trying to make it home to their child, and a southern rich girl whose beauty was ruined in the wreck, a charming single guy out of his fifth marriage and is secretly a serial killer. And the seemingly innocent one, who takes care of her elderly parents and is a staunch Christian. Or so she thought. This is where it becomes bizarre. There were piles of garbage washing up on the island that contained items from their lives, a driver's permit, a long-lost memento. They shelter in caves but the caves show them awfully distorted memories from their lives and their worst moments. One girl tries to leave by climbing to the top of the caves and jumping. She survives and the rest of the group comes to the horrible realization. This is no forgotten island. This is Hell. This revelation rocked my world and to this day it drives me. Even though the story is fiction, it's an inspiring reminder that we don't know where we go when we die.

DNA unlocked the door to biology and the complexity of human anatomy. The discovery of DNA occurred in 1953. To me this discovery is two-fold- That despite so many years of human life, our knowledge is still so limited. But at the same time, we are making progress. Our bodies, let alone the entire universe is so much more complicated than we know, and I want to be a part of discovering more. For example, the human eye. In the 21st century, we still don’t know how it works. Additionally, deoxyribonucleic acid is so much fun to say! Say it three times fast. Such a big word for such a small part of the body. This is my favorite discovery because of its scale. Something so small can control so much, but also as a part of a system. It brings perspective to the rest of the world, that the human body alone is so complicated, down to the smallest particle, let alone the other living things on EArth. While DNA was not only discovered in the last century, it was also discovered by a woman, Rosalind franklin. She is my role model to become a scientist and go against the social norms. She changed the scientific field forever and I strive to be like her.

As I watched Pam's big strong hand coming toward my face I saw my entire life flash before my eyes. And guess what? I have four kids. And I have a hovercar and a hover house. And my spouse is a runner and it shows. And Pam and Jim are my best friends and our kids play together. And... I'm happy and I'm rich and I never die. That doesn't sound like much, but it's enough for me. -Michael Scott -Mikell Schoonover

There are many facets of life I can't control. I can influence, but the choice is not often mine. After all, I am a minor. What I want to eat, where I want to live, or where I want to go, is out of my control. Even if I receive this scholarship or not. But despite these limitations, it allows me to focus on how I can stay myself, and give my energy to that. I can control what I decide to wear, how I take care of myself. These impact the person I am and how I feel about myself. I can't control how others think about me, but I can decide how I want to present myself to the world. I voice my opinion when I can and write essays the way I want. If I want my voice to be heard, it's up to me. I can stand strong in my convictions and what I hold valuable. Most importantly, I can help stay true to myself by discovering who I am. This means trying new experiences when I have the opportunity and then solidifying what I do like and don't. Creating my boundaries to be in who I am. While many aspects of my life are not under my control, that liberates me to stay true to myself. I can choose the small things and master that. One day, when more choices are under my control, I will understand the consequences of those actions and what it means.

I would stand for virtue. For morals and self-control. No, it may not be popular in our society of instant gratification, but last time I checked, that style isn't doing us any favors. So maybe it's time to try something different. What has and hasn't worked in the past? We need a cultural mindset that has a solid foundation that can stand against the tides of problems. That change will come in every individual. Luckily as a highly influential figure, I would be able to help that change along. Taking the easy way rather than the painfully hard way of experience. If we take the hard way, many innocent have been and will be crushed by the mistakes of the culture. If we want a good country and a society to stand the test of time, we need good citizens. Without morals and self-control, that will not happen. I want to stand against the tide and I would use my power to change the world for the better. It's up to me to voice my opinion to the people. I want to influence the culture for the better and help create one with a firm foundation. But whether society wants to make a change is up to them.

