My mother’s side of the family hails from Ecuador, a small country in South America. I, along with my mother and sister, travel there each summer to reconnect with our family, and, of course, delight in all our favorite dishes. However, this community I belong to has given me far more than summers spent soaking up the equatorial sun with some ceviche. With maturity, I’ve come to look deeper and notice the inspiring strength the country holds despite years under a corrupt government. Even now, the country is flagged for caution to travelers, warning of danger from gangs, cartels, and other criminal organizations that are notorious for violent crimes against locals and foreigners alike. But while discussing the cruelty plaguing so many even today, my mom reminded me of a common adage of many who live there: “God is Ecuadorian.” The Catholic faith is deeply rooted in the lives of the people; faith is a source of hope and a reliable means of seeing an end to fear and suffering. We believe that God is Ecuadorian, knowing that He is always present, offering comfort to the fearful and a new life to the fearmongers. This mindset deeply influences the way I approach my academic life. I put everything into my academics knowing that an incredibly strong community and faith are behind me. I plan on pursuing a career in law, beginning with an undergraduate degree in political science at Texas A&M. I will strive for justice for all those in my community, following the pattern I have set in a local restorative justice court. As I continue to push forward with all I have, I remember that my education isn’t just for me–it’s for all the ones I have supporting me and reminding me of the strength I come from.

"We're one, but we're not the same. We get to carry each other, carry each other, one..." The words tumble out of my lips just as they would at home with my acoustic guitar. The song I've been singing since early elementary school now comes to life with splashing colors covering every inch of my vision. U2's music fills the space both audibly and visibly in the Sphere. My only concert has been U2's "UV: Achtung Baby" in the Sphere. And honestly, I would have gone to see U2 in a parking garage, I love the band so much. I've never been one to fawn over pop artists and current music trends, instead aligning more with my dad's music taste. He, even as a hard-of-hearing man, has the most extensive and passionate music knowledge I have ever witnessed. Though we enjoy a wide array of bands, our favorite has always been U2. Even before I could really appreciate the lyrics, I had all my favorite tunes memorized both instrumentally and vocally, performing for my family and the community in local open mics as young as eight years old. We, of course, heard about U2's residency at the Sphere soon after its opening, and with their set list containing many of our very favorite pieces, we really wanted to make it happen. But it took U2 to renew their residency the second time for us to finally bite the (very expensive) bullet to buy tickets to Vegas and the Sphere. As a family, we are typically frugal to a fault and limit our spending as much as possible. However, as my dad repeatedly said, money comes back, but we won't have the opportunity for these experiences forever. So, with our tickets purchased, we planned to travel out to Vegas with my mother and sister in tow. Though all this excitement in preparation for the concert was amusing, it could not compare to the thrill I felt walking through the steep seating area as we took our places before the concert. The Sphere itself, an utter marvel of engineering with a design straight out of a science fiction movie, was completely breathtaking. High-definition screens cover every surface of the outside and inside of the concert hall, making for an entirely immersive experience. The anticipation was almost painful as we waited for Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and the stand-in drummer, Bram van den Berg to take the stage. Even the beautiful stone artwork covering the walls, and the occasional bird flitting through the digital windows couldn't distract me. Finally, after a lengthy opening act, the concert began. The walls we had become so accustomed to split open, revealing the artists magnified onto the vivid screens. They began with their hit "Achtung Baby" pieces, including "Mysterious Ways" (my sister's favorite), and, at long last, "One". Though my face ached from smiling, and my voice had begun to grow hoarse, seeing that song live was absolutely incredible and had me singing even louder than before. To make a long story short, seeing U2 live was life-changing. As I said before, I would have gladly attended a concert of theirs anywhere, and I would have just as easily gone to see the magnificent graphics of the Sphere in total silence. The two together rekindled my love for U2 and has strengthened my passion for music further than I would have thought possible. I am so grateful for the opportunity to see them and for this essay for giving me the opportunity to relive these memories. Thank you, and God bless!

