Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to become a fashion designer. I long to live and study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. But, FIT is competitive. NYC is expensive. The fashion industry is cutthroat. My parents’ hesitation made it even more daunting. They recommended going for a state school, or even settling for community college, because they were afraid of not being able to afford my dream. I knew I would not be satisfied with suppressing my passion just because of money. So, I decided to go for it, because who knows? I could get a full ride, one of my parents could get a magical promotion, a family member could win the lottery. The point is, I don’t know if money could become available and I don’t want to be unprepared if it did. Money would be nothing if I am not even worthy enough to get into a fashion school. Unfortunately, I lacked the sewing and drawing skills necessary to get in. I needed to change that. I turned to YouTube. That was when I found Zoe Hong’s channel. She was a long-time fashion designer and professor. I admired Zoe’s quality of work and style, so I tried my best to emulate it. I watched her videos and practiced daily. Of course, I wouldn’t become as good as her overnight. Nonetheless, I struggled to be satisfied with my work. I already felt behind and inferior, and all I wanted was to be at least as good as the people who got into FIT. In Zoe’s videos, she would say, “it’s hard because it’s hard, not because there's anything wrong with you.” This quote put me at ease more than anything else. It reassured me that nobody is perfect, not even her. I could let go of unrealistic expectations for myself and enjoy creating even more. This quote not only encouraged me to improve my skills, but improve the way I see myself. Now, I feel like I can accomplish all the goals I set years ago, the ones that once seemed far-fetched. Now that I have built skills and knowledge, I have to focus on the financial aspect of my future. I know I am capable of getting into FIT and paying for it. Earning the “Wise Words” Scholarship would be a step there. It would be a step toward living the dream I once thought impossible.

Smog-filled cities where the skies are no longer blue and white, but gray and gray. Water so full of pollutants and trash that it is impossible to see into their depths. There wouldn’t be much to see anyway, for the water is barren of life. Temperatures are on the rise, bringing the sea levels up with it. The fear of this seemingly inevitable future has sparked countless aspects of my life and upbringing. I am proud to say that my family, and parents especially, have always strived to prevent such a future. It is thanks to them that so many beneficial habits are a part of my life. Recycling and reusing everything I could became second nature to me in elementary school. My family grows fruits and vegetables regularly. We support these crops with regular compost of our waste. In middle school, I stopped using many single-use plastics, like straws and plastic shopping bags. I encourage my parents to purchase less meat, and I limit my consumption of it. I stopped buying new clothing and instead turned to second-hand or making my own. I can’t imagine my life without helping the environment in one way or another. I want a career through which I can play a larger role in preventing a disastrous future. However, I was never interested in any sciences or law. I cannot see myself becoming an environmental scientist, lawyer, or lobbyist. But, I have always been interested in the arts and expressing my thoughts through creation. Early on, I discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed dreaming up clothing and outfits for the various people I drew. Soon enough, it became evident that fashion design was the only career path for me. When I dove deeper into fashion design, I discovered that this industry is responsible for a tremendous amount of pollution and waste. Nearly every fabric used in the fashion industry harms the environment in one way or another. Many garments are not well-suited for long-term wear, which leads to the massive disposal of clothing each year. Plus, many of those disposed of garments contain synthetic fibers that don’t decompose quickly. The environment has always been a large part of life that I will forever cherish; it is my greatest inspiration. I have a deep desire to help our planet and lessen the effects we inflict upon it. But, I want to pursue fashion design, as well. Both of my dreams can be one and the same. Through a career in fashion, I can both realize my dreams of helping the environment and creating the clothing of my dreams. The ways I can help are endless. I could create designs that implement sustainable fabrics. I could produce quality, long-lasting garments that don’t see a landfill for a long time. I could dress influential people in sustainable clothing to encourage the masses to do the same. My passion for the environment and fashion drive me now more than ever as I start my journey toward my career.

Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to become a fashion designer. I long to live and study at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. But, FIT is competitive. NYC is expensive. The fashion industry is cutthroat. My parents’ hesitation made it even more daunting. They recommended going to a state school or community college and settling for another career because they were afraid of not being able to afford my dream. I knew I would not be satisfied with suppressing my passion just because of money. I knew that I would always ask myself "what if?" if I did. So, I decided to go for it, because who knows? I could get a full ride, one of my parents could get a promotion, a family member could win the lottery. The point is, I don’t know if money could become available and I don’t want to be unprepared if it did. Money would be nothing if I am not even worthy enough to get into a fashion school. Unfortunately, I lacked basic fashion knowledge, drawing skills, and sewing skills. I needed to change that. I turned to YouTube. That was when I found Zoe Hong’s channel. She is a fashion designer and professor who posts countless fashion-related videos. I watched her videos and practiced the skills she taught daily. I admired Zoe’s quality of work and style, so I tried my best to emulate it. Of course, I would not become as good as her overnight. Nonetheless, I struggled to be satisfied with my work. I was often frustrated with my inability to churn out gorgeous drawings or garments. However, Zoe would often remind her viewers that, “it’s hard because it’s hard, not because there's anything wrong with you.” This quote put me at ease more than anything else. It reassured me that nobody is perfect, not even her. I could let go of unrealistic expectations for myself and enjoy creating even more. This quote not only encouraged me to improve my skills but improve the way I see myself. I feel like I can accomplish all the goals I set years ago, the ones that once seemed far-fetched. Now that I have built skills and knowledge, I have to focus on the financial aspect of my future. I know I am capable of getting into FIT and paying for it. Earning the “What Moves You” Scholarship would be a step there. It would be a step toward living the dream I once thought impossible.

Bad guys can leave legacies, too. Hitler left a legacy. He transformed his country, changed (and ended) millions of lives, and altered world history. He left a monumental legacy, albeit a bad one. Anyone can leave a legacy as long as they impact lives and create change, as long as they leave their mark on the world. Hitler in no way left a good mark on our world. Nonetheless, his legacy does remind us what not to do. Of the actions that lead to despair. Of the evils to avoid. I do not want a legacy that people wince at decades later. I want one that changed lives for the better, one people recall with a smile. I struggled--and still do--with being confident in my physical appearance and skills. My peers seemed more successful and talented, while I felt like I couldn't accomplish a fraction of what they have. People on social media were effortlessly skinny and fit, while I thought my stomach bulged out too much. I constantly compared, thinking I could do more, be more, accomplish more. I only ended up counting my calories and working myself to tears every day. Eventually, on social media, I discovered people showcasing their “imperfect” bodies, calling them anything but that. Their features were simply not the ones getting representation. They knew their bodies were beautiful because they were healthy and that was what mattered. Slowly, very slowly, they showed me the bigger picture. Life is short, too short, to be worrying about others and comparing them to me. These influencers have a legacy. They drastically improved my mindset about myself. They impacted my life and made a change, however small it may seem. I want to be what the people I discovered on social media were to me. I want a legacy like theirs. Not only did this mindset alter the way I see myself, but it also inspired me to go after my wildest dreams of being a fashion designer. They planted a seed of confidence that grew into the drive to accomplish my dream. I know now I am capable of becoming getting into a fashion school, starting a brand, and becoming a successful designer. And, I want to play a part in making others feel like they can accomplish their dreams too. Nothing would make me happier than using my aspirations to do so. My future brand will employ as many body types, skin colors, and features as possible. Nowadays, most of the models that are sought after and featured in fashion are tall, skinny, and white. Fashion employees, the ones behind the scenes, also face this standard. Thus, these features have become the epitome of beauty. They were the very ones that made me so desperate to escape my own. I would hate for my brand, like so many today, to make someone feel inadequate. That is the complete opposite of what should happen. A wider diversity of models would lead to their bodies and features being seen as beautiful, too. People would see people like them and know their features are valued. Knowing your worth goes a long way. It's that seed of confidence that eventually sprouts amazing things.

