After graduating from high school, I plan on attending a four year university studying something in the STEM field. Science and math have always been my favorite subjects in school and I notice particularly that it is a very male dominated field. Although this may be daunting for some, the unknown excites me and I am fortunate enough to have parents supporting me through this time. Although the fields don’t fully correlate, after graduating college, I plan on joining the FDNY. (Fire Department of New York) I would like to move back home and work on the front lines around others who support me. I have always been a person to help others with my strengths and I feel that this career really provides me with this opportunity. I have always had a love for helping others and volunteering in my community. Every month for two days, I volunteer at the local park in my neighborhood. Through the Stewards of Brust Park I help clean, rake, weed and beautify the parks. I have loved doing this ever since I began high school and have made very important friendships throughout this time. Similarly, before high school, I volunteered frequently with other NYC parks in the area. I helped plant trees, clean up trails and remove invasive species throughout these parks. Volunteering for mostly my entire life has taught me the importance of giving back. Not only to the Earth, but also to others that help you. Through a career on the front lines and volunteering in the future, I will be sure to assist everyone who has positively affected my life, and also save those in need. This scholarship is a very important aspect in achieving my career goals. I have an older sister who is currently in college now as a sophomore. She is also planning on studying abroad when I am a freshman in college. This scholarship will assist me in paying for college while she is overseas studying. Along with this, I will hopefully be able to graduate college debt free. My dad had student loans, luckily he was able to pay them off about five years after graduating, but with this scholarship I will not have to worry about that issue. Additionally, I will be able to take the classes I need to graduate. I have heard stories of people not being able to complete their credits because they just didn’t have enough money to pay. I do not want to have to worry about this problem, I simply want to get through college without any worries of money.

I love math because there is always one solution to a problem. Unlike history or a social science, where problems can be interpreted in different ways, in math, there will always be one solution. I enjoy the collaborative work that is done throughout various math classes, yet I also enjoy the independent work. In math there will always be different routes to go about solving a problem, but in the end there is one solution. With the different ways people use to solve problems, you can find a sense of unity in math. Everyone may have solved the problem in a different manner, yet you can all agree on one thing, the right answer. Math will help people develop key problem solving skills over time. It can also teach people to continue working through a problem. If there is a problem you are working on and you get stuck, you can trace your steps back and try again to find the solution. With these skills learned from math, you can apply this into the real world. In any career or future endeavor, students and teachers can apply their critical thinking skills and analytical mindsets from math, into their own lives.

When I entered high school, my dream was to be on the soccer team. I couldn’t wait to try out and hopefully make varsity as a freshman. Due to covid, the season was pushed back, yet I still tried out later in the year and made the team. This was a great accomplishment of mine, and I was extremely proud of myself for achieving this goal. As time went on, my mindset changed. Beginning my senior year, I realized that I shouldn’t carry this burden with me for my last year of high school. I wanted to be free, and not worry about a team that didn’t care about me. As my junior year season began, I was selected to be captain with a few other girls. Since I joined the team, this opportunity has been a dream of mine. I was ecstatic to have this responsibility. Yet being a captain and an upperclassmen, helping to lead the team did not feel right. I moved backwards, and did not feel at home anymore. Understanding the stress and pressure captains would have when I accepted the position, I felt I was strong enough to withstand it. Throughout the season, my teammates and coaches engraved the idea of perfection. In fact, “anything less is unacceptable”. This burden was not one I wanted to carry into senior year; so I left it behind. Although fearful of leaving a part of my identity behind and being deprecated, I knew it was best for me. Slowly, as I told my teammates and coaches, the fear minimized. Looking forward to my senior year, I began without the stress of performing for people who expected the impossible: perfection. Knowing my limits and learning that I do not need to make everyone happy made me stronger. I found myself. I discovered that working out at my own pace was a preferable method of staying healthy to me. I joined a gym and began working out everyday in classes with people who shared similar goals. Here, I was supported and everyone grew together. Rather than being forced into competition, we encourage each other. I am growing at an accelerated rate compared to on my previous team. When I am placed in the right, supportive environment, I thrive. Grateful for my experiences on my high school soccer team and for the lessons I learned throughout, I came out to be a strong, diligent person who is mature enough to understand when to step down. Worried of being considered a quitter, I know I did not give up but only recognized what I needed to improve. This challenge definitely shaped who I am today, I was able to learn more about myself and the people I surround myself with. To tie this into public service, I have always found myself wanting to help others. Every month, for two days I dedicate my weekends to cleaning up the park in my neighborhood. I often bring my family or friends with me as well. This experience has taught me the importance of reaching out to others and helping them. After graduating from college, I plan on joining the FDNY. This has been a dream of mine since I can remember. I always find myself prepared to help others when they need it the most. Rather than running away from dangerous situations, my first thought is “how can I help?”. With this mindset, I am sure that I will flourish as a first responder and use my strengths to help those in need.

BOOM. A place I once belonged in, the door shut against my face. I heard the lock click, and saw the lights turn off. Darkness. My face felt hot, and tears welled up in my eyes. The question always began with, “If you don’t mind me asking…” Repeated by friends, teachers, even administrators, I felt as if I was living the same moments over again. The second the words slipped out of their mouth, or the expression showed on their face, I knew what was coming next. Weirdly enough, I cared about their response, good or bad. Everyone has to know why I chose this and why it is not the moment that defines me. With a shaky voice, I told my story. During tryouts for my high school’s varsity soccer team freshman year, I took note of the kind and wholesome personalities of the other students playing. Welcomed by the upperclassmen, I saw a home for myself on the field. As a team, we worked strongly and every player helped one another. We were a family on and off the field. Three years flew by, and without realizing it, I learned more about myself. My love for soccer grew and I continued to meet new people that contributed to helping me prosper. Yet, junior year began and everything changed, I developed a new mindset. I did not want to play anymore. As the junior season began, I was selected to be captain. Since I joined the team, this opportunity has been a dream of mine. I was ecstatic to have this responsibility. Yet being a captain and an upperclassmen, helping to lead the team did not feel right. I moved backwards, and did not feel at home anymore. Throughout the season, my teammates and coaches engraved the idea of perfection. In fact, “anything less is unacceptable”. This burden was not one I wanted to carry into senior year; so, I left it behind. Although fearful of leaving a part of my identity behind and being deprecated, I knew it was best for me. The unknown is frightening for most; yet, new opportunities inspire me to explore new ways to grow. Slowly, as I told my teammates and coaches, the fear minimized. Looking forward to my senior year, I began without the stress of performing for people who expected the impossible: perfection. Knowing my limits and learning that I do not need to make everyone happy made me stronger. At the end of the day, if I am satisfied with myself then that is what matters most to me. I found myself. I discovered that working out at my own pace was a preferable method of staying healthy to me. I joined a gym and began working out everyday in classes with people who shared similar goals. Here, I was supported and everyone grew together. Rather than being forced into competition, we encourage each other. The vigorous workouts everyday encourage me to push myself to become stronger. I am growing at an accelerated rate compared to on my previous team. When I am placed in the right, supportive environment, I thrive. Grateful for my experiences on my high school soccer team and for the lessons I learned throughout, I came out to be a strong, diligent person who is mature enough to understand when to step down. Worried of being considered a quitter, I know I did not give up but only recognized what I needed to improve. My journey to finding myself is not over and with acknowledging my limit, I found the determination to flourish.