My perspective has been changed greatly and my admiration for my cultural heritage has been deepened as a result of volunteering. I have had the honor of expressing my culture with others via dance in addition to celebrating it. It has given me the chance to reconnect with my heritage, explore my artistic side, and keep the customs that have been passed down through the years. I see the happiness and sense of community that dance provides to the lives of the children I teach at my studio. It has given me a strong feeling of pride and identity as well as the desire to advance multicultural harmony. Also, volunteering has helped me develop essential life skills like cooperation, leadership, and communication. I've developed my communication skills, my capacity to inspire others, and my ability to foster a great learning environment as a dance instructor. I have seen firsthand how education can change lives and influence how young brains are formed. I've developed professionally and personally via teaching, understanding the value of endurance, flexibility, and empathy. My belief in the ability of education to be a vehicle for empowerment and positive change has been strengthened by volunteering. My family's financial difficulties, however, have made pursuing my educational goals quite difficult. The news that my mother has breast cancer has devastated our family. She has been unable to work due to her illness, which has caused a substantial loss of money. Our already constrained financial resources have been made even more difficult by the rising medical costs linked with her treatment. In addition, my father decided to leave his job because of unfair treatment and a toxic workplace. While this choice was necessary for his well-being, it has made our financial problems worse. This scholarship would give me the much-needed financial support to lessen these pressures, enabling me to give my studies my whole attention and accomplish my academic objectives without giving anything up. Not only would receiving this scholarship ease the financial burden, but it would also be a sign of hope and courage for my family. It would give us the motivation to keep going forward and acknowledge the difficulties we faced so far. I would be able to continue contributing to my community while still pursuing my interest in school with the help of this scholarship. With financial assistance, I would be able to fully devote myself to my academics, take part in extracurricular activities, and take advantage of possibilities for intellectual and personal development.

I have always loved Ballet. It is my language that speaks louder than words. I learned to dance as a way of communication and I found a way to preserve my cultural heritage through the love and passion I have for Ballet. I know when I dance I become a better, happy, and healthier Human being. If I had to name one thing that commenced my love for Ballet, it would be the music. I grew up watching Barbie movies and my favorites were the ones containing dance, especially  Ballet, Seeing all those lovely outfits, the pretty pink pointe shoes, the stories, and the magic. These parts made me imagine myself on a big stage performing Giselle as I was in the ballet itself. My Mother said  I would always kick her womb when Spanish music came on, then my journey began. I started to take ballet classes at 6 years old. Now I’m  16 years old and I am a ballet dancer, with Aztec and Celtic Blood, where my mother was born and raised in  Mexico and my Dad is of Irish/Celtic heritage, My grandfather used to speak Nahuatl (a dialect spoken by the Aztecs, He died a year ago) I grew up with my Mother listening to Spanish songs and coming to the Family parties where music and Food were/is the center of communication. This background has been an amazing opportunity for me to use Ballet as a way to build a bridge between cultures in my dance performances, combining Mexican, and Spanish sounds with classical ballet. I began to participate in Dance festivals at age of 10 and started to work with non-profits organizations in Charlotte  and Raleigh NC (Latin American Coalition, Diamante Arts and Cultural Center, Harrisburg Town, Revista Latina, Mexican American Association of Fayetteville)  2021 was so meaningful for me, I won the Latino Diamante Award for my Volunteering Dance Hours, This year I was the cover of Hola News “Melody Shanahan Multicultural Dancer”, And La Conexion made an article recognizing my dance efforts, This was so exciting and  I reassure myself that I was meant to do what I am doing and at the same time inspire others. Even with the recognition comes the bad news as well, About a year ago I was asked to dance for a music video in Raleigh NC, I had an injury that ended up me not dancing for three months, During my recovery, I  realized that I should never give up, as much as it was hard not being able to dance it only made my mind stronger but also make me aware of the importance of taking care of my body as an instrument to work,  reassuring College Education will be playing the most important role in my life, As my Mother who crossed the border to give a better life says “College education is the most important inheritance” I have heard these words almost all my life. Now more than ever makes sense since We have the worst and most devastating news this Summer, My Mother has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer Due to genetics, and even so seeing her go through her Tough treatments  She still finds a way to support me and Cheer me up, For me and for her failure is not an option. As life is uncertain I live to Dance Ballet and make plans for my future, applying for Colleges is one of my biggest and life-changing decisions, My Goal is to achieve My Bachelor's Degree in Dance Performance and be the first generation in my family to achieve it.

