Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to enlighten it. My name is Science Messiah, and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, a student who helps other students facing emotional and mental health challenges. I do this in a mindfulness room at my school, a space designed for students to find peace when they need it most. One day, a student walked into our room looking anxious, so I invited them to sit beside me. I sat them down and held their hands closely. I suggested that we start with breathing exercises. As we breathed together, I watched their shoulders relax, and their tension started to fade. And I watched my body do the same. That moment took me back to my own past. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates, recess, or a sense of belonging with anyone my age. When I finally entered a school building in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone might notice, but no one and nothing came. I had no social skills, so I was a quiet kid for my remaining year. I felt invisible. I had no sense of school pride because I didn’t see that pride in myself. Eleventh grade was when it hit. I got tired of waiting for someone to be there for me, so I decided to become the person I always needed. Something had to change, so I ran for class president. I started to doubt my ability to change. How can I become something bigger than myself? How can I become someone that speaks out and stands for students like me? Then I won. I actually won. I spoke out confidently, I made connections with classmates, and I started to feel a part of something. And while in office, I discovered that many students felt overlooked, just as I once did. That experience led me to become a mindfulness ambassador. I created Zen Zone, a peer-led mindfulness program that now supports more than fifty students. There, I was able to lead daily affirmations, teach breathing techniques, and help shape a stronger culture of love throughout my school. Through each student I guided, I learned that the heart of leadership is helping people shine the brightest. When that same student from before hugged me and whispered “thank you,” they didn’t realize they were also helping me. Being there for others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time I help someone find peace, I feel like I’m reaching back to comfort my younger self. The light I carry today was shaped in moments that can be fun while also intentional and quiet. I am deeply interested in forensic psychiatry because I have a strong passion for understanding people. I want to understand everything the mind has to offer to give more of myself to others and grow a stronger sense of empathy. I want to take Psychology as a major to further grow myself as a leader academically while also helping shaping a beautiful future for my community. With enough resources to support me, I feel like I will be able to make a difference in not just college but the world around us. Because wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.

Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to enlighten it. My name is Science Messiah, and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, a student who helps other students facing emotional and mental health challenges. I do this in a mindfulness room at my school, a space designed for students to find peace when they need it most. One day, a student walked into our room looking anxious, so I invited them to sit beside me. I sat them down and held their hands closely. I suggested that we start with breathing exercises. As we breathed together, I watched their shoulders relax, and their tension started to fade. And I watched my body do the same. That moment took me back to my own past. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates, recess, or a sense of belonging with anyone my age. When I finally entered a school building in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone might notice, but no one and nothing came. I had no social skills, so I was a quiet kid for my remaining year. I felt invisible. I had no sense of school pride because I didn’t see that pride in myself. Eleventh grade was when it hit. I got tired of waiting for someone to be there for me, so I decided to become the person I always needed. Something had to change, so I ran for class president. I started to doubt my ability to change. How can I become something bigger than myself? How can I become someone that speaks out and stands for students like me? Then I won. I actually won. I spoke out confidently, I made connections with classmates, and I started to feel a part of something. And while in office, I discovered that many students felt overlooked, just as I once did. That inspired me to create opportunities for connection. I then became a mindfulness ambassador. I created Zen Zone, a peer-led mindfulness program that now supports more than fifty students. There, I was able to lead daily affirmations, teach breathing techniques, and help shape a stronger culture of love throughout my school. Through each student I guided, I learned that the heart of leadership is helping people shine the brightest. When that same student from before hugged me and whispered “thank you,” they didn’t realize they were also helping me. Being there for others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time I help someone find peace, I feel like I’m reaching back to comfort my younger self. The light I carry today was shaped in moments that can be fun while also intentional and quiet. I am deeply interested in forensic psychiatry because I have a strong passion for understanding people. I want to understand everything the mind has to offer to give more of myself to others and grow a stronger sense of empathy. I want to take Psychology as a major to further grow myself as a leader academically while also helping shaping a beautiful future for my community. With enough resources to support me, I feel like I will be able to make a difference in not just college but the world around us. Because wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.