The calories, percentages, grams, and ounces recorded on my screen blurred as my growing tears threatened to drop. My thoughts became muddled in aching chaos. "I shouldn’t have eaten that chocolate. Too many calories. How many grams of carbohydrates?" Counting every single calorie, weighing each gram, controlling each portion was unhealthy. I knew it, but I could not stop. Stopping leads to overeating. Overeating leads to weight gain. Weight gain means not looking like the girls on social media, it means not being skinny, pretty, or confident. I failed to appreciate how beautiful and healthy my body is. Although social media was the root of the problem, it also helped me out of the hole I had fallen into. Over time, I discovered people showcasing their “imperfect” bodies and features, calling them anything but that. They knew their bodies were beautiful because they were healthy and that was what mattered. Slowly, very slowly, they showed me the bigger picture. Life is short, too short, to be worrying about other bodies or faces and comparing them to mine. Instead, I want to spend my life as a fashion designer. Not only do I want to create clothing, but I want to instill confidence in people like me through it. I want to be what the girls I discovered on social media were to me. When my future brand puts together shows, collections, or shoots, I will employ as many body types, skin colors, and features as possible. Nowadays, most of the models that are sought after and featured in fashion are tall, skinny, and white. Thus, these features have become the epitome of beauty. I want to integrate a wider diversity of models, so that their bodies and features are finally seen as beautiful, too. People struggling with their self-confidence would see bodies and features like theirs and know they're valued. I would hate for my brand, like so many today, to make someone feel inadequate. That is the complete opposite of what should happen. I want to make fashion the celebration of each body, instead of the idealization of one.

The calories, percentages, grams, and ounces recorded on my screen blurred as my growing tears threatened to drop. My thoughts became muddled in aching chaos. "Too many calories. How many grams of sugar did I eat today? How many carbohydrates? Damn, I should not have eaten that chocolate." Counting every single calorie, weighing each gram, controlling each portion was unhealthy. I knew it, but I could not stop. Stopping leads to overeating. Overeating leads to weight gain. Weight gain means I won't look like the girls on the runway or on social media. I will not be skinny, pretty, or confident. While these thoughts often sent me into a downward spiral, there was something that always grounded me: art. Yards of flowing fabric that I could get lost in for hours. Some thick and sturdy, others soft and airy. Endless spools of thread of a million different colors. Precise stitches running down the fabric, holding each piece together. Buttons and zippers and beads. Ruffles and pleats and drapes. All are put together perfectly to create a design. It’s my favorite form of art. It can awe and provoke thought yet can be functional. It is my passion and reminds me why I keep going. I will have a clothing brand. I will create collection after collection, design after design, and I get more excited by it each day. Not only do I want to make clothing, but I want to instill confidence in people like me through it. My brand will create garments fitted perfectly for the customers who wish to wear what I create. Or, I will at least make my brand size-inclusive. That way, no one will feel they don’t or can't belong. When I put together shows, collections, or shoots, I will employ as many body types and skin colors as possible. Nowadays, models are looked up to as the epitome of beauty because they are the ones sought after. If I integrate a wider diversity of models, other body types and features will be seen as beautiful, as well. I don't want my brand to send someone into a downward spiral of self-hate, as many do today. I want to make fashion about the celebration of each body, instead of the idealization of one. I want to use fashion to instill confidence in more people who need it. I want to go to college in NYC, a fashion capital. I believe this city provides access to the best opportunities to start my dream. But, everyone knows that NYC is expensive and that college usually results in student debt. However, I will not let money, or the lack thereof, hold me back. I will not let my dream go, even if it is a career path deemed unreliable, unstable, or unconventional. Winning the Elevate Minorities in the Arts Scholarship will help me pay for an education in NYC so I can study at my dream school, start my brand, and accomplish my dream.

