I was sorted into the Ravenclaw house in the sixth grade. I remember the pure joy and excitement I felt when taking the quiz, I felt like I was a part of the wizarding world, and there was no better feeling. Like every other fan of the books, I desperately wanted to be sorted into Gryffindor; I wanted to be just like Hermione because I felt like I was just like her. Growing up, I never wanted to go outside and play; I would be much happier at the library or in my room reading a book. During recess, I wasn't on the playground; I was browsing the shelves looking for my next read. I felt isolated because I was always alone, and reading made me feel less alone. I would have much instead been finding Horcruxes than playing tag. My siblings and classmates thought I was weird because I didn't enjoy the things they did. So when I first read about Hermione with her nose stuck in a book and the girls in her year thinking she was weird, I resonated with her, and she became my hero. I was heartbroken When the quiz returned and told me I was a Ravenclaw. I felt like I was letting my hero down, but as I got older, I realized that Ravenclaw was the perfect house for me. One of the most significant traits of the Ravenclaw house is creativity, and one thing about me is if I'm not reading, I'm probably sewing. My dream is to create my own fashion brand that sells sustainable clothes that are premium quality and good for the planet. I want to do something to help fight the climate crisis and save the planet. Passion is something that I believe every person in Ravenclaw has, its what drives them and its what drives me. I am passionate about susatinable fashion, Professor Trawlany was passionate about divination and wanted to share the art with every person she met. Luna was passionate about the quibbler and wanted to help everyone who had a problem with the latest issue. Another thing that makes me believe that I genuinely am a Ravenclaw is that I always want to learn and see more. I'm never satisfied with what I have and constantly look for answers; whether big or small, I always want to learn more. I believe that information is power, which makes me a good Ravenclaw.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to create something that inspires me and everyone around me. I had my first sewing lesson when I was six and loved being able to create something from a bit of fabric. My parents enrolled me in a fashion camp, which solidified my love for sewing. Every Christmas, while my siblings asked for new toys or clothes, I asked for sewing machines, sergers, Cricuts, or yarn. Youtube was my best friend; I would spend hours teaching myself how to use the machines. I even taught myself how to knit and crochet; I then spent all my time designing and creating almost my entire wardrobe. I learned about the fashion industry's dark side through my years of making clothes. I learned all about the harmful effects of the fast fashion industry on the environment, which sparked my obsession with sustainable fashion. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, but worse is that in America, 14 million articles of clothing get thrown away each year. This causes waterways to dry up and pollutes our water and soil. As a future entrepreneur, I plan to create a brand dedicated to zero waste and sustainability. The clothing my brand will create will be upcycled or made with deadstock or sustainable fabrics. I upcycle the clothes I get from thrift stores and change them to keep up with current trends without supporting the fast fashion industry. I also use thrifted sheets and curtains to create original ideas without buying new fabric and creating more waste. I save all the leftover material that's too small and use it to stuff pillows or make small stuffed animals so they don't end up in the landfill. Making sure that what I create is sustainable is very important to me, but also creating clothing for every size that is affordable to everyone. I plan to create timeless clothes that can be worn with all the current trends. One of the biggest problems created by the fast fashion industry is the ever-changing trends. The fast fashion brands will create clothes to fit the current trends and since the trend will only last for a few months, the clothing is made as fast as possible so they can get the clothes in the hands of the consumers. As a result of the sped-up production, the quality of the clothing is terrible. Most don't last after the fourth wear before they start to fall apart. Once this happens, the clothes can't be resold and the owner has to throw them out leading to more waste and pollution. So my plan to stop fast fashion starts with creating a brand that fits all trends while being sustainable, high quality, and affordable. My long-term goal is to create an inclusive brand allowing everyone to shop sustainably. One of the most significant steps in working towards my plan is attending a University that has a world-class Fashion Design program focusing on sustainability and entrepreneurship.

