I advocate for the environment by encouraging those around me to help me in my efforts to reduce waste. I do not have a large platform to be able to reach a large crowd of people, but even convincing a few people to change their ways is better than none. I encourage people to recycle whenever they can and bring recyclables home with them if there are no options available at the time. I also encourage people to utilize multi-use containers and try to avoid single-use plastics if possible. My flag on the top of the mountain would say, "Life doesn't get easier, you get stronger. Put your own light at the end of the tunnel, no one else can do it for you." This is a lesson I learned during high school. I was in a chronic depressive state for most of my teen years. My friends would often tell me that things would get better and I just have to look for the light at the end of the tunnel. But eventually, I realized, that life isn't going to magically get easier. I need to learn to work with it and will have to fight battles my whole life. If I never try to overcome my depression, the light will never be there.

The character from The Office that I most resonate with is Jim. Jim is a very intelligent guy and succeeds when he puts his mind to things. However, he struggles to apply himself to his work when he lacks passion. When I was younger and worked at Dominos, I acted the same way. I did just enough to get my job done but never put in any extra effort and I would goof off a lot with my coworkers. Like Jim, I didn't see myself working there for a long time so I didn't think it was necessary to take it very seriously. Now that I work at a chemistry lab, my work attitude has changed dramatically. I am more than willing to put in time and effort into succeeding at my job. I don't mess around as much because I want to be taken seriously. Jim is also a very caring person. He looks out for his coworkers and makes sure they are okay, even if he doesn't like them. That is how I strive to be. I try to be kind to everyone in my life no matter what. I believe Jim is a good role model and it excites me that we have similar traits!

@_.patricialynch._

One technology that I believe made the world a better place is the invention of air conditioning. It was an amazing invention for so many reasons. It made living in the summer or tropical areas more bearable. It made climate-controlled storage areas easier to manage. It even saved lives. According to the Washington Post, air conditioning cut the death rate of extreme heat by 80%. That's incredible! Also, when air conditioning was finally installed in cars, it made traveling much easier and more comfortable, especially when traveling on the highway. I believe that the most important aspect to consider when creating new technology is, "Will this improve quality of life?" Any idea that can answer that question with a yes should be pursued. There are so many inventions around us in our everyday lives that make life easier, most of which we don't even think about anymore. Those are the best kinds; the technology that seamlessly enters society to provide assistance. A few examples of this include the pop tab, a key start car, the zipper, ballpoint pens, plastic containers, digital cameras, water heaters, and so much more. If a new technology efficiently helps people, then I consider it to be a success. I believe people need to always try out their ideas, no matter how crazy they seem. We need creativity in the world. Could you imagine telling someone 200 years ago that in the future we have completely automatic ways to temperature control our houses? To them, it would be crazy, but to us, it's perfectly normal. That is the mark of a successful invention.

As an addiction survivor, recovery is everything. Recovery means giving up on enablers, even if they are close friends and family. Recovery means choosing your future over a temporary high. Recovery is hard. I've spent countless nights on the edge of my bed shaking with an overwhelming urge to relapse. Recovery isn't pretty. It can take years upon years to even simply stop thinking about it. Recovery isn't perfect. It's normal and expected that there will be times of relapse and times of regret. The most important thing to do is to keep going. Keep trying. Keep reaching out. Recovery is all about progress. It may seem impossible to get rid of the urges at first, but with a lot of grit and a lot of patience, peace will find you. Most importantly, recovery is possible. Everyone can beat addiction. I can beat my addiction.

