A woman in my life that has been influential is my grandmother. Even though sometimes we fight and disagree she has pushed me to better myself and my future. When she was younger she lived with her 12 brothers and sisters. At the same time they were poor. She told me stories of them having to grow beans to be able to eat or her having to take off from school to take care of her siblings. Even having to pick cotton with her mother to try to make ends meet. While later in life having to work three jobs. She has shown me that hard work pays off because despite all these obstacles we are living comfortably and are nowhere near the economical situation she used to live in. All her children were able to go to college and make something of themselves. She even pushes her grandchildren to do better. She is big on education and the importance it has in your life and future. Especially since she could not and did not have the same resources her children and grandchildren have. This is why she is very influential to me, she makes me want to push myself to do better and make something of myself.

In the past I struggled a lot with confidence. I was unhappy and insecure. This made me anxious and affected my mental health a lot. Over time I had to overcome this. It took a lot of inner strength. Through this time I didn't even know who I was as a person. I was just learning to heal. However through quarantine I was able to grow and find myself and through this I gained confidence. With this new found confidence I felt like a brand new person. I knew who I was and no one could take that away from me. I started to carry myself in a certain way because I knew my value. Even if I wasn't looking my best, I didn't even let it bother me because I was confident in myself and that's all that mattered to me. Even when it came down to choosing my future career. At first I was very excited for the journey ahead of me, but I had some naysayers in my ear. I became doubtful, even planning a new career path, but then a classmate of mine convinced me that doing something I loved will overcome all these adversities I was worried about. It was like God was reminding me of who I was as a person and who I knew I could be in my future. Never let others try to change your perception of yourself or a choice you have made. You have to have confidence in yourself and your choices. This is why I am committed to speaking your mind. This is one of the biggest obstacles I overcame that changed me into the person I am today.I love who I am at this moment. Unapologetically myself and no one can change that.

My ambition is to work as a veterinary ophthalmologist. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid. When you're a child you don't really know what it takes to get to that level. Now that I'm a senior in high school I know the hard work I have to put in to get my dream career. I've always wanted to do this, from watching animal planet when i was younger and losing my own dog Biscuit. Even getting into my B.O.C.E.S. class for animal care my love grew for animals. After researching the career I never knew there were so many job opportunities. I singled it down to the ophthalmologist field. One of the toughest certifications to receive. To attain this goal it will take about ten to twelve years to accomplish. When I finish I will be thirty years old. However, I am aware that time flies when you are doing something you enjoy. I’m not in it for the money; I want to live out a dream I've always had. Through this endeavor I will be taking on leadership of my own life. Family members and close friends keep telling me I should pursue another career. But, despite the fact it will be a long, expensive, and time consuming path, I am certain that this is what I want to accomplish. It will help shape me into the veterinarian I aspire to be.

There are ups and downs to listening to others. Some people share good opinions, some bad. There are people who try to better you, or people who try to put you down. These are things we can choose to listen to or ignore. These choices affect our lives, emotions, and view of ourselves. I actively listen to those who lift me up and push me to do better. I used to listen to naysayers and negative people. This did not help me and in fact held me back. When you listen to negative people it impacts you and your self esteem negatively, but when you surround yourself with positive people, you will find it easier to grow into the person you want to be. Some people aren't always your friend or tell you things based on their own experience. This is why sometimes it's best to not listen to others until you can find out the truth on your own. People used to tell me becoming a veterinarian was a bad idea, but I looked it up for myself and found that it was perfect for me. In conclusion, it's good to listen to people who are there to support you. Don't listen to people who won't help you or are trying to hold you back. Sometimes it's better to only listen to yourself as long, as you're being true to yourself. The key is to make sure that no matter what, or who you listen to, stay true to yourself and do what's best for you and others around you.

I think the best way to live a long healthy life is living stress free and having healthy habits. People don't realize that these things will put a great hold on your life and heart. You realize that people who worry the most and live the most stressful lives die of heart attacks or some other illness that is caused by stress. Yet people who are easy going are less likely too. Eating healthy coincides with a stress free life. You are what you eat. If you're eating processed foods you will feel tired and sad much more than if you were eating healthy fruits and vegetables. These make you feel energized and happy. My own theory is that if you're eating meat that came from an unhappy, unhealthy, sad, and ill kept factory farm animal, you will also be sad and unhappy. To further my point it's better to be eating fresh foods and if you're eating any animal product make sure it's from a reliable source. Furthermore, live life doing things that make you happy. Live stress free and go with the flow. Don't let things bog you down and let you become bitter. Try to be happy and grateful for the things you have and the experiences you have gone through. If things aren't going your way try to see the bright side of things. Never let life get the best of you. These are the things I believe will allow a long healthy life.

A turnaround from my life that I'm very proud of are my grades during school. I've always been a 90s and 80s type of student. Always doing good in school, even some extra curricular activities. Such as sports and clubs. However when Covid caused the shut down of schools, I was forced to go remote. When this happened my grades suffered tremendously. At first it was extremely hard to keep them up. The only good grades I had was for my B.O.C.E.S. class which I obtained high honors for in each quarter. This was only because of in person learning. In regular school I had fluctuating grades. It was so hard trying not to fall asleep by the end of the school day. Most of the time I didn't even know what we were learning in class and cheating wasn't helping me either. For my social study AP exam I got a 2. Luckily most of the people in the same class all got a 1 or 2 also. So the test was excused and most of us were allowed to continue the A.P. course to our senior year. Unless they chose not to. Even with math I barely passed with a 65 only because my teacher gave me that grade so I could pass. All my other classes I was able to bring my grades back up. Luckily the next school year was in person. I have been able to keep all my grades in the 90s. I don't have a hard time focusing in class anymore. Furthermore this is one turn around that I'm proud of. Not only will this affect me in the future but it makes me feel proud of what I have accomplished.

One of my many simple pleasures is my B.O.C.E.S. class for small animal care. I know it may sound cliche, considering this is for a scholarship, but it really is one of my favorite parts of the day. It's the only time I get to be around animals that aren't your everyday pets and it's a really fun class. Even my teacher is a super nice person who actually cares and wants to see you grow. Another, simple pleasure I have is sleeping. When I wake up from a good nap I feel so calm and I'm able to focus better on different tasks. I also like to play the Sims 4. It's one of my favorite games to play and it helps me unwind from the day. Even the simple fact of taking a shower makes me feel so relaxed and clean. Furthermore, I like to listen to music while I fall asleep. It's also nice to hear calming music when you wake up in the mornings. These are a few of my simple pleasures. They are things I enjoy and help me relax or feel happy. I think everyone should have simple pleasures to keep them sane in their day to day life.