The calories, percentages, grams, and ounces recorded on my screen blurred as my growing tears threatened to drop. My thoughts became muddled in aching chaos. "Too many calories. How many grams of sugar did I eat today? How many carbohydrates? I need more protein. Damn, I shouldn't have eaten that chocolate." I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath. Counting every single calorie, weighing each gram, controlling each portion was unnecessary, unhealthy, but I could not stop. Stopping would lead to overeating. Overeating would lead to weight gain. Weight gain means I wouldn't be skinny, pretty, or confident. I failed to appreciate how beautiful my body was or how lucky I was to be healthy. At that time, when I saw the flat-stomachs of influencers, I put down whatever snack I was eating. When I saw the abs on some super-athlete, I got out of my chair to do sit-ups and jumping jacks. When I saw the flawless faces of models, I picked apart every flaw of mine. Although social media was the root of the problem, it also helped me out of the pit I was stuck in. Slowly, I discovered people showcasing their “imperfect” bodies, calling them anything but that. I admired girls embracing their curves, rolls, wrinkles, cellulite, skin color, body hair, and scars. So what if they had mushroom tops or chubby cheeks or hairy arms? They were calling their bodies beautiful because they were healthy and that was what mattered. Slowly, very slowly, I started to see the bigger picture. Life is short, too short, to be worrying about other bodies and comparing them to mine. Instead, I want to spend my life creating. Ever since I was eight years old, I have wanted to become a fashion designer with an influential brand. I can picture myself designing collection after collection, garment after garment, look after look, and I get more excited by it every day. Not only do I want to create clothing, but I want to instill confidence in people like me through it. I want to show them the beauty and perfection in their reflections. My future brand will create garments fitted perfectly for any customer who wishes to wear what I create. More importantly, when I put together shows, collections, or shoots, I will employ as many body types and skin colors as possible. Nowadays, famous models are looked up to as the epitome of beauty because they are the ones sought after, chosen, and featured. Unfortunately, there isn't much variety in who's chosen, in terms of race and body type. But, if I could integrate a wider diversity of models, their bodies and features could be seen as equally valuable. Hopefully, people like me can one day say, "Hey, I look like them. They are appreciated. Maybe I can be too." I would hate for my brand, like so many today, to make someone feel inadequate. I want to make my brand, and fashion in general, about the celebration of each body, instead of the idealization of one. Hopefully, I will do this with my passion for creation.

One second, I sat in my desk chair, and the next, I was doing a celebratory dance. Across the room, my sister stared at me and my toothy grin in silent question. I danced over to her, waved my phone in her face, and screamed, “I MADE A SALE!” Ever since childhood, I dreamt of being a fashion designer in charge of a successful brand. For years I designed and illustrated garments, but my visions never left the pages of my sketchbook. Out of quarantine boredom this past year, I revived my mother’s old sewing machine. Once I figured that out, I taught myself how to use it in the hopes that I could finally bring my visions to life. Soon after, I designed my very first bag. It was a mini patchwork shoulder bag made with scraps from past projects. I loved it. I loved making it. Unlike tops and bottoms, it was straightforward to sew. Therefore, as I came up with more design ideas, I could execute them right away without frustration. I made another. And another. Eventually, it clicked. I had a surplus of bags. I should sell them. I should learn how to manage a business. I should spend my time putting my skills to use, as well as picking up some more. I should be doing a mini version of what I dream of doing every day. As of now, I have made two sales. The second was just as exciting as the first. Despite the lack of profit, I have learned so much more about sewing and design. I know now which bags are popular online and how to add a lining to a bag. I have learned even more about the worlds of marketing and finance. One of the sales was probably because of a promotion I put together. I am learning some skills I wouldn’t have ever touched upon if not for this business. My business is barely that. I have made a mere two sales, but I believe it is capable of expanding. If I won the Amplify Learning Scholarship, the money would go towards helping my business grow. With the money, I could invest in more materials and better supplies. This essay is not some investment pitch. It is a self-investment pitch. I could push my business to grow and myself out of my comfort zone. I will learn how to design better, sew better, manage better, and sell better. This scholarship will play a part in making my future better.

