I was the girl in the unseeable bubble. When I was born, they labeled me ‘failure to thrive’ and accused my mom of.m not feeding me, which was untrue. Shortly after birth I projectile vomited across the delivery room. They had to pump my stomach when I was just a few hours old. I was born in a military hospital, so they did not have the traditional nursery. I was kept from my parents for several hours, then left with my mom. They said I was allergic to milk and tried several formulas. At one year old, I was only 20 pounds and still fit in the infant carrier, which most children out grow within a few months. At 14 months old, my mom found a terrific GI doctor who labeled me ‘failure to thrive’ and put me on DuoCal and Neocate. It costs my parents more money to feed me a month than it did to feed the three of them. The insurance wouldn’t pay. Being a one income military family, they put it on a credit card each month, hoping some day they could pay it off. The allergist tested me and said I was allergic to milk, soy, eggs, wheat, fish, gluten, msg, cats, dogs, trees, pollen, mold, cockroaches, and latex. I reacted to just touching those things. My first reaction was when I crawled across the church floor after someone had eaten gold fish and invisible cheese dust was in the floor. I swelled and developed hives immediately. My mom took me to the hospital, I frequently visited the hospital. The allergist (and several other doctors) joked I should live in a bubble. When I was four, I ate lunch with my brother and my mom at his school. She wiped down the table and bench with alcohol wipes, so I could sit down, but there was an allergen in the air and I reacted within five minutes of sitting down, so we left. The school said they couldn’t keep me safe to start kindergarten. So, my mom homeschooled me. My house was my invisible bubble. I was isolated from other children and felt alone. In fifth grade, I outgrew my last allergy and had the opportunity to go to public school. I was so excited. It was hard transitioning having never been in a classroom setting like that. I learned when to pull out books, how to travel the halls and participate in fire drills and shelter in place. I had to learned most children did not have the same maturity level as I did, being that I was with my mom all day, I didn’t see the world as other children did. I didn’t seem to fit in and I was teased. I did not understand why they would do things like hit each other or steal things. It was difficult to relate. I soared academically through school. I maintained starlight A’s and Principals list. In high school, I was accepted into the Technology Academy and The Advanced Techonolgy Center with the local college. I studied IT and won 3rd place in the country for FBLA IT Infrastructure. I broke that invisible bubble and learned how to function in a world as an outcast. I’m currently pursuing a degree in the IT field as a freshman in college. I’m still maintaining top grades of all A’s, but that’s not enough to cover the college costs. I’ve learned how to adapt and overcome all obstacles life has thrown at me. I’ve learned to learn from others, keep growing, and treat everyone as equals.

I am currently enrolled at George Mason University pursuing a degree in Information Technologies with a major in Cyber Security. My father is serving in the US Navy and working on his degree in Cyber Security as well. I guess you could say I'm following in his footsteps. I was homeschooled from kindergarten but was enrolled in an online educational program in second grade by my mother. It sparked an interest in computers that had stuck with me. I schooled online until 4th grade, then entered the public school in 5th grade. My love for computers did not subside. I have taken online classes in high school and now college. I completed a two-year program at the Advanced Technology Academy where I studied IT. Security, in general, is important, but there are so many threats online to our country and its citizens that more and more people are needed to combat those attempts. From government agencies to US citizens' identities, it's all important work to keep safe. Our world is changing fast, so hackers are changing faster. We need a solid curtain to shield our most important secrets from those who would use them to harm others. Integrity is paramount in my military home. I was raised to question when appropriate, but do my job to the best of my ability. I am comfortable at my computer, I'm comfortable with the computer language, and I'm comfortable in the skin I'm in. I knew the challenges I'm facing as a female in the field as there are not many in my classes or field, but I'm ready. My military background has taught me to adapt and overcome. I will do just that. My chosen career path has given me a way to relate to my father who spent more time out to sea on military ships than at home with our family. It's given me something to focus on for the last few years of high school and now college. I would say I chose it because of my love for computers, my country, and my father. It just comes naturally to me and doesn't seem like work to learn and use my skills. I enjoy participating in competitions for IT and even placed 3rd in the country at the Future Business Leaders of America a few months ago for Networking Infrastructure. I look forward to learning more computer skills and hopefully landing a great cyber security job once I graduate.

