My name is Rebecca Haines, and I am a senior at Tillamook High School. I come from a family of Christians. I was a very sheltered child, so talking about this topic was very hard to bring up with my family and friends. This was around the time when students were comfortable talking about who they were and what they wanted to be, so I decided to explore that. I knew that I liked girls at this point, but I didn’t know what that meant about me. Deep down, I knew that there wasn't anything wrong with me, but their behavior made me feel exiled. After a couple of months, I realized that liking girls didn't feel right to me because I knew I also liked boys; I thought it wasn't possible to enjoy both, but I knew what I was feeling was real. Eventually, I had to tell my parents. They never liked the idea of me dating at all, so this was a huge thing. It was hard for my mother to accept this; she has a gay cousin, but her very own daughter was too much. My mother immediately outed me to my whole family. Her sisters, her parents, and my step-dad parents. I was described as confused or just wanting attention; this broke my heart. I opened up to them about something so secret, and they betrayed my trust. Before, I was never allowed to hang out with my male friends, but she decided that if I didn't choose a side, it would be best if I didn't hang out with any of my friends. This led me to hide things from my mother, which damaged our broken relationship even more. In my first year exploring my sexuality, I dated many different people. This situation was tough on my confidence, as all of these people would come in and out of my life, one after another, never giving me enough time to heal from anything. That caused my mental health to spiral; I didn't feel comfortable talking to my mother or stepfather, and I was scared to burden my friends. So, I kept it to myself and one family member. During this time, I was sexually assaulted by a close family member. He was one of my closest friends, someone I trusted and could vent to. I was twelve years old at the time and had never heard about anything like this happening before. I felt betrayed, dirty, and used. I felt as if I was tied to him forever because he took something so important to me. For months, I kept it to myself, which resulted in me starting to self-harm; I thought I could never talk to anyone about it. In my brain, it was my fault. Ultimately, I told my best friend; she was there for me and coached me through it. She gave me the confidence to talk to the rest of our friend group about my assault, my sexuality, my mental health, and everything. I aspire to become an elementary school teacher because I want to be a trustworthy and dependable figure for children who need someone to confide in. Not all families are comfortable or equipped to discuss their emotions and identity, and I want to be that person for them. Making a positive impact on my classes will have a ripple effect and contribute to making the world a better place. I plan to attend a community college for two years and then transfer to Western Oregon to fulfill my dream.

My name is Rebecca Haines, and I was born and raised in Tillamook, Oregon. For most of my life, I had never known what I was going to do. I thought I would be a veterinarian, doctor, or even a pediatrician; however, none of those stood out to me. I thought that I would never have a life’s purpose. My little brother Jackson was born with a rare disease called Trisomy 12 P. Nobody knew that he was going to be like this when he was born, and it was a surprise to everyone. This condition made him have seizures 100 times a day, almost every single day of the first year of his life, along with not being able to walk, talk, or eat through his mouth. For a 6-year-old who had never seen a disabled person before, it was very confusing, but I was proud to be the sister of someone so different. During elementary school, my parents would bring him in his wheelchair and oxygen tank, and all of my peers would be in awe. I would do anything to help out with my parents: change his diapers, give his medicine in his feeding tube, fill up his feeding bag—everything. When I got older and strong enough, I would carry him around. He was bedridden so that he would get sore along his back. I’d pack him around to places he couldn’t get to on his own, such as my living room, bedroom, and his wheelchair. I knew he couldn’t enjoy life like the rest of our family could, so I tried hard to make it the best possible life he could achieve. Our family would take him to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and on all sorts of road trips. We all wanted him to have a wonderful life. While he was in school, his nurse would test his eyesight, and he responded to the color red the most, so that became my favorite color. Cherry suckers always made him smile, so cherry favorite candies became my favorite too. On May 5, 2023, Jackson sadly passed away due to all of the scar tissue building up in his lungs. It crushed me. I knew it had been coming since the week before my birthday, but it was still too soon. I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself, but he gave me purpose; he was my best friend. In my free time, I had nothing to do except feel sorry for myself. I needed some kind of distraction, so I started working real jobs. One of those is my current, which is a Teacher at the Tillamook YMCA. I have taken teaching classes before, and I was curious if I could consider taking this career path seriously. To my surprise, I fell in love with the job; I love working with the kids and knowing that I was helping them and the world in such a positive way. Jackson inspired me to support various children the way I helped him. I want to do this in his legacy and name. Jackson is why I want to become a full-time elementary teacher. A college education is essential for me to reach my goal of being a teacher and, further, my desire to make the world a better place through the kids who inhabit it.

