Teen perfectionist: I wish I could “go with the flow” Like everyone else It’s exhausting being my own worst critic in this expedition called life. Tearing pages and pages out of the notebook Hopeful for a fresh start Until the guilt of wasting paper overcomes I can’t accelerate a mile exceeding the limit A risk is something I’ve never taken Teetering on my towering standards Countless chores crowd me, like weeds choking a marigold patch paralyzed, not knowing where to start Now I’m being counterproductive My head is crammed with anxious thoughts, Arrive an hour early. "I can't be tardy to school!" “What if I left the oven on?” Unable to sleep til it's all complete but, "What if I sleep through the alarm?" I plan my outfits weeks in advance I pass the straightener through my hair till it’s “perfect” I wish I could just forget my homework… just once “She never breaks the rules” “She’s a goody-goody,” they say. My life isn’t defined by perfectionism In this trek through teen years, I’ve learned there will be unchecked boxes, Bad grades, Traffic jams, And snags in sweaters, “Small” things like that to overcome. Overcoming is hard, but I long to go with the flow

I can only imagine what I’ll Become My curls blew recklessly in the breeze as I accelerated down the highway. Belting out the lyrics to my favorite ABBA song. Windows down, my eyes shifted over at the little girl, smiling and waving in the back seat of the car to my right. Her gaze illuminated envy, and her smile displayed excitement. As the light turned red, life paused. I imagined my former self, fastened into a car seat, craving to be seventeen. Growing up was once fantasy–now reality. At six, I wouldn’t believe who I am today. From feeling lost, diffident, and frightened to speak up, to becoming the Key Club president, I have come a long way. Halted at a stoplight in my hometown, I began to recognize who I really am. If it weren’t for the learning opportunities, accomplishments, and mentors I have encountered along the way, I would never have realized my potential. Looking for a way to get involved in the community, I stumbled upon a day center for adults with special needs. From day one, I felt an overflow of peace knowing that was precisely what I was supposed to be doing. One day turned into a 4-year volunteer internship, and ambition towards a prospective career with a lifelong passion. Procuring experience with the special needs community, I developed empathy, and a drive to make the world more comprehensive for people with disabilities. Working alongside some of the most adept professionals in the field, I gained sublime interpersonal and communication skills. I am learning to invariably do everything wholeheartedly, and with devotion. For me, every day is a day of discovery. My summers are filled with laughter, meaningful relationships, and satisfaction. Because I found my niche in serving the community, I wanted to transform my passions into a plan of action to help my peers also discover a passion. Entering my first year of high school, I didn’t think I had a niche. Athletics were unquestionably not my forte. I have persevered through academics but am not top-tier. I decided to join Key Club. I told myself, freshman year, that I would become the Key Club president. Going into my junior year, I took that office. Using my passion for people with special needs, my life has been transformed. This year, I was able to influence several of my club members to find a passion of their own. There is something so profound and satisfying about falling in love with the world around you, and I want others to experience that same joy. By collaborating with my peers who have many different interests than I, I was able to acquire and apply teamwork skills, and the art of adaptability, learning that not everyone is as enthusiastic as I am was a huge learning curve, but it taught me a lot about others and the world. The light flashes green and my foot eases on the accelerator. My thoughts shift ahead with the momentum of the vehicle. So much has changed since I was the little girl in the back seat. Now, as I am applying to college I have certainty and direction of what my future will look like. I have a goal-driven mindset. My worldview had just clicked into retrospect. Picturing all the dreams I will live, the people I will help, and the goals I will reach, my heart races with joy. “It’s only the beginning of the life little me dreamt of,” I said to myself with anticipation for what the next chapter holds.