What's always there, but also unpredictable? Blooms in the summer, accompanied by easily sunburned skin? My freckles. They are a physical reminder of my heritage, my Irish blood, and their trademark on the gene pool. To me, they are a gift handed down through generations and that I will pass on, marking my place in Irish heritage. But it's not just my heritage, but the folklore surrounding freckled. They've been called connect the dots, witch markings, and my personal favorite, angel kisses. Even more fascinating is the origin story of freckles. Apparently, when the descendants of modern-day Irishmen were scattered at the tower of babel, they told the gods that their island, called Gael was at the end of the Earth. The gods were concerned that they would eventually forget about the stars because of their distance from the mainland and the fog that covers them. So the gods sprinkled dust onto their faces as a map of the universe and the freckles were called little stars. Then if all the Irishmen stood together on the highest hill, they would have the entire map of the universe. These stories and ways of life are passed down in my very skin. They make me different from the average person, Caucasian sprinkled with melanin. It's a legacy I am proud to bear.

I only have one life to live. A lot of people try to cram as much into their limited time, make as much money, move up the scale and see the world. While I do want to see as much as of the world as I can, I also want to love. I could happily eat ramen noodles everyday if I could also make someone laugh. I want to live everyday caring for those around me. I want to make a baby smile, mg neighor to laugh and to share some unknown truth with teenagers trying to figure it all out. Besides the never-ending task to care, I also want to visit Petrified Rock National Park, where decayed wood was slowly replaced with quartz to make giant agates in the middle of the desert. Sail down the Mississippi from source to delta. But I also want to read the Bible in one year and work in the missions field, helping impoverished nations. I want to work on my character, to try and be the best version of myself that I can be, while still having grace. I'm so grateful that I've already gotten to do a ton in my 17 years of life. I toured the U.S. in a month, drove to Arizona from Minnesota, ridden a horse, (never again, thank you) and I finally did a cartwheel. At 14, I went on my first terrifying rollercoaster and now I can't get enough of them. Plus there was the whole "being born thing" which I'm frankly still tired from. As for "kicking the bucket" I could easily die tomorrow without doing any of this. So I try to make every moment matter. Living each day like my last, not being crazy reckless, but that my day is important.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Planting gardens and trees. Donating extra clothing and items. Buying local. Walking to work. Decreasing my carbon footprint by limiting heat and air conditioning. I do all of the above and more. I work to educate myself and others in my sphere of influence to create a greener Earth. I plant gardens every summer and take care of numerous succulents year-round. This provides more oxygen into the atmosphere and helps combat the rising levels of carbon dioxide. Once a month I donate items to my local Goodwill rather than letting them fill dangerous landfills. During the summer I volunteer at my local nature center and teach children about the value of preserving nature. This helps ensure a safer and nature-friendly future. I've worked to change my mindset from a human-centered Earth to an Earth-centered human. After all the climate and earth sustain us, so it's only right to help sustain it . I see a lot of value in investing in renewable resources, such as natural gas and wind for energy, rather than the limited supply of oil. while the Earth does give us very useful material and resources, it is limited and we need to be mindful of our use. Furthermore, I'm planning to major in environmental science to help preserve Earth for future generations.

Problems upon problems. I think to kill the weeds in our cultural mindset, we have to look at the root of the human race to fix them. From there we have to diagnosis the root of the problem disrespect for human life mainly. Ideally, in a world where one person values the next as much as himself, there would be no war, abortion, suicide, murder, or euthanasia. Slavery, human trafficking, and racism would be a thing of the past. Sexism would be eradicated and equality would rule. Prejudices would be frowned upon. Putting the Golden Rule into effect can change this, and educating children that this works.Instilling children with the value of life, that life begins at conception and is extremely valuable until natural death. But valuable for what? Valuable to love others. Then the circle completes itself, with every person's primary purpose to love each other, therefore being loved and valued. This begins with raising a new generation that understands the value of life. It begins with changes to the education system to change the future for the better. Obviously, not everyone will like this new mindset. But when enough make this change, the rest will follow. Teaching espect for human life is the best way to preserve the future and protect our future children, grandchildren from human evil. This does not mean creating a generation of naive, over protected and inexperienced children, that would make them completely unprotected from evil. But instead we educate on the reality of the human condition and everyone is capable of evil. This does not mean desensitizating them, rather to sensetize them. Helping the future of education recognize that racism is wrong, that stereotypes are wrong, stealing, lying, rape, slavery are all wrong. the future of education will be sustained by a guideline of right and wrong and that's the only way forward. Without it, we have anarchy.