My father is in the US Navy, but due to retire in just over a month. He served on board ships for 4 consecutive terms. In 24 years, he only had two shore duties. The first was recruiting before I was born and the second was training sailors and testing them, of which he flew to other countries every other month or so. He was not home much as he spent 6-9 months at sea, then 4-6 at home between the rotating ships. I grew up quick to help my family with house chores. I was homeschooled, and I learned to log in on the computer at five years old. My mom put me into a computer-based class online in first grade. I've been interested in computers ever since. I was able to email my dad on my own, but being on the ship, we couldn't video chat. I learned how to make a budget, shop for food and clothes with that budget, and spend my time wisely. I never knew when he was going to be able to call, so I did my chores as fast I could, so I would have time to talk. I also learned to do them correctly the first time, or be woken up in the middle of the night to go fix it! Integrity, honor, courage, skill, and good stewardship have always been paramount in my life. I learned to do things in a full and complete manner and not to cut corners. My father did not relate to me and my brother well since he was gone more than he was here. Our family time was awkward as he did not know how to be a dad and never had a father figure during his formative years. We struggled to find common ground during the disconnect of his coming and going. However, for the last few years, my dad has been working on his college degree in Cyber Security while serving onboard several US Ships. We are able to connect on a level dealing with computers that we did not reach before. Things changed and I've had to learn to adapt to them. My father was not close to me as a result of him not being home for most of the years of my life. We connect through our computer learning. I learned to adapt and overcome, just like my father. I am currently a freshman at George Mason University, I moved in a few days ago. I'm learning to adapt to college life, but I know I've been through worse in my life and my father prepared me to roll with the changes of life. I wouldn't be where I am today without my US Navy father. It wasn't easy growing up with a dad who was gone for more time than he was here, but it made me a stronger person in so many ways. My mom had to be both parents, in a sense, so I've learned from her as well how to juggle multiple things at once. How to iron, cook, clean, build things, and fix things. I saw what she went through as a military spouse in a state with no family within an eight-hour drive and having no one to lean on but herself. She got everything she needed to be done when it needed to be done. I'm grateful for the life I have and the people who have helped me get here. I wouldn't be the woman perusing a degree in Cyber Security and Information Systems if it weren't for my military family.

Wearable technology has changed the world in many ways. Basic step counters provide their users with total activity levels. Other wearables such as watches provide a higher level of awareness. Many are dependent on their watches to answer phone calls and texts as well as track their activities. Our lives used to revolve around people and human connection, but now we rely on technology to run our lives. Long gone are the days of paper calendars and phone books. Modern technology wearables can track and warn of low or high blood sugar as well as monitor heart rate and prevent future medical problems. Society is glued to their phones with their Bluetooth ear pieces and sleeping with their wearable technology to track sleep and breathing. There are so many ways wearable tech has impacted daily life. In the future, there will likely be more things to do while wearing some kind of technology. There will likely be more VR items, maybe even driving a car via a wrist controller or something of the sort.

I was admitted to the Governors STEM Academy in high school and the Advanced Technology Center where I studied computer information systems. I was one of ten females in the program. The males in the program were not friendly and kept to themselves. The females tended to group together in the classroom and hang out in our off-time. I expect to face some adversity in the workplace. I am hoping my college experience will be a little different and more inclusive. People tend to think females can not work in technology fields and are inferior. We are not. We are all humans and should be treats as so. I have always had a love for computers and technology. I maintained straight A’s in high school, even upper level math classes. My next endeavor is to be to find a computer with enough power to complete my studies. Finding one that is economically feasible.

Living healthy is the most important thing in life. My family has a history of health issues, so for me, learning to live healthy is important. Controlling what I eat and getting appropriate exercise helps to combat some of the illnesses. I feel better when I eat more vegetables and fruit, than take out food. My nails grow and don’t break as much when I eat more wholesome foods. Finding healthy food can be challenging though in a world where there are fast food establishments on every corner. Getting to the gym has gotten easier since there are many that are open 24 hours. Sticking to a healthy diet and getting a good amount of exercise can be tough to stick to with life’s demands.