Your spark is something only a few people learn how to protect, and I had to grow into mine the hard way. To me, that spark is part of what Black excellence means. It means trying your best no matter what happens as a minority and rising even when the odds are not on your side. My name is Science Messiah. I am seventeen years old, raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and the person I am today was shaped by people who did not always know they were teaching me anything at all. Growing up Black in my city taught me that excellence is not perfection. It is refusing to give up even when life gets heavy. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, supporting students who face emotional challenges. Every day I sit in a small mindfulness room that feels like a shelter. Before all of this, there was someone who guided me early on. His name was Coach Ernie. Before he passed away in twenty twenty three, he trained me at Lightning Quick Fits. I was a young boy trying to learn how to stand strong, and he was the first adult who looked at me and saw potential. He taught me how to box, but more importantly, he taught me how to breathe through fear. After he passed, his lessons echoed louder. When I help students breathe through their panic, I feel myself passing on the same calm he once gave me. That is also Black excellence. It is carrying the lessons of those who built you and giving them to others. But long before mentors, there was the boy I used to be. I was homeschooled, invisible, and alone. When I finally entered a real school in eighth grade, I felt unprepared. I did not know how to talk to people my age. No one noticed me, and those silent years taught me that the world does not hand you connection. You build it. That realization was my first step toward becoming who I am now. In eleventh grade, I stopped waiting to be included and became the person I needed. I ran for class president even though I doubted myself, and I won. That victory gave me confidence, friendships, and a voice. My classmates Dillon, Isaiah, Jaden, and Ahdiya supported me in ways that mattered. They taught me that leadership is not about being above anyone but being present with people. I became a Student Ambassador and helped organize schoolwide programs such as BDS Coffeehouse, BDS Pi Day, and BDS Olympics Day. Watching students come together during the Olympics event made me understand that leadership creates belonging. That sense of community built purpose inside me. That purpose led me to create Zen Zone, a peer led mindfulness program supporting more than fifty students each week. Guiding others helped me heal my own younger self. Every time someone thanked me, I felt myself thanking them too. Strength through care is where my version of Black excellence lives. These experiences are the reason I want to pursue forensic psychiatry. I want to understand people deeply and support those who feel overlooked. With the right education, I hope to build programs that bring mental health resources to youth who need them most. Wherever I go, I will carry the light others helped me discover and help others find their own. To me, that is the highest form of Black excellence.

Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to enlighten it. My name is Science Messiah, and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, a student who helps other students facing emotional and mental health challenges. I do this in a mindfulness room at my school, a space designed for students to find peace when they need it most. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates, recess, or a sense of belonging with anyone my age. When I finally entered a school building in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone might notice, but no one and nothing came. I had no social skills, so I was a quiet kid for my remaining year. I felt invisible. I had no sense of school pride because I didn’t see that pride in myself. Eleventh grade was when it hit. I got tired of waiting for someone to be there for me, so I decided to become the person I always needed. Something had to change, so I ran for class president. I started to doubt my ability to change. Then I won. I actually won. I spoke out confidently, I made connections with classmates, and I started to feel a part of something. And while in office, I discovered that many students felt overlooked, just as I once did. That inspired me to create opportunities for connection. I then became a Student Ambassador who organized many events such as BDS Coffeehouse, BDS Pi Day, and finally BDS Olympics Day. Those were events filled with different games, teamwork among classmates, and fun times in general. It reminded me that leadership is not just about helping people around me; it’s about helping them feel like they belong while also allowing yourself to feel the same. That experience led me to become a mindfulness ambassador. I created Zen Zone, a peer-led mindfulness program that now supports more than fifty students. There, I was able to lead daily affirmations, teach breathing techniques, and help shape a stronger culture of love throughout my school. Through each student I guided, I learned that the heart of leadership is helping people shine the brightest. Being there for others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time I help someone find peace, I feel like I’m reaching back to comfort my younger self. The light I carry today was shaped in moments that can be fun while also intentional and quiet. I am deeply interested in forensic psychiatry because I have a strong passion for understanding people. I want to understand everything the mind has to offer to give more of myself to others and grow a stronger sense of empathy. I want to take Psychology as a major to further grow myself as a leader academically while also helping shaping a beautiful future for my community. With enough resources to support me, I feel like I will be able to make a difference in not just college but the world around us. Because wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.

Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to enlighten it. My name is Science Messiah, and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, a student who helps other students facing emotional and mental health challenges. I do this in a mindfulness room at my school, a space designed for students to find peace when they need it most. One day, a student walked into our room looking anxious, so I invited them to sit beside me. I sat them down and held their hands closely. I suggested that we start with breathing exercises. As we breathed together, I watched their shoulders relax, and their tension started to fade. And I watched my body do the same. That moment took me back to my own past. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates, recess, or a sense of belonging with anyone my age. When I finally entered a school building in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone might notice, but no one and nothing came. I had no social skills, so I was a quiet kid for my remaining year. I had no sense of school pride because I didn’t see that pride in myself. Eleventh grade was when it hit. I got tired of waiting for someone to be there for me, so I decided to become the person I always needed. Something had to change, so I ran for class president. I started to doubt my ability to change. Then I won. I actually won. I spoke out confidently, I made connections with classmates, and I started to feel a part of something. And while in office, I discovered that many students felt overlooked, just as I once did. I then became a Student Ambassador; a person who in charge of events such as BDS Coffeehouse, School Pi Day, and finally BDS Olympics Day! That was an event filled with different games, teamwork among classmates, and fun times. It reminded me that leadership is not just about helping people around me; it’s about helping them feel like they belong while also allowing yourself to feel the same. That experience led me to become a mindfulness ambassador. I created Zen Zone, a peer-led mindfulness program that now supports more than fifty students. There, I was able to lead daily affirmations, teach breathing techniques, and help shape a stronger culture of love throughout my school. Through each student I guided, I learned that the heart of leadership is helping people shine the brightest. When that same student from before hugged me and whispered “thank you,” they didn’t realize they were also helping me. Being there for others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time I help someone find peace, I feel like I’m reaching back to comfort my younger self. I am deeply interested in forensic psychiatry because I have a strong passion for understanding people. I want to understand everything the mind has to offer to give more of myself to others and grow a stronger sense of empathy. I want to take Psychology as a major to further grow myself as a leader academically while also helping shaping a beautiful future for my community. With enough resources to support me, I feel like I will be able to make a difference in not just college but the world around us. Because wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.

Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to protect it. My name is Science Messiah and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, supporting students facing emotional challenges. Every day I sit in a small mindfulness room designed for students to find peace when they need it most. One afternoon, a student came in anxious and shaking. I invited them to sit beside me, held their hands, and suggested we start with breathing exercises. As we breathed together, their tension eased and I felt mine do the same. That moment reminded me of my own past. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates or a sense of belonging. When I finally entered a school in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone would notice. No one did and I felt unseen. Eleventh grade was when I stopped waiting. I ran for class president, doubted myself, and then won. I made connections with classmates and discovered that many felt overlooked, just as I once did. This inspired me to create opportunities for connection and community. I became a Student Ambassador, organizing events like BDS Coffeehouse, Pi Day, and Olympics Day, learning that leadership is not just helping people around me it is helping them feel like they belong. My interest in psychology and mental health grew from this work and I created Zen Zone, a peer led mindfulness program that now supports over fifty students. Guiding others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time a student thanks me, I feel like I am comforting my younger self. Sabrina Carpenter’s career has also impacted me in unexpected ways. Watching her grow from a Disney star to a singer songwriter and actress who navigates challenges in the public eye has shown me the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and owning your voice. Her path reminds me to keep striving toward my goals even when they feel far away. Taylor Swift’s performance of “All Too Well” at the Grammys also resonates with me. Seeing her transform personal pain into something powerful reminded me how to channel vulnerability into strength. It mirrors my work with students, guiding them to find their voice and resilience through mindfulness. Both artists inspire me to show up authentically and use my own experiences to uplift others. Wherever I go, I will carry the light others helped me discover and help others find their own. Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift remind me that growth is ongoing, challenges can become opportunities, and using your voice can impact not just yourself but everyone around you.

Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to protect it. My name is Science Messiah and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, supporting students facing emotional challenges. Every day I sit in a small mindfulness room designed for students to find peace when they need it most. One afternoon, a student came in anxious and shaking. I invited them to sit beside me, held their hands, and suggested we start with breathing exercises. As we breathed together, their tension eased and I felt mine do the same. That moment reminded me of my own past. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates or a sense of belonging. When I finally entered a school in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone would notice. No one did and I felt unseen. Eleventh grade was when I stopped waiting. I ran for class president, doubted myself, and then won. I made connections with classmates and discovered that many felt overlooked, just as I once did. This inspired me to create opportunities for connection and community. I became a Student Ambassador, organizing events like BDS Coffeehouse, Pi Day, and Olympics Day, learning that leadership is not just helping people around me it is helping them feel like they belong. My interest in psychology and mental health grew from this work and I created Zen Zone, a peer led mindfulness program that now supports over fifty students. Guiding others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time a student thanks me, I feel like I am comforting my younger self. Sabrina Carpenter’s career has also impacted me in unexpected ways. Watching her grow from a Disney star to a singer songwriter and actress who navigates challenges in the public eye has shown me the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and owning your voice. Her willingness to create her own path reminds me to keep striving toward my goals, even when they feel far away. I see her journey as a blueprint for resilience and creativity, qualities I apply when leading students, building programs, and pursuing forensic psychiatry. Wherever I go, I will carry the light others helped me discover and I will help others find their own. Sabrina Carpenter’s example reminds me that growth is ongoing, challenges can be opportunities, and using your voice can impact not just yourself but everyone around you.

Your spark is something only a few people have, and mine was shaped by the steps I took to protect and grow it. My name is Science Messiah, and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. For the past year I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, a student who helps others manage emotional and mental stress. I work in my school’s mindfulness room, a calm space created for students who need support. One afternoon a student walked in with anxiety written all over their body. I asked them to sit with me and I held their hands gently. I guided them through slow breathing until their shoulders relaxed and their voice steadied. I grew up homeschooled with no classmates, no recess, and very little social interaction. When I entered a school building for the first time in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I did not know how to talk to people my age and I carried that silence throughout the year. I wanted to feel connected but I did not believe I belonged anywhere. That loneliness stayed with me longer than I expected. Everything shifted in eleventh grade when I realized I could no longer wait for someone to be there for me. I decided to become the person I always needed. Even though I doubted myself, I ran for class president. My work eventually led me to create Zen Zone, a peer led mindfulness program that now supports more than fifty students each week. Through daily affirmations, breathing practices, and emotional guidance, I helped build a stronger culture of care within my school. Each time a student thanked me, I felt like I was also healing my younger self. I am deeply interested in forensic psychiatry because I have a strong passion for understanding people. I want to understand everything the mind has to offer to give more of myself to others and grow a stronger sense of empathy. I want to take Psychology as a major to further grow myself as a leader academically while also helping shaping a beautiful future for my community. With enough resources to support me, I feel like I will be able to make a difference in not just college but the world around us. That is my light. My fire. Because wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.

Your spark is something only a few people learn how to protect, and I had to grow into mine the hard way. To me, that spark is part of what Black excellence means. It means trying your best no matter what happens as a minority and rising even when the odds are not on your side. My name is Science Messiah. I am seventeen years old, raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and the person I am today was shaped by people who did not always know they were teaching me anything at all. Growing up Black in my city taught me that excellence is not perfection. It is refusing to give up even when life gets heavy. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, supporting students who face emotional challenges. Every day I sit in a small mindfulness room that feels like a shelter. One afternoon, a student came in anxious and shaking. I invited them to breathe with me, slow and steady, until the tension left their shoulders. Moments like that help me understand what Black excellence looks like in my life. It is not about trophies. It is about showing up for others the same way I wish someone had shown up for me. Before all of this, there was someone who guided me early on. His name was Coach Ernie. Before he passed away in twenty twenty three, he trained me at Lightning Quick Fits. I was a young boy trying to learn how to stand strong, and he was the first adult who looked at me and saw potential. He taught me how to box, but more importantly, he taught me how to breathe through fear. After he passed, his lessons echoed louder. But long before mentors, there was the boy I used to be. I was homeschooled, invisible, and alone. When I finally entered a real school in eighth grade, I felt unprepared. I did not know how to talk to people my age. No one noticed me, and those silent years taught me that the world does not hand you connection. You build it. That realization was my first step toward becoming who I am now. In eleventh grade, I stopped waiting to be included and became the person I needed. I ran for class president even though I doubted myself, and I won. That victory gave me confidence, friendships, and a voice. My classmates Dillon, Isaiah, Jaden, and Ahdiya supported me in ways that mattered. They taught me that leadership is not about being above anyone but being present with people. I became a Student Ambassador and helped organize schoolwide programs such as BDS Coffeehouse, BDS Pi Day, and BDS Olympics Day. Watching students come together during the Olympics event made me understand that leadership creates belonging. That sense of community built purpose inside me. That purpose led me to create Zen Zone, a peer led mindfulness program supporting more than fifty students each week. Guiding others helped me heal my own younger self. Every time someone thanked me, I felt myself thanking them too. Strength through care is where my version of Black excellence lives. These experiences are the reason I want to pursue forensic psychiatry. I want to understand people deeply and support those who feel overlooked. With the right education, I hope to build programs that bring mental health resources to youth who need them most. Wherever I go, I will carry the light others helped me discover and help others find their own. To me, that is the highest form of Black excellence.

