@natasha.evaa

My dream self is an altruistic attorney, who utilizes her knowledge of and passion for the law to create a more equitable world.

I am incredibly passionate about both fashion and sustainability, two seemingly unrelated topics. However, through my IBDP extended essay in which I wrote of how fast fashion negatively impacts the mental and physical health of both consumers and workers, I realized just how much these two concepts intertwine. Fast fashion (mass-produced, unethically made clothing) is extremely common in our day-to-day lives. It can be extremely tempting to purchase fast fashion as it is cheap and on-trend. However, these garments are made by underpaid workers living in terrible conditions and frequently are made of hazardous materials. Thus, in my day-to-day life, I choose to make conscious fashion decisions. Examples of these include wearing second-hand clothing either from stores or passed down from family members. This option is equally as inexpensive as purchasing fast fashion but far less harmful to the environment and myself. I also look out for "green-washing," which is when a brand claims to be more environmentally friendly than they are. I do my best to support companies that are transparent about the sources of their materials. However, these brands tend to be more expensive. Purchasing fast fashion is practically inevitable. So, even when I am purchasing fast fashion I ensure that I am doing so consciously. I ask myself questions like: "How much do I need this piece of clothing?" and "If I bought this, how often would I wear it?" Checking in with myself helps me avoid overconsumption and wasted clothing. In addition to that, I keep my clothes for as long as possible meaning that I am purchasing less fast fashion. Not only is this more ethical and sustainable, but it also allows me to practice creativity by learning how to style different pieces. Fast fashion produces about 10% of global carbon emissions, according to Zurich.com. By limiting my support for this industry, I am decreasing my carbon footprint. I believe that it is important to reduce my carbon footprint because doing so helps create a more beautiful world. My small part is practicing sustainable consumption can help shape a world in which future generations of both humans and other creatures have access to a clean environment and can live healthy lives. Through the research done in my extended essay, I learned that people frequently purchase fast fashion because they compare themselves to others wearing "on-trend" fashion. I also learned that those making these garments are frequently overworked. This causes immense stress in both the workers and the consumers, and an overwhelming amount of stress causes increased secretion of cortisol which can lead to many negative health effects such as heart issues. If everyone does their part in not only avoiding fast fashion but also in protesting brands that create it and encouraging them to practice sustainably, we can both reduce carbon footprint and increase mental wellbeing amongst various populations.

Mathematics was always my least favorite subject in school. Throughout my life, I had always been more liberal arts inclined. Throughout elementary, middle and most of high school, I could easily write an elaborate essay, read 100 pages in a day, memorize the parts of the brain or analyze why a law was put into place. But, I found fractions to be frivolous, multiplication to be mundane and, calculus too complicated. It wasn't until my senior year of high school, in my IBDP Mathematics class that I found true passion and value in mathematics. It was in this class that I discovered the glorious world of statistics. It was at that moment that math clicked for me. In my previous exposures to mathematics, I could not grasp how it could possibly be useful for me, as somebody with aspirations in politics, law and government. This perceived lack of utility and understanding of how math could apply to my own life caused an immense amount of disinterest and difficulty in enjoying the subject. However, statistics opened a whole new world for me. The process of collecting and analyzing data was absolutely captivating. The fractions, multiplication and complex functions I had previously found to be boring were suddenly wonderful! Applying mathematics to sets of data felt tangible, something I appreciate in my own studies. I still intend to pursue a career in politics, which may not overtly seem to be a math-related field. But, due to my exposure to statistics in my IBDP Mathematics class, I have found that my choice of career and, especially, my college major in political science are, in fact, inherently mathematical. In my IBDP Math class, I conducted a statistical analysis of whether or not the average approval ratings which United States presidents had earned during their first term in office correlated with the percentage of the popular vote they earned when re-running for office as an incumbent candidate. I truly enjoyed the trial-and-error process of trying to prove my hypothesis using complex calculator strokes and the new and deeper perspective I gained about politics due to the use of statistics. My use of mathematics and the social sciences has expanded beyond just my math class. I have also used inferential statistics in conjunction with social studies concepts with data that I have collected myself through a psychology experiment studying priming effects in high school students as well as a Likert scale survey studying how high school students engaged with the fast fashion industry. I am grateful to have deepened my passion for social studies through my interdisciplinary approach, integrating mathematics into my analysis of the subject. Winning the "Learner Women in Mathematics" would aid me in funding the education which I would use to use math to further educate myself about society, politics, law and government. This deepened understanding of the world around me will help me create positive change in my community!

