A family friend that lives near us owns a small farm, and for the past several years he has allowed me to take care of the animals on his farm while he is away on vacation. I have had the pleasure of caring for miniature donkeys, a miniature horse, goats, sheep, chickens, a guard dog, and several family cats. During one of my visits to the farm, I found the horse, Domino, was foundering. Seeing him in pain, and then being able to take care of his needs and document his recovery gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that few other experiences have provided. The farm owner and I also take the animals to a nearby orphanage and allow the children to take rides on a cart pulled by Domino and Jancey, one of the miniature donkeys. Seeing the children's faces light up, being able to educate them about the care of these animals, and seeing their bond grow, has been a highlight of my high school experience. I have also been fortunate to be chosen to participate for the past two years in Vet Camp hosted by North Carolina State University, once virtually and once in person. This camp has a rigorous application process focusing on academics and interests and allows high school students to explore the Veterinarian career field to determine if it is a good personal fit. During my time at Vet Camp, I was able to dissect a pig’s heart and a cow’s eye, weigh newborn piglets, demonstrate my skills at flipping sheep, learn to suture, and paint a horse using different colors for muscle groups, as well as other classroom and lab experiences. I also got the experience of meeting and working with the faculty at NC State's Vet School, an experience that few high schoolers attain. This experience even further solidified my desire to pursue the vet field. I want to make a positive impact in the animal world by not only helping animals thrive physically but also by teaching others about human/animal interaction and the importance of that bond. Knowing how animals communicate with humans and being able to read their emotions, greatly enriches the connection between humans and animals. Sometimes it is easier for humans to connect with animals rather than other humans, and I want to be a part of fostering that connection. I am majoring in Biology/Pre-Vet studies at Meredith College and plan to help conduct research with professors at North Carolina State University. I have been accepted to Meredith College’s STEM program, which provides STEM seminars as well as research opportunities to undergraduate students. Meredith College, where I will be enrolled as a student-athlete playing volleyball, has an academic partnership with North Carolina State University where students can be dual-enrolled in both institutions of higher learning. North Carolina State University is well-known for its vet program, has a Veterinary Hospital on campus, and is an advocate for community outreach and education, a passion that I share. This program not only allows me to focus on the coursework that is needed to gain entry into graduate studies but will also provide a lot of different hands-on experiences working with diverse animals as an undergraduate student. After graduation, I plan to work in my local community providing animal care and helping young girls find a way to seek their passions. I have been fortunate to have a supportive team of people to help me pursue my goals, and I want to provide that same opportunity to girls in my community.

During the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of high school, my paternal grandmother, who my family calls Nana almost died due to alcohol poisoning. Although my family was unaware of her issues and dependence on alcohol until that point, her struggle had a huge impact on not only her life but the lives of everyone in our family. This experience caused me to have a realization of how important personal health and life in general are. My Nana drank very heavily, which caused her liver to degenerate and eventually put her into the hospital. My Nana stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks and then was moved to a rehabilitation unit; during this time the family did not know if she was going to make it. This made me realize how important it is to have health goals. I made an effort to live a more healthy lifestyle, I started to work out more consistently and eat healthier. Not only did I improve my physical fitness, but I also started to focus on my mental health. I began to make attainable short-term and long-term goals for myself and I began to focus on the health of my relationships. Overall, this benefitted me more in the long run than I originally thought. This experience also made me have a realization for others. During the time that my Nana was drinking heavily, no one knew how bad the situation was until she needed to go to the hospital. I made it a goal for myself to be more attentive to others and their needs. I became more compassionate as a friend, daughter, granddaughter, and sister, and often find myself checking on others who are going through difficult times. Being able to see how difficult this time was for our family brought us closer together and strengthened our family ties. I now see the importance of being in touch with my brother, my parents, and both sets of my grandparents so that I can assess their physical and mental health, and offer assistance if at all possible when they need it. Although I would never want to have to go through this as a family, I am thankful that we were able to help Nana through her struggles and that we all learned valuable lessons before it was too late. Our family is definitely stronger through having to endure this situation.