My faith has been extremely vital to my life. Through helping me when I face change and trials, to being my source of guidance through all decisions, faith has been my lifeline. For example, now as all my peers are agonized over picking a college and major, I can have peace that the Lord will guide me to the path he has planned for me. By praying, recruiting trustworthy guidance for prayer, and listening to the Lord, I’m confident that the Lord will make my path clear. In this world, everyone faces numerous obstacles, however us, as Christians, have a different outcome. No matter what happens on this earth we can have hope in our eternal life with Jesus forever! On this earth, it is our mission to share the gospel with everyone we can, do everything we do with passion, like we are working for the Lord, and to bring Glory to God in all we do. The first way Christ will help me with my career is first off helping me choose my career. My number one factor for choosing a college is their Christian resources on campus. I want to go to a school where I will flourish spiritually, and I have faith that the Lord will guide me to the right place. Praying through different careers, I know the Lord has instilled in me a passion for transforming the lives of people with special needs, and ultimately presenting the gospel to them in a way that is understandable. I’m planning to have a career in Education, Occupational therapy, or Speech language pathology. I’m praying the Lord will guide me to the place I can glorify him most and will have more opportunities to share the gospel. Through spiritual mentors I’ve had over the last few years, I’ve learned the importance of hard work for Christians. 1 Peter 3:15 says to always be prepared to give a defense to anyone who asks about the hope that is in you. When people see you working diligently at school or a job, they are likely to ask why, and for the source of your motivation. Then, you can go to explain the gospel and why it motivates you to live for the Lord every day. This is a skill the Lord has helped gain that I will take into the workforce. Lastly, I know that any of my careers are emotionally taxing. I know that I will be stretched beyond my limits with stress. I’m faithful that these stressful trials will bring me closer to the Lord. I’ve learned that it is in the hardest times of your life where you really gain more dependence on God. When you run to the Lord before anything else and rely on him, he becomes your source of strength and in the hands of Jesus, nothing can ever shake you from his love. Lastly, I highly anticipate the plan that the Lord has for my life. I’m excited to see what the next step is as I plan to glorify him through my decisions, diligence, and dependence.

If it wasn’t for the integrous and accomplished people who have served as my mentors, I wouldn’t be anything near the person who I am today. In my opinion, mentorship doesn’t have to be any type of organized service, it should be incorporated into every day life. My idea of mentorship stems from the idea that your words and actions should be a constant expression of your personal virtues. When I was in 7th grade, I discovered that I have a passion for working with people with special needs. Taking on several volunteer positions in the field, I met some of the most adept and experienced professionals in the field. I never was in a designated mentorship relationship, however through observance of their skills and kindness, I acquired some amazing skills. They led by example and I have been applying their example in my mentorship to others. My passion is for every individual, me particularly working with people with special needs, to feel seen, heard, and known. Disabilities do not limit people and they can do the same things and achieve the same goals as any other person. Though they may acquire some challenges and need help along the way, I hold people with special needs to the same standards as anyone else. Through those high standards, they become impressed at what they can achieve. In mentorship with others, I want to make an effort to get to know everyone I mentor on a personal level. Connecting through sports, music, or books, I seek out to get to know everyone’s loves and passions. When you find the passions inside of someone, you discover what makes them tick and gladly, I have found what makes me tick, mentoring people with disabilities.

While i’m sure other people will be responding to this prompt with stories of how they overcame an injury or climbed a mountain, my story is much more lightweight. At my school, students finishing with a 4.2 gpa from their sophomore year will qualify them for the national honor society. At the end of my sophomore year, I ended with a 4.095 gpa. Seemingly so close yet so far, I was frustrated. I had so many regrets towards my academic performance during freshman year. Soon, I found out that students will have another opportunity for induction during fall of senior year. Not long after, I decided to put all of the energy I was putting towards regret and frustration towards working hard. Taking very few honors and AP courses during my junior year, with the way my school weights classes, presented a challenge for boosting my gpa. During my junior year, I worked harder than ever. I sacrificed social obligations and learned how to plan and prioritize. I adapted many study strategies that I will take to college with me. In May, I got my end of the year report and found out that I not only met but exceeded the requirement! I was overjoyed! Though this may seem silly, it meant mountains to me. It was the first time I had ever worked so hard to achieve something. I saw the fruits of my labor pay off and I will never forget the mountaintop feeling I had when I persisted through the year and met my goal. I’m so thankful that I didn’t reach it my sophomore year because through this trial, I learned so much and became a better more productive person.