I have been passionate about law and political science for as long as I can remember. My dad is a field representative in the teachers union. Growing up, a common weekend activity for my family was to go canvassing, knocking on doors to encourage people to vote. My favorite part of canvassing has always been connecting with constituents and putting a smile on people’s faces by bonding over a shared interest in political engagement. It was then that I realized I wanted to pursue a future in which I could use my academics and career to continue promoting participation in America’s democracy. Thus my passion for political science was born. I would love to use my post-secondary education to continue the advocacy work I’ve done throughout high school. In college I will major in Political Science. My aim is to use the resources and knowledge I gain through my college education to educate people of color about voting rights and encourage them to participate in the political system. My passion lies not only in Political Science, but also in Psychology. During my freshman year of high school, I took an introductory level psychology course. I was so interested in the subject that one day I sat down and read through the entire textbook as though it were a novel! Inspired by my knowledge of psychology and experience with social anxiety, I started an initiative aiming to spread mental health awareness called “Mental Health Mondays” through my school's student council. In university, my goal is to join or start a similar initiative to bring more mental health awareness to as many people as possible. I’d especially like to bring awareness to communities in which mental health care is often overlooked, such as Black and Brown communities. Ultimately, I’d like to use my interdisciplinary study of Political Science and Psychology to pursue my Juris Doctor degree. I am an aspiring civil rights attorney. I will use my position as an attorney and background in psychology and political science to ensure that justice is served to each of my clients. Additionally, I will use my knowledge and platform as a lawyer to give back to communities in need, especially the Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ communities to which I belong. My goal is to eventually move into the space of politics, where I can use my knowledge of the law from my practice as an attorney to contribute to the creation of a more socially just system. I hope that as an attorney and politician I will inspire young people of similar backgrounds to my own to participate in politics and to pursue a career in public policy. I would love to create my own scholarship fund for students interested in creating a world in which everyone strives to do good. In order to achieve this goal, it is required that I pursue a higher education. Receiving the Bold.Org Holt Scholarship would aid in funding the education I would use to change the world.

I’ll admit, throughout my high school career taking care of my health was never really a priority until recently. I would chronically overcommit myself to a variety of opportunities. At one point, I was actively participating in over half a dozen extracurricular activities in addition to pursuing the extremely academically rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. This caused me an immense amount of stress. Partway through my junior year of high school, I realized that I had to take a step back and reflect on the fact that I was overcommitting to my passions and neglecting to set time aside for myself. So, I started to look into ways to integrate taking better care of my health into my busy schedule. Firstly, I learned that mental, physical, and nutritional health are all intrinsically related. Taking care of one of these aspects of health is (perhaps indirectly) taking care of all of them. In my pursuit to promote healthier habits for myself, I took baby steps and reflected on small things I could do throughout the day that I was not already doing, which would lead to a healthier lifestyle. One example of this is drinking more water. I began using a water bottle which has markers indicating how much water I should have at certain times throughout the day. This small shift in routine not only improved my physical health by keeping me hydrated, but it also improved my mental health by increasing my focus, reducing my brain fog, and releasing dopamine whenever I accomplished my goal of finishing the bottle of water. Next, I began to rediscover my old hobbies and pick up new hobbies as well. To take care of my mental health, I spent less time scrolling through social media and more time learning through podcasts and reading. Just thirty minutes to an hour a day of partaking in these types of activities lead to an immense amount of stress relief. Art, which has been one of my hobbies since I was in preschool, often overlaps with my extracurricular and academic obligations. This, in the past, has been a source of stress for me, but I learned to cope with this by mentally separating creating art for pleasure and creating art for work or reframing my obligatory artwork and using it as a way to embrace both productivity and creativity. Setting aside time to relax by enjoying my hobbies has helped improve my mental health by reducing stress and anxiety which, in turn, has improved my physical health by allowing me to allocate more energy toward things I enjoy. I look forward to continuing to set aside time to keep up with healthy habits and improve my mental, physical and nutritional health during my post-secondary education and career. Winning the Holistic Health Scholarship would aid me in pursuing both my career and a healthy lifestyle.

