Women's empowerment, to me, is about helping women recognize their worth, trust their abilities, and pursue their goals without feeling limited by fear or the expectations of others. Through my YouTube channel, I have the opportunity to connect with a predominantly female audience that shares many of the same ambitions, insecurities, and dreams that I do. Rather than simply creating content for entertainment, I strive to build a community where women encourage one another, celebrate each other's accomplishments, and feel comfortable being themselves. I want every person who watches my videos to leave feeling more confident than when they clicked on them. One of the most important values I hope to promote is authenticity. Social media often presents an unrealistic picture of success, making it seem as though everyone else has their life figured out. I intentionally share both my accomplishments and my setbacks because I believe growth comes from perseverance, not perfection. Whether I am discussing my experiences in college, pursuing a career in animation, balancing creative projects, or working toward personal goals, I want my audience to see that challenges are a natural part of success. By being honest about my own journey, I hope to remind other young women that failure does not define them and that they are capable of achieving incredible things through determination and resilience. Beyond sharing my own experiences, my long-term vision is to create a platform that inspires collaboration instead of comparison. I want my community to become a place where women uplift one another, exchange ideas, and motivate each other to pursue careers, creative passions, and personal growth. There is tremendous power in surrounding yourself with like-minded people who genuinely want to see you succeed. If my videos encourage someone to apply for their dream school, start a business, pursue a creative hobby, or simply believe in themselves a little more, then I know I am making a meaningful difference. Empowerment grows when one person inspires another to take action. As my platform continues to grow, I hope to expand that impact beyond YouTube by using my voice to encourage confidence, creativity, and ambition in women of all backgrounds. I believe that representation matters, and seeing another young woman openly chase her dreams can give someone else the courage to chase theirs. My goal is not to present myself as someone who has all the answers, but as someone who is learning, growing, and inviting others to grow alongside me. By fostering a supportive community built on encouragement, honesty, and shared aspirations, I hope to empower women to recognize their potential and create lives they are proud of.

If I could go back and experience one Taylor Swift era for the first time, I would choose the folklore era. While I'm not the biggest fan of her current music, I think the beauty of Taylor Swift's career is that there truly is an era for everyone. Few artists have been able to reinvent themselves as many times as she has while still connecting with millions of people. What made folklore so special to me was its storytelling. Instead of focusing on radio hits, Taylor created songs that felt like short stories. Every track painted vivid characters and emotions that listeners could interpret in their own way. It proved that music can be quiet, reflective, and imaginative while still making an enormous cultural impact. More than anything, I admire Taylor's willingness to evolve. She began as a country artist, transitioned into pop, experimented with indie folk, and continues to reinvent herself with each new project. Even if every era is not my personal favorite, I respect that she has never been afraid to take creative risks. That kind of confidence is inspiring because it shows that success does not come from staying the same. It comes from continuing to grow. As someone pursuing a creative career, that lesson has stayed with me. It reminds me that I do not have to fit into one category or have my future perfectly planned. I can explore different interests, change direction, and trust that every experience is helping me become the artist I want to be. I think that is why Taylor Swift has remained relevant for so long. Her music reaches different people at different points in their lives. Someone might connect most with Fearless, another with 1989, and someone else with The Tortured Poets Department. For me, it will always be folklore. It was the era that made me appreciate not only Taylor as a musician, but also the power of storytelling itself. That is what I believe makes Taylor Swift's career so remarkable. There is not just one version of her to admire. There is an era for everyone, and that is why her music continues to resonate with people across generations.

I have watched *Love Island* for years, and my favorite Islander has been Rob because he brought so much personality to the villa. While many people see *Love Island* as just a fun reality show, I think it does something that is often overlooked. Every summer, it gives people a shared experience. My friends and I text during every episode, debate recouplings, and laugh about the challenges. As college students who spend summers in different places, it is one of the few things that keeps us connected week after week. One thing I would love to see more of, though, is emotional depth. We learn a lot about the Islanders through arguments and romantic conversations, but we rarely get to see the experiences that shaped who they are. That is why my challenge would be called **"Back to Where It Began."** Before entering the villa, every Islander would answer several questions about their childhood. They would share stories about their favorite memory growing up, someone who had a major impact on their life, a tradition they loved with their family, and a moment that made them who they are today. The producers would also collect childhood photos from each contestant. During the challenge, the Islanders would sit in a circle while a childhood photo and one anonymous memory appear on a screen. Everyone would take turns asking the group questions before guessing whose memory it belongs to. After the guesses, the Islander would reveal themselves and tell the full story behind the memory. Couples would earn points for every correct guess, and the winning couple would receive a special date outside the villa. I think this challenge would be completely different from anything the show has done before because there are no losers emotionally. Instead of creating drama through embarrassing moments or shocking revelations, it creates genuine connection. Contestants would understand each other on a deeper level, and relationships would be built on more than just attraction. It would also change the way viewers experience the show. When audiences hear someone's favorite childhood memory or learn about the people and moments that shaped them, it becomes much easier to empathize with them. Even contestants who are unpopular or misunderstood would feel more human because viewers would see where they came from instead of only judging how they behave under the pressure of the villa. I think that balance of romance, entertainment, and vulnerability would make *Love Island* even more compelling. Sometimes the strongest connections begin by simply sharing a story, and I would love to see the show create more opportunities for those moments.

