Sometimes I wish I could say I'm like most teenage girls. They are full of emotion over this and that. I'm not into drama and I don't cry very often. It's just who I am. Don't get me wrong, I definitely feel all the emotions, just not enough to bawl over everything. Despite my malfunctioning tear ducts, there is one thing that turns the faucet on every year. In my area, there are many underprivileged children going to public schools. These kids have very little resources and live with struggling families. Yet they are so happy. Every year during the holiday's, I group up with other members in my community to help gives these children a Christmas because their families simply cannot afford simple necessities or fun things for Christmas joy. Starting in November, we work to raise 20,000 dollars for ten families of elementary school kids with families in need. We take the kids on a field trip when December approaches to buy new clothes, new soap, and take pictures with the one and only Santa Clause! As the days count down to the holidays, we wrap the gifts and deliver the gifts to families in secret. The time that turned the faucets on the most was when I handed the child's grandma a new pan. She absolutely lost it in disbelief. The fact that we could help someone so much by giving them something as simple as a pan just switched something in me and we cried together. As wholesome as it was, we had to carry on bringing the 25 plus loads of goods, needed items, wrapped clothes, and other holiday gifts into their tiny home. This yearly act of service has truly changed my life, and has taught me the importance of service and gratitude.

A quote has the power to change someone's life completely. For me, the quote "spread kindness around like confetti" changed mine. Middle school me, for some reason, found this quote so inspiring. Fun, yet simple, yet empowering. I have always looked for the positives in life, and have always enjoyed an inspiring quote here and there. However, I have always lived by that favorite quote of mine, even before I had even heard the quote. My friend describe me as the nice one of the friend group, or one of the nicest people they have ever met, which is something I hold close to my heart. I love quotes and smiles and bringing little bits of joy into the world whenever I can. Spreading kindness around like confetti allows me to bring little confetti-sized bits of happiness into the world. For me, those are the annoyingly-true cliche Pinterest quotes. It brings me pleasure to read them, share them, write them on the mirror with expo markers on the dorm bathroom mirrors or sticky notes on people's cars. Reading quotes and sharing them is such a simple thing, yet so empowering while bring little touches of joy. It's the simple pleasures that truly give this world the joy it deserves.

My educational objectives include graduating in four years or less with a Biosystems Engineering degree and achieving a minor in Sustainability Studies and a second minor in Urban Development. With these achievements, I hope to pursue a career in urban sustainability, specifically concerning clean water. I find the prospect of creating safe water systems interesting and recognize clean water as a vital necessity to life. As cities and urban landscapes grow, I want to help design ways for sustainable water to be attainable for all while also creating minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem and nature beyond the urban footprint. With these major goals at hand, I also want to focus on small situations. I hope to raise awareness of the global water issues and help give all humans access to clean water. As a side project, I hope to work with organizations that help create sustainable water systems in non-urban areas or those without access to any water. I hope to use my education to help make the world a better place, both in urban areas and in places of need. This is my vision and how I hope to make a positive impact on not only my area, but the entire planet if possible. The impact I desire to have on the world encompasses my degree and career aspirations to the greatest extent. I believe the impact that sustainable water systems can have on the planet can bring substantial change and benefit millions of people when successful, and I am going to be the person to do it. My interest, or my why, comes from a small town southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina in a high school class of about 15 students. AP Earth and Environment Science sparked my interest in the issues of the planet and the effects humans can have on the environment. The issues of sustainable water particularly sparked my interest and led me to dig deeper. I do not know if it was the teacher, the topic, the class, or just being in the right place at the right time hearing the right information. Water management and sustainability seemed so interesting. My success in calculus class also created a desire to pursue engineering, thus leading to my declared major of a Biosystems engineer. In short, a Biosystems engineer is a combination of agricultural, environmental, and biological engineering, making it a perfect gateway to the sustainable water systems industry.