I have been passionate about law and political science for as long as I can remember. My dad is a field representative in the teachers union. Growing up, a common weekend activity for my family was to go canvassing, knocking on doors to encourage people to vote. My favorite part of canvassing has always been connecting with constituents and putting a smile on people’s faces by bonding over a shared interest in political engagement. It was then that I realized I wanted to pursue a future in which I could use my academics and career to continue promoting participation in America’s democracy. Thus my passion for political science was born. I would love to use my post-secondary education to continue the advocacy work I’ve done throughout high school. In college I will major in Political Science. My aim is to use the resources and knowledge I gain through my college education to educate people of color about voting rights and encourage them to participate in the political system. My passion lies not only in Political Science, but also in Psychology. During my freshman year of high school, I took an introductory level psychology course. I was so interested in the subject that one day I sat down and read through the entire textbook as though it were a novel! Inspired by my knowledge of psychology and experience with social anxiety, I started an initiative aiming to spread mental health awareness called “Mental Health Mondays” through my school's student council. In university, my goal is to join or start a similar initiative to bring more mental health awareness to as many people as possible. I’d especially like to bring awareness to communities in which mental health care is often overlooked, such as Black and Brown communities. Ultimately, I’d like to use my interdisciplinary study of Political Science and Psychology to pursue my Juris Doctor degree. I am an aspiring civil rights attorney. I will use my position as an attorney and background in psychology and political science to ensure that justice is served to each of my clients. Additionally, I will use my knowledge and platform as a lawyer to give back to communities in need, especially the Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ communities to which I belong. My goal is to eventually move into the space of politics, where I can use my knowledge of the law from my practice as an attorney to contribute to the creation of a more socially just system. I hope that as an attorney and politician I will inspire young people of similar backgrounds to my own to participate in politics and to pursue a career in public policy. I would love to create my own scholarship fund for students interested in creating a world in which everyone strives to do good. In order to achieve this goal, it is required that I pursue a higher education. Receiving the Bold.Org Do Good Scholarship would aid in funding the education I would use to change the world.

My mom always taught my younger brother and me that you cannot pour into others’ cups if your own is empty; that is to say if you don’t prioritize your well-being you cannot take care of others. However, until recently, I didn’t recognize how this lesson could apply to my own life. For me, productivity is innate. It is in my nature to say “yes” to every opportunity and help my community in any way possible. Whilst pursing the rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme during my junior year of high school, I was an active member of seven different extracurricular activities, all of which I loved dearly and put an immense amount of time and effort into. But, I found that my planner pages had overflowed and I often committed to being in two places at once. I became extremely overwhelmed. I was putting my all into everything, but hardly had anything to give. This led me to reflect on my beliefs about productivity and helpfulness. It was then that I revisited my mom’s lesson. I realized that my cup was empty and I had nothing left to pour. After taking a step back, and viewing my schedule objectively, I realized the ways in which I could change it for the better. I developed a more balanced schedule, including time for self-care. Although it pained me to discontinue my involvement with many of my extracurriculars, and sometimes it remains difficult for me to pass up on opportunities, I have grown to understand that productivity doesn’t always look like three club meetings a day. Sometimes, it looks like spending time with loved ones or doing yoga at the end of the day. Taking care of my community means setting aside time to take care of myself. Although the methodology has been altered, I’ve come to realize that I am still productive. I am still accomplishing my goals of challenging myself academically, helping my community and creating positive change in the world. I am grateful to have grown to learn that self-care and productivity are not mutually exclusive. Rather that they overlap. There is not one without the other. Expanding my concept of productivity and dedication to my community to include balance and maintaining mental wellness has allowed me to truly dedicate myself to my passions. I am beyond thankful to have learned this lesson. I will carry it with me for the rest of my academic career and my life beyond it.

