In the future, I hope I am happy and fulfilled socially, mentally, economically, and physically.

The white oak tree is Maryland's state tree. It symbolizes strength, persistence, and peace. The community of Maryland embodies the white oak tree, as we are the roots of our state. The intertwinement of education and community service forms the double helix structure. Both strands support and depend on one another; the harmonious relationship runs through the roots of our community to strengthen the white oak tree. As a kid, I would pull out the weeds and pick flowers to make bouquets for the parents in the neighborhood. It made me happy and lessened my melancholy view of life. In school, I would offer to help my teachers with grading papers, organizing their rooms, delivering papers, and more. From such a young age, I became dedicated to giving back to the community. Once I was old enough, I joined clubs and extracurriculars that expanded my ability to give back to the community. During middle school, I would assist my mother with community activities at the high school where she works. Eastern Technical High School has various events. During middle school, my mother was in charge of the Fall Festival. I would come and help set up, raise money, and clean up. My mother is also the advisor of the Eastern Tech Green School so I would assist with any of those activities as well. In the summer, I would attend my martial arts summer camp. I was an unofficial helper for a few years, and once I was 11, I became an official helper. This position included me leading martial arts classes, ensuring the safety of campers, supervising field trips, cleaning and sanitizing, and leading educational activities. In high school, I joined the Eastern Tech Green School, my school's American Red Cross Chapter, the American Red Cross of the Greater Chesapeake Region International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign, Eastern Tech National English Honors Society, and the Eastern Tech National Technical Honors Society. In Green School, I was Co-President and helped create school initiatives, including a composting program. Additionally, I led the Greenery Project. The Greenery Project uses hydroponics to grow plants and herbs to improve air quality. In the IHL YAC, I am the marketing and social media lead. My team and I provide information about various aspects of IHL and how ordinary citizens can help. In NEHS, I assist in cleaning books for book drives. In the American Red Cross Club, I help create cards for veterans, provide blood drive information, provide life-saving knowledge, and more. Although my service may be small in comparison to others, I truly do believe my service has helped the community in some way. Not only did I help serve the community, but I was able to learn a very valuable lesson; change no matter how small a victory, will help at least one person. These victories will lead to a better future for someone which will make a better future for everyone.

Generational wealth is wealth acquired through inheritance or legal agreements. However, new and old money was created by exploiting and forming economic inequalities for classes below the upper class. As someone of the working class, it is my goal that my generational wealth assembles ethically. It is disappointing that providing necessities and ethical practices is profitable, but within our capitalistic society, it is inevitable. To counteract this, I believe generational wealth should have a new meaning. Generational wealth should be wealth collected by the community, by the people. Generational wealth should not be assumed as familial generational wealth. I will achieve ethical generational wealth through the means of ethical marketing. My goal is to create a new marketing practice. This new practice will put the needs of the people first rather than economic gain. To achieve this goal, I must attend college. Business is a very male-dominated job. Women are rarely respected in the business and continue to get lower-paying positions. To make a change, I must have a degree. A college degree will verify my qualifications and how I am equal to any man. A degree not only enhances my qualifications but also continues my education. Without a college degree, I will be looked down upon by society. From the first day of kindergarten, we get told we need a degree. To be an astronaut, you need a degree in astronomy. To be a chemist, you need a degree in chemistry. I have gotten taught my entire life that I cannot be something without a degree. As I became a teenager, I realized this is false. You can be something without a degree, but it is risky. The idea of leaving my future solely up to chance scares me. The idea of allowing those with more power to define the future enrages me. A degree will help me choose my path and reach my full potential in business and marketing. Once I gain my degree and a respected position in a marketing firm, my journey to ethical generational wealth will truly begin.

The white oak tree is Maryland's state tree. It symbolizes strength, persistence, and peace. Within my community, the country, and the world, I hope we can embody the white oak tree regarding the environment and the people. Wishing for peace environmentally and socially is vague, but my vagueness comes with a sufficient reason. Morally, I cannot desire only one specific change, as I believe change is a never-ending cycle. Nothing is flawless, and progress can always occur. The intertwinement of social and environmental peace forms the double helix structure. Both strands support and depend on one another; the harmonious relationship providing the desired outcome for all. To help achieve that environmental and social peace, I have contributed to my community in various ways. I'm a part of the Eastern Tech Green School and the American Red Cross of the Greater Chesapeake Region International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign. In Green School club, I have helped create and enforce initiatives that improve our local environment. Further, I led the Greenery Project. The Greenery Project uses hydroponics to grow plants and herbs to improve school air quality. I often participate in group cleanups where we clean up forests and waterways. I live near the highly polluted Back River. Enormous amounts of trash end up within the water and surrounding forests. Throughout my cleanups, I have collected car parts, toys, plastics, glass, and more. Within the American Red Cross of the Greater Chesapeake Region International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign, my team and I created Peake of IHL. Peake of IHL focuses on creating and sharing easy-to-understand information about international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law focuses on human rights, protecting culture, protecting the environment, and limiting the effects of war. The Peake of the IHL team and myself were recognized by IHL chapter leaders. Our recognition included the number of hours we have dedicated to the cause, widespread attention towards the cause, and for interviewing public figures. I have vowed to protect and serve the environment and people of my community, country, and the world. Any small change is a victory, as it is one step closer to peace. I hope we can all experience the warming sensation peace brings and that we will never bury more seeds of hatred and destruction within our soil.