It’s that dirty, guilty, panicked feeling again. That monster of an emotion grips me whenever it can, whether it’s during a timed math exam or a particularly frustrating essay session. Perhaps it’s a small mistake I made, or my mind goes blank when I need it to produce a brilliant phrase to round out a paragraph. There’s no reason that I should feel like I’m being held under water, no, concrete, by an inhuman hand. But these moments of failure are utterly painful because it means that it won’t. be. perfect. It doesn’t matter what “it” is, because I have become so used to expecting perfection that when I come up empty, I can’t believe that I was ever proud of myself to begin with. Overcoming my perfectionism has been a slow but necessary part of my life. Like any mental health journey, it has come with a host of issues along the way, especially with those around me encouraging my obsession. Why discourage my mindset when it gets me these results? They’d say “I wish I was as driven as you,” or “I wish I cared so much about my grades,” after I confessed that I woke up at 3:00 a.m. again, suddenly remembering the right answer for a problem on my history exam. They would think it was funny when I shed tears over exams that I lost points on. It is, of course, understandably hard for them to see how unhealthy my expectations are when I receive nothing but praise for the results. But life isn’t about just the results. Would a man on his deathbed be considering his awards and salary as the height of his life’s achievements? Just the same, high school couldn’t be solely about points in a grade book, or I would drive myself into insanity. No joy would come of obsessing over every point. And really, what would I care about any of it in 5, 10, 20 years? Unfortunately, it was far from a quick re-evaluation that brought me to the point I am today, now comfortable enough to experiment and take risks, even in this very essay. My experience in choir, while just a part of this journey, helped to shift my understanding. After each of our performances, our choir will listen to a recording of our concert and discuss our strengths and weaknesses in that particular set. While our self-criticisms were often on minor details, like our tempo picking up at a place it shouldn’t have or our inflection being poor, our reluctant compliments went to the bigger-picture. We were proud of our emotion in the piece, or the way our blend truly made our voices sound like one. And while our criticisms might irritate us in the short term, we all care far more about those beautiful successes that we shared as a group. How could you possibly judge an intricate song with dozens of chords by that one note you were flat on? Eventually, I learned that the same applied to my academic life. The little lost points that chipped away at my self-confidence might pain me for a little while, but when time washed over the wound, I was proud that I finished the essay, or earned an A in that difficult class. Could I tell you what grade it was that I cried about for a week? No. But I could tell you about that friend I made studying for our exam or the advice a teacher gave me. It’s the larger successes in life, or even the smaller, more intimate ones that truly bring joy. Now that I have exited the worst of my perfectionism, I have earned the ability to reflect on my experiences and put to action what I have learned. The massive shift in perspective I have gained allows me to relate on a personal level to the internal struggles of others. I believe that my prospective career in law will allow me to implement these skills, and I have already begun to do so in my volunteer service at Bothell Youth Court. Though a part of this is in leadership among my peers, strong empathy is far more impactful in the restorative justice process we implement in each of our hearings. Empathy is a massive part of our task, and we put a great deal of emphasis on truly understanding each of our respondents and their situations. When looking at me, very few people could see the roiling anxiety beneath my skin, and my experiences have taught me that others could easily have the same issues. Practicing patience and kindness is always a priority, and it is something that I will continue for the rest of my life. More specifically, when it comes time to question our teen respondents, I take extra care to allow him or her to speak for themselves without presenting my ideas over theirs. We speak a lot about implicit bias and the harms that it can produce in the law world. A person’s situation is hardly ever obviously discernible, just as it never was for me, but approaching every situation with consideration and respect ensures that we might all come out of the issue with true justice being served. Thank you so much for considering my essay for this scholarship. Overcoming the adversity in my life has shaped who I am today and will certainly continue to form me as an adult. With two ambitious children, my family is struggling to figure out how they will pay for each of our educations, especially when we both work so hard to earn every one of our successes. Again, I appreciate you taking the time to learn my story, and I hope that you might see the strength in me to continue good works for the rest of my life, ensuring that the stories of others might be heard just as mine was today.

As an avid reader, I can hardly keep track of the flow of books that enter my rapid consumption. One after another, I download them onto my Kindle (for they've already taken two too many rooms of my house) and devour mystery, fantasy, science fiction, romance, and classic literature in a matter of days. With my reading so driven by what I choose for myself, the book I would have everyone read is, surprisingly, one assigned to me for English class. Having to read and actually absorb something over summer vacation is never all that appealing, especially when there's dozens of other books practically begging for my attention. However, C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" was entirely unique in how it struck me. A written anthology of the speeches he gave to Britain during World War Two, "Mere Christianity" is easily approachable as it gives concise yet profound insights into Christianity. Instead of merely highlighting the cheerful and encouraging aspects of the gospel, Lewis builds up Christianity from its innermost core, layering well-crafted arguments in response to frequently asked questions. He pushes his audience to view Christianity with a fresh lens, regardless of their current beliefs. "Mere Christianity" leaves the reader educated on Christianity's views and equipped to share with others. I challenge everyone to read this book irrespective of their stance on religion. "Mere Christianity" can speak into anyone's questions and ignite curiosity about Christianity, as Lewis himself came from a strongly atheistic background. His unique perspective enabled him to address the public's largest concerns and arguments surrounding the religion. This, coupled with his intelligence and conversational style, keeps even a skeptic eager to see how he nails each point down. Those bold enough to pick up a book with theism printed on the cover will undoubtedly benefit from doing so. Since returning "Mere Christianity" to my English teacher, I have added it to my own Kindle collection for re-reading. Though I cannot claim that I originally selected it myself, I feel that I have chosen it anew as a book that truly made a difference in my life, which cannot be said for many of my favorite novels. I sincerely hope that I have made a good case for "Mere Christianity," and that you, my own reader, might consider choosing it for yourself. Thank you for your consideration.