My goal is to use the knowledge and resources I gain from my education and career to create a more equitable world.

I am passionate about receiving a college degree because knowledge is power. It is the power to create change, which is something that I am incredibly passionate about. My passion for social justice stems from my identity as a woman of color and is rooted in the desire to have a hand in shaping the society that I will inherit. My hope is that, through my education, I can help create a more equitable society in which all identities are celebrated. I have already used my education to create change after attending the ACLU’s National Advocacy institute in 2021. Through this amazing program, I was informed about Black Student Unions and how impactful this type of affinity is in school communities. This knowledge inspired me to start my school’s Black Student Union, a safe space in which myself and other members can educate each other about social justice, current events, and black culture. One opportunity I was able to organize through BSU was connecting with the Black Law Student Association at the University of Detroit Mercy. I invited them to my school to speak on a panel, discussing their experience as black law students and educating my peers on what it is like to pursue a career in law. In university, I hope to continue to share my own education and knowledge, as well as connecting with and learning from those around me. Winning this scholarship would enable me to continue to use my education to create positive change in my community beyond high school. I plan on studying political science in college and then attending law school. This education will lead me to accomplishing my goal of becoming a civil rights attorney. I will use my knowledge and platform as a lawyer to give back to underrepresented communities. I would like to eventually move into the space of politics, where I can use the knowledge I gain from my practice as an attorney to create more equitable laws. I hope that as a politician I will inspire young women of color to pursue a career in law or politics, a space in which we are underrepresented. In the future, I hope to create a scholarship similar to this one, which aims to encourage young people to pursue a higher education, especially minorities in fields in which they are underrepresented. Winning the Learner Scholarship for High School Seniors would aid in funding the education I would use to change the world.

I am passionate about receiving my education because knowledge is power. It is the power to create change, which is something that I am incredibly passionate about. My passion for social justice stems from my identity as a woman of colour and is rooted in the desire to have a hand in shaping the society that I will inherit. My hope is that, through my education, I can help create a more equitable society in which all identities are celebrated. I have already used my education to create change after attending the ACLU’s National Advocacy institute in 2021. Through this amazing program, I was informed about Black Student Unions and how impactful this type of affinity is in school communities. This knowledge inspired me to start my school’s Black Student Union, a safe space in which myself and other members can educate each other about social justice, current events, and black culture. One opportunity I was able to organize through BSU was connecting with the Black Law Student Association at the University of Detroit Mercy. I invited them to my school to speak on a panel, discussing their experience as black law students and educating my peers on what it is like to pursue a career in law. In university, I hope to continue to share my own education and knowledge, as well as connecting with and learning from those around me. Winning this scholarship would enable me to continue to use my education to create positive change in my community beyond high school. I plan on studying political science in college and then attending law school. This education will lead me to accomplishing my goal of becoming a civil rights attorney. I will use my knowledge and platform as a lawyer to give back to underrepresented communities. I would like to eventually move into the space of politics, where I can use the knowledge I gain from my practice as an attorney to create more equitable laws. I hope that as a politician I will inspire young women of color to pursue a career in law or politics, a space in which we are underrepresented. In the future, I hope to create a scholarship similar to this one, which aims to encourage young women to pursue an education in a male-dominated field. As an ambitious woman of color pursuing education and a career in a field in which I am underrepresented, winning the Surya Education Assistance Scholarship would aid in funding the education I would use to change the world.