Feminism is the belief that everyone is treated the same, has the same opportunities, and right to make their own life choices regardless of their gender. The ideology of feminism is important as it encourages the destruction of the patriarchy, which benefits all genders. It allows for the freedom of expression and encourages one to be their true self and better themselves with no fear of criticism from others. My mother has inspired me and my views on feminism. She is a survivor of domestic abuse from my grandparents and from my father. Her entire life she has been a survivor and someone who sticks to her beliefs and choices despite everyone telling her otherwise. My mother went against her family's religion, as she believed if nothing can be proven no one should be told their beliefs are superior. She went against the standard idea of femininity, and instead embraced her masculine traits. I am lucky enough to have these beliefs taught to me. I was raised to be open to any religion, and if I found one that fits with me to be proud of it. My mother gave me a choice on my beliefs rather than determining them for me at birth. Additionally, my mother never forced femininity on me. She allowed me to join a male dominated sport, taekwondo, and supported my journey throughout it. One of the biggest lessons my mother taught me was to never be silenced, especially by a man. My mother based this value on her relationship with my abusive father. For as long as I can remember, my mother would tell me how women can be loud too. She would tell me my voice and feelings are just as important as anyone else. Most importantly, she told me to never let someone take my voice from me. These values are instilled within me not because I do not think for myself, but because I have thought about it so much that it fits my morals. Within my community I have taught feminism through my instructions during taekwondo. I would put a focus on the young girls as they reminded me of myself. I did not want them to have the internal struggle of believing what the boys around them were saying. I did not want them to belittle themselves and consider themselves weak or fragile. As an instructor I encouraged them to not think about their opponent as a boy, but instead as an opponent. I would do this because I did not want them thinking female opponents would be easier, as it all depends on strength and skill, not gender. For the boys I would encourage them to feel their sadness, anger, and anxiety. I would tell them that repressing it is not strength, but dealing with it directly is. The feminism ideology cannot be successful without applying it to men as well. The patriarchy includes both men and women, thus the barriers placed upon both need to be deconstructed for true equality and understanding to come.

The song "Man's World" by MARINA has the most important message to me. "Man's World" highlights the oppression and dangers women face throughout history and throughout modern day. It also demonstrates the hypocrisy of how men are treated and how they view things in comparison to women. Within the beginning of the song MARINA sings "Burnt me at the stake, you thought I was a witch, Centuries ago, now you just call me a b*tch". This line defines the everyday prejudice women face in modern day. Additionally, looking at historical implications for one to be a witch, I would have been accused for my personality and looks. MARINA then sings "Mother Nature's dying, Nobody's keeping score". The current climate crisis is extremely ignored. Additionally, women have symbolically represented nature but specially Mother Nature for centuries. So, not only are we literally killing the environment, but women are being killed as well. Near the end of the song MARINA sings "If you have a mother, daughter, or a friend, Maybe it is time, time you comprehend, The world you live in ain't the same one as them, So don't punish me for not being a man". This line is a plea for men to open their eyes to the fact that their life will forever be easier and different compared to a woman's. Finally, one of my favorite lines is when MARINA sings "Spring appears when the time is right, Women are violets coming to light". The beautiful comparison of women to flowers, life, and spring symbolizes how women must be treated fairly in order for the beauty of spring to truly shine Despite the darkness women experience, we still provide light in ways men could never understand.

A piece of paper defines my livelihood. This paper details if I am "competent" or not. Without a college degree, I will be looked down upon by society. From the first day of kindergarten, we get told we need a degree. To be an astronaut, you need a degree in astronomy. To be a chemist, you need a degree in chemistry. I have gotten taught my entire life that I cannot be something without a degree. As I became a teenager, I realized this is not true. You can be something without a degree, but it is risky. The idea of leaving my future solely up to chance scares me. The idea of letting those with more power define the future enrages me. A degree will help me choose my path and reach my full potential. I see a future where business is ethical and capitalistic arguments do not solely lead in business decisions. Business is a very male-dominated job. Women are rarely respected in the business and continue to get lower-paying positions. To make a change, I must have a degree. A college degree will prove my qualifications and how I am equal to any man. A degree not only enhances my qualifications but also continues my education. We never truly stop learning till the day we die, and a degree is a perfect opportunity to continue that education. A degree does not just enhance your understanding of your major. You are required to take various other educational courses, such as psychology or philosophy. So, not only are you qualified in your major but you also have skills you have gained from your non-major related courses. Your resume will become full and very unique due to your college education. College itself is a personal journey that enhances your skills and understanding of yourself. The 1920s has had a lasting impact on how business is practiced to this day. Marketing in the 1920s influenced consumerism and introduced maximalism. With people having an influx of money and booming industrialization, people were buying items left and right. Products that people did not need were marketed as an item that the people did need. Due to marketing historically and currently entering unethical territories, I intend to create a new marketing practice. This new practice will put the needs of the people first rather than economic gain. Thus, the degree I am specifically pursuing is in marketing. Pursuing a marketing degree will provide me with the resources I need to have a higher chance of success