My educational objectives include graduating in four years or less with a Biosystems Engineering degree and achieving a minor in Sustainability Studies and a second minor in Urban Development. With these achievements, I hope to pursue a career in urban sustainability, specifically concerning clean water. I find the prospect of creating safe water systems interesting and recognize clean water as a vital necessity to life. As cities and urban landscapes grow, I want to help design ways for sustainable water to be attainable for all while also creating minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem and nature beyond the urban footprint. With these major goals at hand, I also want to focus on small situations. I hope to raise awareness of the global water issues and help give all humans access to clean water. As a side project, I hope to work with organizations that help create sustainable water systems in non-urban areas or those without access to any water. I hope to use my education to help make the world a better place, both in urban areas and in places of need. The impact I desire to have on the world encompasses my degree and career aspirations to the greatest extent. I believe the impact that sustainable water systems can have on the planet can bring substantial change and benefit millions of people when successful. My interest arises from a small town southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina in a high school class of about 15 students. AP Earth and Environment Science sparked my interest in the issues of the planet and the effects humans can have on the environment. The issues of sustainable water particularly sparked my interest and led me to dig deeper. I do not know if it was the teacher, the topic, the class, or just being in the right place at the right time hearing the right information. Water management and sustainability seemed so interesting. My success in calculus class also created a desire to pursue engineering, thus leading to my declared major of a Biosystems engineer. In short, a Biosystems engineer is a combination of agricultural, environmental, and biological engineering, making it a perfect gateway to the sustainable water systems industry. The strength of my goals and reasoning behind my strong habits and determination to achieve my goals in the sustainability field can be derived from a book called "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. This book gives tips and tricks for changing the small things in your life to help guide you to become the person you want to be. From this book, I have learned that I am in control of my destiny and how to rid the negative habits I had built and replace them with positive habits that help me target and achieve my goals. I have been able to put what I have learned from this book into practice as I set habits that allow me to be successful in school and ultimately lead me towards achieving my career goals and ultimately helping millions of people.

School is my passion. I love to learn. The idea of gaining new knowledge gets me up and ready for classes in the morning. Though some days are more exciting than others in the classroom, I still enjoy discovering new things about the world. My drive and passion for school is exemplified throughout my successes in school. I finished 3rd in my high school class as an AP scholar, due to my determination and success in upper-level classes. The knowledge that I gained in those classes led me to success through my first semester of college, finishing with a 3.74 GPA as a first-semester freshman in classes designed for second-semester sophomores. Learning keeps me going, and the intrigue I get from figuring out new concepts or understanding life's workings keeps me wanting more. I hope to continue my passion for education as I pursue a degree in Biosystems Engineering and a minor in Sustainability Studies. As I work through the required classes, I hope to pursue a second minor in Urban Development. I hope to use my passion for learning to help better the world as my knowledge grows.

Two years ago, I delivered a Christmas to a family of 3. Though the family was small, their hearts were big, and they truly needed help during the holidays. Their second grader had hearing defects and had hearing aids. Though she may not have ever heard me, she was one of the sweetest children I have ever met. Her family sent their wishlist and needs, and I was surprised that their number one wish was a new set of frying pans. I was ashamed at myself for being so astonished when they asked for frying pans, as I realized that such an insignificant item to me could mean so much to someone else. When it came time to deliver the goods to this small family, I pulled up my truck to a house with maybe two rooms and a dirt driveway covered with mud holes. Bringing the gifts in one at a time, the two grandparents who took care of the little girl were so thankful. When I brought in the pack of varying sized pans, they both burst into tears. I have never seen anyone legitimately burst into tears, let alone over a pan. This moment gave me more perspective on giving back than any other moment could. Giving is important to me because sharing is a fundamental moral for me. I was raised to share, and to recognize that any act of kindness no matter how big or how small, will not go unrecognized. I find it important to give back to those who aren't as privileged as myself. Every year around the Christmas holidays, I spend the weeks collecting money for underprivileged families in my area. The money is spent on necessities and gifts for the families. I give back by giving children and families a Christmas.