The most important thing I do to live more sustainably is to buy as few things brand-new as possible and to reuse everything you can. Consumerism is one of the biggest contributing factors to climate change and can only be stopped if everyone collectively decides to stop buying so much. People tend to focus too much on the afterlife of products. However, that is not nearly as important as the amount of energy it takes to make that product in the first place. Growing up, the emphasis was to always recycle. It taught us about how things like plastic bottles will be turned into new plastic bottles every time you throw them in the recycle bin. But what they failed to mention was that 91% of all plastic never gets recycled once. Clearly, the issue is not as simple as putting plastic in a tub, things need to start much further up the food chain. While one person's actions alone may seem trivial, it's better to have a lot of people imperfectly zero-waste than just a few perfect ones. This is a motto I live by. When I worked in fast food and I would see the high volume of plastic thrown away every day, I was discouraged that my small plastic collection to take to a recycling center didn't matter. But that's where I was wrong. My actions may seem small but they still make a difference. I have made a lot of zero and less waste swaps in my life. The classic one is the metal water bottle. I no longer buy bottled water. However, I took it a step further. I love to drink flavored water so instead of buying the flavored water drinks, I would buy the juice powders to put in my water bottle. This is an example of an imperfect swap. I am still throwing away plastic, but if you look at the plastic per drink ratio, it is significantly lower. Another way I stay environmentally conscious is nearly always shopping second-hand. Not only does this save money, but you also can find things you won't find in the store. This one wasn't hard for me because that's all I knew growing up. One of my more recent implements was making a compost bin. I live in an apartment so I don't have room for a big one, but I plan on getting one once I settle down in a house. This has proven useful for getting rid of things like yard trimmings, paper, food scraps, and other natural things. I had always wanted to start one and I was finally motivated to make one when my best friend bought me flowers for my birthday and I felt too bad to just throw them away when I was done. Finally, my favorite hobby now is making 'trash art' where I use things like bottle caps, broken jewelry, forgotten toys, or random pieces of junk to make art. I usually paint a background and then stick the item on and it creates a 3D effect. These are my favorite ways to help the environment but there as so many more. The moral of the story is, that no matter how small of an impact you're making, it is still an impact no matter what. Every decision matters.

My favorite aspect of Minecraft is the animals. One of the first things I do whenever I start a new world is make a little fence to capture some animals. Of course, when you play survival, you have to kill them for food, but it pains me every time because they are just so cute. My favorite animal in Minecraft is either the bunny or the chicken. I love being able to watch them grow. A close second favorite would be exploring caves. It's a perfect mix of exploring and fighting. There are always a ton of monsters in unexplored caves so it gets your heart pumping trying to fight all of them at once. Cave exploring is also a great way to find diamonds, iron, and gold. It's significantly less boring than strip mining. The other issue with it though is it can be easy to get lost in all the different caverns so you have to make sure you mark your trail as you go. My favorite weapon to take with me is the bow and arrow with the Flame enchantment. This makes it so much easier to fight off lots of mobs because they lose health to the fire as well as the arrow. There are so many fun things to do in a Minecraft world it's hard to narrow it down to just a few.

My passion is science, specifically chemistry. Ever since high school, I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. I find it fascinating how everything works together to create the world we see before us. What's crazy is we can't even see how it all works together as it is happening on such a small scale even the best microscopes can't pick it up. But, we still know that it's there and that it's happening. How do we know this? Science. Science is the key to understanding the universe. Science is such a broad field, ranging anything from outer space, to the bottom of the ocean, to atomic bombs, to little birds. Science has always been a passion of mine because of the real-life application of ideas and physical proof. I am a very logical person. Because science is primarily composed of hard facts and cause and effect, it is a very logical subject. I found my inspiration when I was in General Chemistry 2. That was the first time I had heard about green chemistry. I have always loved things like the life cycle, plastic, sustainability, and the environment. Green chemistry works with all of those topics! Finding a field that connects all of those things together was a dream come true! My goal in life is to find a way to chemically decompose non-biodegradable plastics. I haven't gotten far enough into my studies or research yet to know how to do this, or even if it's possible, but I am so excited to keep learning and maybe someday make it a reality. I have been interested in plastic ever since I learned about the plastic crisis. I find it incredible, in a bad way, that plastic is the only material that exists forever and will never decompose. I believe that there is a solution for everything. I think maybe scientists have taken the wrong approach to the issue. If it turns out it is impossible to degrade it, I think we should develop a solution to somehow reuse it in a new way. A great example of this is Meijer. They collect plastic films and have a process that eventually turns them into pavement for a parking lot! In my opinion, science is the broadest, most inclusive, and most creative field. There is always a problem to solve or a new system to create or discover. I find that fascinating. So many different aspects of our lives are controlled by some sort of science.

