![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/pxl20230919011752510b51c6b8661f54c9cbd0d16a50f5925da.webp)
Hobbies and interests
Art
Music
Cello
Flute
Guitar
Trumpet
Piano
Drums
Percussion
Animals
Painting and Studio Art
Acting And Theater
Theater
Band
Color Guard
American Sign Language (ASL)
Astronomy
Beach
Biochemistry
Board Games And Puzzles
Chemistry
Comics
Comedy
Clarinet
Concerts
Crafting
Dance
Drag Racing
Drawing And Illustration
Dungeons And Dragons
Engineering
Gaming
Graphic Design
Henna
Legos
Learning
Math
Mathematics
Medicine
Biomedical Sciences
Minecraft
Movies And Film
Music Composition
Music Production
Music Theory
Orchestra
Pharmacy
Photography and Photo Editing
Poetry
Reading
Research
Roller Skating
Science
Singing
Spending Time With Friends and Family
Stargazing
STEM
Swimming
Voice Acting
Volunteering
Writing
Reading
Horror
Realistic Fiction
Science Fiction
Art
Crafts
Drama
Fantasy
Food and Drink
How-To
Gothic
Humor
Literature
Magical Realism
Music
Mystery
Philosophy
Plays
Romance
Science
Psychology
Thriller
Tragedy
Suspense
I read books multiple times per week
Angelina Petrarca
1,585
Bold Points1x
Finalist![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/pxl20230919011752510b51c6b8661f54c9cbd0d16a50f5925da.webp)
Angelina Petrarca
1,585
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
Hi! I’m Noah, a junior at Coatesville High School, where I’m involved in both the performing arts and my education. I'm the lead weapon of Colorguard with Coatesville Steel Spirit and the Coatesville Marching Band, where I have found a community to truly express myself and my creative interests.
I also play the flute through independent study band classes, and I’m a member of our Drama Club, where I’ve had the opportunity to perform several lead roles.
Academically, I’m doing both my high school education at Coatesville High School and dual enrollment with Delaware County Community College (DCCC), where I’m pursuing my interest in Chemical Engineering and Physics.
Living with ADHD, anxiety, and being on the autism spectrum has shaped my journey in unique ways, helping me build resilience and adaptability. As a gay and transgender man, I’m committed to showing inclusivity and representation in my life.
I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing to explore my passions!
Education
Delaware County Community College
Associate's degree programMajors:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Coatesville Area Senior High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Chemical Engineering
- Physics
- Engineering Chemistry
Career
Dream career field:
Chemicals
Dream career goals:
To become a chemical engineer.
Assistant
Coatesville Veterinary Hospital2022 – 20231 yearOffice intern
MoreVent Heating and Cooling2021 – 20221 year
Sports
Dancing
Club2021 – Present3 years
Awards
- 1st place in novice championships, TIA 2024
- 3rd place in novice championships, TIA 2023
Arts
Coatesville Colorguard and Coatesville Marching Band
Visual ArtsHallucinating, Singing in the Rain, The Last Flight, Legend of the Lost Totem, Up, up, and Away!, Color my World2021 – PresentCoatesville Steel Thunder Drumline
MusicAgainst the Grain2020 – 2022Coatesville Paint and Patch Drama Club
TheatreAnnie, Bah, Humbug!, Alice in Wonderland, Shrek the Musical2019 – Present
Public services
Advocacy
Black Lives Matter — Protester2020 – 2020Advocacy
Trans lives matter — Protester2022 – 2022Volunteering
Bread of Life — Food handler2019 – 2021
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Entrepreneurship
Social Anxiety Step Forward Scholarship
Anxiety has posed significant challenges in my life, yet it also made me an extremely strong person. Growing up, I was always an anxious soul- whether that be anxious about money, anxious about family, or anxious about my grades. As the years went by, it only got worse, the anxiety growing stronger and stronger.
While I progressed throughout school, as the years went by, my anxiety only worsened. When I was in fifth grade, I believed that everyone was talking about me behind my back, and it came to the point where I would barely talk at all, in fear of someone making fun of me, or someone hating me. I always kept to myself, so that no one would judge me for how I talked, or what I talked about. This feeling made me feel almost paralyzed, and it made me feel powerless, so I became silent. I eventually developed gut issues because of my anxiety, anytime I would get too anxious, my stomach would start hurting, and I would feel like I had to vomit.
By the time I reached the end of my 8th grade year, I missed about 10% of the school year, because I was out due to stomach aches from my anxiety, as well as panic attacks. My anxiety got so bad at one point, that I was consistently out at least once a week during the school year because I was afraid to go to school, I was afraid of harassment and people talking about me behind my back. I had myself fully convinced that everyone hated me, everyone was out to get me, and no one was on my side. This was truly the darkest point of my life.
However, I eventually met with my therapist, Luke. Luke didn't treat me like a client, he treated me as a friend, as a family member. We worked on ways to conquer my anxiety, together, so that I felt safe in public spaces, and so I wouldn't always keep to myself in social situations. He made me realize that my anxiety shouldn't be something I should suffer from, rather than learn and grow from. This made me a stronger person and ultimately shaped me into the person I am today. Of course, I still struggle with pretty severe anxiety, but it's much more manageable now.
Pursuing a college degree, despite my mental health, is important to me because I want to prove my anxiety wrong. I want to prove to myself that I can work through my anxiety and that I am capable and worthy of doing things as hard as college. I know I can do it, it's now just a matter of proving it to my anxiety.
Keep Her Dream Alive Scholarship
Growing up, I was always around animals. I grew up in a trailer park with 3 cats and 1 dog, which wasn't the most ideal living situation, but we made it work. One of my cats, Snots, whom I loved dearly, grew up with me from when I was 4 until I was 13.
Snots wasn't like the rest of the cats I had- Snots was my cat, my best friend, and my companion. He helped me when I struggled to cope with the several housing changes I had to endure, he purred in my lap while I cried because of the bullies at school, and he even stopped me from committing suicide, by rubbing up against my leg during one of my episodes when I was struggling with suicidal ideations. One simple action that he had done, was the beacon of light I needed to help, and pull myself out of the dark times I endured. He was the perfect cat that I could ask for, the sweetest and most loving cat I have ever had.
When I was 13, I noticed that Snots wasn't the cat he once was. He was lethargic, distant, and not responding to affection. My family and I took him to the vet, not knowing what to expect. Snots was diagnosed with cancer, and he was ultimately suffering. After he was diagnosed, my family and I made the decision to euthanize him so he was not in pain anymore. I was devastated because Snots was one of the few beings in my life who didn't judge me for how I looked, how much money I had, or what I liked to do, he loved me because I loved him. I sobbed as he took his final breath in my arms, all of the memories of him flooding through my head.
As heartbreaking as this experience was, it made me realize something- what if there was something I could do? Even if Snots had passed on already, what if I could help other people in the same situation that I am in? It made me realize that I wanted to help other animals, and other pet owners, that were in the same situation that I was. It came to me that I could help- I could treat animals, and give them the long life that they deserved.
Snots may not be here physically, but his spirit and memories are a continuous source of inspiration to me to learn the ways of veterinary medicine. I strive to not only pay tribute to the impact Snots had on me, but also to share his love and compassion with other people and animals who may need it.