Whorls of graphite formed an intricate iris on the paper. While my childhood friend perfected drawing the details of faces and bodies, I practiced shading folds and ruffles. While she delighted in imagining characters, I only saw them as a customer, a canvas, for whatever garment I could dream up. Early on, I decided to translate my favorite hobby into the perfect dream job: fashion designer. I have not changed my mind since. I cannot settle when I know I am capable of more. I cannot accept a mediocre career when I have a chance of being exceptional. Like most, I turned to the prospects of higher education to feed my desires. Throughout my research of schools, one shone through the rest: the Fashion Institute of Technology. It is in opportunistic New York City and highly regarded for its course rigor and experienced professors. It is where I see myself fulfilling my potential. Of course, picking FIT as my dream school does not magically guarantee acceptance. So, I turned to education once again. This time around, I tirelessly researched FIT and similar schools' requirements. Repeatedly, I read "fashion illustration," "mood board," and, "flats," on their websites. My heart dropped after reading each one over and over. I could not draw an impressive croqui (model), collage a mood board, or create flats on the computer (in my defense, I was in middle school with plenty of time ahead). Being my overachiever-self, I knew I had to turn the tables. Through YouTube, I taught myself every skill I lacked. I learned everything from how to use Illustrator, to executing a french seam, to rendering sequins. I continue to practice and educate myself every day, all in the hope I will be worthy of my dream education. When I researched college, the topic of money was unavoidable. At the time, I was woefully ignorant about finances. So, to no surprise, I turned back to teaching myself any and everything I could. My main takeaway was I want to stay away from student-debt as much as possible (who doesn't?). But, in this country, balancing that with a quality education can be difficult. It is beyond unfair for all the students simply trying to pursue their passions. I want to do my best to fight it, to make it out debt-free. Because, again, I can not accept it when I have the resources to do otherwise. I delved right back into research to find as many scholarships as I could. So far, I have applied to over twenty in the past three months, and I am still steaming ahead. My future education, learning my passion, is my sole motivation. It is the light at the end of the tunnel that I inch closer each day. It is the reason I fill my days with education, no matter how disheartening it may be. It is the reason I am applying to the Justricia Scholarship for Education. It is the sole reason I hope to win.

Everyone has been accepted into something, whether by a friend group, a prestigious program, or a scholarship committee. More often, however, we face rejection. That’s what makes acceptance so sweet. It’s so rare and, when attained, so fulfilling. The biggest, most painful, rejections are the ones we should appreciate the most. While they may have stung, or still sting, they are the ones leaving you yearning for success. They lead to the most change. Without these rejections and failures, there is no success. You wouldn't have the motivation to find the perfect friends, get into that program, or earn that scholarship. For me, I wouldn't have found the drive to become the confident person I'm proud to be today. The rejection that changed me the most, that got me here, was my rejection from the National Junior Honor Society. In middle school, I had Straight A’s and a perfect 4.0 GPA. I took honors classes and breezed through them. From a distance, I seemed like an amazing student. But, if you zoomed in, all you would see were the good grades. When it came to extracurriculars, I was notoriously lazy. I resisted any effort my parents made to involve me in anything--from clubs to ballet class to Saturday school. I was in the mindset that my grades could get me out of extracurriculars, that somehow they were a punishment I didn’t deserve. Without any extracurriculars, I had absolutely zero leadership experience, let alone any formal positions. I did volunteer at my formal elementary school, but only because volunteer service was required. Besides, I hardly branched out from that one role. Without the requirement, without a doubt, I would have spent that time watching Friends. I did the absolute minimum for A's in school and barely anything outside of that. It was because of my grades, however, that I got a letter inviting me, along with many of my peers and close friends, to apply to NJHS. The letter generically praised my high grades, saying I was hard-working, bright, and exemplary--the picture-perfect student they wanted in their society. I believed it and thought I was a shoo-in--I had the grades, I got the letter, what else did I need? I was rejected, despite my confidence. Afterward, I realized what I did wrong, or rather, what I lacked in comparison to everyone around me. The application asked for everyone to list volunteer experience, extracurriculars, and leadership positions. As you can tell, I was lacking in all of those areas, which was the complete opposite of my friends'. To no surprise, they were accepted, and when I wasn’t; I realized painfully how inadequate I was. It was no wonder I was rejected. How could I get in with just good grades, when my