Sparking a catalyst toward the destigmatization of disabilities has been my passion for several years now. When I see people with special needs getting mistreated, or talked lowly about, that sparks more righteous indignation than anything else. When people hear of someone having a learning or physical difference, they automatically judge their capabilities when, in reality, their abilities may not be affected at all. Working to achieve this large goal, I have secured a volunteer internship at a local day center for adults with special needs to gain more practical career experience. I have learned more professional and life lessons there than anywhere else. Gaining this experience has prepared me to defend anyone from being mistreated. Another way I work to achieve this goal is through planning for my future. I know that my future career will lead to working with people with special needs, however I don’t know the exact path I will go down. Job shadowing and talking with people in various careers I am interested in has helped me work towards reaching my career goals. Finding out the pro’s and con’s of being a disability lawyer or occupational therapist now will be saving lots of money in the future. Another, more long term goal of mine will be to get married and have a family. I also have a huge passion towards being a foster mother of children with special needs. I will seek to make them feel loved and valued and will teach my other children to have the same respect towards people who are different as I have been raised with.

I love nature because I am in love with who created it. God created this world with so much elegance, and perfection. We are called and held accountible to be good stewards of this creation and supporting it. To do this, we need to leave the world finer than we found it. Some practical ways I have taken initiative in this is by planting trees, recycling, growing a garden, and encouraging my friends to do so. Those are all very basic things however the best way we can show true appreciation to something is by being responsible with it. Having a religious obligation behind it makes it a more serious and more likely to be practiced topic. Some other ways I love to appreciate nature is by getting in it! I absoluetly love being outdoors. Every summer, I have a volunteer internship at a local day center for adults with special needs and when the weather is safe for the participants to be in, outside exercise is a daily priority. I see everyone perk up when we are outside. Fresh air and bright sun can change moods!! I enjoy taking daily walks and occasionally doing homework outside. I love nature so much because I revere and respect who created it. God gave us nature so we can enjoy it and use it to spend leisure time with friends and family. We also have a responsibility to take care of it and leave a green footprint.

In my opinion, spontaneous generosity is the best kind of generosity. When you are able to make someone smile unexpectedly, or to get someone off to a great start to what otherwise would have been a “bad day” is one of the best things to do! When people experience kindness, they are more likely to be in a better mood and to give back to others starting a chain of kindness! A smile has much more of an impact than it seems. Smiles tend to be contagious! When someone smiles, other people are very likely to smile back! Another idea about generosity I find important is cheap, and can be practiced at any time. This is the practice of checking in on people and making sure they are doing good. I like to check in with a new friend or acquaintance every week. Doing check ins, you will realize that people can go through so much without ever reaching out to someone. To merge this gap, it is imperative for people to check in with each other, and see if they need to talk about anything. To me, generosity can be something like buying someone’s drink at Starbucks, but it goes to a whole other level when you begin to practice generosity in the day to day life. When you show up for your friends, always seek new connections, and are always there when people need you.

Throughout middle school, I seldom had to study. Being labeled as a “smart kid” caused me to feel ashamed about studying. I felt like I was just expected to know everything. Absorbing all the information during class, I regurgitated it back to the test papers without a snag. Middle school classes were superficial, with minimal information on assessments and no introspection involved. Post-test, the information would exit my brain. This “chunking and flushing of information” instantaneously spiraled me down a pattern of frustration during my sophomore year of high school. Without adroit study skills, higher learning is nearly unattainable. I had to construct a plan. The first thing I did was just that, get organized and make a plan! My biggest issue was never knowing when assignments were due. I made a calendar and color-coded my assignments so I could clearly see how much study time I have. Another method I use to study is mixing up my study space. It takes so much more willpower than I have to study in my room without giving in to a nap or getting distracted. So, I take advantage of libraries and coffee shops to do my studying. Being around people, my thoughts don’t wander as they do in silence, and I don't have the temptation of a cat, bed, or pajamas. Lastly, I use active recall methods. Actively recalling information from long to short term memory mimics an assessment. When reading a passage, I write down questions and try to answer them. I also make practice tests and spend my spare time recalling information! To close, learning study skills now in high school has set me up for success in college. By staying organized, evaluating my study space, and trying new methods, I have set myself up for academic success.

I want to change the world. Now, I know what you are thinking, you have never heard of me before, and I’m just a 17 year old girl, and though bold, I want to change the world. Changing the world doesn’t have to be a monumental feat, It can be something as simple as making someone feel good about themselves. Impacting the life of one person can cause a ripple effect. Hurt people hurt people and changed people change people. When you’ve been impacted by someone, it’s only the right thing to do to pass that generosity and kindness onward. Every summer since middle school I have dedicated my life to improving the lives of people with disabilities and that’s what I plan to do in the future, career wise. Whether it be educating my peers on how they can be more inclusive to people who are different than them, or daily volunteering at a local day center for people with disabilities, I would say I am making an impact on many. Setting out to change the world may be a bold feat, however, it’s the most rewarding thing you could ever set to accomplish on a bucket list.

