In August of 2020, I felt like the world was against me. I had few friends and was unable to do the activities I enjoyed. I felt lost. One day, a woman came into my speech communication class via Zoom to discuss an internship opportunity for the Florida PIRG Students. That is when everything fell into place for me, so I applied for the internship later that day. After being selected for the position, I joined the calls and became part of something bigger. Through showing up and improving, I started taking on more leadership. Soon, I was the coordinator for class announcements at two colleges in St. Petersburg. Later, I also became a National Voter Registration Day social media spokeswoman. I created a high school version of the PIRG system called Young Activists for Change almost a year ago. Through leading a high school organization, I have learned a lot about who I am as a leader. While leading, I am kind to those around me by being patient and understanding them. I can support volunteers and members of Young Activists for Change by encouraging them to work past their fears of public speaking. Being a leader means being able to show up for volunteers and yourself. It is important to be dependable and to show support for the other members of the community. People want to be led by someone who is passionate about the community and making a difference. Being a leader also means having faith in other peoples’ abilities. When I meet with a volunteer, I assure them that they are supported, and I stay positive to give them more confidence in themselves. I have learned from being a leader that it is important to understand where other people are coming from. No one has the same skill set or experiences, so it is important to be patient and teach them the skills necessary for success as a volunteer. Listening to the volunteers is crucial. I am there to make sure the volunteers are getting the support they need to be happy and do well. When people feel a sense of community, they are more likely to take on leadership. I believe that leaders should give others the tools and opportunities they need to succeed on their own. As a homeschooler, I have not been able to join many clubs during high school. When I go off to college, my goal is to join several clubs, such as Debate Team and Model UN, which will prepare me for life after college. I will use what I have learned through leading Young Activists for Change to create a welcoming and inclusive community on campus. When people think of leaders, they think of people in power and who control the rules. When I first get to college, I want to work on leading from within a group. A connection comes from leading as part of a group rather than leading from a title. As I mature, I would like to continue to work on how I lead others. I want to continue to develop so that I do not become blind to my weaknesses. I have always led others, and this year has allowed me to grow as a leader.

In seventh grade, I went to a charter school that held parent-teacher-student meetings to discuss academic progress. During our last meeting, my mom brought up that I spent hours doing homework every night. We talked about my academic work, and my attention to detail caused me to spend so long on my work. One thing that I learned was that I need to know when to step back and look at the big big picture. This finding has allowed me to relax and get my homework done in a reasonable amount of time. I have found that I can use my notice for detail to benefit my academics. Being detail orientated helps me notice patterns around me. That skill is beneficial for subjects such as mathematics and social science. When I have to analyze data quantitatively, it is important to notice patterns in numbers. I take a step back and look at the big picture by writing a to-do list of what I want to accomplish and setting a time frame for the goal. Knowing how and when to take a step back has allowed me to stop worrying and enjoy academic work. Everyone has weaknesses, and knowing how to use them is important to thriving as a student.

I have always loved finding the answers to questions. As a child, I asked questions constantly about the universe and when we were getting home from my grandparents. To me, math is about more than numbers or formulas. It is about identifying a problem and figuring out how to solve it. My father majored in math, and I grew up surrounded by numbers. I remember being young and asking my uncle about his fiber optic lamp worked. He responded with a lecture about physics and reflection. As a ten-year-old, I did not understand most of what he was saying. However, that is one example of the atmosphere where I grew up. Now, I am a high school senior taking Calculus with Analytic Geometry 1 at the local college, and enjoy finding the answers to questions. When I think of math, I think of problem-solving and many other skills that apply to my day-to-day life. Currently, I use math daily in political campaign organization to calculate monthly volunteer yield and outreach strategies to meet financial or campaign goals. I also use skills from math in sports I play, other courses that I take, and even sewing. In sailing, I recognize patterns to identify when I should turn up or down on the racecourse. While studying, I use critical thinking and inference skills to create research topics for social and physical science papers. When sewing, I estimate how much seam allowance I will need when purchasing fabric and use spatial skills to fit the pattern onto the fabric. Although I am not majoring in mathematics, I love challenging the way I think. I know that I will need to take quite a few math courses for my economics major. I plan on becoming an attorney one day, and some math skills apply to the law. As a lawyer, you are given information from the client about their case. Then, you research law that applies to the client and use it similar to a math formula to find an answer. After that, you write an argument stating why this is true and why your client is correct, this is similar to math when you are solving for x. Math teaches many life skills including critical thinking, patience, problem-solving, and much more. I am excited to pursue a degree in economics. Math will continue to challenge my way of thinking and allow me to grow into a smarter, more confident, and more thoughtful woman.