The final nail was hammered into the wall and the German priest stepped back. 97 Theses, reform the church to help, rather than indulge. This action set the Reformation into motion, one of many revivals, among the Christian church to set it back on track. Martin Luther was this catalyst. I admire him because he stood against the mindset of society, the norm, and stated his conviction. Now of course the church didn't instantly become spotless and never has been. But it was a step in the right direction. at this time the Church combined Christian beliefs and pagans, therefore selling a false Christianity. Martin Luther sat down, separated the hair from the hairbrush, and set out a plan to put the Church refocusing. Now Martin Luther wasn't perfect and he still made mistakes. But what matters is the moment of clarity and he made the right choice. He stood against the tide and set the church in the right direction. He inspires me, not because he was a Christian from history, but because he stood for his opinion even though he suffered for it. He fought for his voice and made changes, making an impact to better the future. If he had just stayed silent, the Church would have eventually become obsolete. Now, this isn't about religion or faith, or even the fact that the Church became one of the more helpful institutions of the past, it's about standing up for what you believe in. For what you are convicted of and know is right. For truth.

There's no food, no water. The sand is black and coarse, drawing blood in windstorms. The sparse bamboo is cut and filled with vicious fire ants. It started out as a missions trip for five college friends in memory of the sixth member of their group, so says the back cover, Uncharted by Angela Hunt. Their boat sinks in a storm and they wash up on the most miserable island imaginable. After three weeks of barely any sustenance, they are suffering but somehow don't die. They make a boat but the current kept changing unpredictably. I couldn't put the book down. Besides surviving, the drama is unforgettable. The group used to be close, but now life has torn them apart. There's a divorced couple, desperately trying to make it home to their child, and a southern rich girl whose beauty was ruined in the wreck, a charming single guy out of his fifth marriage and is secretly a serial killer. And the seemingly innocent one, who takes care of her elderly parents and is a staunch Christian. Or so she thought. But this is where it becomes bizarre. There were piles of garbage washing up on the island that contained items from their lives, a driver's permit, a long-lost memento. They shelter in caves but the caves show them awfully distorted memories from their lives and their worst moments. One girl tries to leave by climbing to the top of the caves and jumping. She survives and the rest of the group comes to the horrible realization. This is no forgotten island. This is Hell. This revelation rocked my world and to this day it drives me. Even though the story is fiction, it's an inspiring reminder that we don't know where we go when we die.

There's no food, no water. The sand is black and coarse, drawing blood in windstorms. The sparse bamboo is cut and filled with vicious fire ants. It started out as a missions trip for five college friends in memory of the sixth member of their group, so says the back cover, Uncharted by Angela Hunt. Their boat sinks in a storm and they wash up on the most miserable island imaginable. After three weeks of barely any sustenance, they are suffering but somehow don't die. They make a boat but the current kept changing unpredictably. I couldn't put the book down. Besides surviving, the drama is unforgettable. The group used to be close, but now life has torn them apart. There's a divorced couple, desperately trying to make it home to their child, and a southern rich girl whose beauty was ruined in the wreck, a charming single guy out of his fifth marriage and is secretly a serial killer. And the seemingly innocent one, who takes care of her elderly parents and is a staunch Christian. Or so she thought. But this is where it becomes bizarre. There were piles of garbage washing up on the island that contained items from their lives, a driver's permit, a long-lost memento. They shelter in caves but the caves show them awfully distorted memories from their lives and their worst moments. One girl tries to leave by climbing to the top of the caves and jumping. She survives and the rest of the group comes to the horrible realization. This is no forgotten island. This is Hell. This revelation rocked my world and to this day it drives me. Even though the story is fiction, it's an inspiring reminder that we don't know where we go when we die.