Giving affects a lot of people. Especially for those who are less fortunate than others and need a helping hand. Giving creates an environment that is friendly and not judgmental. It could save a person's life. For example homeless shelters and food drivers help people who are economically less fortunate. Scholarships help people get an education, when in other circumstances they couldn't. Giving makes people feel better about themselves and feel actually wanted. Many people who are homeless have low self esteem, but when they see that people actually do care about them, it could push them to do better for themselves. Even with donations and sponsors for sick people. These can help them get the treatment they need to live. This is why giving is very beneficial to a healthy community. I give in a couple different ways, I donate my clothes. I volunteer at animal shelters. I've participated in food drives. I work with my church to help the community. There are a lot of things we can all do that will help our community. It's a choice if we participate in them or not. Most of the time it's the volunteers and people who put their time and effort into the community that keep it together.

Community means a lot to me because it's where I came from and grew up. It shaped me into the person I am today. I give back to my community in many different ways. One, volunteering at local animal shelters. Socializing the animals and helping them out with every day task, such as water changes, cleaning, and feeding. Also, I participate in different church activities that affect my community. Christmas caroling, donating ect. Thirdly, I donate clothes to my grandmother's church, which are given to the public. Even when it was the black lives matter movement I supported the cause and spread the word of the abuses that have been going on against black Americans and I still do to this day. Even before the movement started I stood up for my community.I also participate in my school's social justice events and protests. For example a black day for black history month, where you wear all black. I have even participated in food drives and donations the school was participating in. My first job was working at my community farmers market. We even used to grow some of the produce ourselves. These are the ways I helped my community. All these things bring the community together and create a welcoming environment. 2. My ambition is to work as a veterinary ophthalmologist. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid. When you're a child you don't really know what it takes to get to that level. Now that I'm a senior in high school I know the hard work I have to put in to get my dream career. I've always wanted to do this, from watching animal planet when i was younger and losing my own dog Biscuit. Even getting into my B.O.C.E.S. class for animal care my love grew for animals. After researching the career I never knew there were so many job opportunities. I singled it down to the ophthalmologist field. One of the toughest certifications to receive. To attain this goal it will take about ten to twelve years to accomplish. When I finish I will be thirty years old. However, I am aware that time flies when you are doing something you enjoy. I’m not in it for the money; I want to live out a dream I've always had. Through this endeavor I will be taking on leadership of my own life. Family members and close friends keep telling me I should pursue another career. But, despite the fact it will be a long, expensive, and time consuming path, I am certain that this is what I want to accomplish. It will help shape me into the veterinarian I aspire to be.

In order to keep a growth mindset I focus on myself. I don't let others' opinions affect my mood or my opinions unless they give valid reasons. I stay confident in myself and in my goals. I surround myself with positive people who are also trying to do better for themselves. I myself, try to stay positive and allow for growth. For example if something doesn't go my way I accept it, move on and try to find the good in it. Another way I keep a growth mindset is with God. He has helped me a lot and I know he is the reason for my growth as a person. I'm a totally different person then what I used to be and I truly believe it is because of him. I was a pessimistic person and now I consider myself an optimistic person. Also not focusing on the negative helps me to stay positive. When you are positive you are able to grow and learn new things and notice the opportunities that have come into your life. When I do get upset I distance myself from others to calm myself down or go to sleep to stop the stress of things. However sometimes when you're the most stressed out is when you get the most growth. This was the case with me. I was very unhappy, but during that time I learned to grow into the confident and optimistic person I am today. This is why you should see the good in everything. Going with the flow, staying positive, and being confident is the way I keep a growth mindset.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. When I was a child my sister had a dog that I loved very much. One day my mother went to get her neutered, but she did not make it out alive. Still to this day I cry about her. Another incident happened when I was at my grandmother's house. I saw a stray dog under her car shivering and looked like it was injured. I went to get some food and when I came back it was gone. Ever since then I knew I wanted a career in helping animals. This is when I decided to join B.O.C.E.S. at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my D.V.M; (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my career aspiration in life is to be an ophthalmologist. Although it will be a lengthy process, it's worth it to do something that you enjoy. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.

This investing tip was given to me by my grandma. Buy things that go up in value over time. For example a certain type of car, jewelry, houses etc. I have taken this to heart because my grandmother was born into a poor family with 12 brothers and sisters yet she has come so far. Buying the best cars, owning multiple homes, renting out homes, and having many sources of income, and she is a retired teacher. She had to work hard for what she got. These are the people you listen to when it comes to investing. There is a saying rich men will stay rich, poor men will stay poor. This quote speaks for itself. So if my grandma could go from picking cotton with her mother to make ends meet, to buying the top of the line cars from the most recent year she must know a thing or two. What she said about buying things with value makes sense. When you get established, always buy cars that go up in value so when it's time to sell it you make more than what you paid for it. Same with jewelry. That is something that will always hold value. People have been wearing gold and other jewelry for millennia. Basically be smart with your money and let it work for you. Even having multiple incomes will help you a lot. Another thing I learned from her. In conclusion having your money work for you is one of the best investments you could make.

There are a couple of study strategies I use that make me successful. One is paying attention and trying my best to be interested in the topic. I tend to learn and understand information the best the first time I hear it and if I'm very intrigued in the topic. Another thing I do is flash cards and memorization. As long as I read over something most of the time I'm able to remember it. Even with taking notes I try to write everything down because when I write it down as I'm writing it I'm remembering it. Another way I study is asking questions. When I don't know something I ask questions and most of the time I'll remember the answer which will help me in the long run. When I take a test or do something that will be graded and get some wrong answers I try to make test corrections to learn from those mistakes. If I can't figure out the answer, I sit down with my teacher and ask if we can go through it together. Thirdly, right before a test or quiz I will go over my notes to make sure everything is fresh in my mind. Lastly but most importantly, not over doing it. When you study too much or for too long you aren't able to retain the information. That's why I don't stress myself out and I take breaks. I even study right when I wake up in the morning because that's when I'm most relaxed and able to concentrate because overdoing it won't help you if you can't remember what you learned.

In order to practice self care I do a simple task of relaxing. Even if I have a lot of work to do I still find time to relax and focus on myself. I still get the things I need done, but I know that sometimes I just need a break. I find other times to do what I need to do. This impacts my life because I don’t over stress myself and I know my limits. I also go to sleep or listen to music. When I fall asleep and wake up I'm much calmer and in the mood to be productive. Whatever was bothering me that day, isn't stressing me out as much and I'm able to focus. Sometimes with music it will help me focus and not have my mind wondering. Sometimes you just need a break and sometimes you just need something that can help you to relax and concentrate. Oftentimes I even do my hair. This is something that I enjoy and it would help me if I was feeling anxious or stressed. It’s distracting and calming. These are ways I use self-care for my mental health. To not get burned out and to stay calm, focused, and stress free.

