Throughout my life, I have allowed fear to be a constant hindrance, but as of late it has become my greatest teacher. I have always been fearful of the dark, and even speaking in front of a group of people. While I never grew out of sleeping with a light on, I have been able to confront my fear of public speaking. I did not allow fear to be the excuse for why I did not accomplish a dream meaningful to me. The image of flashlight serves as a symbol for the courage needed to confront fear. When using a flashlight you confront the dark so it represents my fear of the dark on the surface, but on a deeper level, facing my fear of failing publicly. As an underclassman, I vividly remember dozens of eyes staring at me. I made it through most of my presentation before “uhms” and “uhs” took over. The fear I felt in that moment was just like the panic I experience at night, overanalyzing the silhouettes in my room. In the dark, I have always found solace under my covers, avoiding the frightening illusions of my mind. As I stood before my classmates, there was no way to hide. After being overwhelmed with humiliation, I decided there to never put myself in a position like that again. Only when I considered avoiding public speaking entirely did I realize I wasn’t taking the risks that would allow me to reach my goals. As a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a leader or even president of a club. I loved joining clubs to be among like-minded people and relished my dream of one day leading one, but I was letting my fear of public speaking hold me back. With a newfound sense of urgency, I found the courage to start my own Club and take on a leadership role in my school’s Black Student Union. I had to speak publicly for those roles, and it never got easier, but I chose to focus on the opportunities to connect with new people. In parallel with finding the courage to pursue my goals, I also found confidence in my ideas. At Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a leadership camp for upperclassmen, I was surrounded by unfamiliar people. On the second day, we tackled a four-part ropes course. I was eager to find solutions but fearful to be wrong. The first challenge involved going through a jump rope in an unconventional way. I stepped back and studied the problem, eventually suggesting a solution. It was dismissed with laughter. Lacking the confidence to act on it, I missed the opportunity for my team to finish first. When the coordinator revealed that my idea was correct, I went into the next challenges with a different mindset. On the third challenge, I felt almost immediately that I had solved it. Again, my idea was dismissed. This time, I insisted we at least give it a try. As a result, we won in exceptional time. From this experience, I learned to be confident in what I have to offer and speak up for my ideas. My proudest accomplishment was running for National Honor Society Historian, in which required speaking before over 200 of my peers despite being terrified I maintained composure even as I shook with nerves. I have always been fearful, and I am not sure that will change, but I’m incredibly glad I did not let fear stop me from chasing my dreams. My experiences have taught me that embracing fear brings growth—a lesson I’ll carry into college and beyond.

Yellow Ribbons and Crushed Soda Cans If we crossed paths today, there would be three things to notice about me; first, the bright yellow ribbon bows that fall from pigtails on my shoulders, then the matching yellow skirt that flows freely with each step, and the super perceptive would notice the red flats that hold my feet adorned with a neat bow. Aesthetically, I have made it a point to embrace color. I lean into the power bright colors hold in expressivity. Color has made me feel alive, present, and more like myself. Some people settle for living in neutrals. I live in color, which is how I lead, vibrantly and earnestly. Further, I love Wicked, and a big part of that is the music because yes, I absolutely adore musical theater shows, but more so for how much I resonate with what Elphaba represents. To begin, Elphaba represents a young woman who embraces independent thought by choosing a path different from what others expect, even when it leads to discomfort. She challenges the norms of Oz by following her own moral compass, despite the embarrassment or misunderstanding she faces. During the first meetings of my very own litter pick up club, empty bottles glistened under the sun, poking out from the blades of grass far from where the band pad resided. All this trash was stepped on, crushed by tires, and ignored by many. Clicking through photos from the first meetings, I was captivated by the contrast between crushed soda cans and muddied pillows alongside warm smiles and genuine laughter. In this cheerful spirit of community, I found something meaningful. In my experience trying to make environmental change, I received comments concerned with how others would view us, like picking up trash is embarrassing. I ignored such comments because I should not feel embarrassed to follow my convictions. Elphaba eventually came to a realization similar to this. Additionally, Elphaba embodies the use of personal style as a powerful expression of individuality. Her dark, modest clothing sets her apart from the sparkling, pastel looks favored by her peers and reflects her quiet resistance to conformity and her commitment to expressing her identity on her own terms. As said from the very start, I have come to take pride in my own unique personal style. I love yellow flowy skirts, bright red sweaters, sky blue ribbons, and any other unconventional styles that help me express my individuality in a pool of neutral tones. Ultimately, both Elphaba’s journey and my own have taught me that choosing a path that feels true to who you are, no matter how different, is something to take pride in.

Yellow Ribbons and Crushed Soda Cans If we crossed paths today, there would be three things to notice about me; first, the bright yellow ribbon bows that fall from pigtails on my shoulders, then the matching yellow skirt that flows freely with each step, and the super perceptive would notice the red flats that hold my feet adorned with a neat bow. Aesthetically, I have made it a point to embrace color. I lean into the power bright colors hold in expressivity. Color has made me feel alive, present, and more like myself. Some people settle for living in neutrals. I live in color, which is how I lead, vibrantly and earnestly. Further, a global issue that matters deeply to me is environmental pollution, and I have made it my goal to make a difference in my local community. I founded and lead a student organization rooted in environmental stewardship, and it has enriched my life in meaningful ways. At some point, I noticed the crushed chip bags and bent-up straw wrappers that decorate the student parking lot. Then I began to see empty bottles glistening under the sun, poking out from the blades of grass far from where the band pad resided. All this trash was walked over, crushed by tires, and ignored. All I knew was that when I saw the problem, I could not ignore it. Wanting to make a difference, I was also conflicted by fears of public speaking. My childhood dream of leading a club motivated me to push past those anxieties. At the first meeting, I realized the leading part would come naturally in executing my vision, and better, the volunteers kept a vibrant atmosphere. Clicking through the photos from the service project, I was captivated by the contrast of crushed soda cans and muddied pillows to warm smiles and genuine laughter. In this cheerful spirit of community, I was inspired to see how this project could foster long-term environmental stewardship. I had to let go of perfectionism surrounding public speaking that restricted my abilities. My vibrance, inclusive nature, and earnestness to try spoke more for me than the eloquence of my public speaking. Taking the pressure off allowed me to take a more active role in class and take more initiative on projects. I could not have guessed how much enjoyment collecting the trash would bring me and my peers. Meetings fostered great energy for lighthearted socialization. That joy inspired me to allow this service project to blossom into a long-term school organization. I used to think leadership was rooted in the ability to direct. Now I know it says more of a leader to foster a space of vibrancy and boldness. Leadership has allowed me to loosen up about speaking publicly, make a difference in my school and environment, and foster a community. Leadership has meant seeing what others step over, litter and opportunities to help others, and deciding not to keep walking. Picking up trash isn’t glamorous; I sometimes overhear complaints about how embarrassing it is to pick up litter in front of our peers. Ultimately, neither is leadership. It’s about standing out, not for attention but because boldness makes it easier for others to follow. Perhaps I’ll grow beyond being the girl with the yellow ribbons and red shoes, but those are outward expressions of my inner desire to show up fully, colorfully, for the world around me, and that will never change. In getting an engineering degree, I will be able to make a larger contribution to the world around me.