A dream is only a dream unless you make plans and take initiative to make them happen. Right now, I am undecided about my specific career ambitions however, I know the general area that I dream to work in. When I was in 8th grade I discovered that I have a deep passion for working with people with special needs. During interactions with people with disabilities, I feel my best. Communicating with people who are different than me as well as having empathy to see the world through others’ eyes came naturally to me. Unsure whether my possible career will be in the educational, medical, or law/advocacy direction, I’ve taken steps to narrow down my interests. Doing numerous public speaking activities such as Mock Trial and Model UN, I’ve discovered that I love advocating for people who can’t speak for themselves. Volunteering alongside medical and educational professionals, I’ve had excellent opportunities for mentorship helping me to realize the pro’s and con’s of each career. Though I’m currently undecided, I plan for my career to advocate for and change lives of people with disabilities.

What’s your why? I’ve challenged myself not just to things without having a reasoning behind them. As a high school student, it’s so easy to fall into the temptation of just doing things for a resume booster. It’s so easy to do kind things just to get an award or recognition. Or, it’s easy to expect things in return when we do a good deed. I’ve found myself guilty of that before as well. When you finally find a cause you are passionate about, serving others becomes so much easier and motivating. Serving people with special needs has became my form of service. I love seeing a smile on someones face because of something fun or goofy that I did. I also love to see the impact I make on someone whether it be big or small. My reason behind doing service is to ultimately make a change. Working towards my career goals of advocating for people with disabilities, serving others is an educational opportunity for me. Another way I am selfless is by committing to be a good friend to people. I keep my phone on all night, just in case someone needs me. I always seek to listen to other people and make them feel valued. At the end of the day, everyone likes being served. When you remember your why, it’s so much easier to serve others.

A dream is only a dream unless you make plans and take initiative to make them happen. Right now, I am undecided about my specific career ambitions however, I know the general area that I dream to work in. When I was in 8th grade I discovered that I have a deep passion for working with people with special needs. During interactions with people with disabilities, I was at my pique. Communicating with people who are different than me as well as having empathy to see the world through other’s eyes came naturally to me. When exercising those skills, I felt like I had purpose, and it was such a rewarding feeling. In these moments, it feels like everything clicks and I know I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’ve always heard the cliche phrase “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”. I believe this to be absolutely true. I love volunteering with people with special needs, it gives me a purpose and meaning in life. I know I would be neglecting myself if I were to choose a career outside of that realm. I know my career will be in the area of improving the lives of people with special needs and advocating for educational and social equity. Unsure whether my possible career will be in the educational, medical, or law/advocacy direction, I’ve taken steps to narrow down my interests. Doing numerous public speaking activities such as Mock Trial and Model UN, I’ve discovered that I love advocating for people who can’t speak for themselves. Volunteering alongside medical and educational professionals, I’ve learned the pro’s and con’s of each career. Though I’m currently undecided I plan for my career to advocate for and change lives of people with disabilities.

As a Christian, my life purpose differs from the majority of the world. Instead of basing my whole life around, self-glorification, happiness, and success, my life mantra revolves around bringing glory to God and showing the love of Jesus Christ to others. I try to achieve this by first working on my vertical relationship before working on my horizontal relationships. By reading the bible every day and seeking to honor God in all I do, I am equipping myself to show kindness and love to others. In my horizontal relationships, I work on having close friends who also seek to glorify God so we can hold each other accountable for living for the Lord. I also seek to make more connections with people I don’t know. I try to share the gospel with people by doing actions that reflect my heart other than using my voice, this is how I attempt to avoid being hypocritical. As a follower of Christ, it is so easy to slip into the mentality of being better than other people but at the end of the day, nobody is perfect, but we follow a creator who is. Accepting our brokenness allows us to work to become better and make changes for the good. To close, I think everyone, Christians, and non-Christians all have similar meanings to life. We want to enjoy the world by being good stewards of what we have been given. We also want to leave the world as a better place than we found it. We all want to be successful and achieve our goals. We all want to live life to the fullest. As a Christian, the meaning behind the meaning of life gives me the drive to do those things and holds me accountable for living life to the fullest.