Friendship means a lot to me. For one specific reason. A friendship of mine got me through one of the toughest times in my life. Even though we are not friends today I won't forget what that person did for me. Friends are people who you can confide your problems and feelings to. When you are not feeling well, they make you feel better. They help you try to better yourself. Many friends come and go for many different reasons. Yet you always remember them. Even if you had a falling out you still have a soft part in your heart. Sometimes I feel sad about how things ended, but people come into your life for a reason and leave for reasons also. What you remember the most is all the good times you had and how they somehow affected the person you are today. If not for better or for worse they still affected you in some way. This is what friendship means to me. A friend is someone who is there for you, and even if you two have a falling out, you still have to appreciate how they made you feel and what they did for you.

When I was in elementary school, I became obsessed with a series of books called Dork Diaries. Even into middle school I would read this book. Part of the reason I really liked this series was because me and the main character had the last name. Also the stories were so entertaining and in some ways relatable. Even though she was in high school, she still talked about crushes, school, and family. Things any average girl would go through at any age. Also the appeal of the design of the book. It looked as if it was her actual diary. The book barely had any pictures but the ones they did have were very intriguing. Pictures of her, her crush, her enemy, her family. The drama of the whole thing is just something that any young girl would like. I went from reading every series of the book that was in the school library, to asking my mom to order some for my own personal use. I'm not going to lie, I'm not much of a book person, the only reason I remember I even started reading it, is because we had a reading log that had to be turned in every week. However, for some reason this book would really capture my attention. When I read it I didn't want to stop and I would be excited to have time to have time to read it. English used to be one of my favorite subjects and I really think this book was the reason why. This is why it’s my favorite book, it's one of the most memorable books I have read. I think that is what determines whether a book is good or not is the ability to captivate a reader who doesn't normally like to read.

In the past I struggled a lot with confidence and depression. I was unhappy and insecure. This made me anxious and affected my mental health a lot. Over time I had to overcome this. It took a lot of inner strength. Through this time I didn't even know who I was as a person. I was just learning to heal. However through quarantine I was able to grow and find myself and through this I gained confidence. Also through this time God helped me a lot. He sent people into my life to help me through these hard times. Even though they aren't in it today, I know these people were either lessons to make me a stronger person or people who would actually support me and listen to me when my family wouldn't. I really wanted to be a better version of myself. With this newfound confidence I was able to do this. I knew who I was and no one could take that away from me. I started to carry myself in a certain way because I knew my value. Even if I wasn't looking my best, I didn't even let it bother me because I was confident in myself and that's all that mattered to me. Even when it came down to choosing my future career as a veterinarian. At first I was very excited for the journey ahead of me, but I had some naysayers in my ear. I became doubtful, even planning a new career path as a nurse, but then a classmate of mine convinced me that doing something I loved will overcome all these adversities I was worried about. It was like God was reminding me of who I was as a person and who I knew I could be in my future. Never let others try to change your perception of yourself or a choice you have made. You have to have confidence in yourself and your choices. Now I am confident that I want to be a veterinarian and achieve my goals and aspirations.This is how I achieved getting through my problems with mental health, by staying confident in myself and also with God. This is what I love about myself. I was able to overcome these things and turn myself into the person I am today. I love who I am at this moment. Unapologeticaly myself and no one can change that. I will always speak my mind and be true to myself.

There are many things I do to have a positive impact on the climate. One of them is recycling. My neighborhood has a recycling program in place that my family takes full advantage of. Another way is by donating clothes. I donate clothes to my grandmother's church and to other people. Also i mostly buy from the thrift store and use clothes given to me. Keeping clothing from reaching the trash means that it can't break down and release gasses that harm the planet. Also with less demand, textile factories will not produce as many clothes, reducing their overall greenhouse gas emissions. Also I used to be vegetarian and am currently trying to get back into it. I have never drunk milk and only drink plant based milks. Not only for the sake of the animals but also the planet. Factory farms produce huge amounts of greenhouse gasses. Also they are a big part of deforestation, which is nothing but impacting our planet's climate. I have also been trying to save money so this has stopped me from buying things that are temporary and wasteful. Things I know I will continue to use and not just throw away or be put into a closet not to be touched again. If everyone did this factories wouldn't make as much product and landfills wouldn't be filled with so much trash. There would even be less plastic. I don't even use plastic bottles anymore because I use my reusable containers and if I do I make sure to recycle it at home. I know these are little things, but I know that if thousands of other people are doing the same thing I'm doing it will bring big change to our environment.

In the past I struggled a lot with confidence and depression. I was unhappy and insecure. This made me anxious and affected my mental health a lot. Over time I had to overcome this. It took a lot of inner strength. Through this time I didn't even know who I was as a person. I was just learning to heal. However through quarantine I was able to grow and find myself and through this I gained confidence. With this new found confidence I felt like a brand new person. I knew who I was and no one could take that away from me. I started to carry myself in a certain way because I knew my value. Even if I wasn't looking my best, I didn't even let it bother me because I was confident in myself and that's all that mattered to me. Even when it came down to choosing my future career as a veterinarian. At first I was very excited for the journey ahead of me, but I had some naysayers in my ear. I became doubtful, even planning a new career path as a nurse, but then a classmate of mine convinced me that doing something I loved will overcome all these adversities I was worried about. It was like God was reminding me of who I was as a person and who I knew I could be in my future. Never let others try to change your perception of yourself or a choice you have made. You have to have confidence in yourself and your choices. Now I am confident that I want to be a veterinarian and achieve my goals and aspirations. These are ways I cope with my mental illness, staying confident in myself. This is what I love about myself. I was able to overcome these things and turn myself into the person I am today. I love who I am at this moment. Unapologeticaly myself and no one can change that. I will always speak my mind and be true to myself. This is also why we should de-stigmitize mental health in the black community. I didn't even know what depression was till after I went through it all. Even when I was cutting myself, family members would say nothing and ignore it. Even with me wanting a pet because I felt like I was alone, I wasn't even given the satisfaction of having that. I was never asked if I was ok and they knew I was not. This is why we need to spread the word and stop the feeling of discomfort when dealing with the topic. People can learn to cope just like I did, but some aren't in the same circumstances that I was put in to be that better version of myself that picked myself up. Some people don't know God or have someone they can talk to.

