1. I consider myself a storyteller. Once I finally learned how to read and write I could never stop putting my pen down. I made stories for my classmates in kindergarten and even wrote a screenplay in the first grade. From a very young age I found that I could get lost in the land of stories and fairytales. Storytelling has changed how I view the world. Writing overwhelms me with a new sense of life, like I’m living another one with just the words I write down on the page. However, writing transformed into something more my junior year of high school. Morality and death were topics I have always struggled with. I could never stand the idea of dedicating my life to one singular cause only for it to all be lost someday. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing everyone I held dear in exchange for an eternal sleep which I’d never wake from. Even in the moments I wished were my last, I couldn’t help but be haunted by the darkness that awaited beyond. I feared for the future that laid ahead. So I did what I knew would comfort me: I wrote. My worries and fears transformed into one thought I had in my mind: What if you could live forever? From this I created my first ever novel: a story of two immortals navigating the curses of their everlasting life. This book allowed me to pour all of my questions, my anxieties, and my philosophies of life all into a singular project. It allowed me a sense of relief, an escape from reality. It prevented me from descending into insanity. I am fascinated with the differences in cultural afterlives, the myths of first loves and soulmates; the world has so much to offer and this project is my gateway to explore it all. I’ve always been a writer with unfinished ideas, but for once I have a story to share with the world. 2. Growing up in an immigrant household meant the language I grew up speaking was not English. My parents found it essential for me to keep my mind active. Through various ways they ensured just that. One of the first things I learned to love were picture books. I remember being fascinated with the bright colors and variety of art styles. Picture books were my stepping stones into literature. My love of reading and writing had started with books like these. Despite not knowing English I found that I could still enjoy these books, regardless of my cultural background. The way stories could be conveyed with just drawings and shapes was so fascinating to me and still is till this day. Books that did not require the knowledge of the English language allowed someone like me to still learn to love storytelling. 3. In the fall I plan to study Biology and English at Northeastern University with the hopes of becoming a published author. Throughout my education I have found that my love for literature expanded to the point of wanting to pursue further studies. This award will allow me the resources needed to continue my education in the field of English. While I am currently working on a manuscript, my degree with help me to learn more about what it means to become a great writer.