Being a young woman in New York and trying to make ends meet is stressful enough without being psychologically manipulated by an NYU professor. I spent a few days trapped inside the body of Subject 52, Jessica Farris. Through the 371 pages, I experienced the same emotions as Jessica. “An Anonymous Girl” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is one of the best books I read. The story starts with a voicemail message and moves to question human motivation. I enjoyed reading this book because of the constant twists in the narrative. One second, someone was like a friend, and the next, they were the enemy that created a monstrosity. The authors tackled the subject of morality with their characters. Characters had positive and negative qualities instead of categorizing people as “good” or “bad”. The book was able to show the motivations behind each character’s actions. For example, Jessica was motivated by money at first and then out of fear. Dr. Shields to the point of breaking laws and stalking to stay protected. As someone interested in psychology and how people think, I enjoyed seeing how Dr. Shields manipulated everyone around her to study her husband and attempt to win him back. It is a unique story for many reasons that I have listed, but my favorite part of the book is how it shifts perspectives every chapter from Jessica’s view to that of Dr. Shields. Although the reader is experiencing multiple perspectives of the story, the book seems to have an aspect of mystery, making it a puzzle for the reader in addition to Jessica. I wish I could go back and read “An Anonymous Girl” for the first time, and I highly recommend reading it.

Wind sweeping my hair, I pulled in the mainsail and prepared for yet another race. I was in the Thanksgiving Regatta, a sailboat race for high school students, and the winds were blowing up to thirty miles per hour. The waves splashed over the side of the boat, and I was soaked. As the sailboat made its way upwind, my crew and I hiked out, trying our best to keep it from capsizing. We rounded the mark and headed downwind. For the first time in twenty minutes, it felt sort of calm. That regatta was one of the most stressful boat races I had sailed. The wind and the waves were exhausting. By the time I got to the boathouse, I had promised myself that I would never sail again. However, that was not the case. I love adventure and continued sailing competitively. Although it can be frightening at times, I love being on the water and a member of my team. One quality that I value most in myself is resilience. It has helped me through hardships so far, and it will continue to keep me moving forward in the future. I remember being in fifth grade and telling my grandmother that I was frustrated with math homework and wanted to give up. She told me, “pull your socks up and try again,” which stuck with me. Even in the hardest of times, I remember my grandmother telling me that I would succeed by having the courage to try again. I am resilient in sailing and academics. If I get an unsatisfactory grade on a paper or assignment, I take the time to talk with my professor and hand in an improved revision. It can be tiring to keep going when times get rough, but thinking about the result has given me the courage to try again. I will continue to be resilient in my academics by challenging myself with different and more rigorous coursework. In addition, I will allow myself to fail and learn from my mistakes. Trying new things and learning are part of being a human. I will also challenge myself by branching out and attending different clubs and hobbies. Resilience is a critical quality in being a student because it allows me to experiment with a new approach and try again if it does not work out. Being resilient will allow me to continue growing after high school, college, and law school. I am excited to continue my academic journey and cannot wait for college.