In the past I struggled a lot with confidence and depression. I was unhappy and insecure. This made me anxious and affected my mental health a lot. Over time I had to overcome this. It took a lot of inner strength. Through this time I didn't even know who I was as a person. I was just learning to heal. However through quarantine I was able to grow and find myself and through this I gained confidence. With this new found confidence I felt like a brand new person. I knew who I was and no one could take that away from me. I started to carry myself in a certain way because I knew my value. Even if I wasn't looking my best, I didn't even let it bother me because I was confident in myself and that's all that mattered to me. Even when it came down to choosing my future career. At first I was very excited for the journey ahead of me, but I had some naysayers in my ear. I became doubtful, even planning a new career path, but then a classmate of mine convinced me that doing something I loved will overcome all these adversities I was worried about. It was like God was reminding me of who I was as a person and who I knew I could be in my future. Never let others try to change your perception of yourself or a choice you have made. You have to have confidence in yourself and your choices. These are ways I stay true to myself in my daily life staying confident in myself. This is what I love about myself. I was able to overcome these things and turn myself into the person I am today. I love who I am at this moment. Unapologetically myself and no one can change that. I will always speak my mind and be true to myself. This is also why we should de-stigmitize mental health in the black community. I didn't even know what depression was till after I went through it all. Even when I was cutting myself, family members would say nothing and ignore it. Even with me wanting a pet because I felt like I was alone, I wasn't even given the satisfaction of having that. I was never asked if I was ok and they knew I was not. This is why we need to spread the word and stop the feeling of discomfort when dealing with the topic. These are things that can change peoples lives.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. When I was a child my sister had a dog that I loved very much. One day my mother went to get her neutered, but she did not make it out alive. Still to this day I cry about her. Another incident happened when I was at my grandmother's house. I saw a stray dog under her car shivering and looked like it was injured. I went to get some food and when I came back it was gone. Ever since then I knew I wanted a career in helping animals. This is when I decided to join B.O.C.E.S. at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my D.V.M. (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. To pay for all of this I'm trying to apply to as many scholarships as I can by the start of the summer. Even though out college, I will be still applying. Also by saving up money separately for a car so I can put more towards college. I even have applied to the F.F.A. scholarship program trying to see what I can get. This goal means a lot to me so hopefully I can have scholarships and grants to pay for all of it. Even if I don’t get enough, I'll apply for a loan. Whatever it takes.

I think it is important for representation in STEM careers for many reasons. First, is because for a long time STEM has been dominated by people not a color, yet we have made it grow as a whole. Many discoveries would not have been possible without us. We should be a part of something we helped contribute to. For example, Henrietta Lack’s cancer cells were the first ever found by scientists to regenerate over and over. These cells were used without her or her family's knowledge and helped with the creation of many vaccines and studies. Also there was an experiment to see how Syphilis untreated would affect a group of black men from Tuskegee. These men were injected and never knew this was being done to them. This study was done by the government itself. By the end of the study in 1972, only 74 of the test subjects were still alive. Of the original 399 men, 28 had died of syphilis, 100 died of related complications, 40 of their wives had been infected, and 19 of their children were born with congenital syphilis. For further analyses the “father of modern gynecology” J. Marion Sims did numerous experiments on black women, who were enslaved without any anesthesia. While these studies made many milestones in the world of science and surgery, but at what cost? The cost of black people. Not only were these disturbing things happening but people of color also made many inventions and studies that are still used in the world today. I can think of so many African black people who contributed to STEM altogether. Dr. Stephon Alexander in physics, George Washington Carver one of the most famous, Dr. Marie M. Daly, Dr. Aprielle Ericcson-Jackson for NASA, and so much more. So many people of color have contributed and have been behind the scenes in the community of STEM. Many came from humble beginnings. Even with the many obstacles they were faced with, they still became a name in history. Even though they are often overshadowed by their white counterparts they still made an impact. With more diversity not only will they be more recognized, but will get the credit they deserve. While also standings as inspiration for not just people of color but people who are at lower advantage for whatever reason. George Carver wasn't even accepted into his first college because he was black. Like many other blacks who wanted to pursue the sciences. They all still prevailed. This is why we need representation in STEM.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. When I was a child my sister had a dog that I loved very much. One day my mother went to get her neutered, but she did not make it out alive. Still to this day I cry about her. Another incident happened when I was at my grandmother's house. I saw a stray dog under her car shivering and looked like it was injured. I went to get some food and when I came back it was gone. Ever since then I knew I wanted a career in helping animals. This is when I decided to join B.O.C.E.S. at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my D.V.M. (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my career aspiration in life is to be an ophthalmologist. Although it will be a lengthy process, it's worth it to do something that you enjoy. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.

I think education would be better for future generations if it was more affordable for everyone. More specifically college. There are many cases of student debt taking over people's lives to the point where it is holding them back. Even now Biden is looking into postponing student loans and many are in agreement with this decision and even says get rid of it altogether. Some people even find a hard time finding jobs after they graduate. Bio graduates can't find a job, but are in debt. Even when people find a job pertaining to their major, student debt still holds you back. For example the career I want to go into as a Veterinarian, even though you get a decent salary, you are still usually in debt. I feel like it shouldn't be this way. The reason you go to college is to get a higher education, gain a better life, financial reasons, or to follow your dreams. Not to be in debt. This is what pushes many people away from college. This is also another reason the lower class are more likely to choose a cheaper trade school than college. On top of the overwhelming debt, interest is added on, not making it any better. If it was cheap, future generations would be more inclined to go to school. I think the cost is one of the biggest reasons they choose not to or can't even think of going at all. Not only does this create less diversity, but also more social class divide. I also believe that colleges don't even need the amount of money they are asking for. They are just being greedy. Many of the most expensive schools use lecture halls to teach with not much one one on-one teaching. Also with Covid many schools were forced to go remote. Yet students were still having to pay outrageous prices. On top of this over the last year students who attended certain ivy league schools didn't even have air conditioning. Many students in general complain about cases of mold. If you're paying so much money towards something you would want it to be up to the quality of the price. In conclusion, college should be more affordable. This will help future generations by allowing more of them to attend college and get the higher education that everyone deserves. Also helping them with debt, student loans, and the amount of goals they would like to achieve could be made possible with the lower prices. College should not be treated as a business but as an actual learning institution. During applications they are always asking what you as a student will do to affect or make the world around me better, but they should look at themselves and think about the way they are affecting their students' lives. Are they holding them back or helping them move up in the world?

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. When I was a child my sister had a dog that I loved very much. One day my mother went to get her neutered, but she did not make it out alive. Still to this day I cry about her. Another incident happened when I was at my grandmother's house. I saw a stray dog under her car shivering and looked like it was injured. I went to get some food and when I came back it was gone. Ever since then I knew I wanted a career in helping animals. This is when I decided to join B.O.C.E.S. at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my D.V.M. (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my career aspiration in life is to be an ophthalmologist. Although it will be a lengthy process, it's worth it to do something that you enjoy. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.

