"Do you know where I can find baby formula?" It was one of hundreds of messages that filled my computer after Hurricane Helene devastated my rural Georgia community, one routinely ranked among the poorest in Georgia . Roads were blocked, homes were destroyed, power was out and families were cut off from basic necessities. One of the people killed during the storm lived on the same road as me and my family. That message came from a mother who did not know how she was going to feed her baby. I did not have formula and I did not have supplies. And I certainly did not have a clear answer for her. But, what I did have was a determination to help. The morning after the storm, I walked to our county Emergency Management Agency command post to volunteer. I kept hearing the adults say there was no centralized way to communicate information to the public. At sixteen years old, I stepped in and built the agency's first website and social media platforms from the ground up and managed them throughout the recovery effort. For many weeks, I worked alongside emergency personnel, often spending twenty-hour days connecting people with resources. I posted updates about road closures, FEMA assistance, supply distribution sites, and volunteer opportunities. More importantly, I answered messages from people who were scared, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. The mother looking for formula was not the only one. Families needed diapers in specific sizes. Elderly residents needed medication, desperately. Others needed food, water, generators, gas and transportation. And yet others were trapped in their home and just wanted a way out. Through the communication platforms I built and managed, I connected churches, businesses, volunteers, and donors with people who needed help. I also helped establish our county's first donation center and spent evenings delivering supplies to residents who could not leave their homes. What I remember most is not the exhaustion, but the people. I remember neighbors helping neighbors despite suffering losses themselves. I remember volunteers loading trucks long after dark. I remember watching complete strangers come together because someone else needed help. I remember so many people just like the mother looking for baby formula. They were confused, desperate and longing for a glimpse of hope. For my volunteer service after Hurricane Helene, I was honored on the floor of the Capitol with a resolution from the House of Representatives. While I am grateful for that recognition, the greatest reward was something much simpler. A few days after that first message came though to the social media messaging platform, someone in our community found the formula that mother needed. I never forgot that. Hurricane Helene taught me that helping someone in need does not always require extraordinary resources. Sometimes it starts with answering a message, listening to a problem, and refusing to look away. One person cannot solve every challenge, but one person can connect people, organize resources, and inspire others to help. When enough people choose to do that, communities like my own, that have few resources, are eventually able to bounce back. And hope once lost becomes stronger than any storm.

I became a fan of Wicked long before I fully understood its meaning. At first, I was drawn in by the music. The songs are powerful and emotional, and they stay with you long after the show ends. But as I have grown older, the story has taken on a much deeper meaning for me. Wicked is not just a musical about witches. It is a story about identity, friendship, courage, and the way the world often misunderstands people who do not fit into easy categories. Those themes connect closely to my own life and the person I am becoming. The character who has always stood out to me is Elphaba. She is strong, determined, intelligent, and willing to speak out even when it makes her stand alone. People judge her before they know her, and she spends much of her life trying to navigate a world that makes assumptions about her. I relate to that more than I expected to. Growing up in a small place, it is easy for people to decide who you are before you ever get the chance to show them. When you step into leadership roles or try something new, people sometimes watch closely, waiting to see how you will handle it. Elphaba’s story taught me that being different is not something to hide. It is something to own. Another reason I love Wicked is the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. They are complete opposites at first, but they learn from each other in ways they never expected. Their friendship shows that two people can grow together even if they come from different backgrounds. That message feels meaningful to me now as I study in Spain. I walked into a culture I did not fully understand, and I had to learn how to connect with people in new ways. Some of the friendships I have formed here have changed me in the same way the characters change each other. They have pushed me to see the world differently, to be braver, and to trust myself in unfamiliar situations. The song that means the most to me is “Defying Gravity.” It is not just about breaking rules. It is about refusing to limit yourself based on what others expect of you. That idea has encouraged me during some of the most challenging moments of my life. When I volunteered with Emergency Management during Hurricane Helene, I felt the weight of responsibility, and I knew people were counting on me to stay calm and share accurate information. I did not have experience, but I had determination. Wicked reminds me that sometimes you have to rise above doubt and trust your purpose. The musical also explores the idea that people are not always what they seem. That theme has shaped the way I treat others. At leadership programs like Harvard Model Congress and the FBI Youth Leadership Program, I met people from all over who carried stories I knew nothing about. It reminded me to look deeper, listen more, and avoid rushing to judgment. I am a fan of Wicked because it mirrors the journey I am on. It is about a girl learning who she is, finding her voice, standing up when it is difficult, and choosing to grow even when the world misunderstands her. It is about courage, connection, and learning to believe in your own strength. Those are lessons that will stay with me wherever I go next.