I have always loved Ballet. It is my language that speaks louder than words. I learned to dance as a way of communication and I found a way to preserve my cultural heritage through the love and passion I have for Ballet. I know when I dance I become a better, happy, and healthier Human being. If I had to name one thing that really commenced my love for Ballet, it would be the music. I grew up watching Barbie movies and my favorites were the ones containing dance, especially  Ballet, Seeing all those lovely outfits, the pretty pink pointe shoes, the stories, and the magic. These parts made me imagine myself on a big stage performing Giselle as I was in the ballet itself. My Mother said  I would always kick her womb when Spanish music came on, then my journey began. I started to take ballet classes at 6 years old. Now I’m  16 years old and I am a ballet dancer, with Aztec and Celtic Blood, where my mother was born and raised in  Mexico and my Dad is of Irish/Celtic heritage, My grandfather used to speak Nahuatl (a dialect spoken by the Aztecs, He died a year ago) I grew up with my Mother listening to Spanish songs and coming to the Family parties where music and Food were/is the center of communication. This background has been an amazing opportunity for me to use Ballet as a way to build a bridge between cultures in my dance performances, combining Mexican, and Spanish sounds with classical ballet. I began to participate in Dance festivals at age of 10 and started to work with non-profits organizations in Charlotte  and Raleigh NC (Latin American Coalition, Diamante Arts and Cultural Center, Harrisburg Town, Revista Latina, Mexican American Association of Fayetteville)  2021 was so meaningful for me, I won the Latino Diamante Award for my Volunteering Dance Hours, This year I was the cover of Hola News “Melody Shanahan Multicultural Dancer”, And La Conexion made an article recognizing my dance efforts, This was so exciting and  I reassure myself that I was meant to do what I am doing and at the same time inspire others. Even with the recognition comes the bad news as well, About a year ago I had an injury that ended up me not dancing for three months, During my recovery, I  realized that I should never give up, as much as it was hard not being able to dance it only made my mind stronger but also make me aware of the importance of taking care of my body as an instrument to work,  reassuring College Education will be playing the most important role in my life, As my Mother who crossed the border to give a better life says “College education is the most important inheritance” I have heard these words almost all my life. Now more than ever makes sense since We have the worst and most devastating news this Summer, My Mother has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer Due to genetics, and even so seeing her go through her Tough treatments  She still finds a way to support me and Cheer me up, For me and for her failure is not an option. As life is uncertain I live to Dance Ballet and make plans for my future, applying for Colleges is one of my biggest and life-changing decisions, My Goal is to achieve My Bachelor's Degree in Dance Performance and be the first generation in my family to achieve it.

As a multicultural artist. I wanted to represent my culture to the world. But also as a dancer, I help others to preserve our culture in their own way. My mom has crossed the border to have a better life for herself and for us, I want other people to be confident and show their art. I have performed in many festivals and theaters in order to represent my heritage. I helped assist dance teachers with younger students and am still currently active. I help by participating in activities such as camps during summer break and winter break. I even had a private student of my own because she had the passion for dance as I do myself. My mother was an artist, a great one at that. I grew to begin drawing and have gotten better over the years. I believe everyone has a talent in them, everything can be art. we just need a little guidance to improve sometimes. An experience is how you interpret it. A helping hand is the most helpful in one's life, we don't grow to know everything, we grow to learn and be able to do the same for others. As I am striving to be a dancer it also makes me eligible for me to help teach others if they want to as well. No matter how small or big an assistance can be, it will make a huge impact either way, even if not physically, helping someone mentally can make a big difference. I desire a Bachelor in Performing Arts. Dancing has made me a healthier and happier human being. With this degree I want to teach other kids, I want to dance with different teams, and I want to inspire others. I want to have more opportunities in the future so we can have an open and clear path. Staying active in doing education is in my opinion the best way in order to have an exceptional life and a happy future. I have always loved giving instead of getting, it just warms my heart that I am able to make other people happy. While I perform I sometimes see people's reactions containing satisfaction, it makes me think that this is what I love to do, for the love of myself and for the love of others. That's why writing this just puts a smile on my face thinking about how else I can aid.