The first step to speaking your mind is finding something that fuels you to speak your mind. When you find a passion or a cause that you feel strongly about, it gives you an obligation and an opportunity to speak up. A huge factor to remember when speaking your mind is the reasons and motivations behind your passion. I found what fuels my mind the summer after my 8th grade year. I discovered that I have a huge heart for working with people with special needs. After several hours of volunteering along side some of the most adept professionals in the field, I learned of the many injustices and inequalities that people with disabilities face day to day. I learned the value behind using inclusive language, advocating for education rights and accommodations, and making people feel heard and valued. I saw some of my closest friends having prejudice against people with special needs and I saw a need to speak up for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves. That is the main factor behind my commitment to speaking my mind, being an advocate for those who can not advocate for themselves. Some ways that I have exercised this practice is by making speeches in front of my school about the importance of inclusivity, as well as organizing volunteer projects for my peers to interact with people who are different than them. I’ve also been working on a project to bring more inclusive education to my local public school system. To close, in order to commit to speaking your mind, you need accountability. You need to find something that fuels the fire inside of you to make change. Lastly, you need to follow through with your commitment to make a change and make it!

My junior year environmental science teacher instilled a very important virtue in me, “to live with an attitude of gratitude”. Every day at the start of our class we began by going around and sharing how we have been blessed since the last time we could discuss it. Answers ranged from getting a good night’s rest, getting to school safely, or getting high marks on a test. Before taking his class, I would take these moments for granted and neglect to reflect on how blessed I am to have those moments. Academic wise in his class, I learned so much about the environment and how intricately everything was created. The best way that we can show gratitude and appreciation for what we have been given is to be good stewards of this creation by taking care of it. This can be applied to many caveats in life. When we are given something, it is a good practice to care for it and leave it better than we found it. Lastly, an important practice i’ve began to value is the simple thank you. When someone sends me a text or letter of appreciation, it makes me feel so warm inside! I’ve sought to make other people feel that same degree of appreciation. Whether it’s thanking someone for a birthday gift or thanking a friend for always being there for me, it’s always important to show your appreciation to others. To close, the ways I have been living with appreciation is by counting by blessings, taking good care of my belongings, and by being sure to thank others for the things they do for me!

To me, confidence means that you are secure in who you are as a person and are willing to be completely authentic with others and yourself. Confidence means that you aren’t willing to back down on your personal beliefs or values to please other people. I haven’t always been extremely confident with myself, it’s been something I’ve had to learn throughout the years. In 8th grade, I discovered that I was passionate about showing care to individuals with special needs. Through several hours of volunteering at a local day center for people with disabilities, I developed an advocacy attitude. Anytime I heard someone being discriminatory or having a negative attitude towards people who are different than them, I was always willing to stand up for what was right. I never knew I had a backbone inside of me but discovering what made me tick helped me to realize my potential as an advocate. Seeing my persuasion become effective was an extreme confidence booster and helped me to be confident more and more every day. I try to use this same confidence energy in everything that I do with friends, in school, and in extracurricular activities. I’ve found that the more confidence you pour into something, the more likely you are to be successful.

Looking down the list of clubs I’m involved in at school, you might cringe. You may wonder how I make time for all of them in my busy schedule. However, one thing I’ve learned in the last 17 years is that I make time and prioritize things that I enjoy. Whether it be the Baking Club, Mock Trial, Future Medical Professionals Club, or being president of the Key Club, I am spending time doing things I love with people of common interests. One of my longest-loved activities is being in the school band. Starting out as a shy 11-year-old, to now a student leader, band has shaped me and made me into a person I love. Without the confidence learning the skill of the saxophone has taught me, I would have never stepped foot out of my comfort zone. The saxophone is hard, especially at higher levels. There is something so magical about working hard on a hobby and achieving great things through it! I’ve completed all my credits needed however I’m still in the band, senior year, because it is what I love! Another one of my hobbies is community service. I found my passion for working with adults with special needs in 8th grade and every summer since then I’ve had a volunteer internship at a ministry for adults with special needs. Something about seeing a smile on the face of someone else just because they enjoy my presence and company is the most beautiful thing. Serving others gives me so much joy and satisfaction that I could ever give back. It has allowed me to see the world from a different perspective. To close, hobbies are a beautiful thing because while doing something you love, voluntarily, you learn so much about yourself and the world around you.