The Taylor Swift performance that has stayed with me the most is her piano mashup of “Long Live” and “New Year’s Day” during the Reputation Stadium Tour. I have watched it again and again because it feels honest in a way that most stadium performances do not. It is simple, emotional, and full of meaning. When she sings those two songs together, it feels like she is describing the journey of growing up, holding on to the people who shaped you, and learning to be brave even when life feels uncertain. All of that connects directly to my own life. When Taylor begins “Long Live,” the entire stadium becomes quiet. She talks about the importance of remembering the moments that change us and the people who stand beside us as we learn who we are. That message speaks to me because the people I grew up with helped shape everything about me. My community taught me what responsibility looks like and why serving others matters. During Hurricane Helene, when I volunteered with Emergency Management, I spent long nights sharing updates, calming people, and giving the clearest information I could. I thought about the people around me who trusted me in a moment when fear was spreading quickly. When Taylor sings about the “dragons we fought,” I think about those nights and the strength it took to stay steady. Now that I am living in Spain for my exchange year, the performance feels even more personal. Taylor sings, “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you,” and I think about the people at home who encouraged me to take this step. Being in another country has taught me what it feels like to be unsure of myself and to keep going anyway. Some days I feel confident, and other days I feel like I am learning how to walk all over again. Watching Taylor at the piano reminds me that courage does not have to be loud. It can be quiet and still powerful. When she moves into “New Year’s Day,” the emotion shifts. The song is about loyalty and about choosing to show up for the people who matter. That part makes me think of the friendships and connections that have shaped my life. I remember the girl at the FBI Youth Leadership Program who first turned down the cross I offered her. At the end of the week, she came back and asked for one because she said she saw something in me that she wanted to feel for herself. That moment taught me that people pay attention to how you live, not just what you say. Taylor singing, “Please do not ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere,” brings back memories of the people I want to carry into my future. What moves me most about that performance is the way it feels grounded and sincere. Taylor was standing in a stadium filled with thousands of people, but she sang as if she was speaking to someone sitting right in front of her. It reminded me that success, growth, and change do not erase where you come from. They build on it. And they mean the most when you stay connected to the people who helped you become who you are. That performance taught me that strength can be gentle, memories matter, and loyalty is a form of courage. Those are lessons I plan to carry with me no matter where life leads me next.

I grew up in a small rural community where people measure life not by what you have, but by how you treat others. That shaped everything about me. I learned early that when something needs to be done, you do not wait for someone else to take the lead. You step in. That mindset has followed me from leadership programs to volunteering during a natural disaster and all the way to Spain, where I am studying as a Rotary exchange student this year. Each experience has changed the way I understand service, leadership, and the kind of future I want to build. During Hurricane Helene, my community was hit hard. Power lines were down, roads were blocked, and people were left unsure of what was happening or where to turn. I volunteered with our Emergency Management Agency because I could see how scared people were. My role was to gather information from officials and turn it into updates that families could understand. I built and managed our first EMA webpage and social media page so that people had a single place to find real information instead of rumors. I spent long hours answering messages, making posts, and trying to calm fear with clarity. That experience showed me that leadership can be quiet. It can be the steady voice that helps people make decisions when everything around them feels uncertain. My time in Spain has widened my perspective even more. I live with a host family, attend a local school, and use Castilian Spanish every day. Some days I feel confident, and other days I feel like I am learning everything for the first time. But being here has taught me how important it is to understand cultures other than your own. I have met students from different backgrounds, listened to their stories, and realized that people everywhere want the same things: respect, fairness, and a chance to be heard. This year abroad has pushed me to become more open minded, patient, and adaptable. It has made me want a career that reaches beyond the place I grew up. My long term goal is to earn a law degree and use it to advocate for people who feel overlooked or unheard. I want to work in areas where communication, understanding, and justice come together. I have always loved listening to people, organizing information, and speaking calmly when situations feel tense. I saw how powerful those skills were during the hurricane, and I see them now as I navigate conversations in a different language. I want to use those strengths to help people who struggle to navigate complicated systems or who do not have the resources to defend themselves. I hope to work internationally at some point, using my language skills and cultural understanding to support communities across borders. I want to help create solutions that connect people rather than divide them. Whether it is through human rights work, international cooperation, or legal advocacy, I want to use my career to make the world a little more fair. I do not expect to fix everything. But I believe that small actions, taken consistently, can create real change. What has shaped me the most are the moments when people trusted me to help them. Those moments taught me that impact does not come from being the loudest voice. It comes from showing up when you are needed and staying steady when things are hard. That is the kind of person I want to be, and that is the kind of career I hope to build.