friends--and competition--had that plus some? The realization that I was to blame hurt most of all. It was me who chose to do the opposite of everyone else I knew. It was me who resisted getting involved. It was me who insisted on doing the minimum. I started to doubt my credentials, my abilities, and myself. I started to fear that I lost all chances of achieving my dreams. It terrified me because I was just as passionate about my ambitious dreams as I am now. I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I longed to get into a competitive school and thrive in a notoriously competitive industry. I thought getting into a creative field was easy, that all it took was some good ideas and drawing skills. But that’s the minimum, and this rejection made me realize the minimum isn't enough. But, up until then, that was all I had done. So, I set goals. I needed to be absolutely confident in myself, instead of a self-doubting mess. I needed to make myself a shoo-in. This rejection made me realize there is more to school than grades. Everyone around me already realized that, so I had to play catch-up. I had to shine against my already-thriving peers in as many ways as possible. As I’m writing this, it’s even clearer how much I’ve grown since those bleak middle school years. I reached and exceeded the volunteer requirement. I started a service club at my high school, of which I am vice president. I was chosen to fill the role of vice president of the National Art Honors Society. I continue to have Straight A’s, even in my four current AP classes. I even made myself worthy enough to get into the National Honors Society last year. To my delight, I had lots to mention when I applied. Seeing how much I've accomplished, I’m no longer the insecure girl who constantly compared herself to her friends and thought she wasn't capable. Now, I set bolder goals and dream bigger. I can actually see myself accomplishing the goals I once thought were far-fetched. Getting into my dream school, the Fashion Institute of Technology, in NYC seemed like a pure dream. Paying for life in NYC seemed downright impossible. Now, I’m brave enough to go for it. I’m confident I can earn enough scholarships to do it. Earning the "Angelica Song Rejection is Redirection Scholarship" would be a small step there. It would be an acceptance that gets me a little closer to my end goal. Or, it could be a rejection. There could very well be another deserving student out there, just as deserving of this money. Once, I would have let such a rejection cripple me. But now, as Richard Branson once said, I won’t, “be embarrassed by [my] failures, [but] learn from them and start again.” Acceptance or rejection, I will continue to believe in myself and persevere. Success or failure, I will make my dreams come true.

My eyes followed the mini maglev train as it whooshed past on the simplistic magnetic track. Being able to see the physics project before me clarified the whole objective. I could execute it with confidence, with a clear goal in mind. Having examples makes a world of a difference. They give you something to aim and strive for. The best examples are those that give you more than you need. They not only give you a goal but a little push towards it. Role models should be just that. Of course, they are something to strive for, whether it be their success, skills, or personality. However, an even better role model is one that teaches and guides you to be a better version of yourself. The person that’s done that for me is Zoe Hong. She’s my role model, not only because I strive to be like her, but because she’s taught and improved me immensely. My ideal career is fashion design. I love dreaming up garments and seeing them come to life, whether it be on paper or in real life. I long to live and study in New York City. Each time I go there, I fall in love all over again with the city, the opportunities, and my dream college. The Fashion Institute of Technology's course rigor and prestige is just what I want to start my career. But, New York City is expensive. FIT is competitive. The fashion industry is cutthroat. My parents’ hesitation made it even more daunting. They recommended going for a state school, or even settling for community college because they were afraid of not being able to afford it. But, I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied letting potential go to waste. I wouldn’t be satisfied with suppressing my passion just because of money. So, I decided to go for it, because who knows? I could get a full ride, one of my parents could get a magical promotion, a family member could win the lottery. The point is, I don’t know if money could become available and I don’t want to be unprepared if it does. The money would be nothing if I’m not even worthy enough to get into FIT. Unfortunately, up until then, I lacked the sewing and drawing skills necessary to get in. But, I needed to change that. I needed an edge if I was to ever make it to FIT and potentially get a full ride. I turned to YouTube. I knew there were thousands of creators out there, and there had to be at least one teaching fashion design. That was when I found Zoe Hong’s channel, absolutely filled to the brim with videos and knowledge that I could soak up. She’s a fashion designer and fashion design professor who has been making videos since 2015. She starts each video with the phrase, “Hey, hey party people!” which helps me more than one would think. Starting to learn these fundamental fashion