During my 2nd grade summer break I had to pack my bags and move to New York. It had many effects on my life. Some good and some bad ,but it made me into the person I am today. Leaving everything you know and love really changes you as a person and disassociates you from the person you once were. It can be a hard change because you're in a totally new environment and it's very scary when you're just seven. I went from living with my whole family in a decent sized house, where I had my own room, to living with my mom and grandma in a one bedroom apartment. I was born in Atlanta, GA and moving to Long Island, NY was a big change. All of my family is down south. I had to leave behind my dad, my sisters and my dog Biscuit. This was the most difficult part because you grow so far apart from them once you go. After a while you just get used to being so far away and accept your new life. You get new friends and you learn to maneuver in your new environment.However during this time I became very shy and it affected my participation in school and community activities. It was hard for me to want to go out of my way to do extra curricular activities because I was so shy. Even though I still did well in school, it was only because I was mostly alone, and the only other thing I had to do was watch Netflix. This is one thing I regret. Not engaging in more social activities and active groups. Another circumstance that happened was the pandemic. My school work took a big hit. During my time online learning it was very hard for me to learn. I'm more of an in person learner. When I'm looking at a screen it makes me lose interest. In math I have always had to try harder to get the best grades I could. However with online learning it became very hard. I even got a tutor but I was still struggling. Even with Social studies, that has always been my favorite subject, but during online learning I became very disinterested. This year I was overjoyed and thrilled that I still managed to make the Honor Roll. Even with my class rank of 105 out of 419 and a 89 weighted g.p.a.; I still feel I could have done better if it had been in person learning. However, now that we are back to in person learning my grades have gone back up. Finally, through these two significant circumstances from moving to a new city leaving a life behind me and going through a global pandemic I was able to overcome these. As a result now I know who I am a a person. Strong, confident, and willful. If you have a real want and genuine desire to do something you will be able to overcome obstacles.

When I was a child my sister had a dog that I loved very much. One day my mother went to get her neutered, but she did not make it out alive. Still to this day I cry about her. Another incident happened when I was at my grandmother's house. I saw a stray dog under her car shivering and looked like it was injured. I went to get some food and when I came back it was gone. Ever since then I knew I wanted a career in helping animals. This is when I decided to join B.O.C.E.S. at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. When I was a child my sister had a dog that I loved very much. One day my mother went to get her neutered, but she did not make it out alive. Still to this day I cry about her. Another incident happened when I was at my grandmother's house. I saw a stray dog under her car shivering and looked like it was injured. I went to get some food and when I came back it was gone. Ever since then I knew I wanted a career in helping animals. This is when I decided to join B.O.C.E.S. at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my D.V.M. (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my career aspiration in life is to be an ophthalmologist. Although it will be a lengthy process, it's worth it to do something that you enjoy. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.

In the past I struggled a lot with confidence. I was unhappy and insecure. This made me anxious and affected my mental health a lot. Over time I had to overcome this. It took a lot of inner strength. Through this time I didn't even know who I was as a person. I was just learning to heal. However through quarantine I was able to grow and find myself and through this I gained confidence. With this new found confidence I felt like a brand new person. I knew who I was and no one could take that away from me. I started to carry myself in a certain way because I knew my value. Even if I wasn't looking my best, I didn't even let it bother me because I was confident in myself and that's all that mattered to me. Even when it came down to choosing my future career. At first I was very excited for the journey ahead of me, but I had some naysayers in my ear. I became doubtful, but then a classmate of mine convinced me that doing something I loved will overcome all these adversities I was worried about. It was like God was reminding me of who I was as a person and who I knew I could be in my future. Never let others try to change your perception of yourself or a choice you have made. You have to have confidence in yourself and your choices. This is what I love about myself. I was able to overcome these things and turn myself into the person I am today. I love who I am at this moment. Unapologetically myself and no one can change that. I will always speak my mind and be true to myself.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. When I was a child my sister had a dog that I loved very much. One day my mother went to get her neutered, but she did not make it out alive. Still to this day I cry about her. Another incident happened when I was at my grandmother's house. I saw a stray dog under her car shivering and looked like it was injured. I went to get some food and when I came back it was gone. Ever since then I knew I wanted a career in helping animals. This is when I decided to join B.O.C.E.S. at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my D.V.M. (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my career aspiration in life is to be an ophthalmologist. Although it will be a lengthy process, it's worth it to do something that you enjoy. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.

My ambition is to work as a veterinary ophthalmologist. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid. When you're a child you don't really know what it takes to get to that level. Now that I'm a senior in highschool I know the hard work I have to put in to get my dream career.I've always wanted to do this, from watching animal planet when i was younger and losing my own dog Biscuit. Even getting into my BOCES class for animal care my love grew for animals. After researching the career I never knew there were so many job opportunities. I singled it down to the ophthalmologist field. One of the toughest certifications to receive. To attain this goal it will take about ten to twelve years to accomplish. When I finish I will be thirty years old. However, I am aware that time flies when you are doing something you enjoy. I’m not in it for the money; I want to live out a dream I've always had. Through this endeavor I will be taking on leadership of my own life. Family members and close friends keep telling me I should pursue another career. But, despite the fact it will be a long, expensive, and time consuming path, I am certain that this is what I want to accomplish. It will help shape me into the veterinarian I aspire to be.

I think one of the best pieces of financial advice is not to give into impulse buying. In today's society we have a big problem with consumerism. Everyone wants to have the best and most popular brands. These brands often come with a huge mark up price. When you could get the same thing just without the label for less. Oftentimes it's the same quality if not better. When you're constantly trying to keep up with trends and buy new things all the time you're wasting huge amounts of money. Half the time you dont even wear the item or only wear it once, because a new style has come along. I used to be that person that always loved a good sale and spent so much of my money on clothes. Then it came time to save money for a car and I realized the huge amounts of money I was wasting. Some items I forget I even had and some I just didn't like anymore. Two times a year I would go through a closet clean out, just for it to fill up again. After I stopped I was able to spend my money on so many other things. These were things I actually needed or things I could indulge on; to an extent. For example I would never eat out, but now every once in a while I will treat myself because I now have the extra money. Of course don't overdo it , but it's good to treat yourself every once in a while. When you are impulse buying you don't think of the future or if the item helps you in any way. This is why the advice to stop impulse buying was the best for me.

During my 2nd grade summer break I had to pack my bags and move to New York. It had many effects on my life. Some good and some bad ,but it made me into the person I am today. Leaving everything you know and love really changes you as a person and disassociates you from the person you once were. It can be a hard change because you're in a totally new environment and it's very scary when you're just seven. I went from living with my whole family in a decent sized house, where I had my own room, to living with my mom and grandma in a one bedroom apartment. I was born in Atlanta, GA and moving to Long Island, NY was a big change. All of my family is down south. I had to leave behind my dad, my sisters and my dog Biscuit. This was the most difficult part because you grow so far apart from them once you go. After a while you just get used to being so far away and accept your new life. You get new friends and you learn to maneuver in your new environment Through these significant circumstances from moving to a new city leaving a life behind me I was able to overcome these. As a result now I am now a better person. I learned more about myself as a person and how to stay true to me. Not letting my past or future define me but going with the flow and growing as I move along. Also I am no longer that shy little girl I used to be. I'm confident and can speak for myself. If you have a real want and genuine desire to do something you will be able to overcome obstacles.