I became a Sabrina Carpenter fan when I first watched her as Maya Hart on *Girl Meets World*. At the time, I loved her because she was funny, confident, and unapologetically herself. As I've grown up, it feels like I've grown alongside her career. I've listened to every album she's released, watched her evolve as an artist, and admired how she has never been afraid to reinvent herself. What inspires me most is not just her success. It is the path she took to get there. Sabrina did not stay in one lane because it was comfortable. She transitioned from Disney Channel into music, acting, and eventually became one of the biggest pop stars in the world. That journey was not instant. There were years of building her craft, releasing music, taking acting roles, and continuing to improve before the world fully recognized her talent. Seeing that has completely changed how I think about my own future. As a college student pursuing a creative career, it is easy to feel like I am falling behind when things do not happen according to the timeline I imagined. There have been opportunities I worked incredibly hard for that did not work out, and there are moments when I questioned whether I was on the right path. Watching Sabrina's career has reminded me that success is not always linear. Sometimes the things you are doing today are not your final destination. They are preparing you for it. Her willingness to pivot has given me confidence to embrace my own changing interests. I do not feel like I have to have everything figured out right now. I can explore different creative outlets, learn new skills, and trust that every experience is helping me become the person I am meant to be. Instead of seeing detours as failures, I have started seeing them as part of the process. Sabrina's career has taught me that persistence, authenticity, and growth matter more than having a perfect plan. She continued believing in herself long before the rest of the world caught up, and that is something I carry with me whenever I feel uncertain about my own journey. Being a fan of Sabrina Carpenter has been about much more than enjoying her music or watching her performances. She has shown me that careers can evolve, dreams can change, and sometimes the path that looks imperfect is actually the one leading exactly where you are supposed to be. That is a lesson I will carry with me long after the songs end.

Olivia Rodrigo is an artist who captures both the excitement and uncertainty of being a teenage girl. Her album GUTS explores emotions that feel deeply familiar to me, especially as someone learning to navigate the pressure of growing up. One lyric from "Teenage Dream" has stayed with me ever since I first heard it: "Got your whole life ahead of you, you're only nineteen, but I fear that they already got all the best parts of me." That lyric perfectly captures what it has felt like to chase perfection. Throughout high school, I looked like the student who had everything together. I earned straight A's, worked two jobs, played two sports, and attended two schools at the same time. I was always thinking about my future, trying to build the perfect college application and never letting myself slow down. Even with everything I accomplished, I constantly worried that one mistake could undo it all. Now, as a first-year student at the University of Southern California, that feeling has only grown. The classes are harder, but more than that, the world feels so much bigger. In high school, I stood out. At USC, I'm surrounded by students who were all exceptional enough to earn a spot at a university with a single-digit acceptance rate. It's inspiring, but it can also make it difficult to remember that I belong here too. Losing cheer made that transition even harder. After years of identifying as an athlete, I didn't make my college team. Suddenly, something that had always been part of who I was disappeared. Without that outlet, I found myself wondering if high school had been the best version of me. Had I already reached my peak? Had I already given the world my "best parts?" That's why Rodrigo's lyric resonates so deeply. It puts words to a fear that many high-achieving teenagers quietly carry: that if we've already pushed ourselves so hard, there won't be anything left to become. But listening to GUTS has also reminded me that growing up isn't about staying perfect. It's about learning who you are after things don't go according to plan. Olivia Rodrigo's music gives me comfort during moments of burnout because it reminds me that uncertainty is part of growing. Instead of believing my best years are behind me, I'm learning to see college as the beginning of a new chapter—one where I don't have to be perfect to keep growing. Her music encourages me to keep pursuing my goals, trusting that the best parts of me are still ahead.