I have attended Bethel Baptist Church since I can remember, and we have a thriving youth group. Throughout my affiliation with Bethel Baptist Church, I have been provided opportunities to participate in various service projects. One of the most memorable service projects was when our youth group helped with renovations on a nearby group foster home. This experience was rewarding in and of itself, but also due to the opportunities to which it led. The foster home, named Grace Haven, required updates as it was transitioning from a camp to a group home. Our youth group went to the home to provide help with painting the interior rooms and hallways. Although the work itself was enjoyable, the best part of the experience was that I knew we were providing a safe place for children who are temporarily, and sometimes permanently, separated from their families. I could not imagine how that must feel. Even as we were working, I felt the importance of this and felt that I was making a difference because I knew the ultimate goal of this program was to educate the children and their families and to reunite them. I was excited to be a part of helping to make that happen, and it was also exciting how this opportunity led to other opportunities. After volunteering with the church, I was offered the opportunity to work with a family friend, Paul, to take his team of miniature donkeys out to Grace Haven for rides on the donkey cart. This was a wonderful opportunity - I have worked caring for the animals on Paul’s farm and had gotten to know them and how they interact with one another, and I was familiar with Grace Haven and felt a passion for its mission. Although I thought that working with the animals was going to be the highlight of the experience, given that I want to study to become a veterinarian, this time the volunteer experience was different because I got to interact with the children. The children, and the immediate connection they had with the animals, wound up being the highlight of my volunteer experience. Seeing the children's faces light up, being able to educate them about the care of these animals, and seeing their bond grow, my eyes were opened to the excitement, the calling, of fostering a connection between people in need and animals. Connecting the children with animals gave them an outlet, something to look forward to, and a time in which they felt loved and accepted regardless of what they had been through. Overall, the experiences I had while volunteering at Grace Haven taught me to see how the suffering of others can be transformed by interactions with caring humans and loving animals. This experience has also taught me that I have a passion not only for animals but for seeing the suffering of others and using the talents I have cultivated to help those in need. I would like to become a veterinarian, and earning a scholarship would allow me to continue my education after my undergraduate studies. My parents are both public service employees. My dad is a fireman and my mom is a teacher Our family resources are limited and although my parents are willing to help, finances are tight. Due to this, my brother joined the Army to be able to finance his future, and I am looking to also find a way to fund my education. Earning a scholarship would allow me to continue my education after my undergraduate degree.

Springtime blooms so full of life, its glory for all to behold Leaves flutter beauty, even they do not understand Youth and vigor on display for seeming all eternity Yet blinded by beauty, we see what we want to unfold Imperceptible, pushed by the passage of time, an unseen hand We see what we want to see, what we want things to be We see what we want to see, and ignore the coming tide controlled by destiny Life springing everyplace, announcing the beauty of youth to all The budding strength and focus of youth - performing for all to behold But a time is approaching when man hears his final call When the sands of time have fallen and mimic the downward spiral to enthrall Enslaved by the gravity of gravity that will be ours to forever hold We see what we want to see, before the end of time comes to call We see what we want to see, until finality captures like a squall The struggle of nature is the same for all creatures in this world created For the cycle of life, beginning to end, does not show any favor Death waits for all us, its grasp and finality fearfully awaited In this vein man and nature are closely related The same to all, those who exude joy and those whose views are graver We see what we want to see, death hiding until last call We see what we want to see, never knowing when we might fall Nevertheless, in one’s death is yet life as another takes center stage The falling of one leaf, one life, signaling the beginning of another legacy to leave In reflective repose, one can choose joy or one can choose rage Looking back in remembrance, a life fully lived has joy as its wage So let us reflect on that which was lived to which we cleave We see what we want to see, our collective past summed up in reflection We see what we want to see, the good, the bad, the imperfection Green of new beginning, yellow and orange of youth, on the horizon: red, brown, ground I mirror your reflection, the breakthroughs, the limelight, the ending, the struggles to let go In the height of the moment it is hard to see the finality of ground They say to count your memories, for one day they are hard to be found Blinded by youth, in our vigor we say it is not so We see what we want to see, our time slowly drawing near We see what we want to see, the things in our vision that will soon become dear Let your reflection sing like the sounds of the seasons and the whispers of the wind, amen Let your new song carry the voice of those that once captured you by applause Look back over your life and relive it again and again For in this remembrance we rejuvenate the life held within For in this remembrance we can enter the game to win again, and again, because We see what we want to see, the life lived and the life to pass to those yet to come We see what we want to see, and it does not end with our final death toll drum