Even though I am studying in Spain this year through Rotary, my heart is still at home. Being away has shown me how much my community means to me and how important it is to give back in every way I can. I come from a small rural place where people look out for one another and where resources are limited, so service has always been a part of my life. When a community does not have much, every person who chooses to help makes a real difference. I try to be one of those people, even while I am living far away. I remain involved with our local Emergency Management Agency after volunteering during Hurricane Helene. That experience changed the way I understand responsibility. When the storm hit, families had no power, no clear information, and no sense of what was happening around them. My role was to gather confirmed updates from officials and communicate them in a way that was calm, simple, and trustworthy. I learned how powerful steady communication can be during a crisis. Even now, from Spain, I continue to help when I can, especially when bad weather is expected. When I am home during school breaks, I assist with outreach, social media, and emergency preparation. I may not always be physically present, but I still try to contribute to keeping people informed and safe. I also support younger students from my hometown who reach out to me for guidance. Many of them have questions about leadership programs, scholarships, and college applications. I know what it feels like to wonder whether opportunities are meant for people from bigger cities or families with more advantages. I had to learn everything step by step, and I try to share what I have learned so that they do not feel alone in the process. Helping them prepare for interviews or write essays is one of the most meaningful ways I stay connected to home. Living in Spain has changed the way I view service and community. I have seen how people here support each other, how they take time to listen, and how they teach young people to care about the wellbeing of others. Watching this has given me new ideas about how I can help strengthen my own community. It has also shown me that service is not limited by distance. You carry it with you wherever you go. After college, my long term goal is to earn a law degree and use it to serve people who feel overlooked or unheard. I want to advocate for families who may not have access to legal help or who feel overwhelmed by complicated systems. I hope to work with communities that are often forgotten in broader conversations about justice, opportunity, and support. I also want to serve in ways that reach beyond national borders, using what I learn to help people across cultures and backgrounds. My time in Spain has taught me that even though our experiences may be different, our needs for fairness, compassion, and understanding are the same. I want to help build a stronger future for the place I come from. I hope to work with local leaders to improve emergency communication, create mentorship programs for students, and increase access to information and support. I know I cannot solve every problem, but I can offer my time, my effort, and my commitment. My community has shaped me into the person I am becoming, and I carry a deep responsibility to give back.