With many obligations, needs, and wants that fill up our day, finding a balance is imperative. One philosophy that I have adopted is to “eat the big frog first”. Picture this: you have a plate full of all your favorite foods including fresh strawberries, crispy french fries, and gooey chocolate chip cookies. Covering half of the plate is a big warted bullfrog. In order to have access to the mouthwatering goodies, you have to eat the frog. You could either procrastinate and eat the delights first and then have to ruin the good taste in your mouth with the foul frog taste. Or you could eat the big frog and wash it down with the smooth fresh strawberries. I’ve applied this to my academic life. I’ve found things to be much more rewarding when I finish the big task and afterward I have time to do the small things and relax. Becoming a morning person has saved my mental health. I get school work done all before 5:00 so that the evenings are reserved for what I enjoy. Self care is the main priority of my evenings. This includes seeing friends, long music-filled car rides by myself and having deep conversations with family. I work my schedule out so I can spend time connecting with friends who lift me up! I’m able to hit the hay earlier than I ever have before and get a much more relaxed sleep than I ever have. By taking the initiative and prioritizing, I’ve been able to make more time for myself and find who I am and what I truly enjoy. By just getting done what you would usually procrastinate on, it saves less stress and ultimately leads to more self care.

I vividly remember my fourth-grade teacher going around, asking us what we wanted to be when we grew up. When it was my turn, my face froze, and I murmured, “I don’t know.” Everyone else seemed to have talent and knew exactly what they wanted to do. It never seemed like I was good at anything. I wrestled with apprehension and fear of the future. Years later, while looking for a way to kill some time, I stumbled upon a day center for adults with special needs. From day one, I felt an overflow of peace knowing that was precisely what I was supposed to be doing. One day turned into a 3-year volunteer internship, and ambition towards a prospective career with a lifelong passion. Procuring experience with the special needs community, I developed empathy, and a drive to make the world more comprehensive for people with disabilities. Working alongside some of the most adept professionals in the field, I gained sublime interpersonal and communication skills. I am learning to invariably do everything wholeheartedly, with devotion. For me, every day is a day of discovery. My summers are filled with laughter, meaningful relationships, and satisfaction. So that’s where I’m at in life so far, and now i’m filled with so many hopes and dreams towards the future! I don’t currently know exactly where my life will take me in the next few years, as i’m only seventeen. However, I do know that I plan to pursue some type of career that allow me to make a change in the world for people with special needs. Whether that be on a small scale working to make people’s days brighter, or changing education laws as a senator, I know my future will be big and bright!

Encouraging is so important to how we interact with others. Nobody wants to be around someone who is constantly bringing negativity into the room. One thing that is particularly valuable to me is when other people seek me out and ask me questions about me! Inquiring about my personal life and listening to me makes me feel warm inside and valued. It encourages me that others are willing to listen! Applying what makes me feel good about myself to my relations with others, I try to do more listening and less talking about myself. Intrapersonal connection is something I feel is being lost in our culture and it is refreshing to others to have a face to face conversation where they feel important. One thing that i’ve found to be overlooked, yet imperative is a compliment! I love to complement people on their personality! Appearances of people can change but it is such a confidence booster to tell people how much you appreciate their character and personality! I love recognizing people for their hard work or generosity that would typically go unnoticed. Lastly, SMILE! A smile is scientifically proven to boost your mood and when you smile at someone else, they are likely to smile too! To close, encouraging others is so important because you never know what people are going through on the inside. A simple outward encouragement can make the difference in someone else's outlook on life!

