Really, I’d like to say that if I had $1,000 right now, I would save it all for college or put it towards helping people in need. If I’m being honest, I’d probably go out and spend some of it on clothes, makeup, and jewelry. I’d get some cool ripped jeans, eyeshadow palettes with bright pinks and blues, and chained necklaces with cute little charms and beautiful designs. Lastly for myself, I would buy a couple of dinosaur figurines to display in my room. Of course, I would feel bad if I spent all that money on me, so I would probably get some things for my family. I could get books for my brother and stationary items for my sister. I’d also get some of those miniature real-life items for my mom, like mini beverages or cereal boxes. For my dad, I would buy him a really nice weighted pen; he loves those. I’m not a liberal spender, so I think it’s safe to say I’ll have plenty of money left. Whatever remains, I would put in a savings account for college and some sort of retirement fund for my future. If I have more money left than anticipated, I’d put some in a savings account for a car. I think that is all $1,000 well spent.

I refused to eat breakfast, lunch, and most times, dinner for about a year when I was in 8th grade. I had developed extremely low self-worth; I didn't like the way I looked, I wasn't confident, and I was judgemental of everyone. Four years later, I've grown considerably in my confidence and view of myself. But to be honest, I am still affected in my ways of thinking. Judgment is something that I struggle with to this day. Whether it be about looks, actions, or even intellect, I sometimes catch myself thinking about what I would do in someone else's shoes. The truth is we are in no place to judge others. We don't know their stories, their backgrounds, or their thought processes. Constantly reminding myself to be kinder to both others and myself has definitely been a struggle, but I've been pushing through it. Developing an ED has to be one of the worst things that have happened in my life because of the way it has changed my mind. These habits and routines are not easily broken. Humans find comfort in chaos. When you recover from an eating disorder, you regain physical health, strength, beauty, and that natural human glow. However, what is most difficult to reverse is the change in patterns of thought. Most people develop EDs because of a need for control or comfort; it becomes their coping mechanism. Once that routine is set in place, it can be almost impossible to reroute your brain when something goes wrong. One mistake could be made and your brain instantly reverts to "I should skip my next meal," "I don't deserve this," or "Why am I not good enough?" Though we try just like anyone, survivors of eating disorders have a considerably tougher time refusing to fall back into old ways of coping, especially if they are harmful to us. Since recovering from my ED, I have made it a goal to help others in my personal life should they fall victim to this soul-sucking illness. I've already advised a few of my personal friends and plan to continue as I age. There is nothing more heartbreaking to me than words going unspoken that could have saved someone. That's why I plan on creating or joining a help group in college for those who are struggling with eating disorders. I believe sharing the rawest and most vulnerable personal experiences of life can make a huge impact, even for just one person. So, it is very important to me that people know they're worth more than a number on a scale or how they look on the outside. It took a lot for me to realize this for myself.

I would live a fulfilled life if I were able to travel the world discovering and analyzing fossils. I want to be in the presence of the greatest paleontologists, following them to plains, canyons, deserts, and tundras. I crave their knowledge, so I'd love to learn from them and accumulate several personal libraries of their books; one in each of my homes. I'll have a residence in Arizona, Alaska, and Tahiti in which I'll stay when I'm not traveling. I currently live in Arizona and love it here, so I would keep one of my homes here. As for Alaska and Tahiti, there's just something about those places that call to me; I think both are endlessly beautiful in their opposite ways. If I weren't constantly traveling, I'd probably stay in Alaska during the summer and Tahiti or Arizona in the fall/winter. Of course, to fund this lifestyle I would need a plethora of money. In my dream life, I would be wealthy beyond imagination. Not only would I use that wealth to fund my lifestyle, but I would donate liberally to charities, especially ones for cancer research and prevention as my grandmother passed away due to breast cancer. Climate change and wildlife conservation are also important to me, so I'd be donating plenty for those causes. Lastly, in addition to and probably more important to me than charity donations, I would use my wealth to fund therapy appointments for people who cannot afford them. I know what it's like to feel hopeless and not be able to afford therapy, and I would hate for others to feel the same way. Ideally, my dream life would include travels all across the globe studying fossils, libraries in my three amazing homes, donations to charities, and funding therapy for those who can't.

One of my favorite scientists is German paleontologist Ernst Stromer. Stromer worked tirelessly from November 1910 to February 1911 on an expedition through Egypt. Originally meant to find mammalian fossils, what he found instead was truly amazing. He discovered and described the following Egyptian dinosaurs: Aegyptosaurus, Bahariasaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, and Spinosaurus.

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with dinosaurs. Movies about them gave me a thrill, reading about them gave me increasing curiosity, and looking at them was an immediate source of joy. I remember waking up on the weekends and immediately going on YouTube to see what kinds of videos I could watch about dinosaurs and related topics. This intense interest has stayed with me up to the present day; I am now almost 18. Even my hobbies have stayed consistent. I still watch movies about dinosaurs, read about them, and observe illustrations of them. I've recently started creating my own drawings of dinosaur skulls when I have time. Over the years, I've collected dinosaur figurines, plushes, stickers, books, and even socks. I think it's safe to say that my life has revolved around these prehistoric creatures. Unsurprisingly, I'm planning on going to college to become a paleontologist. Genuinely, I believe I could learn about these animals forever and never get bored as they spark such joy and positivity in me. I have spent so much of my short-lived life devoted to the extension of my knowledge about this one specific topic; I really don't know what I would do without them. It would truly be soul-crushing for me if I could not pursue a career or higher education regarding dinosaurs and paleontology.