We live in a society where money is the basis for power. Money dictates where we live, what we eat, and how we are treated by society. In many cases, women are not as prepared as men for financial wellbeing. I remember when I was a sophomore in high school, my girl friends would always spend their money on nails or hair, and my guy friends would invest their money in the stock market. I became interested in investing and told my family I wanted to buy stocks, and they practically laughed. They said that I was too young to know about that stuff or invest in the stock market. Now that I am a senior, my grandfather, a retired bankruptcy attorney, is teaching me about personal finance. I know that I am fortunate to have had this experience. As a woman, I notice that most of my women friends do not have the same opportunities to discuss financial literacy. I realized that most of my women peers still do not discuss investing with each other as much as their male counterparts. I believe that if women talked about finances more often, they would become more empowered. So, I am doing my part to spread knowledge of finance by discussing what I learn about finance and investing with my friends. It is known that a woman’s salary is likely 82.3% of what a man of equal experience receives. If a man’s salary is $70,000, a woman's salary is $57,610. Encouraging women to discuss their income and how they are investing money could close the gender pay gap. These discussions could give women the confidence to ask for a raise. The gender pay gap may make women feel less valued for their work. By paying women equal to men, women would feel more empowered in their careers and personal lives, as they may not have as much financial hardship. Another way that education on personal finance may empower women is in abusive relationships. In many abusive relationships, women remain involved due to a lack of confidence in their finances. This could be the abuser telling their partner to quit their job or sell their house. Once women lose access to their income and autonomy, it becomes harder for them to leave a potentially life-threatening relationship. If everyone was educated on personal finance, fewer people would remain in abusive relationships. Teaching women to be financially literate will make them feel knowledgeable and independent. This knowledge will make them more confident in their careers, finances, and personal life. Studies show that women and men are similarly financially literate, but women are paid less on average. Talking about finances will allow women to become more confident in their financial decisions. As a society, we can do our part by making money less taboo and conversing with women about money.

Starting as a young girl, my family would bring food and eat dinners at the Dismas House, a house for parolees. I remember those times fondly, as it felt in a way like home. We would all sit around the table at the Dismas House and eat my grandmother’s mac and cheese. There was laughing and stories told, and for a few hours, everyone would forget about their hardships. I was six when we started going over there for monthly dinners. I look back on that time fondly. Currently, I am acting locally by leading a high school voter pre-registration campaign. I think that voting is one of the most effective ways to get our voices heard in politics. Even if most of my peers are not currently eligible to vote, it is critical to prepare for when we all can vote. When we all vote in the elections, we get our voices heard and policies in place that reflect what we want for the future. In the future, I would like to continue working with previously incarcerated people, allowing them to enter and add to our community. I care for the people in my community. If previously incarcerated people could start over with their careers, they would become more important members of society. I was lucky to grow up in a family where community meant everything, and I want to continue living in a way that values community.

Growing up, my family taught me to value my education. I loved reading books and learning about the world around me. When I was in eighth grade, I began taking classes at the local St. Petersburg College and enjoyed the idea of going to a four-year college one day. For the past few months, my grandfather has been teaching me about financial literacy. As a retired bankruptcy attorney, he has provided me with financial information I will apply in my day-to-day life. He has taught me how to invest in stocks and real estate. However, the investing tip that I have taken to heart is to invest in my education. I believe that college is the best investment that I can make. Here are a few reasons why. First, it gives me a chance to go into a career path I enjoy. I have been interning at a nonprofit called Florida PIRG Students for a while, and I cannot wait to pursue a degree in nonprofit management after graduation. Second, investing in education will give me a different, more educated, perspective of the world around me. I care about how my actions impact others, and I want to make informed decisions both at my job and personal life. Third, I want to invest in my education because I know that I will make back the money I spend. By attending college and earning a degree, I will earn more money than without the degree, making the investment worthwhile. I am excited to take the steps towards making one of the most impactful investments of my life.

A growth mindset is a belief that through hard work and determination, we are all capable of learning and improving. Growing up, I always had dreams to become a doctor, a journalist, or an architect. Currently, I am interested in nonprofit management. Although my dreams have shifted and continue to develop, they have taught me a valuable lesson. Having hope and a vision of the future has allowed me to pick myself up in hardship and keep walking towards a brighter light. Being able to visualize something makes me work hard to accomplish the task. About four years ago, my family moved 2,000 miles from Massachusetts to Florida. I felt lost and isolated. As an eighth-grader, I found it difficult to make friends because most people my age had friends already. Through trying new hobbies and sports, I was able to meet peers. Soon after that, I was able to adjust to living in Florida. Situations such as that have taught me the value of persistence and patience. I will continue using a growth mindset in my career and social life by remaining positive and allowing myself the chance to fail and learn from my mistakes.