My talent is seemingly unconventional. I can’t sing, knit, or yodel. I most definitely can’t play sports. I never imagined this was something I would be good at until others began to point it out. I identify my talent as being able to communicate efficiently with others and help others realize their own talents and self-worth. When I was in 8th grade, I began volunteering for a ministry called Shepherd’s haven. Shepherd’s haven is a day center for adults with special needs. Daily volunteering over summers, I have gotten opportunities to perfect my communication, intrapersonal, and social skills. Making conversations with people who may not be able to speak or understand was challenging but it has taught me that everyone has value and it takes people who care to reach out Everyone has a purpose in life and my mission is to help everyone realize their own natural abilities, talents, and life purposes. My whole life I’ve loved communicating with others; but, Shepherd’s Haven helped me acquire the skill set needed. I learned that one of the most important aspects of communication is inquiring about others and letting others speak about their loves, passions, and talents. That is a hard pill to swallow because it's our natural tendency to talk about us. At Shepherd’s Haven, students participate in music, art, and life skills sessions. Sharing my own skill at playing the saxophone, I inspired others to display their own talents! One of the participants got the courage to perform a guitar solo at a talent show! Making others feel seen, known, and valued gave me meaning and purpose in my life. When I see other people find something they love and work to gain the knowledge and skills it is one of the most rewarding things I could ever imagine.

Routines, checklists, and rhythm are what fuel my life. I consider myself a self micro-manager. Every Sunday night, I plan out my entire week. This includes studying, as well as family and friends commitments. I quickly learned that if I was going to stay motivated and participate in all the activities that fuel me, I was going to have to prioritize and plan. Another thing about myself is that I love to set goals! I try to set goals every month for my academics, and social life, as well as prioritize quality family time more. Nothing is more satisfying to me than planning out exactly how to reach a goal, then following through with it! Mentally without my friends and passions, I wouldn’t be in a good place at all. So coming to a place where I prioritize what makes me tick allowed me to flourish mentally. Deep and long conversations with amazing friends make me feel so delighted! Intrapersonal communication is something I’ve learned to value as I’ve seen its effect on others and myself. I love working with people with special needs, it’s my passion and I know it’s what I'm meant to do for the rest of my life. Loving others on a deep personable level allows me to understand myself better. Something about seeing someone smile because of me makes me feel so warm inside. Making a difference in the life of others is such a lucrative hobby! I’m so thankful to have discovered my passions so early in life and have committed to prioritization to make all my goals and dreams come true!

My gaze shifted back and forth promptly between the wall chronometer and my algebra teacher. Occasionally, I doodled on my paper to disguise my disgust for note-taking delight. It was the first week of Algebra 1 and I was already confused and behind. Math had never clicked for me, so by the time I got to high school, I had renounced success and settled for the easiest classes I could take. Months worth of C’s and glazed over 3rd-period eyes later, the whole world shut down with COVID. Classes turned to computer screens. With all my extracurriculars being taken away, I had so much free time on my hands. Little did I know I would develop an interest in my least favorite subject. I learned that numbers are powerful. Numbers and statistics can spark emotions. Numbers of daily COVID cases in my city flooded social media pages. Percentages drove people into a mask buying hysteria. Many teenagers found entertainment trying to achieve TikTok fame… but how many likes and followers constitute fame? I spiraled into vast research of statistics and numbers. I sought to use numbers to understand the truth and find what makes people react to numbers. My ears were pricked in my 30-minute online algebra class, two days per week. I sought to understand what seemed to be the hardest concepts I had seen in my life. After zoning out all year, I had so much to catch up on. Factoring was a doozy but with just enough practice and persistence, I could do it! For the first time in my life, I had worked so hard to understand something, I persevered and succeeded! I had learned to factor and all my hard work had paid off. I applied this lesson, to so many avenues of my life. I learned not to give up when things seem too far gone. My parents noticed how much hard work I was pouring into my math assignments and it spoke volumes to my character when that same work ethic got poured into other classes, work, and personal responsibilities. I love to learn math because everything in math has an answer. At the end of the day, everything is a result of something. In math, everything happens for a reason. To truly understand an answer, you must know every previous step on how to get to the answer. That same philosophy applies to life. If you are going to state your opinion on something, it’s imperative to have done research on your opinion, and also be able to state your reasoning behind your opinion. You need to be able to defend your answer before taking a stance. Another reason that I love math is I obsess over steps and to-do lists. I love when math problems can go down a line and be solved with formulas or steps. It is so satisfying! Little by little, you can accomplish anything in life you just have to take it one step at a time. Lastly, math is hard; but, so is life. No matter how hard something is, you should always push through and try your best. If it wasn’t for having to learn so hard and push through math classes, I would not have the same work ethic as I do today. As soon as I began to love math, everything else in life fell into place. My ACT score shot up, my relations with others improved, and I never settled for less than giving my best.