As we all know, math is everywhere. We’ve all heard our math teacher tell us that math is essential because it is what is used to design rockets, build cars, and construct buildings. It’s in our daily lives, too; we calculate proportions when we’re baking and measure how deep we need to dig when gardening. But the reason I love math is that it is omnipresent; there is much more to its importance than what meets the eye. Looking closer, it is clear that math frequently and consistently exists in the little things. Recurring mathematical concepts can be spotted in the natural world. Math can be found in the curves of seashells, the spirals of galaxies, the seeds of a sunflower, and the fractals of snowflakes. Taking a longer glance at the shape of ocean waves crashing on the beach reveals that mathematics is involved. The patterns on the wings of butterflies and in the migration of birds are no accident; they can also be attributed to math. Math can also be found in the creations of humans. It is in the measures of piano compositions — half note, quarter note, quarter note. It’s present in the rhythms of poetry, in the stressed and unstressed syllables that create a beautiful variety in verses. These examples only begin to show the extent to which mathematics is thoroughly intertwined with our lives. There is a certain pleasure in knowing that math is everywhere but has an infinite amount of problems and solutions. Math requires the application of logic and critical thinking skills, but there is always a final answer. There isn’t typically uncertainty surrounding math; it tends to be black and white, without gray areas. Answering math problems has the satisfaction of solving a mystery. Even when the answer is “cannot be determined” or “does not exist”, I can find comfort in knowing that I took the right steps to go as far as I could. I can feel confident that I found the right answer, even if it isn’t easily definable. Math is an underlying presence in not just the big ways, but also all of the commonly overlooked ways. It provides comfort because it is ubiquitous and because there is always an answer; it is as constant as the ground beneath us. Mathematics is meaningful to me because when I'm in doubt, I can feel secure in knowing that in every aspect of my life, math is still there to fall back on.

Each year, roughly 25 million people will be newly diagnosed with cancer worldwide. Of these, around 2.3 million are breast cancer diagnoses. In many places around the world, people’s eyes flick away when the words “breast cancer” are uttered. This is because there is a stigma that surrounds those words. In some societies, talking about female anatomy is culturally unacceptable. Women are unable to find accurate diagnoses for breast cancer because there are limited healthcare resources, which permits the cancer to spread and reach its terminal stage. It is difficult to imagine the number of women who have died entirely preventable deaths because of the fear of social rejection from their communities. That leads us to a very impactful question: how can these deaths be avoided? I’ve learned about the importance of detecting malignant tumors early and how technology can help accomplish this through my role as an ambassador for a nonprofit that raises awareness about breast cancer. 3-D mammography, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, was first introduced in clinical trials in 2008 and has become much more widespread in recent years. It was developed by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. It is used during a breast cancer screening; an X-ray arm moves over tissue and combines several 2-D images into a 3-dimensional format. This image can then be used to look for abnormalities and malignant tumors. 3-D mammograms are more effective when detecting breast cancer than other older techniques because they can scan dense tissue for cancerous cells. If the cancer is caught before it reaches its terminal stage, it can be treated, controlled, and even removed from the body. It is estimated that 3-D mammograms have saved tens of thousands of lives around the world since their first use. 3-D mammograms are inspiring because they further the common goals of providing better healthcare for women and breaking down societal taboos around breast cancer.

As we all know, math is everywhere. We’ve all heard our math teacher tell us that math is essential because it is what is used to design rockets, build cars, and construct buildings. It’s in our daily lives, too; we calculate proportions when we’re baking and measure how deep we need to dig when gardening. But the reason I love math is that it is omnipresent; there is much more to its importance than what meets the eye. If you look closer, it is clear that math frequently and consistently exists in the little things. Recurring mathematical concepts can be spotted in the natural world. Math can be found in the curves of seashells, the spirals of galaxies, the seeds of a sunflower, and the fractals of snowflakes. Taking a longer glance at the shape of ocean waves crashing on the beach reveals that mathematics is involved. The patterns on the wings of butterflies and in the migration of birds are no accident; they can also be attributed to math. Math can also be found in the creations of humans. It is in the measures of piano compositions — half note, quarter note, quarter note. It’s present in the rhythms of poetry, in the stressed and unstressed syllables that create a beautiful variety in verses. These examples only begin to show the extent to which mathematics is thoroughly intertwined with our lives. There is a certain pleasure in knowing that math is everywhere but has an infinite amount of problems and solutions. Math requires the application of logic and critical thinking skills, but there is always a final answer. There isn’t typically uncertainty surrounding math; it tends to be black and white, without gray areas. Answering math problems has the satisfaction of solving a mystery. Even when the answer is “cannot be determined” or “does not exist”, you can find comfort in knowing that you took the right steps to go as far as you could. You can feel confident that you found the right answer, even if it isn’t easily definable. Math is an underlying presence in not just the big ways, but also all of the commonly overlooked ways. It provides comfort because it is ubiquitous and because there is always an answer; it is as constant as the ground beneath us. Mathematics is meaningful to me because when you’re in doubt, you can feel secure in knowing that in every aspect of your life, math is still there to fall back on.