When Hurricane Helene struck Wheeler County, I saw my community in a moment of fear and uncertainty. Roads were blocked, power was out, and families were trying to reach one another with no way to know what was happening beyond their own front doors. I volunteered with the Wheeler County Emergency Management Agency because I felt a responsibility to help bring clarity during the confusion. My role was to gather confirmed information from officials and communicate it to the public in real time. I spent long hours monitoring updates, writing clear messages, and correcting misinformation before it could spread. My goal was simple. I wanted families to know what was happening and what they needed to do to stay safe. That experience changed me. It taught me that service is not always about doing something big. It is often about doing something necessary. In a rural county like ours, where resources are limited and neighbors depend on one another, communication becomes one of the most powerful tools we have. I learned a single message can calm fear, restore hope, or help someone make the decision that keeps their family safe. When the Georgia House of Representatives recognized my work, I was grateful, but what mattered most was knowing I made a difference. My commitment to service does not end with emergencies. I have served as a counselor for the Georgia Military College Leadership Program and the Rotary Youth Leadership Program, where I worked with younger students trying to find their voice and their confidence. I have volunteered at local events, supported community projects, and stepped in wherever extra hands were needed. I believe leadership means being willing to help in ways that are sometimes quiet but always meaningful. My time living in Spain this year as a Rotary International exchange student has deepened my understanding of what it means to build a strong community. I have seen how other cultures support one another, how they encourage civic involvement, and how they teach young people to take responsibility for the wellbeing of their towns and cities. These experiences have given me new ideas about how to help Wheeler County grow stronger for future generations. One of my ideas is to create a student led communication team that works with county officials during emergencies. Many of my classmates are skilled with social media and technology, and with proper training they could help spread accurate information quickly. This would give students a meaningful way to serve while also improving the safety of our residents. I also hope to help establish programs that connect younger students with mentors who have experience in leadership, public service, and career readiness. Many families in rural communities do not have access to the same resources found in larger cities. By creating mentorship and tutoring groups, we can help students gain confidence, strengthen their academic skills, and learn about opportunities beyond our county lines. Another idea is to organize community events that celebrate our local culture while raising awareness about issues such as emergency preparedness, mental health, and civic engagement. These events could bring people together, spark important conversations, and empower families to play an active role in shaping our future. My experiences at home and abroad have taught me that strong communities are built on communication, compassion, and a willingness to serve. I want to continue contributing to Wheeler County, and I want to help create opportunities that will support the generation that comes after me. Serving my community will always be at the center of who I am and who I hope to become.

The night Hurricane Helene hit Wheeler County, I remember sitting in the dark with nothing but my phone flashlight and a notebook. Power lines were down, roads were flooded, and calls for help were coming in. I knew people were searching for real updates, not rumors, so I began writing down every confirmed detail I could gather. Even when the room around me felt still, I could feel the weight of our community depending on clear information. That was when I learned that service does not wait for the perfect setting. Sometimes it calls you in the middle of the storm. My time volunteering with the Wheeler County Emergency Management Agency grew out of that moment. My mission was to communicate accurate information to families who were scared, uncertain, and desperate for answers. Many people had no power and limited access to news, so every post mattered. I created the first website and social media pages for the Wheeler County EMA and focused on sharing updates that were verified and easy to understand, and I corrected misinformation before it spread. I wanted every family to feel like someone was looking out for them. When the Georgia House of Representatives recognized my work later with a formal resolution at the Georgia Capitol, it felt meaningful, but what stayed with me most was knowing that real people were able to make safer decisions because they had the truth. I also spent three weeks coordinating volunteers, delivering food and water to residents and running a donation center. When other students were with their families, I was with my community. Service has continued to guide my life far beyond that night. I have served as a counselor for the Georgia Military College Leadership Program and the Rotary Youth Leadership Program, where I helped younger students build confidence, communicate clearly, and solve problems with patience. I am active in National Honor Society, a two year participant in Harvard Model Congress, and the FBI Youth Leadership Program. No matter the setting, I try to lead with the values I learned at home: humility, responsibility, and compassion. This year, I am living in Spain as a Rotary International exchange student. Moving across the world and learning to navigate a new language and a new culture has changed the way I understand service. I see how different countries support their communities and how people come together in ways that are both familiar and completely new. Using Castilian Spanish every day has made me far more aware of the importance of communication and the power of listening with patience and respect. My time in Spain has deepened my desire to serve in a way that reaches beyond state lines and national borders. If I am awarded this scholarship, I will use it to continue my education with purpose and focus. My long term goal is to earn a law degree and serve communities on a global scale. I want to advocate for people whose voices are often overlooked and to work with organizations that protect human rights and support vulnerable populations. This scholarship would help relieve the financial strain of college and allow me to concentrate on the work that will prepare me for that career. Proverbs three verse twenty seven teaches us not to withhold good from those who deserve it when it is in our power to act. I carry that verse with me in everything I do. It reminds me to step forward when others step back. That is the life I want to live, and that is the kind of leader I hope to become.