skills and about being a fashion designer was, honestly, a touchy topic for me. I was afraid of diving too deep for it all to amount to nothing. There was simply a lot of pressure that I put on myself. But, her signature phrase (one of many, actually) put me at ease. It established a casualness to her videos that made these skills less intimidating, as well as the future they entailed. I watched her videos every day. I practiced every skill she taught and took thorough notes on almost every video. I learned everything from how to draw a croqui (model) properly to how to sew a french seam. I learned about the fashion industry and the fashion design job, which only made me fall more in love with my career path. It helped that, over time, the fashion industry became less daunting. Throughout the videos, she demonstrated her techniques, illustrations, and sewing knowledge in immaculate detail. I admired her quality of work and style, so I tried my best to emulate it. Of course, I wouldn’t become as good as her overnight. Nonetheless, I struggled to be satisfied with my work. In her videos, she would remind the viewers that it's, “practice not magic,” and, “if your first one sucks, you’re right on track.” Again, these sayings put me at ease by reassuring me that nobody is perfect, including her. I want to emulate her career path and drawing skills, but I want her personality too. I admire the way she instills confidence in all her viewers, her willingness to share her knowledge and expertise, and how she’s made my dreams a closer reality. She set an example for all her viewers in skill and personality. But, Zoe is beyond an example, she’s a teacher and a guide who not only improved my skills but improved the way I see myself. She gave me self-love and confidence. I know I can accomplish all the goals I set years ago, the ones that once seemed far-fetched. Now that I have the skills and knowledge (of which I’m still improving), I have to focus on the financial aspect of my goals. I know I’m capable of paying for college and life in NYC, Zoe helped me see that. Earning the Scholarcash Role Model Scholarship would be a step there. Getting it would make all her teaching worth it, the money will help me make something out of the skills she taught. Even if I don’t win the scholarship, I’ll persevere because, as Zoe says, “it’s hard because it’s hard, not because there's anything wrong with you.” I understand that earning scholarships is a challenge. I understand getting this scholarship is a competition that I’m not guaranteed to win. But, no matter the outcome, I’ll keep going because that’s what Zoe Hong would do.

We’ve all accomplished something. More often, however, we fail. Success is so sweet because it’s so rare and, when attained, so fulfilling. While painful, great failures are the ones to be most thankful for. They create the most change and leave you yearning for more. Without these failures, there is no success. For me, I wouldn't have succeeded in becoming confident in myself. The failure that changed me, and that I’m most thankful for, is my rejection from the National Junior Honor Society. In middle school, from a distance, I was an amazing student. But, zoom-in, and all you would see was a high GPA. When it came to extracurriculars, I was notoriously lazy. Without extracurriculars, I had zero leadership experience. I did volunteer, but only because it was required by my school. I was set on doing the minimum. It was because of my GPA, however, that I received a letter inviting me to apply to NJHS, along with my friends. The letter generically praised me, saying I was just what they wanted in their society, and I believed it. Despite my confidence, I was rejected. Afterward, I realized what went wrong, or rather, what I lacked. NJHS asked for volunteer experience, extracurriculars, and leadership positions. I had hardly any, whereas my friends had plenty. To no surprise, they were accepted. When I wasn’t, I noticed how inadequate I was. How could I be accepted with only good grades, when my friends had that plus some? I realized I wasn’t special, not on paper anyway. My dream is to be a fashion designer, to thrive in a notoriously competitive industry. I thought it would be easy, that all it took was good ideas and drawings. But that’s the minimum, and this rejection made me realize that’s not enough. So, I set goals, focusing on making myself worthy of acceptance and to minimize my rejections. I had to improve how I seemed on paper in order to shine against my thriving peers. I realized there's more to school than grades, so I had to play catch-up. Since then, I exceeded the volunteer hour requirement. I was accepted as vice president for the National Art Honors Society. I started a service club, of which I am also vice president. I was even worthy enough to get into the National Honors Society. I’m no longer the insecure girl who constantly compared herself to her friends. Then, getting into my dream fashion school seemed unattainable. Paying for life in NYC seemed downright impossible. Now, I’m brave enough to go for it and to set the goal of paying for college with scholarships. Earning the Gabriella Carter Failure Doesn't Define Me Scholarship would be a small step there. Or, it could be a failure. Once, I would have let a scholarship rejection cripple me. But now, as Richard Branson said, I won’t “be embarrassed by [my] failures, [but] learn from them and start again.” Success or failure, I will make my dreams come true.