I will be going to school for fashion design to create a sustainable clothing brand that is affordable and inclusive to all body types, races, and genders. I am pursuing higher education because I want to be the change that the fashion industry needs. My brand will be good for the environment, and my clothes won't follow trends, so customers can wear them for a long time without going out of style. The fast fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, and 92 million tonnes of garments end up in landfills each year. With my brand, I plan to be zero waste, meaning that every fabric piece will be used, and nothing will be thrown away. There needs to be a change in the fast fashion industry; my brand will work to educate the consumers on all of the untold stories about the fast fashion industry, such as the mistreatment of the people working in the garment factories, the dyes used to dye the clothing polluting all of the water in the surrounding areas, and enlighten people on the harms the industry is doing on the people and the environment surrounding the factories the clothes are made in. Creating this brand is incredibly important to me because I believe that nature is one of the purest things on earth. With ecosystems dying and some of my favorite animals becoming endangered, I know I need to do what I can to help nature before everything beautiful is gone. Without nature, we would not be able to survive, so the fact that it is dying because of what humans have done breaks my heart. I want to allow people to buy clothes that are good for the earth while fitting the changing trends, so they don't have to give up style for sustainability. Sustainable fashion is my favorite way to express my creativity; for as long as I can remember, I have loved making things. Every time I finish the project I am working on, I immediately start another one. I will look at a clothing item in the store and then try to make it myself. the earth is our home and we are not getting another one and i think it is so important to do my part in help save it. Fashion is my passion and my art, I belive in finding ways to use new mediums to make clothes. I have attached the outfit i made for my senior photos, I created this using traditional fabric and created the pattern for the skirt. The outfit is made from scracth and it is zero-waste, meaning I used every single part of the material and nothing went to waste. The next picture I attched is a bag that I crochet out of plastic bags. After every grocery trip, my family comes back with a multitude of single use plasic bags and I decided that I wanted to find a better use for them instead of having them end up in a landfill. While I made bags into another bag, the bag that i made will keep 30 plastic bags out of the landfill and will last much longer. With my continued education in fashion design with an emphasis on sustainability, I plan to find different ways to use items that would normally end up in a landfill and give it a new life.

Commitment, discipline, and teamwork are three important qualities that I strive to exemplify both on and off the field. These qualities are essential for success in any pursuit, and I have worked hard to develop and demonstrate them in all aspects of my life. I show commitment by setting goals for myself and working tirelessly to achieve them. Whether missing a football game to go to a tournament, putting academics first, or helping my team achieve victory on the field, I am always willing to put in the time and effort required to reach my objectives. I understand that success takes dedication and perseverance, and I am willing to put in the hard work and make the necessary sacrifices to succeed. While everyone on my team wasn’t doing anything during covid, I was doing private with a college player. I traveled from Kentucky to Connecticut to play on a team that was going to tournaments so that I could get recruited. Another way that I show discipline is by maintaining a strong work ethic and adhering to a set of values and principles. I understand that discipline is more than just following rules and regulations; it's about developing self-control and making sound decisions, even when it's not easy. I believe that discipline is necessary for achieving success and living a fulfilling life, and I strive to embody it in everything I do. Teamwork is also an important quality that I value on and off the field. I understand that we are all stronger when we work together, and I am always willing to lend a helping hand to my teammates and support them in any way possible. Whether it's sharing knowledge, offering encouragement, or being there to listen, I believe it is important to be a team player and contribute to the group’s success. I make sure that my team knows they can come to me about anything, lacrosse related or not. I believe that commitment, discipline, and teamwork are essential qualities I aspire to embody on and off the field. I believe these qualities are crucial for success in any pursuit, and I have worked hard to develop and demonstrate them in all aspects of my life. Whether working towards a personal goal or supporting my team, I am always ready to put in the hard work and do whatever it takes to succeed. I have committed to play on the Lacrosse team at Thomas Jefferson University and will continue to display these important qualities throughout my life.