Patient means being able to accept even the most trying of circumstances. In life, we all become excited or nervous. It is crucial to learn to be patient to keep clarity in those situations. When I feel impatient, it makes the circumstance that is already intense even more difficult to manage. I spend more time thinking about what could happen than paying attention to what is currently going on. Being patient is beneficial to me because it allows me to experience my surroundings. Growing up a member of the Religious Society of Friends, I have spent time in silence. Patience in silence allows me time to reflect on my decisions in life thus far and how I am impacting my community. However, at times it can be hard for me to remain patient. Instances of impatience can be anything from going to a friend’s house to rethrowing a pot on the pottery wheel several times because it keeps falling apart. Quakerism has taught me a sense of patience in most circumstances, and I am working towards becoming more patient. I am learning patience by allowing mistakes to form in the artwork I create. Taking the time to mold the clay with my hands allows me to form shapes free of my haste or judgment. People need to have an outlet where they can spend time learning valuable skills such as patience.

I use journaling as a practical solution when struggling with anxiety. I struggle with my anxiety, and through writing, I have been able to ground myself. During the pandemic, I found myself more anxious than ever before, not only about my health but also my academic and social wellbeing. About six months ago, I began journaling daily. It has helped me understand my day, the way I think, and reflect on my goals and dreams for the future. By journaling, I have been able to write about my views on topics currently discussed. Writing has allowed me the chance to think deeply about my values and how I am becoming a more relaxed version of myself. I love journaling because it gives me time at the end of my day to sit and unwind. Also, I can go back later and reflect on how I have grown since writing the entry. The art of forming sentences is spiritual and poetic as it gives me a chance to think about the wording and how I want to remember my day. I wish I had been journaling daily in 2017 because my family moved from Massachusetts to Florida, and that would have been a great way to help with the increased anxiety related to moving. I will continue journaling as it is a large part of my night routine and has given me the chance to slow down and enjoy life. Journaling has allowed me to live more peacefully. It has brought me joy, and I wish more people would journal daily.

Financial freedom means having the ability to live without worrying that a bill or emergency purchase will put me in debt. It means that I can live the way I want and make financial decisions that will not follow me for years. I have seen family members go into debt over medical emergencies and vet bills, in addition to more common student and car loans. Even with money saved, an emergency can set someone into debt. Having enough money saved to cover the cost of even the most expensive of an emergency is crucial to having true financial freedom. My grandfather, a retired bankruptcy attorney, has been teaching me about personal finance and financial independence. One of the greatest lessons he has taught me is to avoid going into whenever possible. Whether the debt is student loans, credit cards, or a car, I should avoid it. I plan on achieving financial freedom by living below my means and saving as much money I can. Another way I plan to achieve financial freedom is by investing in my education. I have taken what my grandfather has taught me seriously because money controls how we live our lives. A great example of the impact of money is the decision I made while applying to colleges. That decision was to go to a public in-state college rather than the private college I originally wanted to attend. Although I am still in high school and my future is uncertain, I chose to go to a public institution because I do not want to go into debt for an undergraduate degree. If I can get a good education in Florida, why should I spend extra money to go somewhere else? One of my goals is to attend law school and become an attorney. I plan on working for an international nonprofit organization, such as UN Women, to create a safer world for all women. College and law school are expensive, even if I attend a public college to save money. Getting in debt at such a young age, will not allow me to have the flexibility to work for nonprofit organizations in the future. It frustrates me to live in a world where one's dream can be created or destroyed based on their access to money. After graduation, I hope that any student debt will not cause me trouble in my adult life. Overall, I am excited to attend college and one day work towards a safer and more equal world.

Summer of 2021 had arrived quicker than I had imagined. In the middle of June, I flew up to visit my friends in Massachusetts. It felt like I had just gotten off the plane when all of a sudden, I was embraced by my best friend at last. The pandemic had taken away so much, and that hug reminded me that I was safe and loved. We had been 2,000 miles apart and had not seen each other in person for almost two years. After waiting what felt like a lifetime, I was with my friend again and I felt at home. I find the most happiness when surrounded by loved ones. It makes me light up to converse with my friends over a coffee or to hear a funny joke from my father. As a Quaker, I learned to value and nurture my community. One of the values of Quakerism is community. I have been able to do so by staying in touch with friends and being a source of support for loved ones struggling with physical or emotional pains. The relationships I have in my life have given me support in addition to happiness. There are many smaller types of happiness, such as joy and pride. My favorite feeling is the content and love I feel when I spend time with loved ones. It is as though I swallowed the sun, and my body is melting inside, yet I feel whole. I find happiness in many places including my community and being with loved ones.