As we all know, math is everywhere. We’ve all heard our math teacher tell us that math is essential because it is what is used to design rockets, build cars, and construct buildings. It’s in our daily lives, too; we calculate proportions when we’re baking and measure how deep we need to dig when gardening. But the reason I love math is that there is much more to its importance than what meets the eye. If you look closer, it is clear that math exists in the little things. Recurring mathematical concepts can be spotted in nature. Math can be found in the curves of seashells, the spirals of galaxies, and the fractals of snowflakes. The patterns on the wings of butterflies and in the migration of birds are no accident; they can also be attributed to math. Math is in the measures of piano compositions — half note, quarter note, quarter note. It’s present in the rhythms of poetry, in the stressed and unstressed syllables that create a beautiful variety in verses. These examples only begin to show the extent to which math is thoroughly intertwined with our lives. It is an underlying presence in not just the big ways, but also all of the commonly overlooked ways. Mathematics is meaningful to me because when you’re in doubt, you can feel secure in knowing that in every aspect of your life, math is still there to fall back on.

Feminism is commonly believed to be the social movement that seeks to bring equality to girls and women, but it spans more areas than that; it is about providing equal opportunities for everyone who has faced oppression or discrimination, including — not only women — but also people of color, LGBTQIA+, the disabled, and those who are impoverished. Feminism is a pathway for people to unite to fight for basic human rights and revolutionize the world. I used to associate the word “feminism” with protests and public campaigns. However, this perception changed after I became interested in female authors of classic English literature, specifically Charlotte Brontё. Her novels have stood the test of time because they are relatable and empowering to many people even today. The female protagonists of her stories are often strong, independent, and intelligent. In one of her most famous novels, Jane Eyre, the protagonist goes against the typical gender roles of her time by speaking freely and showing courage. However, I believe that the unconventional lifestyle that Charlotte led is what makes her a true figure of feminism. At the age of twenty, she sent some of her work to Robert Southey, an English poet, to receive criticism. He replied by saying that “literature cannot be the business of a woman’s life, and it ought not to be” — but Charlotte was determined to keep writing and became one of history’s most famous English novelists. She has left a legacy behind through her books and is an inspiration to other women and those who are systemically oppressed because she was determined to make her own path instead of allowing herself to be limited by the expectations of a world where women were considered inferior to men. Charlotte sparked my realization that feminism exists in many different forms, whether it is in the shape of openly campaigning for gender rights or quiet rebellion against the system. To involve myself with the feminist movement, I participated in InTech Academy, a nonprofit women-in-STEM program that empowers BIPOC girls to improve society using technology. For our final project, my teammates and I conceptualized an app to bring attention to intersectional feminism and other social justice issues because we saw the importance of representing all marginalized groups. However, the experience that has most directly impacted my view on the importance of feminism is my position as an ambassador for the Breast Cancer Hub, a nonprofit organization. Since I am passionate about medicine, I aim to raise awareness about breast cancer, especially in villages in developing countries. This topic ties into the feminist movement because, in communities where talking about female anatomy is culturally unacceptable, women are unable to speak up if they have breast cancer due to fear of social rejection; this leads to deaths that are sometimes entirely preventable. If feminism was more common in these communities, then people would shy away from these essential topics less frequently. In addition, breast cancer diagnoses aren’t limited to women; they can afflict other genders too. This circles back to the idea that feminism supports all basic human rights, regardless of gender. What I have learned from my experiences is that there is no singular way to support feminism; everyone can be a feminist in their own way and incorporate their passions and hobbies to demonstrate feminism, as Charlotte Brontё did. If more people had this mindset, feminism would feel more personal and therefore be more widespread, which would allow us to move at a faster pace toward a gender-equal future.

In a world where “success” is often associated with having money or accomplishing goals, life can feel like a competition. This leads to us wanting something that humans innately desire — time. We rush to meet deadlines or check everything off of our to-do list and then tell ourselves that if only we had more time we could do so much more and be much happier. Busy weeks turn into busy months, and at the end of each year, we look back and wonder how the time flew by so fast. V. E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the perfect example of the importance of spending our time in a meaningful way. The author uses imagery, thought-provoking phrases, and different timelines to tell the story of Adeline “Addie” LaRue, a French girl born over 300 years ago who wants to escape the monotony of her village life. She makes a deal with one of the village’s gods and asks for “more time”; Addie gains immortality — but there’s a catch: no one can remember her. As soon as she leaves the sight of anyone she interacts with, they forget her. Addie spends centuries meeting new people and then being forgotten by those she cares about — however, that all changes when she meets and spends time with an ill-fated boy who can remember her. As their stories intertwine, Addie understands the importance of being grateful for each moment she has spent doing the things she loves and being with her loved ones. I believe that this novel is relatable and enduring. We frequently race to the next moment instead of taking the time to appreciate the important things and people in our lives. As Addie might say, “Blink, and the years fall away like leaves.” The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a good reminder that everyone needs to occasionally slow down. If everyone read this book, the world would be a place where people would feel more satisfaction and enjoyment in their lives.