The night I began thinking seriously about my future, I had a dream that felt strangely prophetic. In it, I missed my own graduation. My family insisted they saw me walk across the stage, yet I knew I never entered the auditorium. I remained on my couch, half awake and half searching for myself. I understand now that the dream was not about failure or absence. It was a symbol. I had already grown, already crossed a threshold internally, but I had not yet stepped into that version of myself in the real world. Something in me believed I had already graduated, but another part was still afraid to claim it. After that moment, the dream shifted. I found myself in a vast hotel filled with strangers and familiar faces from school. The rooms transformed into long, twisting corridors that seemed to reflect the confusion inside me. I met four tourists and chose the one who was the wildest. He screamed and spun through the space as if he belonged to chaos. I followed him because I recognized something important. I have always been drawn to people who live on the edges of stability. I want to understand the minds that others avoid. My dream of becoming a forensic psychiatrist is not a random decision. Even my subconscious moves toward the misunderstood and the unpredictable. The tourist was not just another person in a dream. He was a reflection of the part of me that is not afraid to confront the human mind even in its most volatile states. The dream then placed me back on my couch. I was scrolling through TikTok, allowing one repeating sound to grow louder until everything felt overwhelming. Eventually the world in the dream went silent, as if the noise had pushed me past my limits. I felt myself losing the ability to hear, not physically but mentally, the way a person becomes deaf to themselves when distractions start to control them. Suddenly a girl rose from beneath the couch and pulled me upward with a force that felt entirely real. When I woke up, I realized she represented something significant. She was the part of me that refuses to stay trapped under comfort or fear. She dragged me out of passivity and toward the life that keeps calling me forward. Another dream followed that night. In it, I walked with a cane and moved with difficulty. My mother told me I was struggling because I was walking too straight. I was trying to be perfect, and perfection was slowing me down. When I relaxed, I could walk again. That moment taught me something I needed to hear. Growth does not come from rigidity or the constant attempt to avoid mistakes. Growth comes from movement, even messy movement. I cannot evolve if I freeze every time I fear doing something wrong. That dream taught me to abandon the illusion of perfection and commit myself to progress instead. A few days later, I encountered a line from Marcus Aurelius that made everything click. He wrote that a person has power over their mind, not outside events, and that realizing this is the beginning of strength. I read the line, but I felt it more than I understood it. My dream had already shown me the same truth. The missed graduation, the hotel of shifting rooms, the chaotic tourist, the overwhelming noise, the girl pulling me upward, and the struggle to walk all reflected an internal journey, not an external one. The ancient text revealed the meaning of what my subconscious had been trying to teach me. I cannot control how life will unfold around me. I cannot control who stays, who leaves, what opportunities arise, or what challenges appear. I cannot control the chaos of the world any more than I could control the chaos inside the hotel in my dream. But I can control who I choose to become within that chaos. I can control how I interpret the moments that confuse me. I can control whether I hide on the couch or let myself be pulled upward into growth. The darkest images in my dreams, including the unstable environment and the broken people around me, were not predictions of my future. They were reflections of what I fear and what I am determined to rise above. They showed me that I have seen both sides of the world, and I still choose the path that leads me toward understanding and helping others. They reminded me that strength does not come from avoiding the shadows but from deciding who you will be when you walk through them. My dreams taught me that I am not defined by the events around me but by the choices I make within them. Marcus Aurelius gave me the language for what I felt. My subconscious gave me the imagery. Together, they taught me that I am ready to step into my next chapter with intention rather than running from uncertainty. I am ready to graduate into the person I have been becoming all along.