My biggest goal in life is happiness. I don't mean happiness in the way of life being easy or sunshine and rainbows. My definition of happiness is peace and contentedness. I want to have enough money to buy groceries without worrying about the price of every single item, not necessarily being a millionaire. I want to have a job I enjoy. I don't want to wake up every morning and be sad it's a work day. I want to have a loving family who supports and takes care of each other. To achieve this goal, I take steps every day to get there. I am studying chemistry at Wright State University. I currently work at a research chemistry lab and I enjoy every second of it. Because of the love I have for my job right now, I know that this is the type of job I want when I'm older. It challenges me to solve problems and be familiar with science, but it's also an enjoyable environment. This job reassured me that this is what I want to do as my career. I started to doubt it when I was in organic chemistry because that was an extremely tough class for me. This scholarship would help me tremendously. I have been saving money for college since I was 16 and somehow it still wasn't enough to cover the cost of tuition, housing, and food. I have successfully paid for 3 semesters of school so far. But I worry that if I'm unable to save enough throughout this next semester, I might have to take a semester off school and work full-time until I have enough to cover the cost of returning. I always work part-time during the semester and full-time during breaks. I try not to work more than 20 hours during school because that can lead to burnout. I have depression so burnout only fuels that. I take steps to prevent that, even if it means working less hours. But because of that, obviously, I make less money. It really is a catch-22. That is why this scholarship would possibly change my life. It would give me the cushion I need to continue my education without the fear of falling back into a depressive state. You know what they say, money doesn't bring happiness. But in this case, I feel like it would. Life would be a whole lot easier with extra money to pay for school.

If I could build my very own Barbie Dream House I would build it in Louisiana. It would be four floors. It would have a huge backyard with a pool and hot tub. The backyard would also have lots of climbing trees and a race track. The basement of the house would be a full chemistry laboratory, equipped with multiple fume hoods, ovens, and fridges. The first floor would be where I host all my friends. There would be a big TV and lots of couches and a kitchen. The second floor would be the art and crafts floor. It would just be one open room with a space for everything I like doing like painting, quilting, and drawing. The third floor would be my bedroom, bathroom, and closet. I would have a big bed and lots of comfy blankets and stuffed animals. Finally, the top floor would be an open-air floor to house the garden. It would have retractable walls that could close if need be. There would be a bench to sit on and hang out and all the tools needed to tend a beautiful garden. Also, I would have multiple pet bunnies that would live in the garden. Each level would also have a balcony with chairs. Finally, the theme colors of the house would be yellow and orange.

My dream is to continue to grow and change; I never want to stay stagnant, and I always want to better myself mentally and physically.

My favorite thing about Disney is the community. Like most people, I've been watching Disney movies since I was a little kid. I don't think it's a bold assumption to make that everyone watched at least one Disney movie growing up. Because of this, there is a connection between everyone, even complete strangers. It's always a great icebreaker when meeting someone new, or it's a way to learn more about someone you already know. My favorite Disney movies are "The Lion King" and "The Lion King 1 1/2." While these are fantastic movies with a captivating plot, that's not why they're my favorite. I love them because of the memories I have attached to them. I was around 7 or 8 when I watched them for the first time with my best friend. We watched "The Lion King" first. A few days later I was back at her house and we watched "The Lion King 1 1/2", and it was the funniest movie I had ever watched. Because of that, we ended up watching the first movie again and laughed the whole time through that one too. That is a memory I'll cherish forever. It's also a memory I love to share. When I meet new people and they ask me what my favorite movie is, I'll usually say that and tell them the story. I can be shy, so it's nice when there is an easy icebreaker to start a conversation. Another thing I love about Disney is the creativity. There's no lack of original designs and stories and there are so many ways to be creative within that. They hire writers, directors, actors, artists, graphic designers, engineers, cooks, entertainers, and so many more. Because of all the types of jobs there, everyone can have their way of expressing their creativity. Also, when people visit the parks, because of the rule that adults can't wear costumes, most adults get very creative with their Disney-bound outfits. I've never been to either of the parks, but if I ever do go, I would be so excited to make my own creative outfit. Disney gives space for people to be themselves, connect with others, and create art. That is so important, especially in today's world. Disney gives people a place to feel like a kid again and to reminisce about old times. I can't wait until I'm older and can share my favorite Disney movies with my future kids.