We had three dogs. Their names were Coco, Yoshi, and Toto. Yoshi always looked sad, so we Knick named him momo, because he looked sad. When they went out together and we had to call them in we yelled “Comoto” and they all came in. My heart broke each time we lost one. My last dog, Yoshie, crossed the rainbow bridge less than a year ago. He was my world. I was born and labeled “failure to thrive” and had several medical conditions. I was homeschooled through 4th grade and heavily relied upon my dogs for friendship. The doctors said I should live in a bubble, so I was secluded at home for several years. My dogs got me through some tough spots in life. I have three paw prints forever on my heart. I miss them deeply. Coco left the Earth 3 years ago after a battle with cancer and diabetes. I gave her insulin twice a day with other meds. She was ill for many years, but you couldn’t tell my looking at her. She was always running around and wanted to play fetch. Nothing made her lay down until her very last day with us. I put my hand on each one of my dogs as they took their last breath in Earth to let them know how much they meant to me. They taught me to live, love, and play. I learned how life could end with an illness or just old age. Although it was hard to see them go. I cherish the memories we had together. I learned how life comes full circle and it taught me to appreciate life as it comes and don’t let anything get me down.

Learning about the universe and how the world works will lead to great developments in technology. We may be able to replenish what the world needs with minimal impact. It’s obvious humans are breaking up the natural cycle. Learning how and why things occur in nature and around the Earth may provide key insight on how to fix the human imprint. Humans have left on it. I hope to be able to go green and afford an electric car to reduce emissions and the need for fossil fuels. I will only be able to do that by furthering my education and obtaining a good paying job. Even if I can’t invent things or make some scientific discovery, there are things that everyday humans can do to lessen our footprint. I hope I can be one of those people who make life changing breakthroughs, but only time will tell.

I have a passion for learning and succeeding. I have pushed myself through elementary, middle, and high school to maintain all “A” grades and over a 4.0 GPA in the later. I don’t like to fail, but when I do, I learn from it. I have a desire to succeed at all costs and have spent 7 days a week studying to make sure I did not fail. When others were out partying, I was reaching my goals. I like to learn and there are so many opportunities to learn online and in physical life. I enjoyed helping others and have volunteered in my community since I was four years old. I’ve always given back in any way I could. Reaching my goals and helping others reach theirs is paramount to my being.

I work hard to get the things I have and I enjoy sharing them with others. I will go out if my way to see others around me are treated fairly and help where I can. I have been volunteering in soup kitchens and homeless shelters since I was four years old. My brother was in boy scouts and my dad was deployed, so my mom jumped in at every opportunity to help and brought me with her. Once I was old enough, I joining scouting and did lots of fund raising for the battered womens shelter, homeless shelter, and animal shelter. I continued to foster the volunteerism through my life. I have volunteered at Operation Smile since before the pandemic, while through the pandemic they asked me to make some things for the children who receives their services. So, I still found a way to help even when they closed to the public volunteers. I put others needs before my own. I have taken some mystery shops at fast food places and handed the food to homeless people I’ve seen on the street. They needed the food more and I did. Being in high school, I did not have a ton of money, but working for the free food and giving it to those who needed it more than I did felt great. A few had told me it was the only hot meal they had all week. It was depressing, yet rewarding, but I’ve the years in the volunteer shelter, I’ve had many conversations with homeless folks. I learned they are no different than the rest of the world, but fell on unfortunate circumstances. I was raised to treat others as I was to be treated and help whenever I can. I enjoy helping others and during my four years in high school I provided countless hours of free tutoring to other students. Even when we were forced into virtual school, I tutored students via Zoom to help out. It required learning some new skills and learning a new way to help them, but it was quite rewarding. It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling that other actions and situations do not produce. I can honestly say helping others brings me great joy.

I am determined and committed to succeed. I push myself to the limits and beyond. I strive to be the best I can be and I don’t give up. I’m not a quitter. I work hard for everything I have accomplished and will continue to do so in life. I believe I can do anything I set my mind to. I don’t like to fail, but I learn from my mistakes when it happens. I am an overachiever and perfectionist, which can sometimes work against me. I always want to do the best I can and be the best person I can be. I strive for greatest. In high school I studied and worked seven days a week to make sure I completed everything I committed to. I was accepted into the Governors STEM Academy, where I studied IT, then was accepted into the Advanced Technology Academy during my last two years of high school, while duel enrolling at the local college. I’m happy where I am academically and was accepted to the only College I really wanted to go to- George Mason University and have been accepted into the Honors College. I’m excited to start this new chapter in life and I know my drive and determination will push me to work hard and get the career I really want in the Computer Field.