What motivates me daily is the future. Or more accurately, hope. Without hope, there's no way to go on or a reason. The future holds a promise of new things and adventure. Right now I attend an online school and that will continue until I graduate high school. This means that motivation has a different meaning. A reason to get out of bed and start school on my own. To keep my grades up and moving on. The future holds the promise of college, of getting out of my bedroom and out into the great wide world. The hope is that I will be independent and can take spontaneous trips to the Grand Canyon. Maybe I'm a little disillusioned but then the future holds promise for that too. It's the hope for the good things and the bad because the bad experiences sharpen you. Creates a diamond out of coal. One part of my personality I am very list and goal-oriented. So online school means checking it off and getting onto the next thing. Seeing that checkmark elicits a feeling of accomplishment which motivates me to keep going. Steady on for the future and more accomplishment or disappointment. I'm ready to face the future with motivation because I know that I am strong, I can succeed and I will.

Every day on the news, we hear it. Problems upon problems. There are hundreds of problems facing the human race, from war to world hunger. But if we want to get to the root of the problem, it's moral depravity. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to fix this problem and with so many religions demanding that they're right, there's no clear solution. So the root we can start with is the overall disrespect for human life. Ideally, in a world where one person values the next as much as himself, there would be no war, abortion, suicide, murder, or euthanasia. Slavery, human trafficking, and racism would be a thing of the past. Sexism would be eradicated and equality would rule. Prejudices would be frowned upon. Putting the Golden Rule into effect can change this, at least in your sphere of influence. But ultimately this is a heart change, in Americans and the entire world. It's a complete shift in thinking, so how do we change the future? Education. I think if we've looking at the root of so many problems, we have to look at the root of the human race. Children. Instilling children with the value of life, that life begins at conception and is extremely valuable until natural death. But valuable for what? Valuable to love others. Then the circle completes itself, with every person's primary purpose to love each other, therefore being loved and valued. This begins with raising a new generation that understands the value of life. It begins with changes to the education system and decisions in all of us. Obviously, not everyone will like this new mindset. But when enough make this change, the rest will follow. Respect for human life is the best way we can change our future for the better.

Visit Petrified Rock National Park, where decayed wood was slowly replaced with quartz to make giant agates in the middle of the desert. Sail down the Mississippi from source to delta. There are a lot of things I want to do before I kick the bucket, most of them relating to travel. But I also want to read the Bible in one year and work in the missions field, helping impoverished nations. I've done a lot of things in my life, toured the U.S. in a month, drove to Arizona from Minnesota and passed Petrified Rock National Park, ridden a horse, (never again, thank you) and I finally did a cartwheel. When I was 11, I moved from the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan to Minnesota's North Shore and haven't visited since. I would love to go back and visit the spots where I grew up. At 14, I went on my first terrifying rollercoaster and now I can't get enough of them. I've got a lot more life to live and I cant wait to do it.

"What's that say, can you read that?" My friends asked me. I squinted to read the poster across the library. "Yep" and I read out the rules of the library. I had just told my friends my extraordinary diagnosis for my vision. 20/16, which means I can read something 20 feet away that other people have to be 16 feet away from to read. So basically I have superpower vision, better than 20/20. Now I work hard to protect my eyesight and keep it fresh, by avoiding looking at the sun or driving at night. I also make sure to rest them. Additionally, I am often propositioned by my friends and family to organize movie cabinets, junk drawers, and messy refrigerators. I grew up with a lot of toys, and having so many toys means a lot of cleaning up and putting them in their special places. This has now turned into a talent for organizing things as efficiently as possible. I also seem to have a talent for finding lost things, although not my own. I'm not sure how you would practice that but it comes in handy when your friend has lost her glasses in the ballpen. I can also learn things rather quickly and find the perfect gift for someone. I enjoy using these talents and working to protect them for the future.