I have always loved Ballet. It is my language that speaks louder than words. I learned to dance as a way of communication and I found a way to preserve my cultural heritage through the love and passion I have. I know when I dance I become a better, happy, and healthier Human being. If I had to name one thing that really commenced my love for Ballet, it would be the music. I grew up watching Barbie movies and my favorites were the ones containing dance, especially  Ballet, Seeing all those lovely outfits, the pretty pink pointe shoes, the stories, and the magic. These parts made me imagine myself on a big stage performing Giselle as I was in the ballet itself. My Mother said  I would always kick her womb when Spanish music came on, then my journey began. I started to take ballet classes at 6 years old. Now I’m 16 years old and a ballet dancer, with Aztec and Celtic Blood, where my mother was born and raised in  Mexico and my Dad is of Irish/Celtic heritage, My grandfather used to speak Nahuatl (a dialect spoken by the Aztecs, He died a year ago) I grew up with my Mother listening to Spanish songs and coming to the Family parties where music and Food were/is the center of communication. This background has been an amazing opportunity for me to use Ballet as a way to build a bridge between cultures in my dance performances, combining Mexican, and Spanish sounds with classical ballet. I began to participate in Dance festivals at age of 10 and started to work with non-profits organizations in Charlotte  and Raleigh NC (Latin American Coalition, Diamante Arts and Cultural Center, Harrisburg Town, Revista Latina, Mexican American Association of Fayetteville)  2021 was so meaningful for me, I won the Latino Diamante Award for my Volunteering Dance Hours, This year I was the cover of Hola News “Melody Shanahan Multicultural Dancer”, And La Conexion made an article recognizing my dance efforts, I reassured myself that this is what I'm meant to do, and at the same time inspire others. Even with the recognition comes the bad news as well, About a year ago, I had an injury that ended up me not dancing for three months, During my recovery, I  realized that I should never give up, as much as it was hard not being able to dance it only made my mind stronger but also make me aware of the importance of taking care of my body as an instrument to work,  reassuring College Education will be playing the most important role in my life, As my Mother who crossed the border to give a better life says “College education is the most important inheritance” Now more than ever makes sense since We have the worst and most devastating news this Summer, My Mother has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer Due to genetics, and even so seeing her go through her Tough treatments  She still finds a way to support me and Cheer me up, For me and for her failure is not an option. As life is uncertain I live to Dance Ballet and make plans for my future, applying for Colleges is one of my life-changing decisions, My Goal is to achieve My Bachelor's Degree in Dance Performance and be the first generation in my family to achieve it. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ?Harriet Tubman

I have always loved Ballet. It is my language that speaks louder than words. I learned to dance as a way of communication and I found a way to preserve my cultural heritage through the love and passion I have for Ballet. I know when I dance I become a better, happy, and healthier Human being. If I had to name one thing that really commenced my love for Ballet, it would be the music. I grew up watching Barbie movies and my favorites were the ones containing dance, especially Ballet, Seeing all those lovely outfits, the pretty pink pointe shoes, the stories, and the magic. These parts made me imagine myself on a big stage performing Giselle as I was in the ballet itself. My Mother said I would always kick her womb when Spanish music came on, then my journey began. I started to take ballet classes at 6 years old. Now I’m 16 years old and I am a ballet dancer, with Aztec and Celtic Blood, where my mother was born and raised in Mexico and my Dad is of Irish/Celtic heritage, My grandfather used to speak Nahuatl (a dialect spoken by the Aztecs, He died a year ago) I grew up with my Mother listening to Spanish songs and coming to the Family parties where music and Food were/is the center of communication. This background has been an amazing opportunity for me to use Ballet as a way to build a bridge between cultures in my dance performances, combining Mexican, and Spanish sounds with classical ballet. I began to participate in Dance festivals at age of 10 and started to work with non-profits organizations in Charlotte and Raleigh NC (Latin American Coalition, Diamante Arts and Cultural Center, Harrisburg Town, Revista Latina, Mexican American Association of Fayetteville) 2021 was so meaningful for me, I won the Latino Diamante Award for my Volunteering Dance Hours, This year I was the cover of Hola News “Melody Shanahan Multicultural Dancer”, And La Conexion made an article recognizing my dance efforts, This was so exciting and I reassure myself that I was meant to do what I am doing and at the same time inspire others. Even with the recognition comes the Bad news as well, About a year ago I had an injury that ends up not dancing for three months, During my recovery, I realized that I should never give up, as much as it was hard not being able to dance it only made my mind stronger but also make me aware of the importance of taking care of my body, my mother who crossed the border to give a better life says “College education is the most important inheritance” I have heard these words almost all my life. Now more than ever makes sense since We have the worst and most devastating news this Summer, My Mother has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer Due to genetics, and even so seeing her go through her Tough treatments She still finds a way to support me and Cheer me up, For me and for her failure is not an option. As life is uncertain I live to Dance Ballet and make plans for my future, applying for Colleges is one of my biggest and life-changing decisions, My Goal is to achieve My Bachelor's Degree in Dance Performance and be the first generation in my family to achieve it. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ―Harriet Tubman