My mom created her company, but did not have the business skills to keep it afloat. I see profit in a world designed to hide it. I want to help my community by offering affordable items they can use. My mom inspired me to take the reigns and persue my dreams. I am currently in the IT Field, so building a company with a large internet presence is in my wheelhouse. I’ve seen the hardship owning your own business can create, but I’ve also seen the joy it can bring as well. I look forward to my college education, but even more to my abilities to help my community through entrepreneurship.

My dad is currently in the military, but due to retire after 24 years of service, but hasn’t found a job. Life has been stressful as a military child with him being gone for 6-8 months at a time. He missed many birthdays and holidays with us. During the pandemic he was deployed in a ship for the longest deployment in history as they were extended and left early. They came back, but left a month later for Ops, returned for 2 months, then left again. Then deployed later that same year. He was not here for much during the beginning of the pandemic, so it was stressful not knowing if he was sick or even okay while deployed. We heard many ships were overrun with COVID, but did not have contact for many weeks. My mentor helped to keep me focused on graduating high school and getting all my senior projects completed. I have learned so much about emotions during the pandemic. I hope in the future, I can be a mentor and provide advice and assistance to others. I don’t think I would have graduated with honors from the STEM Tech Academy, Advanced Technology Academy, and finished my dual enrollment courses my senior senior without my mentor. She has meant a lot to me and I don’t think I can every pay for the support she provided. Being a high school is difficult, but adding in a military component where stability is not there makes it 1,000 times harder. Luckily, my dad came home and started a Skillbridge Program here. He was able to attend my high school graduation, otherwise he would have been out to sea and missed an important milestone in my life. We were very lucky it turned out the way it did. I can attribute much of my success has come from having adversity and learning to overcome obstacles. While I navigate the waves of life’s ocean, my mom has been my life jacket, my mentor has been my inner voice to swim harder, and my dad has been the birds who drops by every now and again. I have learned a great deal from my mentor and the military influence in my daily life, so now I ride the waves, but swim harder through the breaks and avoid the undertow as much as possible. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my mentor and military influence. Adapt and overcome has been a strong family value my whole life.

I hope to be able to create useful tools and things people can use, but are also affordable to the general population. Through securing the needed supplies at the desired rate to distributing to the public, I would hope to be able to help some folks conquer their challenges in daily life without breaking their budget. I’m creative and can solve things pretty easily. After college, I want to be able to apply my knowledge to help the community live a better life.

If I had to choose one finance lesson I feel is important, I would say to live within my means. I’ve learned if one doesn’t have a budget, they tend to overspend and maybe their allotted money for food or entertainment doesn’t stretch through the month, thus causing a hardship for the remainder of the month. Allotting a specific amount of funds for each category is key, but strictly following the plan is the most important part. I would not want to run out of food because I splurged in the first week of the month and spent all the allotted meal money. Keeping a budget throughout high school has taught me to live frugally and within my means. Paying for college is going to put me and my family into debt by a minimum of $13,000 a year. We have been working to save money, but it’s not enough. I’m learning some major financial lessons now, but the least I can do is live within my means.

I have provided free tutoring to high school schools for the last four years. Some have looked up to me for other guidance in their lives. The pandemic has greatly increased the need for mentorship and making human connections. Many people are lost in their phones, computers, and technology in general. Reaching out to another human and having someone reach out to me gives me a purpose. A connection that may not have been made with others. I enjoy helping people solve problems and thinking outside of the box. My mentor has significantly helped me navigate my high school years and graduate with honors from the Stem, Tech, and Advanced Tech Academy. I hope I can instill the same stability and stimulate the same human connection with others.