Twelve years of TaeKwonDo has taught me important lessons of integrity, leadership, perseverance. But the most important lesson that I’ve learned during my time as a martial artist has been developing a strong sense of community. I have been so fortunate as to attend a dojang with an incredibly supportive environment which feels like a second family! I learned that it’s a beautiful thing to be able to connect with many different people over a shared interest or experience. It has been especially inspiring to connect with other martial artists who are often underrepresented in our sport, specifically other BIPOC and female martial artists. The sense of community that I’ve developed at my dojang has played a huge role in the way that I embrace community in academic settings. My enthusiasm towards achieving equity in my school community paired with my enthusiasm for embracing community is hugely inspired by the tight knit community established at my dojang.

In July of 2013, the ‘Dream Defenders’ an activist group, took over the capitol building in Tallahassee, Florida demanding justice for the late Trayvon Martin. At seven years old, I was amongst those protesters. It was then, that my activism journey began. Now, almost ten years later I continue to advocate for minority communities. I am engaged in many social justice initiatives in my school districts. I’m an active member of my school and district wide diversity clubs. In these clubs I contribute to a safe space for my peers to have their voices heard in open discussions. I also help to organize events that aim to educate students of the importance of diversity. For example, last school year, I worked with my district diversity club to organize a Virtual Diversity Conference in which students learned about intersectionality. Intersectionality is when one considers how different parts of their identity effects how they are perceived and what privilege they have. Another way that I have promoted equality and diversity in my district is that I founded my school’s Black Student Union (BSU). This is a safe space where black students can debrief about our experiences as black students. The BSU also uses our platform to educate our peers about black culture and history and to collaborate with the administration at our school to communicate how to make our school a better and more just learning enviorment for students like us.

Chants echo through the halls of the Florida state capitol building. Hundreds of voices harmonizing together, singing a song of justice and change. In July of 2013, an activist group known as the ‘Dream Defenders’ took over the capitol building in Tallahassee, Florida demanding justice for Trayvon Martin and that the former governor Rick Scott address the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of the 17-year-old African American boy. At seven years old, I was amongst those protesters. It was then, that my activism journey began. My passion for advocacy and social justice is rooted in the desire to have a hand in shaping the society that my younger brother and I will inherit; a society in which everybody is treated equally, regardless of gender, sexuality, religion, or race. I have made it my life goal to work towards making the world one where equality and justice are universal. I am starting in my community by helping to lead and organize peaceful local Black Lives Matter protests and rallies. I use my platform as student council vice president to inform my peers about the injustices faced by minority communities, as well as providing them with the resources to educate themselves further and help them make a change. In addition to this, I have worked with a group of fellow students of my high school to form the “Social Justice League: Youth.” The goal of this student-run organization is to promote equality and racial sensitivity in our school district by working alongside the superintendent as well as other members of the school board. Thus far, the league has written a proposal outlining the steps necessary for our district to take to move towards better race relations. In July 2020, I attended the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Summer National Advocacy Institute for young activists. During the program, I gained the knowledge necessary for me to help make a greater impact on my community through activism. I attended webinars led by amazing activists such as Michelle Alexander, author of “The New Jim Crow.” Through the ACLU’s program, I have networked with hundreds of other young activists and formed what I believe will be lifelong friendships. I am an aspiring attorney. My identity as an African American young woman has inspired my desire to practice civil rights law. I will use my position as an attorney to ensure that justice is served to each of my clients. Additionally, I will use my knowledge and platform as a lawyer to give back to communities in need, especially communities of color. My goal is to eventually move into the space of politics, where I can use my knowledge of the law from my practice as an attorney to change the law. I hope that as a politician I will inspire young people of color to pursue a career in public policy. I would love to create my own scholarship fund for young deserving BIPOC. However, in order to achieve this goal, it is required that I pursue a higher education. Receiving the #BlackLivesMatter Scholarship would aid in funding the education I would use to change the world.