I always describe myself as someone who carries light even when life feels heavy. I grew up learning how to make something out of very little, how to turn pressure into purpose, and how to show up for people the way I once wished someone would show up for me. That shaped almost everything about me. I am empathetic, observant, and gentle with people’s feelings, but I am also determined and hungry to make change. Every leadership role I have taken, from Class President to creating mindfulness spaces at school, came from the same place in my heart. I want people to feel seen. I want them to feel capable. I want them to feel like they matter. That is exactly why I want to become an educator. To me, teaching is one of the most direct ways to change the world. A teacher can shift the entire direction of a young person’s life just by believing in them, supporting them, or giving them the tools to understand themselves. I have already felt this impact through my service as a Mindfulness Ambassador. I watched anxious students find calm for the first time. I watched shy students open up. I watched people who thought they were alone suddenly feel supported. Those moments taught me that the classroom is not just a place for learning facts. It is a place for nurturing confidence, building emotional resilience, and shaping how young people see themselves. In my career, I want to be the kind of educator who blends academic learning with emotional care. I want my classroom to feel like a safe space where students can breathe, grow, and express their full potential. I hope to bring mindfulness practices, emotional awareness strategies, and community building activities into my teaching style so students not only learn but feel grounded and empowered. My goal is to guide students through challenges with compassion and help them find their strengths, especially the ones they do not yet recognize. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by uplifting the next generation one student at a time. If I can help them build confidence, discover their voice, and believe in their future, then I will be fulfilling the purpose that has been growing inside me since I was young. That is the legacy I hope to leave behind, a legacy built on service, empathy, and the power of education to change lives.

Service has never been something I treat like a requirement. It is the way I breathe in my community. Every act of kindness I have offered has been shaped by the place I come from, the people who raised me, and the belief that even one gentle action can shift a person’s day. As a Youth Mindfulness Ambassador, I spend my time creating calm for students who often feel like life is pressing too hard on their shoulders. The Zen Zone I built became more than a quiet room. It became a refuge. More than fifty students have walked through that space, carrying stress, anxiety, or frustration, and left feeling lighter. I have guided breathing exercises for peers who did not know how to steady their heartbeat. I have sat with students who cried through exams, helped them reconnect to themselves, and reminded them that they were not alone. Those moments are my favorite acts of service because I witness real change in real time. My service also shows up in leadership. As Class President and an event organizer, I created programs that brought people together and helped our school feel more like a family. Coffeehouse nights, Pi Day celebrations, and our annual Olympics Day were not just events. They were opportunities to make students feel seen, included, and inspired. I gave people a place to laugh, celebrate, and share talents they did not always feel confident showing. Leadership became my way of uplifting others and shining a light on the potential they did not always recognize in themselves. Being raised in a low income household shaped my heart for service more than anything. I know what it feels like to need support, to hope someone will step in, to wish for guidance that is patient and compassionate. That is why I give so much of myself to others. Every act of service is connected to the child I once was, the one who needed reassurance and a sense of belonging. My educational goals continue this same path. I plan to study psychology and eventually become a forensic psychiatrist, a career that allows me to help people who have experienced trauma, instability, or emotional hardship. I want to work with individuals who are often misunderstood or overlooked and give them a voice. I want to create safe spaces the same way I created the Zen Zone, but on a larger scale and with deeper tools. Learning how the mind works will help me guide people toward healing, stability, and self understanding. It will let me take the compassion I already practice and turn it into a lifetime profession. In the future, I want to come back to communities like mine and offer affordable mental health resources, youth mindfulness programs, and workshops that teach emotional awareness and coping skills. College will give me the knowledge, training, and opportunities to turn the service I give now into something lasting and powerful. Service is not a moment for me. It is a mission. My education will give me the ability to continue making that mission real, not just for students today, but for entire communities tomorrow.

Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to nurture it. My name is Science Messiah, and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates, recess, or a sense of belonging. When I entered school in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my thoughts and feelings inside, hoping someone might notice, but no one did. I had no social skills, no confidence, and no sense of school pride. My family and I lived on a low income, and limited resources often kept me from experiences others took for granted. I could not easily join extracurriculars, explore new opportunities, or afford the tools that might have made me feel more confident and included. In eleventh grade, I decided to stop waiting for someone to be there for me and become the person I had always needed. I ran for class president, questioning if I could truly make a difference or speak up for students like me. Then I won. I spoke confidently, connected with classmates, and finally felt part of something bigger. Many students felt overlooked, just as I once did, and that inspired me to create opportunities for connection. I became a Student Ambassador and organized events like BDS Coffeehouse, BDS Pi Day, and BDS Olympics Day, where teamwork, fun, and belonging took center stage. I know what it means to overcome challenges with limited resources, and I want to use my experiences to ensure others feel supported and seen. With the right opportunities, I can impact not just college but the world around me. Wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.

Creating my photography portfolio was a journey of observation, experimentation, and storytelling. I wanted every image to reflect both a moment and the emotion behind it. I focused on subjects that mattered to me, school life, community spaces, architecture around Baltimore, and portraits of friends and peers. I paid close attention to lighting, angles, and composition, noticing how shadows on the gym floor during practice could create movement, or how the hallway windows framed my classmates in moments of quiet reflection. I spent hours planning shots, returning to the same locations multiple times to capture the perfect light. During BDS events like Coffeehouse and Pi Day, I documented students collaborating and laughing, trying to capture energy and connection rather than just a posed scene. In portrait sessions, I experimented with framing and timing to reveal personality, sometimes taking dozens of photos before finding the one that felt authentic. Editing the portfolio taught me patience and intention. Adjusting contrast, cropping, and color grading were more than technical steps. They were ways to emphasize the emotion and story behind each photograph. I learned to see beauty in subtle details, like the tilt of a head, the curve of a shadow, or the light catching someone’s eyes. By the time my portfolio came together, it was more than a collection of images. It became a reflection of my perspective, my curiosity, and my desire to show the world the moments people often overlook. Each photograph represents both what I see and how I feel, capturing connection, creativity, and the life I experience every day.

Growing up, I faced challenges that shaped both my academic journey and my drive to lead. Being homeschooled for many years meant I did not have classmates, recess, or social experiences, and when I entered public school in eighth grade, I felt completely invisible. I struggled to connect with peers, to find my voice, and to feel like I belonged. I often carried ideas and feelings silently, hoping someone would notice, and sometimes they did not. These early experiences affected my confidence and made navigating school more difficult than it needed to be. Additionally, periods of illness and personal challenges temporarily impacted my grades and test scores. Despite these obstacles, I learned that growth comes from action, not waiting. Running for Junior Class President in eleventh grade was a turning point. I pushed myself to speak up, organize events, and connect with my peers. Leading BDS Coffeehouse, Pi Day, and Olympics Day taught me how to manage volunteers, solve problems under pressure, and create experiences that brought students together. Becoming the first Mindfulness Ambassador and creating Zen Zone further strengthened my understanding of leadership, empathy, and resilience. Guiding over fifty students through mindfulness practices taught me the power of creating safe, supportive spaces and showed me that helping others can be transformative for both them and me. I plan to use my education in psychology and forensic psychiatry to give back to my community by supporting individuals who are overlooked, struggling with trauma, or navigating mental health challenges. I hope to create programs, safe spaces, and advocacy initiatives that provide guidance, support, and healing, just as I have tried to do in my school. Through my work, I want to ensure that others have the tools, encouragement, and opportunities they need to overcome obstacles and reach their potential. I want my education to allow me to lift others as I continue to grow, creating a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.