Since I was a young child, I was heavily involved with volunteer work in my community. I went to serve meals at the soup kitchen and homeless shelters at the age of four. I learned life is hard and can change with the wind. It doesn’t take much to make a wrong decision and end up in one of those shelters. I also learned they are people,too. Since then, I have had many conversations with people down on their luck. I still visit the shelters to help out hand out food or just an ear to listen and make a connection. I have volunteered with Operation Smile throughout the high school and assisting with setting up many of their fundraiser events. We have many homeless veterans here. When I see them out and about, I do take the time to stop and recognize their service and sacrifice. Being a the daughter of an active duty military member, it really hits home. There are a few spots here where the homeless tend to congregate, so I’ll pick up some meals at a restaurant and drive over to give them a hot meal. It might not be a major change, but I know I did something good to help someone else. That makes me feel good as well. I was raised to treat others how I want to be treated. I was raised to respect everyone and do whatever is in my power to help someone who may be struggling. I hope in my time if struggles at whatever point in life that might be, that someone extends a hand in kindness as well.

I live in a virtual and physical world. Sometimes the virtual world is easier to navigate than the physical world. It takes some bravery to overcome anxieties in daily life and out yourself out there for people to meet. After spending over a year out of the classroom due to pandemic, it took some bravery on my part to renter the public school setting and go back to brick and mortar. It was not as I remembered and everything felt different, maybe a little scary of the uncertainty that the school could close again at any time. We had no clue that when they decided to close school in March of 2020 that we would not return for over a year later. The uncertainty was nerve racking, but I put on a happy face and boldly went with the flow. I created a website and built my online presence. It was a little scary and bold to put myself out there and returning to the dating world with boys required a bit of bravery after not having seen many people in the beginning of the pandemic. I had to adapt, overcome, be brave, and make some bold moves. I’m about to move away to college as well, which is also requiring a bit of bravery as I have not been away from home before.

I do my best to leave no trace in our ecosystem. I car pool, when I can, and recycle, but beyond that I have participated in local clean-ups to pick up trash and things from parks, the beach, camp grounds, and out waterways. My family and I let a team of volunteers as Zone Manager for a portion of Virginia Beach during Clean the Bay days. We picked up everything from coverage butts, bottle caps, general trash to car parts, electronics, and even a safe. We had to call the police to pick up the large metal safe as we did not know what was in it or if it was part of a robbery or anything. It’s amazing how much junk was around. We went into the lakes and streams in boats and fished things out, dragged things out from under bushes, etc. it was disheartening to realize the environmental impacts other community members left behind in places it shouldn’t have been. It feels to know I made a difference and maybe some animal won’t get hurt because we removed those sharp metal car parts or the water would be less contaminated because we removed some many things from the waterways. I learned what can and cannot be recycled in my local community as well, which I was surprised how many things actually cannot be recycled here due to lack of processing equipment. I do my best to leave a positive spin on the world and remove any negative things I may be see along the way.

I was born and labeled “failure to thrive”. I had a malabsorption condition and life threatening allergies to the point I could touch those allergens. I was homeschooled as a result and turned to online learning in 2nd grade. I had to learn how to use a web cam, microphone, and computer quickly to meet my teacher and classmates. It sparked a love for technology. I learned to live with my allergies, but out grew the milk,soy,eggs,wheat,fish, gluten allergies in 5th grade, then entered public school where I was accepted into the Governors Stem IT program and my love for technology has flourished. I was accepted into the Advanced Technology Center and now, accepted into George Mason University, specifically the Honors College to study Technology Infrastructure. My unique start I life sparked a love that nothing else has matched.

I was homeschooled until 5th grade due to medical conditions. I felt secluded all the time, but did my best to stay positive. When I started public school, it was a huge change for me, but I made the best of learning how to sit at a desk and be part of the class. I have studied hard and made sure my grades. Ever dipped below an “A”. My struggles have taught me I can really do anything as long as I stay positive and don’t let the darkness in. The pandemic has been challenging as my school was completely virtual for over a year. I learned to overcome much in that time. I remained optimist about applying for GMU and I was accepted into the Honors College Program there. I would not have made it this far in life had I accepted the downside of life and let it consume me. I fought through those things that were set to bring me down and rose to the occasion. My challenge now is figuring out how to pay for college without having my parents to take $13,000 in parent loans on top of my $5,500 for the first year.