There are approximately 500,000 - 800,000 movies in the world currently, but there is only one movie that I would watch for the rest of my life. That is the film Ratatouille. This animated gem doesn't just serve food—it's a heartwarming tale of passion, friendship, and the extraordinary idea that anyone, no matter how small, can achieve greatness. Ratatouille isn't just a movie; it's a delectable journey that captures the essence of dreams and follows your heart. Have you ever had that strong feeling about something you love doing? Perhaps it's something that the people you love can't understand. Ratatouille is the greatest because it talks about that feeling. Passion comes in many forms, and our main character, Remy's passion, is cooking. Our lead rat has to face the struggle of his family and the social norms against him and his dream; however, that doesn't stop him. Seeing him so passionate about something most others would consider silly makes me want to pursue my own goals in life. Friendships come in many shapes and forms. In this example, they mean that literally. Ratatouille is the best because Remy and Linguini illustrate the actual challenges of relationships. Despite being an unlikely pair, Remy, a talented rat, and Linguini, a not-so-talented kitchen worker, form a symbiotic partnership built on trust, communication, and mutual respect. Their journey highlights the struggles of understanding and accepting each other's differences, as well as the importance of teamwork and compromise. Through their ups and downs, Remy and Linguini demonstrate that genuine connections require effort, patience, and a willingness to embrace one another's strengths and weaknesses. Ratatouille makes me want to pursue deeper connections with others who may appear different, but in actuality, share more in common with me than what's on the surface. Their evolving relationship serves as a touching reminder that navigating the intricacies of human connection often involves overcoming obstacles and celebrating the beauty of shared experiences. "Your only limit is your soul. What I say is true - anyone can cook... but only the fearless can be great." This is a quote from Gusteau - making Ratatouille, the most important movie to me because the film champions the idea that individuals from all walks of life have the potential to achieve greatness. Despite facing societal prejudices of being a rodent in the culinary world, Remy's unwavering passion, determination, and innate skill propel him to his dreams. His journey serves as a potent reminder that it's not one's origins or outward appearances that determine success but rather one's perseverance, courage, and willingness to defy expectations. Making me want to work as hard as I can during and outside of school to succeed. I understand that it is going to be hard, but I know I can do it. Shows that Remy's story resonates with audiences of all ages, inspiring them to embrace their unique abilities and pursue their aspirations with unwavering tenacity. In conclusion, Ratatouille is much more than just a moving picture. It is a pinnacle among movies, captivating audiences with its heartwarming narrative of passion, friendship, and the inspiring notion that greatness knows no bounds. Through the unlikely protagonist of Remy the Rat, the film beautifully illustrates that anyone, regardless of their size or background, can aspire to achieve greatness. As viewers journey alongside Remy and his friends, they are reminded of the power of determination, resilience, and the bonds of friendship in overcoming obstacles. Ratatouille not only entertains but also leaves a lasting impression, inspiring audiences to pursue their dreams with unwavering dedication and belief in themselves.

My name is Rebecca Haines, and I am a senior at Tillamook High School. I come from a family of Christians. I was a very sheltered child, so talking about this topic was very hard to bring up with my family and friends. This was around the time when students were comfortable talking about who they were and what they wanted to be, so I decided to explore that. I knew that I liked girls at this point, but I didn’t know what that meant about me. Deep down, I knew that there wasn't anything wrong with me, but their behavior made me feel exiled. After a couple of months, I realized that liking girls didn't feel right to me because I knew I also liked boys; I thought it wasn't possible to enjoy both, but I knew what I was feeling was real. Eventually, I had to tell my parents. They never liked the idea of me dating at all, so this was a huge thing. It was hard for my mother to accept this; she has a gay cousin, but her very own daughter was too much. My mother immediately outed me to my whole family. Her sisters, her parents, and my step-dad parents. I was described as confused or just wanting attention; this broke my heart. I opened up to them about something so secret, and they betrayed my trust. Before, I was never allowed to hang out with my male friends, but she decided that if I didn't choose a side, it would be best if I didn't hang out with any of my friends. This led me to hide things from my mother, which damaged our broken relationship even more. In my first year exploring my sexuality, I dated many different people. This situation was tough on my confidence. ll of these people would come in and out of my life, one after another, never giving me enough time to heal from anything. That caused my mental health to spiral; I didn't feel comfortable talking to my mother or stepfather, and I was scared to burden my friends. So, I kept it to myself and one family member. During this time, I was sexually assaulted by a close family member. He was one of my closest friends, someone I trusted and could vent to. I was twelve years old at the time and had never heard about anything like this happening before. I felt betrayed, dirty, and used. I felt as if I was tied to him forever because he took something so important to me. For months, I kept it to myself, which resulted in me starting to self-harm; I thought I could never talk to anyone about it. In my brain, it was my fault. Ultimately, I told my best friend; she was there for me and coached me through it. She gave me the confidence to talk to the rest of our friend group about my assault, my sexuality, my mental health, and everything. I aspire to become an elementary school teacher because I want to be a trustworthy and dependable figure for children who need someone to confide in. Not all families are comfortable or equipped to discuss their emotions and identity, and I want to be that person for them. Making a positive impact on my classes will have a ripple effect and contribute to making the world a better place. I plan to attend a community college for two years and then transfer to Western Oregon to fulfill my dream.