Springtime blooms full of life, its glory to behold Leaves flutter beauty, they do not understand Youth vigor on display for eternity Yet blinded by beauty, we see what we want to unfold Imperceptible, pushed by the passage of time, an unseen hand We see what we want to see, what we want things to be We see what we want to see, ignore the coming tide controlled by destiny Life springing everyplace, announcing the beauty of youth to all The budding strength and focus of youth - performing for all to behold A time is approaching when man hears his final call When the sands of time have fallen and mimic the downward spiral to enthrall Enslaved by the gravity of gravity that will be ours to hold We see what we want to see, before the end of time comes to call We see what we want to see, until finality captures like a squall The struggle of nature is the same for all creatures in this world created For the cycle of life, beginning to end, does not show favor Death waits for all us, its grasp and finality fearfully awaited In this vein man and nature are closely related The same to all, those who exude joy and whose views are graver We see what we want to see, death hiding until last call We see what we want to see, never knowing when we might fall In one’s death is yet life as another takes center stage The falling of one leaf signaling the beginning of another legacy to leave In reflective repose, one can choose joy or one can choose rage Looking back in remembrance, a life fully lived has joy as its wage So let us reflect on that which was lived to which we cleave We see what we want to see, our past summed up in reflection We see what we want to see, the good, the bad, the imperfection Falling to the ground reflecting on its past Time seeming to steal the beautiful tranquility that once was friend The hush of wind surrounds the fall, one wonders why it cannot last The beauty, the fame, the splendor is all taken because, because, alas Life is a game with a beginning, an end We see what we want to see, the beginning now, the finality coming fast We see what we want to see, realize what time was once it has passed Green of beginning, yellow of youth, on the horizon: red, brown, ground Mirror your reflection, the breakthroughs, the limelight, the ending, the struggles to let go In the height of the moment it's hard to see the finality of ground Count your memories, for one day they are hard to be found Blinded by youth, in our vigor we say it is not so We see what we want to see, time slowly drawing near We see what we want to see, things in our vision that will soon become dear Let your reflection sing the sounds of the seasons, the whispers of the wind, amen Let your new song carry voices of those that once captured you by applause Look back over your life, relive it again, again For in this remembrance we rejuvenate the life held within For in this remembrance we can enter the game towin again, again, because We see what we want to see, the life lived and the life to pass to those yet to come We see what we want to see, it does not end with our final death toll drum

Animals have a natural curiosity, and a capacity to love and communicate that few humans spend the time to cultivate. The natural curiosity that animals display has always drawn me to them - I love watching and learning how animals learn and interact with their kind and with others. My passion for animals has always been a part of who I am and it has been further developed due to experiences that I have been able to participate in while in high school. A family friend that lives near us owns a small farm, and for the past several years he has allowed me to take care of the animals on his farm while he is away on vacation. I have had the pleasure of caring for miniature donkeys, a miniature horse, goats, sheep, chickens, a guard dog, and several family cats. During one of my visits to the farm, I found the horse, Domino, was foundering. Seeing him in pain, and then being able to take care of his needs and document his recovery gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that few other experiences have provided. The farm owner and I also take the animals to a nearby orphanage and allow the children to take rides on a cart pulled by Domino and Jancey, one of the miniature donkeys. Seeing the children's faces light up, being able to educate them about the care of these animals and seeing their bond grow, has been a highlight of my high school experience. I have also been fortunate to be chosen to participate for the past two years in Vet Camp hosted by North Carolina State University, once virtually and once in