Generational wealth means security for a future family. It means a life without the tension of money and a safe future for my children. I have been lucky enough to be raised by parents and grandparents that worked hard to secure wealth for our family, and I will not waste their labor by not implementing those same practices in my own life. I am a hardworking student, and I put a lot of effort into school because I understand that the work will benefit me in the future. Earning an "A" or maintaining a 4.0 GPA does not merely assist me on my journey to a good college, but these habits will guide me through not only secondary education but also the workforce. I believe that my work ethic will serve me well in a potential law degree, which is how I hope to spend my time in college. Winning scholarships like this one will help me to succeed in college and ultimately obtain wealth for myself and my future family. However, as a Christian, defining my life by how much money I have, or how profitable my job is is not a worthwhile practice. Rather, the success of my life will depend on how I utilize the gifts I have been given. I believe that true generational wealth is to pass on my beliefs to my children, in the hopes that they will have the same outlook on the genuine riches of this world. To implement this practice in my own life, I am a part of the National Honor Society at my school, in which I volunteer my hours to aid my community and specifically, my school via various events. I primarily volunteer at Bothell Youth Court, where I contribute to restorative justice in traffic incidents. We deal with first-time, teen respondents and allow them to wipe the infraction from their record and instead supply them with a disposition that reconnects them with the community. I greatly appreciate the opportunity that Bothell Youth Court gives me to learn about law in an environment among both peers and seasoned members of the Bothell Municipal Court. Additionally, through Bothell Youth Court, I have learned the joy of giving back to my community and assisting respondents on a personal level, which is a wealth beyond any lawyer's salary. To conclude, I believe that generational wealth includes much more than just the money it entails. Achieving it requires a good work ethic and a passion for learning throughout one's entire life. I see these gifts as God-given, and I count them as a part of the wealth I aim to obtain for myself and my future family. Thank you for considering my application.

Primarily, Jiu-Jitsu has helped me to gain confidence. It is not often that one is in an environment in which all uncomfortable walls between people are broken. Even those with higher belt rankings treat fresher students with respect because it is understood that there are no problems that cannot be rectified with discipline and time. I have been able to apply such skills to my life both socially and academically. Though I have always been a strong student, I had not realized that there was no need for the pressure I forced onto myself. Perfection was not attainable, nor was it sustainable. In Jiu-Jitsu, although it is beneficial to perfect certain moves, whatever works in a match is good enough. The same applies to academics. Although perfecting skills and grades may seem worth the hours of stress, it truly is not. As far as my social life, I have learned to hold myself higher with the confidence I have earned through Jiu-Jitsu. Knowing that I have the power to protect myself wherever I am has allowed me to be more open around my friends and even strangers. As a whole, I plan to continue strengthening myself, whether it is through martial arts or not. As far as prestige goes, I will admit that I am not the most adept contender with my mere grey belt, but what I have accomplished has furthered my life far more than just the stripes on my belt. Thank you for considering my application.

I plan on pursuing law, which is a career path I believe can do much good in society. Whichever sector I enter law in, I can work with people, protecting and improving their lives. My current volunteer experience is in the Bothell Youth Court, in which I deal with first-time traffic offenders and assist them as they atone for their actions by giving back to the community. Unfortunately, minorities like myself are often ticketed disproportionately. Through my work, I am able to give a fair disposition among peers of the same age. I wish to continue this in the future as I enter the law field. I am very grateful for the opportunities I've had to lead up to this point. My family and school are very supportive of my accomplishments. It is because of everyone behind me that I believe my future will be bright. Thank you for considering my application.