The biggest problem facing the world right now is the environmental crisis. One of the biggest ways we can work on this problem is educating the public. If people knew about how everyday life choices have a big impact on the environment, they would change their way of life. Simple things that we do everyday are affecting our environment. For example using pesticides and fertilizers in your yard. Many people don't know the runoff of the nutrients and chemicals that go into our waterways and oceans and create huge algae blooms, contaminated water, and a list of other problems. Not just for us but for animals too. Also we should teach the public about the impact certain companies and industries have on the environment. These companies and industries are the reasons for most global warming and environmental travesties. Such as population, habitat loss, and more. If people knew what these companies were doing they would stop buying their products and make the company either change their ways or shut down completely. An example is the industry of factory farming. They create major environmental problems. Air pollution, water pollution, habitat loss and a variety of other problems causing our planet to suffer. If people knew this, maybe they would look into the companies they choose to buy from and pick ones that care about the environment and not just money. It has gotten so bad to the point our country had to have laws enacted to protect our environment. One of the biggest problems facing our world today is the environmental crisis and teaching people about it may reduce it and have more people stand together for the cause. The reason I want to tackle this issue is because plants and animals are the ones suffering. These things that are making humans live an easier life are also at the cost of the planet. These plants and animals have no way of defense against these things. They are dying off at alarming rates because they have no way to protect themselves. Entire ecosystems that have been around for millions of years are dying out. So we need to band together and help the environment. Their death not only affects their environment, but us as well. Everything is connected in nature. For example, bees are still endangered. They are one of our major pollinators. Without them pollinating, plants will have a hard time reproducing. Flowers and fruit plants won't be able to grow and spread. This affects the animals who need them to survive and also us humans. Even with the contamination of water. This causes mutations and illnesses in animals. Frogs are dying at an alarming rate because of this. If we don't do something now most plants and animals will die at our hands and for what ? So we can live comfortably while they die.

It's not specifically a person but a group of people. I admire my ancestors. As a person who is African American, we have been through many hardships, but the fact we were able to rise out of that even with the obstacles we had to face makes me feel strong as a person. Even the fact that I, myself, am alive today is a miracle. I say this because throughout american history there has been many killings and genocides of black people even to this day. We have all heard stories of lynchings, murders, and imprisonment of black people for no other reason then the fact they are black. Even through out slavery many were killed and abused for little to no reason. Some even killed themselves because they couldn't take the hardships. On the way over to american in the transatlantic it wasn't uncommon for slaves to throw them selves over board because of the fear they had for the future. To continue the mass sterilization of black women without their knowledge is another huge scar put on African Americans history. Segregation and opportunity gaps are another big factor in the abuse of blacks in america. Even abusing us financially; take the black wall street for example. It was burned to the ground by their jealous white counterparts. Even the fact that black people couldn't participate in things we created. Shows and entertainment shunned us, only allowing whites, while we were the entertainers or the entertainment idea was stolen or mocking us. This is why I admire my ancestors so much because they were strong and shaped the country we live in today.

In the past I struggled a lot with confidence. I was unhappy and insecure. This made me anxious and affected my mental health a lot. Over time I had to overcome this. It took a lot of inner strength. Through this time I didn't even know who I was as a person. I was just learning to heal. However through quarantine I was able to grow and find myself and through this I gained confidence. With this new found confidence I felt like a brand new person. I knew who I was and no one could take that away from me. I started to carry myself in a certain way because I knew my value. Even if I wasn't looking my best, I didn't even let it bother me because I was confident in myself and that's all that mattered to me. Even when it came down to choosing my future career. At first I was very excited for the journey ahead of me, but I had some naysayers in my ear. I became doubtful, even planning a new career path, but then a classmate of mine convinced me that doing something I loved will overcome all these adversities I was worried about. It was like God was reminding me of who I was as a person and who I knew I could be in my future. Never let others try to change your perception of yourself or a choice you have made. You have to have confidence in yourself and your choices. These are ways I stay true to myself in my daily life staying confident in myself.

One of my favorite scientific discoveries is the fascinating world of plants. Including single cellular and multicellular. There are so many ways plants affect the environment that they live in. There are so many examples I can give. For instance ants have mini ecosystems living on their body. This collection of organisms protects them from different molds and diseases. Sloths also have the same kind of ecosystem on them. They move so slowly, moss and other things grow on them. Also used as protection and camouflage. I just think it's so cool how plants can work with an organism in a symbiotic relationship. Another amazing discovery is the fact that the rain forest has billions and millions of microorganisms. Many we don't even know about. Every tree has their own array of communities that multiply and mutate creating more and more different variants. These communities can be keys to many cures for disease and other ailments. The fact that plants have a potential to help with every ailment or disease a living thing can have is crazy. All we have to do is find it. Even with the medicinal properties. People have used them for thousands of years. You don't even need a lab to harness these properties. This is just so much you can do with plants that can change the world we live in today.

I think one of the best pieces of financial advice is not to give into impulse buying. In today's society we have a big problem with consumerism. Everyone wants to have the best and most popular brands. These brands often come with a huge mark up price. When you could get the same thing just without the label for less. Oftentimes it's the same quality if not better. When you're constantly trying to keep up with trends and buy new things all the time you're wasting huge amounts of money. Half the time you don't even wear the item or only wear it once, because a new style has come along. I used to be that person that always loved a good sale and spent so much of my money on clothes. Then it came time to save money for a car and I realized the huge amounts of money I was wasting. Some items I forget I even had and some I just didn't like anymore. Two times a year I would go through a closet clean out, just for it to fill up again. After I stopped I was able to spend my money on so many other things. These were things I actually needed or things I could indulge on; to an extent. For example I would never eat out, but now every once in a while I will treat myself because I now have the extra money. Of course don't overdo it , but it's good to treat yourself every once in a while. When you are impulse buying you don't think of the future or if the item helps you in any way. This is why the advice to stop impulse buying was the best for me.