As an animation student at the University of Southern California, I have been on a long journey to find my way onto the path of storytelling through the visual arts. As someone who loves to read (I should be reading right now because there are 9 days left in the year and I am 8 books behind my 75-book reading goal for 2025), I understand the power of storytelling. The enjoyment I find in reading is powerful; it is incomparable to the strength it gives children. Throughout high school, I worked at summer camps and book fairs, and I found that no matter the differences between children, they were always brought closer by the favorite books, TV shows, and movies that they had in common. After realizing this, it became my go-to method for getting those shy kids at summer camp to open up. It's funny how questions like "what's your favorite color?" or "what do you like to do?" don't quite cut it, but as soon as I asked, "Who is your favorite fictional character?" I could get a shy kid to talk like never before. My decision to study animation was a combination of a hope to connect children through stories, to give them comfort during hard times, and my love of storytelling that can change lives. Before this epiphany, I always knew that I wanted to draw for a living; however, I could not figure out the why. Generally, in my junior year of high school, I felt numb. I was taking care of a family member who could no longer care for themselves, working two jobs to save up to apply to college, and trying to maintain my 4.0 GPA, all while feeling more alone than ever. I abandoned anything that didn't serve a greater purpose in my life. I neglected my social life, hobbies, and any enjoyment, like reading or watching movies. I had to make every second count. One day in my AP LANG class, we were assigned to read a book within the next week. I hated assigned reading because it reminded me of what I was missing out on during my journey to the utmost productivity. I read "The Great Gatsby" while sitting. The book helped me realize that my constant striving for a greater goal was consuming me entirely, leaving no space for who I actually am. Reading only one book was just what I needed to get out of my depressive slump and resume reading, writing, and animating with a newfound understanding of why literature and storytelling are important. Now that I have overcome my obstacle of understanding my why, studying at my dream university has pushed me to my how. With a bachelor's degree in animation with a minor in child psychology, I will be able to create media that connects with children, with a specific understanding of how media can best help a child. In pursuit of this degree, I have encountered financial obstacles. My ultimate dream is to start my own animation studio that creates stories that encourage children to learn more, want more, and feel more. To create this career for myself, I appreciate all the help I can get. With this scholarship, my dream to help children through stories becomes possible.

Olivia Rodrigo is an artist who captures the glam and struggles of being a teenage girl. Her album GUTS covers a wide range of emotions and experiences that resonate deeply with anyone who has been a teenager. For me, Olivia Rodrigo is an artist I turn to when I feel burnt out and need someone I can relate to. One lyric from GUTS that resonates particularly with my teenage experience is from the song "Teenage Dream": "Got your whole life ahead of you, you're only nineteen, but I fear that they already got all the best parts of me." This line encapsulates my teenage experience as someone who has grown up with the pressure of being perfect. Throughout high school, I have been seemingly "perfect." I’ve maintained straight A's, balanced two jobs, participated in two sports, and attended two schools simultaneously. On the surface, it appears that I have it all together. However, I fear that despite all I’ve accomplished, I might make a mistake that could cost me my future. This fear is irrational, yet it is always in the back of my mind. The pressure to be perfect has always weighed heavily on me, and the lyric from "Teenage Dream" perfectly sums up the anxiety that comes with it. The line "Got your whole life ahead of you, you're only nineteen" speaks to the expectation that, as young people, we have limitless potential and opportunities ahead of us. Yet, the following line—"But I fear that they already got all the best parts of me"—highlights a common fear among high achievers: the fear that we’ve peaked too soon, that our best days are already behind us. As a perfectionist, having achieved so much during my teenage years, I sometimes worry that I’ve set the bar too high for myself and that I won’t be able to continue improving. Have I already given the world the best parts of myself? Is there anything left to strive for? My teenage experience has been marked by a relentless focus on the future. While others may have spent their teenage years on fun nights out, mine have been spent preparing for what lies ahead. Every decision I’ve made has been with the future in mind, from the classes I’ve taken to the extracurricular activities I’ve participated in. This forward-thinking mentality has shaped my adolescence, but it has also come at a cost. The pressure to succeed has often left me feeling burnt out, and Olivia Rodrigo’s music has been a source of comfort during those moments. In "Teenage Dream," Rodrigo captures the duality of adolescence: the excitement of having your whole life ahead of you, and the fear that you’ve already given all you have to offer. This lyric resonates with me because it mirrors my own fears and anxieties as I navigate the transition from high school to adulthood. It serves as a reminder that, while the pressure to be perfect can be overwhelming, it’s important to recognize that life is a journey with many chapters yet to be written. Olivia Rodrigos youthful success encourages me to keep going and moving towards my goals, even when I feel burnt out.