Speaking your mind is important, but so are the parameters for doing so. Saying something that's true at the wrong time or spoken harshly can butcher relationships, rather than challenging each other. Sometimes peace is better than another hour of circular arguing. When the time is right and appropriate, I need to have good evidence behind my opinion to cement my idea into place. But if you don't have good evidence and the other side starts to stack up, it's okay to change your mind. Commitment begins with a conviction. That my voice is just as important as those around me, thanks to democracy. But it also means if I have something to say, then it's up to me to say it. Confidence in my idea begins with sizeable evidence, at least enough to convince myself, but any leap of courage will help you along. When it comes to stepping on the podium and delivering my message, I try to make it clear and show why I believe it. Luckily commitment gets easier with practice and you become more discerning to other ideas. But I try not to overdo the spotlight. It's okay not to have an opinion on a subject and leave the circular arguments to others.

The sole purpose of my life is to give glory to God. You may put that off as fantasy or a placating platitude. But not many people can highlight their purpose, who they are and what that means for them. I don't always achieve giving glory but I always get back on the horse. This is an overarching goal for any Christian but for me specifically this means taking care of God's creations and standing in awe and worship of his environment. Some ways I achieve this is by worshipping with music and art, as well as keeping my plants alive and caring for my dogs. This means loving, which is precisely the way we give glory to God. Glory can be a confusing word, but all it really means is holding a light up in a dark room. Then that light points you to door out of the room. That's the meaning of life, to hold that light up and lead anyone willing out of the dark room.

We who live in America are in the top ten percent of the world. Living with gratitude in reflection of that fact is a principal I strive for. Every day I choose five things to be thankful for before I fall asleep. This practice has really impacted my thinking patterns to look on the positive side and be grateful that I have a home even if my sister is being annoying. Then I make sure to say thank you to my parents, teachers, friends etc. for every little thing. Getting dinner at night has just as much value as a special dinner at a restaurant. These practices in turn encourage me to share those blessings with others. My family has sponsored seven children in Africa and now I can personally contribute by being pen pals with them. Then last Thanksgiving we put our own holiday aside to help at our church's free Thanksgiving meal for the homeless. I try to live in gratitude everyday and then to share the many blessings I have with others.

Hobbies: an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. Well by that definition I have a lot of hobbies. I go to online school which means I have a lot of time for them. Jewelry is one of them. Although I may not be good at making it, I enjoy working with my hands and now I have more necklaces than I know what to do with. I'm teaching myself how to paint with watercolor, specifically landscapes, which takes a lot of water and practice. Reading is another hobby, my bookshelf is crammed full and I always leave the library with half of it. I enjoy Christian fiction and nonfiction, mysteries, and classics or vintage stories. I also dabble in photography and agate hunting. Luckily Minnesota is the agate capital and I live on Lake Superior which is constantly breathtaking. I've taught my dog how to high five, crawl, and stand on two feet to dance which is hilarious. While I may not have the talent for fashion, I do enjoy buying clothing coloring books and picking the colors, which feels like an art all of its own. I've got a lot of time to fill, but these are more than times killers. They bring my fufillment, joy and skills that I love to practice

"Just do it, it'll be good for you." My brain argues with me "But what if you get rejected?" "No, you can do this." My first interview and my first job. I was terrified out of my mind, I took some deep breathes and walked through the office door. My confidence drove me on, my willingness to step outside of the box. deep down, I knew I could ace it, but my mind was pushing it down. I got the job and my confidence skyrocketed. Confidence is knowing you can do it, that feeling in your gut that I've got this. But it also means getting out of your comfort zone, which then expands your confidence. Confidence also means not caring about what anyone thinks and standing up straight to say I know who I am. My confidence comes from knowing I'm a child of God but still fear grips me sometimes. Recently I started a bible study at my school. Public speaking was not a good skill for me, but I forced myself to do it because my school was spiritually dark and lonely. Once the study got started, my public speaking and teaching skills skyrocketed and my confidence got new parameters to live in. I look forward to new opportunities in the future, such as college, to stretch those boundaries even more.