My ambition is to work as a veterinary ophthalmologist. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid. When you're a child you don't really know what it takes to get to that level. Now that I'm a senior in high school I know the hard work I have to put in to get my dream career. I've always wanted to do this, from watching animal planet when i was younger and losing my own dog Biscuit. Even getting into my BOCES class for animal care my love grew for animals. After researching the career I never knew there were so many job opportunities. I singled it down to the ophthalmologist field. One of the toughest certifications to receive. To attain this goal it will take about ten to twelve years to accomplish. When I finish I will be thirty years old. However, I am aware that time flies when you are doing something you enjoy. I’m not in it for the money; I want to live out a dream I've always had. Through this endeavor I will be taking on leadership of my own life. Family members and close friends keep telling me I should pursue another career. But, despite the fact it will be a long, expensive, and time consuming path, I am certain that this is what I want to accomplish. It will help shape me into the veterinarian I aspire to be. I've always wanted to help animals since I was a child and through this I can achieve this goal.

The biggest problem facing the world right now is the environmental crisis. One of the biggest ways we can work on this problem is educating the public. If people knew about how everyday life choices have a big impact on the environment, they would change their way of life. Simple things that we do everyday are affecting our environment. For example using pesticides and fertilizers on your yard. Many people don't know the runoff of the nutrients and chemicals that go into our waterways and oceans and create huge algae blooms, contaminated water, and a list of other problems. Not just for us but for animals too. Also we should teach the public about the impact certain companies and industries have on the environment. These companies and industries are the reasons for most global warming and environmental travesties. Such as population, habitat loss, and more. If people knew what these companies were doing they would stop buying their products and make the company either change their ways or shut down completely. An example is the industry of factory farming. They create major environmental problems. Air pollution, water pollution, habitat loss and a variety of other problems causing our planet to suffer. If people knew this, maybe they would look into the companies they choose to buy from and pick ones that care about the environment and not just money. It has gotten so bad to the point our country had to have laws enacted to protect our environment. In conclusion, one of the biggest problems facing our world today is the environmental crisis and teaching people about it may reduce it and have more people stand together for the cause.

In the past I struggled a lot with confidence. I was unhappy and insecure. This made me anxious and affected my mental health a lot. Over time I had to overcome this. It took a lot of inner strength. Through this time I didnt even know who I was as a person. I was just learning to heal. However through quarantine I was able to grow and find myself and through this I gained confidence. With this new found confidence I felt like a brand new person. I knew who I was and no one could take that away from me. I started to carry myself in a certain way because I knew my value. Even if I wasn't looking my best, I didn't even let it bother me because I was confident in myself and that's all that mattered to me. Even when it came down to choosing my future career. At first I was very excited for the journey ahead of me, but I had some naysayers in my ear. I became doubtful, even planning a new career path, but then a classmate of mine convinced me that doing something I loved will overcome all these adversities I was worried about. It was like God was reminding me of who I was as a person and who I knew I could be in my future. Never let others try to change your perception of yourself or a choice you have made. You have to have confidence in yourself and your choices.

During my 2nd grade summer break I had to pack my bags and move to New York. It had many effects on my life. Some good and some bad ,but it made me into the person I am today. Leaving everything you know and love really changes you as a person and disassociates you from the person you once were. It can be a hard change because you're in a totally new environment and it's very scary when you're just seven. I went from living with my whole family in a decent sized house, where I had my own room, to living with my mom and grandma in a one bedroom apartment. I was born in Atlanta, GA and moving to Long Island, NY was a big change. All of my family is down south. I had to leave behind my dad, my sisters and my dog Biscuit. This was the most difficult part because you grow so far apart from them once you go. After a while you just get used to being so far away and accept your new life. You get new friends and you learn to maneuver in your new environment.However during this time I became very shy and it affected my participation in school and community activities. It was hard for me to want to go out of my way to do extra curricular activities because I was so shy. Even though I still did well in school, it was only because I was mostly alone, and the only other thing I had to do was watch Netflix. This is one thing I regret. Not engaging in more social activities and active groups. Another circumstance that happened was the pandemic. My school work took a big hit. During my time online learning it was very hard for me to learn. I'm more of an in person learner. When I'm looking at a screen it makes me lose interest. In math I have always had to try harder to get the best grades I could. However with online learning it became very hard. I even got a tutor but I was still struggling. Even with Social studies, that has always been my favorite subject, but during online learning I became very disinterested. This year I was overjoyed and thrilled that I still managed to make the Honor Roll. Even with my class rank of 105 out of 419 and a 89 weighted gpa; I still feel I could have done better if it had been in person learning. However, now that we are back to in person learning my grades have gone back up. As a result now I am now a better person. If you have a real want and genuine desire to do something you will be able to overcome obstacles. In the future I will give back by teaching other young black people that mental health is a real thing. That you should not let hold you back.

My ambition is to work as a veterinary ophthalmologist. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid. When you're a child you don't really know what it takes to get to that level. Now that I'm a senior in highschool I know the hard work I have to put in to get my dream career.I've always wanted to do this, from watching animal planet when i was younger and losing my own dog Biscuit. Even getting into my BOCES class for animal care my love grew for animals. After researching the career I never knew there were so many job opportunities. I singled it down to the ophthalmologist field. One of the toughest certifications to receive. To attain this goal it will take about ten to twelve years to accomplish. When I finish I will be thirty years old. However, I am aware that time flies when you are doing something you enjoy. I’m not in it for the money; I want to live out a dream I've always had. Through this endeavor I will be taking on leadership of my own life. Family members and close friends keep telling me I should pursue another career. But, despite the fact it will be a long, expensive, and time consuming path, I am certain that this is what I want to accomplish. It will help shape me into the veterinarian I aspire to be.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things change over and over again. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. After a while I thought I wanted to be a botanist; however that changed. It wasn't right for me. So I had to start searching elsewhere for a career. The career I found was a vet. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . Also the job outlook, pay, and opportunities are good. Also through many childhood experiences I learned to love animals. This is when I decided to join BOCES at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. Through this class my passion for animals grew. Along the way of finding out more about the vet career my sister informed me there are specialties you can do. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Basically an eye doctor for animals. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. Like I never thought I would be taking care of mice and rats in my BOCES class or working with animals that I was scared of, but I overcame it because I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future. As a vet I won't be able to pick and choose who I want to help. I had to overcome this and now I'm able to handle all the animals that I used to hate. When I get into this career, this is what i want to show others. Many people are not taught properly about animals and in turn don't understand or respect them. Not realizing animals are living things, with feelings and emotions just like us. If we teach people the importance of responsibility when handling and caring for animals, this will not only help with the treatment towards animals but also humans. This is one of the reasons I went vegetarian. Witnessing the horrors of the slaughterhouse had traumatized me. Even today I will not eat certain types of meat. With my influential goal so many problems can be fixed. The number of animals dumped in shelters will dwindle, because people will see animals are more than just a cute object, but a living thing that you must put time and effort into to take care of. Animal cruelty will possibly also go into decline. The abusers might start to see the issue in their actions. People may even see that the connection you make with animals can change your life. They are emotional support, can help with therapy, and even predict a future even such as a seizure or natural disaster. Even help with habitat loss. People will ban together to stop the destruction of habitats and work to keep them safe and clean, helping our planet. This is why I believe the teaching of animal rights would be a great influence on society,