Have you ever wondered, how is eating healthy helping? Why does it keep our bodies in better shape? I myself am an athlete. I am training into becoming a principal ballet dancer. Having a good and healthy diet is the number one priority for almost everyone, especially people trying to stay fit. Food is one of the most important necessities in life; they contain Vitamins and minerals that really help with our mental states like depression, health disorders, and anxiety. For me, both my physical and mental state has changed in the past 2 years ever since I started eating healthier, and here's how. I have had a sweet tooth ever since I was a child. I would eat dessert almost all the time when I had the chance; fast food was also another one of my weaknesses. I didn't care what the consequences were at first but once it hit me, I wanted to change. I fell in love with dancing, but with my weight and mental state, I knew I couldn't go far with that career. Middle school was a rough couple of years, a new environment, performances back to back, and I never had the energy to do anything most of the time. So I started researching and trying diets. One thing I want to tell everyone is to never ever under eat, if you feel like you need to lose weight, fast, eating less is not an option, in fact eating less can lower the metabolism, so when you actually eat normally you will gain more weight than you intended. You will need to be patient with your body, everyone's body is different, but once we become consistent with our diets and changes, the results will come fast. I came up with a plan for my health back as I made healthier decisions for all three of my meals each day, and let me tell you, I have never been happier. Currently, I feel alive, I have more energy, and I'm doing better in school. I have also improved in my dancing. I get lead roles and assist teachers whenever it is needed. I rarely feel depressed and only ever eat fast food or dessert once in a while when I feel like I accomplished something. Heck even if I win the scholarship, I'll award myself with something, That leads to another point. You don't have to completely stop eating hamburgers or cake. It's a treat, once you feel like you did what you needed to do, you can award yourselves to keep the sugar levels balanced.

My mom has been Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and it has impacted us greatly. Having only one parent pay for things can be really tough. I almost got taken out of dance class due to this. I started to work at the studio to lower the prices. Mentally for us, we are not in the best state but we are still trying. She will undergo surgery starting in January. Unfortunately, all these things have made my mom and I become depressed in a way, she has gone through so much in her life, from crossing the border, running away from hurtful parents, learning the language, and becoming a citizen of the US. She found out the cancer was through genetics which only shocked her. She always asks "why me"? She learned that having the risk of losing her life can be a possibility, she is trying to connect with people more, having to think of the present and not the future, attempting to Shed light on this devastating situation. But it also affects me, seeing her in such pain that I can't even help fix it. I'm also little by little taking part in the role of a mom, whenever she can't I will clean, help my brother who has Tuerretts homeschool, cook, and on top of that do school. It is a little harder since I am graduating early at the age of 16, I have so much work to finish and such little time. Stress has taken over me and I always feel like I am a failure to myself and my family. When I have a performance coming up my mom always has to come help, I feel ashamed because it seems like I always need her and I don't want to be dependent on people, yet that's how I always act. I currently have a therapist to talk to but it is difficult, I am trying my hardest though and I know my mom is too. But even so, seeing her go through her Tough treatments She still finds a way to support me and Cheer me up, For me and for her failure is not an option. As life is uncertain I live to Dance Ballet and make plans for my future, applying for Colleges is one of my biggest and life-changing decisions, My Goal is to achieve My Bachelor's Degree in Dance Performance and be the first generation in my family to achieve it. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ―Harriet Tubman