The main reason for my interest in medicine is because of my mom. When I was a sophomore in high school, me and my mom were spending the day together. We went to my orthodontist appointment, McDonald's, and we were planning on going to the thrift store. But we never made it to the last stop. When we were at McDonald's, my mom started complaining of a weird feeling in her chest. She thought that maybe she was having a panic attack. We decided to skip the store and go home. By the time we were home, she looked completely exhausted. She decided to go lay down for a little bit. She eventually fell asleep but was in and out of pain the entire time. A few hours later, we went to check on her. She was doing so much worse. We suggested she go to the hospital to make sure everything was okay. She reluctantly agreed. My dad, two sisters and I drove her to the emergency room to get her checked out. It turns out, she had suffered a heart attack and had 90% blockage in one of her arteries. She was transferred to the ICU where she stayed for almost two weeks. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure. This resulted in a large concoction of pills and treatments that should would need to take for the rest of her life or she would die. Here is where the story could have ended a lot differently. We have good insurance. Our insurance covered nearly the entire cost of the visit and most of the monthly costs of medicine and equipment. If we were one of the unfortunate families to land in this situation, we would have been left with fees of approximately $500,000 for the hospital and $1,000 monthly medicine. This is where many Americans would have to choose between their life and their family's finances. It's an impossible lose-lose scenario. This choice alone is why I am passionate about making a change in the medical field. I believe that there are cheaper ways to synthesize these necessary drugs so that they can be bought at a lower cost. Affordable medication will save lives. In school, I learned about green chemistry. Ever since that has been what I've been passionate about. I want to find cheaper procedures for already-produced medications. After seeing how fortunate my family was after my mom's hospitalization, I want every family to have that feeling of relief that they can continue living, guilt-free.

I am proud to be an American because of the freedom to be who you are. It doesn't matter who you are, what you believe, or what you look like, there is a place for everyone in the United States. While on paper, this sounds awesome, it isn't always as perfect as it seems. Can you be whoever you want? Absolutely. But will you find more hate in your life if you choose to live a certain way? Absolutely. The biggest change I would like to see in the United States is for transgender people to be constitutionally protected. My very close friend and roommate is transgender. Sometimes, she comes home crying at night because of the nasty things people had said to her throughout the day, or the blatant hate and discrimination faced at every turn. People like to argue that because of their religious beliefs, they believe that discriminating against trans people is okay because God says it's okay. I believe that your personal beliefs and way of life are just that, your beliefs. It doesn't give you the right to belittle someone else's existence purely based on that. Trans people deserve to live in peace just like the rest of us. I plan to effect this change by voting and signing petitions. While I don't plan to go into politics at all as my career, that doesn't stop me from doing my part as an American citizen to voice my opinion. I encourage everyone I know to do the same. For example, when Ohio voted on Issue 1 in August 2023, I talked to my mom, my boyfriend, and 2 of my friends and encouraged them to vote. None of them were planning on going until I told them how important the ballot was. Afterward, all four of them ended up voting that day. In my eyes, even though that was only 4 extra votes, it was still my advocacy that brought them out to the polls. That is the power of living in a democracy. You have the power to vote and speak freely. Imagine if everyone who votes in every election brought just one person with them to the polls who doesn't typically vote. That would double voter turnout just like that. That is why small-scale advocacy is so important and why I take it so seriously. Democracy, among many more freedoms, is why I'm proud to be American.

As shallow as it sounds, my favorite Netflix show to binge is Love Island USA. This show is the perfect thing to watch after a long day at school or work, or just when you have some down time. It requires very few brain cells to stay focused on the storyline, which is perfect for people with busy lives. Almost every episode there are new characters introduced and old ones kicked off the show. There is always drama going on. So for the people who love drama, it's perfect because you get all of it without the stress of actually being involved. However dumb the show may seem, you can learn some things from it. It is a great representation of different types of relationships. You can see how personalities get along and what kind of issues they may have. You can also see the different approaches to solving conflict. It doesn't neglect to show you some people's toxicity. Which, for obvious reasons, is entertaining, but can also be educational. By seeing how everyone interacts, you can decide if that's something you are looking for in a relationship or something you wouldn't want. This show was super helpful when I was dating my last boyfriend. At first, he said the same thing, "This show is dumb, I don't wanna watch it". But since I was really into it, I would watch it when he was over at my house anyway. Eventually, he also got really into the show and wouldn't let me watch it without him. While watching it, sometimes we would pause it and talk about what we just watched and if their behavior was appropriate or not. This was extremely useful at the beginning of our relationship. It acted as a catalyst to set certain boundaries and talk about things we might not have brought up on our own. It was also a great way to relax together. Unfortunately, only the first two seasons are on Netflix so we had to switch over to Peacock to keep watching. If there is a need for any more convincing on why you should watch Love Island USA, there are a least 30 episodes in each season. There is plenty of content to keep you satisfied for a long time. I'm not much of a binge watcher and this show would have me watching at least two or three episodes a day. This show is worth the watch.