The wind whispering through the forest. The waves crashing on the lakeshore. My succulent flowering after watching it grow every day. I love all of it. I love it because a flower petal is as intricate as a mountain. Because a peace that passes all understanding lays like a blanket over our broken environment. I love it because when I ponder it, I am overcome with awe and I want to learn more about the environment and how it works, which is why I'll be pursuing a degree in environmental science. I grew up on the shores of Lake Superior, spending days at the beach, rock collecting, swimming in the cold freshwater. This childhood nurtured my love for nature and spending time outside. As for appreciating this beauty, I've learned photography to capture the magnificent design of clouds to leaves and everything in between. Additionally, I have a large collection of succulent plants which has allowed me to observe their growing patterns and how they react to the different environments. Caring for them is the highlight of my day. Nature is beautiful, but it seems like it's disappearing every day, physically or just forgotten. My degree will allow me to remind people of the awe of nature and the care about it as much as I do.

Joy is more than happiness. It's deeper and comes from within. Joy comes from an internal sense of satisfaction and contentment. To me, it's often found in nature, leaves crunching under your feet like potato chips. Or the space between the waves crashing on the shore and the wind howling, the sense of peace that lies beneath it. It's the sunlight streaming through the canopy to create a stained glass window in the sky. But it includes happiness too, like jumping in puddles when it rains or cuddling with a puppy. One psychologist described it as the feeling you get when you walk in a room and see someone is happy to see you. I wholeheartedly agree with this. But seeking joy is futile. Instead, it's something you nourish and care for, keeping negative thoughts away and choosing to look on the bright side. Maintaining self-care is also very important for choosing joy. This space you create allows for the moment to creep it and there it is. A sweet smile. Joy.

What motivates me daily is the future. Or more accurately, hope. Without hope, there's no way to go on or a reason. The future holds a promise of new things and adventure. Right now I attend an online school and that will continue until I graduate high school. This means that motivation has a different meaning. A reason to get out of bed and start school on my own. To keep my grades up and moving on. The future holds the promise of college, of getting out of my bedroom and out into the great wide world. The hope is that I will be independent and can take spontaneous trips to the Grand Canyon. Maybe I'm a little disillusioned but then the future holds promise for that too. It's the hope for the good things and the bad because the bad experiences sharpen you. Creates a diamond out of coal. One part of my personality I am very list and goal-oriented. So online school means checking it off and getting onto the next thing. Seeing that checkmark elicits a feeling of accomplishment which motivates me to keep going. Steady on for the future and more accomplishment or disappointment.

I don't care if my funeral is full of people or empty. I don't want to be remembered because of how much money I made or how successful I was. I want to be remembered because I loved. That I loved everyone who came through my door, that I was kind, compassionate, and Christ-like. I want to be remembered because of making others happy and having a good laugh. Sure, money and looks are good things but do they really matter in a few years? I want to be remembered as someone who stood for the truth and kept others from the brink. But that's in case I die of old age, which if you ask me, is pretty boring. what about serving in foreign countries, saving a child from traffic, or dying for my faith? We only have one life and since it's all I have, I want to give it all for others.

The most inspiring book I've read is Uncharted by Angela Hunt. I started reading with the premise that it was a typical "stranded on an island" book with a Christian twist. The characters included five college friends who used to be close but now life has torn them apart. They are going on a missions trip in honor of the sixth friend who recently died. Their boat sinks in a storm and they wash up on the most miserable island imaginable. The sand is black and coarse, drawing blood in windstorms. The sparse bamboo was dry when cut and filled with vicious fire ants. They attempt to make a boat but the current kept changing unpredictably. I couldn't put the book down and read late into the night. They could find no food and no water but somehow didn't die after three weeks of this torture. But this is where it becomes bizarre. There were piles of garbage washing up on the island that contained items from their lives, a driver's permit, a long-lost memento. They take shelter in some caves but as they explore, the caves show them awfully distorted memories from their lives and their worst moments. One girl tries to commit suicide by climbing to the top of the caves and jumping, a three-story climb. She survives and the rest of the group comes to the horrible realization. This is no forgotten island. This is Hell. This revelation rocked my world and to this day it drives me. Even though this story is fiction, it describes the details of lives that were never saved and ended up in Hell. It's an unforgettable story and it drives me to show the world a different kind of Christian, one that helps keep people from the island.