person. This camp has a rigorous application process focusing on academics and interests and allows high school students to explore the Veterinarian career field to determine if it is a good personal fit. During my time at Vet Camp, I was able to dissect a pig’s heart and a cow’s eye, weigh newborn piglets, demonstrate my skills at flipping sheep, learn to suture, and paint a horse using different colors for muscle groups, as well as other classroom and lab experiences. I also got the experience of meeting and working with the faculty at NC State's Vet School, an experience that few high schoolers attain. This experience even further solidified my desire to pursue the vet field. I want to make a positive impact in the animal world by not only helping animals thrive physically but also by teaching others about human/animal interaction and the importance of that bond. Knowing how animals communicate with humans and being able to read their emotions, greatly enriches the connection between humans and animals. Sometimes it is easier for humans to connect with animals rather than other humans, and I want to be a part of fostering that connection. I am majoring in Biology/Pre-Vet studies at Meredith College and plan to help conduct research with professors at North Carolina State University. Meredith College, where I will be enrolled as a student-athlete playing volleyball, has an academic partnership with North Carolina State University where students can be dual-enrolled in both institutions of higher learning. North Carolina State University is well-known for its vet program, has a Veterinary Hospital on campus, and is an advocate for community outreach and education, a passion that I share. This program not only allows me to focus on the coursework that is needed to gain entry into graduate studies but will also provide a lot of different hands-on experiences working with diverse animals as an undergraduate student.

Animals have a natural curiosity, and a capacity to love and communicate that few humans spend the time to cultivate. The natural curiosity that animals display has always drawn me to them - I love watching and learning how animals learn and interact with their kind and with others. My passion for animals has always been a part of who I am and it has been further developed due to experiences that I have been able to participate in while in high school. A family friend that lives near us owns a small farm, and for the past several years he has allowed me to take care of the animals on his farm while he is away on vacation. I have had the pleasure of caring for miniature donkeys, a miniature horse, goats, sheep, chickens, a guard dog, and several family cats. During one of my visits to the farm, I found the horse, Domino, was foundering. Seeing him in pain, and then being able to take care of his needs and document his recovery gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that few other experiences have provided. The farm owner and I also take the animals to a nearby orphanage and allow the children to take rides on a cart pulled by Domino and Jancey, one of the miniature donkeys. Seeing the children's faces light up, being able to educate them about the care of these animals and seeing their bond grow, has been a highlight of my high school experience. I have also been fortunate to be chosen to participate for the past two years in Vet Camp hosted by North Carolina State University, once virtually and once in person. This camp has a rigorous application process focusing on academics and interests and allows high school students to explore the Veterinarian career field to determine if it is a good personal fit. During my time at Vet Camp, I was able to dissect a pig’s heart and a cow’s eye, weigh newborn piglets, demonstrate my skills at flipping sheep, learn to suture, and paint a horse using different colors for muscle groups, as well as other classroom and lab experiences. I also got the experience of meeting and working with the faculty at NC State's Vet School, an experience that few high schoolers attain. This experience even further solidified my desire to pursue the vet field. I want to make a positive impact in the animal world by not only helping animals thrive physically but also by teaching others about human/animal interaction and the importance of that bond. Knowing how animals communicate with humans and being able to read their emotions, greatly enriches the connection between humans and animals. Sometimes it is easier for humans to connect with animals rather than other humans, and I want to be a part of fostering that connection. I am majoring in Biology/Pre-Vet studies at Meredith College and plan to help conduct research with professors at North Carolina State University. Meredith College, where I will be enrolled as a student-athlete playing volleyball, has an academic partnership with North Carolina State University where students can be dual-enrolled in both institutions of higher learning. North Carolina State University is well-known for its vet program, has a Veterinary Hospital on campus, and is an advocate for community outreach and education, a passion that I share. This program not only allows me to focus on the coursework that is needed to gain entry into graduate studies but will also provide a lot of different hands-on experiences working with diverse animals as an undergraduate student.