When I was in 7th grade I read the book "Second Chance Summer" by Morgan Matson. Now as a junior in college, I still think about it. I don't remember the whole storyline or even all the characters' names. But there was something about that story that has stuck with me for years. At the end of the book, the father dies. The way Matson expressed the feelings that the family felt was extraordinary. I learned a lot about loss, grief, and regret from this book. It put things into perspective for me. Nothing is permanent, except death. The realization changed the way I approach life. More so, it changed the way I approached love. I love my family, but I never really told them that. Same with my friends, I love them too, but I never seem to let the words out. Ever since finishing that book, I make sure I say it a little more often because you'll never know when it's too late. On the other side of things, this book taught me to take risks. Now, I don't mean something crazy like going skydiving or swimming across the Atlantic Ocean. To me, a risk is like taking the first step and asking someone out, spray painting your car just to see if it looks good, taking a job you don't think you're ready for, or starting a new hobby even when you're old a grey. While these don't seem like the typical ideas when one thinks about taking a risk, they are. They change up the monotony of every day, they risk your pride, they risk your appearance. People tend to hang onto old habits and stay where it's comfortable. If you let go of that, you open a whole new area of life. This is what's most important. You only live once. You should spend it trying new things, even if you have to risk looking dumb doing it. You don't want to live a life of regret. This outlook has changed the way I make decisions. I was offered a student teaching job at my college. I've always been a shy person with low self-confidence. If I would have been offered it a few years ago, I would have said 'no' right away. But now, I decided to try it. If I end up being terrible at it, at least I tried and I know, instead of giving up on an opportunity and possibly regretting that decision. Life is all about growth, and if you never try, you'll never grow.

My all-time favorite fall Starbucks drink is the pumpkin spice latte. It's funny because I'm not even a huge pumpkin spice fan. But it reminds me of the time I was 15. It was early November and I had just got my braces put on. It hurt to eat literally anything. Growing up, my parents were very conservative with how much we were able to eat out growing up. So you can imagine my surprise when my mom offered to take me to Starbucks after my appointment. I can't remember ever going to Starbucks before this. I was so excited. We went into the store and I was overwhelmed with all the options. By the time we got to the front of the line, I still had no idea what I wanted to buy. I asked the lady behind the counter what she recommended for someone who doesn't drink coffee very often. She told me that a latte was the way to go (since it's basically just milk with a little coffee in it). On a whim, I decided to try the pumpkin spice flavor, and it was so good! We sat inside the shop, drank our coffee, and talked for a while. I was nervous about getting my braces on, and I felt really sore afterward. This was the perfect escape from all that. It was also fun because it was in the middle of a school day so the store was very quiet. Ever since then, my mom and I will go to Starbucks every once and a while to just catch up. The pumpkin spice latte is now kept in my memory as a happy and nostalgic taste. The little things like that are what's most important in life. Is that a super generic saying? Yes, but it's true. The fact that we still go out sometimes just to get the same coffee is a testament to that. I haven't had braces in close to 5 years now, and yet I still crave the comfort I felt from getting that drink. So in reality, it wasn't the drink that brought me happiness all those years ago, it was the comfort I felt when I was in pain. It was the generosity my mom showed me by taking me to an expensive restaurant, just because she loves me. My mom's act of kindness turned a painful day into a wonderful memory.

The biggest challenge that I faced as a teenager was getting kicked out of my home when I was a senior in high school. My dad and I's relationship had always been rocky. It felt like we were always arguing about something. Well when it came to February of 2022, I had finally had enough. He had already gone a month without saying a single word to me. I had come home from a long week at school when he told me to get in the kitchen. I walked over and he started scolding me. I told him I was tired of him never caring about me until it was something bad. He told me to just shut up and do what he said, but I stood strong. I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. I was 18; I didn't have to take it anymore. When I wasn't budging, my dad got even more mad. That's when he said if I don't wanna cooperate, I'll need to find my own place to live. With that, I called my coworker and asked to crash there for the night. A night turned into six months until I eventually moved to college. For a long time, I was angry, depressed, and hated the situation. Sleeping on a couch is not the most ideal place to live. However, with the help of my roommates and mom, things started to change. I took advantage of the independence. I had been dreaming of living on my own since I was still a kid, and now I finally had it. The summer before I moved to college, I found myself. I started wearing the clothes I liked and hanging out with people again. I could buy the food I wanted and didn't have to be around people if I didn't want to be. This taste of freedom changed my life. I have learned that even though the circumstances were hard and I was forced to move out when I wasn't ready, good things can come out of hardships. While life hasn't been a piece of cake, it's leaps and bounds better than it was. I've learned that growth doesn't have to be pretty, improvement doesn't need to be easy, and progress doesn't have to be perfect. My life has been a roller coaster since gaining my independence, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. My roommates showed me that my life is important, and for the first time in my life, I believed it.