If I was a highly influential figure, one of the main things I would stand for you would be animal rights. Many people are not taught properly about animals and in turn don't understand or respect them. Not realizing animals are living things, with feelings and emotions just like us. If we teach people the importance of responsibility when handling and caring for animals, this will not only help with the treatment towards animals but also humans. This is one of the reasons I went vegetarian. Witnessing the horrors of the slaughterhouse had traumatized me. Even today I will not eat certain types of meat. With my influential goal so many problems can be fixed. The number of animals dumped in shelters will dwindle, because people will see animals are more than just a cute object, but a living thing that you must put time and effort into to take care of. Animal cruelty will possibly also go into decline. The abusers might start to see the issue in their actions. People may even see that the connection you make with animals can change your life. They are emotional support, can help with therapy, and even predict a future even such as a seizure or natural disaster. Even help with habitat loss. People will ban together to stop the destruction of habitats and work to keep them safe and clean, helping our planet. This is why I believe the teaching of animal rights would be a great influence on society.

To be independent I will need to make my own way in life. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my long term ambition in life is to be an ophthalmologist. Although it will be a lengthy process, it's worth it to do something that you enjoy. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things change over and over again. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. After a while I thought I wanted to be a botanist; however that changed. Financially it wasn't right for me. This is why I had to make another choice other than botany. So I had to start searching elsewhere for a career. The career I found was a vet. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . Also the job outlook, pay, and opportunities are good. Also through many childhood experiences I learned to love animals. This is when I decided to join BOCES at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. Through this class my passion for animals grew. Along the way of finding out more about the vet career my sister informed me there are specialties you can do. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Basically an eye doctor for animals. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. Like I never thought I would be taking care of mice and rats in my BOCES class or working with animals that I was scared of, but I overcame it because I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future. As a vet I won't be able to pick and choose who I want to help. I had to overcome this and now I'm able to handle all the animals that I used to hate. My plans for the future will take a long road to where I want to be in my career. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also getting more experience with animals hands on and joining organizations, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my future goal in life is to be a vet ophthalmologist. Even though it will be a long process, it's worth it to do something that you love. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for.

During my 2nd grade summer break I had to pack my bags and move to New York. It had many effects on my life. Some good and some bad ,but it made me into the person I am today. Leaving everything you know and love really changes you as a person and disassociates you from the person you once were. It can be a hard change because you're in a totally new environment and it's very scary when you're just seven. I went from living with my whole family in a decent sized house, where I had my own room, to living with my mom and grandma in a one bedroom apartment. I was born in Atlanta, GA and moving to Long Island, NY was a big change. All of my family is down south. I had to leave behind my dad, my sisters and my dog Biscuit. This was the most difficult part because you grow so far apart from them once you go. After a while you just get used to being so far away and accept your new life. You get new friends and you learn to maneuver in your new environment.However during this time I became very shy and it affected my participation in school and community activities. It was hard for me to want to go out of my way to do extra curricular activities because I was so shy. Even though I still did well in school, it was only because I was mostly alone, and the only other thing I had to do was watch Netflix. This is one thing I regret. Not engaging in more social activities and active groups. Another circumstance that happened was the pandemic. My school work took a big hit. During my time online learning it was very hard for me to learn. I'm more of an in person learner. When I'm looking at a screen it makes me lose interest. In math I have always had to try harder to get the best grades I could. However with online learning it became very hard. I even got a tutor but I was still struggling. Even with Social studies, that has always been my favorite subject, but during online learning I became very disinterested. This year I was overjoyed and thrilled that I still managed to make the Honor Roll. Even with my class rank of 105 out of 419 and a 89 weighted gpa; I still feel I could have done better if it had been in person learning. However, now that we are back to in person learning my grades have gone back up. Finally, through these two significant circumstances from moving to a new city leaving a life behind me and going through a global pandemic I was able to overcome these. As a result now I am now a better person. If you have a real want and genuine desire to do something you will be able to overcome obstacles.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. After a while I thought I wanted to be a botanist; however that changed. After research and experimentation I realized I wanted something more hands-on with nature and will help me more financially. This is why I had to make another choice other than botany. So I had to start searching elsewhere for a career. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . In addition, the career prospects, income, and possibilities are favorable. I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. This is when I decided to join BOCES at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Along the way of finding out more about the Vet career my sister informed me there are specialties. I had to choose between a few and then I finally found the one, ophthalmologist. Essentially, an animal's eye doctor. This is a very prestigious career that would take a lot of time and effort, but I know that if you love doing something you can push yourself to do things you never thought you could do before. Like I never thought I would be taking care of mice and rats in my BOCES class or working with animals that I was scared of, but I overcame it because I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future. As a vet I won't be able to pick and choose who I want to help. I had to overcome this and now I'm able to handle all the animals that I used to hate. My future ambitions will take a long road to get me where I want to be in my work. I plan on getting a bachelors in animal science, making sure I get all my prerequisites for vet school. While also gaining more experience with animals hands on and participating in groups, which is a vital part of getting into vet school. Then, I plan on attending a vet school for my DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine). This will be one of the hardest parts of my journey but I know with hard work and dedication I can make it through. Lastly, I will have to attend a 2 year residency with an ophthalmologist and then take a test to determine if I'll be eligible or not to receive the certification. This will be a 10 year or more process but, in the end it will pay off. In conclusion, my long term ambition in life is to be an ophthalmologist. Although it will be a lengthy process, it's worth it to do something that you enjoy. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.

As a child you have so many ideas of what you want to be when you get older. Over time these things are ever-changing. When you get to high school it's like you're almost being rushed to figure out what you want to do. Luckily I always knew that I wanted to work with nature. Ever since I was a child I've wanted to have a job pertaining to nature. However I didn't know exactly what that profession was. After a while I thought I wanted to be a botanist; however that changed. After research and experimentation I realized I wanted something more hands-on with nature and will help me more financially. This is why I had to make another choice other than botany. So I had to start searching elsewhere for a career. The career I found was a Veterinarian. This career still pertained to nature and I really loved it . In addition, the career prospects, income, and possibilities are favorable. I also learned to love animals as a child through a variety of experiences. This is when I decided to join BOCES at Barry tech for small animal care. In the class we do husbandry on a wide range of animals. My love and enthusiasm for animals blossomed as a result of this class. Usually the most rewarding things in life are the things you work the most for. Through it all I will push to stay on top of my grades and get to where I want to be in life.