I'm Rebecca Wallace-West, a student at Frontier Regional School in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. I am passionate about travel and the environment, and love experiencing and learning about other countries and cultures. I hope to study environmental science and biology in college, and then pursue my Ph.D. in marine biology. I am particularly interested in the sustainability of coral reefs, with an eye toward how they support the wider ecosystem, particularly sea life and the cultures that depend on it. I am a varsity field hockey player and team captain, and have led the team as top scorer to four state playoffs and two Western Massachusetts championships. I am also on the tennis team, and have had one year with track and field. Other than that I love to be in the water, as a swimmer, on snorkeling expeditions, as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor, and as a certified SCUBA diver. I'm also an elected class officer, was named a Best of 60 All-Star, was elected Homecoming Queen by my teachers, and have been chosen as an international youth leader by the Episcopal Church. I am adopted, biracial, have a genetic condition that impacts the growth of my hair, and am overcoming a tough first semester in high school. All those experiences have made me stronger and more resilient. My grades are now super strong, I have traveled to 42 states and 10 countries, and I have played in 4 state championship tournaments. I can't wait to experience college, and especially look forward to playing field hockey, focusing my studies, and studying abroad, perhaps with a semester at sea.