If I could have everyone in the whole world read the same book, I would have them read the poetry book, "A Home For Lonely Souls" by Michael Tavon Patterson. I was given this book by my adoptive sister when I moved off to college. I was scared about living away from her for the first time. This book is now one of my prized possessions. It contains everything from love to heartbreak, peace to terror, and comfort to depression. No matter what you're going through, there is a poem in this book for you. Poetry is an art form that everyone can relate to. A good poem can be read and interpreted so many times and in different ways. Patterson did a fantastic job grabbing my attention and making me feel as if it were my own thoughts I was reading on the page. Poetry is especially helpful for those who struggle to put words to feelings, like me. I always have a lot of thoughts and feelings, but I can never say quite the right words to express them. I believe that if more people were exposed to poetry, they would feel more at peace. They would find comfort in reading their emotions on the page. I feel that people don't give poetry a chance, because they either find it confusing or boring. However, if they were forced to read it, maybe they would find something that spoke to them. This is why I chose "A Home For Lonely Souls" as the book I would recommend because everyone will find a home inside.

My name is Patricia Lynch and I want to change how medicine is made. My mom has diabetes and thankfully we have insurance to cover her medicine because if we didn't, we would be broke. I saw firsthand how stressed she got when she saw the medical bills racking up. Luckily, after being in contact with our insurance provider, they were able to cover around 90% of the monthly expenses. Unfortunately, in the United States, not everyone is so lucky. Many people don't even have health insurance or the policy they have doesn't cover nearly as much of the expense. That is why it is so important to lower the cost of medicines so that finances aren't the reason to lose your life. I am currently studying to get my bachelor's degree in chemistry at Wright State University. I have ideas on how to synthesize standard diabetes pharmaceuticals to be cheaper. I have had this idea for a few years now, and after taking organic chemistry and learning about green chemistry, I believe I have a viable solution. Green chemistry is my favorite type of chemistry. I love learning about sustainability and economics. Green chemistry is just that, it is a better way to run reactions to make the resulting product have less waste along the way and cheaper for the company and consumer. This project is so important to me in two different ways. The first way is, I will be able to help people afford the necessary drugs they need to survive. Secondly, I can help people the way I know best, scientifically. I have always loved people and science. By combining the two, I get to do what I love while helping the people I care about. This scholarship would help me tremendously. I have been struggling financially ever since I left my home. I've always been a hard worker and good at saving money, but it is extremely hard to work enough during the school year to be able to save money for the next semester as well as take enough time to focus on school. That balance is something I will be focusing more on this coming school year. This scholarship would allow me to be able to work less and spend more time on my studies. I plan to work in a research lab upon graduation, and possibly one day get my own lab. I want to stop the overly high drug prices and save lives along the way.

Suicide. A topic no one really wants to talk about. One that is so controversial yet touching. When I read "All the Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven, my life changed. I read this book at only 14, but I had already lived so much life, more than people should have by that age. Reading this book was a comforting escape for me. It told the story of a young high school boy and his struggles with school, family, relationships, and all the other problems that teenagers face. But this one was different. The story didn't end in a happy ending. The people I cheered on throughout the whole story don't live happily ever after, and for this reason, I never forgot this book. I love books that make you think and reevaluate the way you see your own life. As a young kid, struggling with my own mind, this book showed me that I have value and that no matter how hard life gets, it's always worth continuing. The writing and word usage in the story also carries the piece. Niven writes in a nearly poetic way; her words flow so smoothly that it's hard to stop once you've started. The writing never gets confusing or boring. It was able to consistently keep my attention, which can be difficult as I have trouble concentrating sometimes. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those struggling with everyday life. The story gives the reader a chance to escape their own world and look into someone else's life. I couldn't give this book higher praise.