Your spark is something only a few people have because of the steps taken to enlighten it. My name is Science Messiah, and I am 17 years old from Baltimore, Maryland. Since last year, I have served as a Youth Mental Health Mindfulness Ambassador, a student who helps other students facing emotional and mental health challenges. I do this in a mindfulness room at my school, a space designed for students to find peace when they need it most. One day, a student walked into our room looking anxious, so I invited them to sit beside me. I sat them down and held their hands closely. I suggested that we start with breathing exercises. As we breathed together, I watched their shoulders relax, and their tension started to fade. And I watched my body do the same. That moment took me back to my own past. Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates, recess, or a sense of belonging with anyone my age. Not having education killed any sense of belonging I had because I didnt not reach that without having the chance to learn and understand not just people but the world around me. I lacked education to guide my emotions and to guide myself. That later led to me developing depression and severe anxiety when I first entered a school building. Because I lacked strong emotional control over myself and everyone around me. When I finally entered a school building in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone might notice, but no one and nothing came. I had no social skills, so I was a quiet kid for my remaining year. I felt invisible. I was unseen to the eyes of my teacher because they didn’t see my true work ethic. I didn’t have the knowledge to compete or the understanding of who I could be. I had no sense of school pride because I didn’t see that pride in myself. Eleventh grade was when it hit. I got tired of waiting for someone to be there for me, so I decided to become the person I always needed. Something had to change, so I ran for class president. I started to doubt my ability to change. How can I become something bigger than myself? How can I become someone that speaks out and stands for students like me? Then I won. I actually won. I spoke out confidently, I made connections with classmates, and I started to feel a part of something. And while in office, I discovered that many students felt overlooked, just as I once did. That inspired me to create opportunities for connection. I then became a Student Ambassador while organizing many events such as BDS Coffeehouse, BDS Pi Day, and finally BDS Olympics Day. This was an event filled with different games, teamwork among classmates, and fun times in general. It reminded me that leadership is not just about helping people around me; it’s about helping them feel like they belong while also allowing yourself to feel the same. That experience led me to become a mindfulness ambassador. I created Zen Zone, a peer-led mindfulness program that now supports more than fifty students. There, I was able to lead daily affirmations, teach breathing techniques, and help shape a stronger culture of love throughout my school. Through each student I guided, I learned that the heart of leadership is helping people shine the brightest. When that same student from before hugged me and whispered “thank you,” they didn’t realize they were also helping me. Being there for others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time I help someone find peace, I feel like I’m reaching back to comfort my younger self. The light I carry today was shaped in moments that can be fun while also intentional and quiet. I am deeply interested in forensic psychiatry because I have a strong passion for understanding people. I want to understand everything the mind has to offer to give more of myself to others and grow a stronger sense of empathy. I want to take Psychology as a major to further grow myself as a leader academically while also helping shaping a beautiful future for my community. With enough resources to support me, I feel like I will be able to make a difference in not just college but the world around us. Because wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.

Growing up homeschooled, I spent years without classmates, recess, or a sense of belonging with anyone my age. When I finally entered a school building in eighth grade, I felt invisible. I kept my feelings and thoughts inside, hoping someone might notice, but no one and nothing came. I had no social skills, so I was a quiet kid for my remaining year. I felt invisible. I had no sense of school pride because I didn’t see that pride in myself. Eleventh grade was when it hit. I got tired of waiting for someone to be there for me, so I decided to become the person I always needed. Something had to change, so I ran for class president. I started to doubt my ability to change. How can I become something bigger than myself? How can I become someone that speaks out and stands for students like me? Then I won. I actually won. I spoke out confidently, I made connections with classmates, and I started to feel a part of something. And while in office, I discovered that many students felt overlooked, just as I once did. That inspired me to create opportunities for connection. I then became a Student Ambassador while organizing many events such as BDS Coffeehouse, BDS Pi Day, and finally BDS Olympics Day. This was an event filled with different games, teamwork among classmates, and fun times in general. It reminded me that leadership is not just about helping people around me; it’s about helping them feel like they belong while also allowing yourself to feel the same. That experience led me to become a mindfulness ambassador. I created Zen Zone, a peer-led mindfulness program that now supports more than fifty students. There, I was able to lead daily affirmations, teach breathing techniques, and help shape a stronger culture of love throughout my school. Through each student I guided, I learned that the heart of leadership is helping people shine the brightest. When that same student from before hugged me and whispered “thank you,” they didn’t realize they were also helping me. Being there for others has become my greatest form of healing. Every time I help someone find peace, I feel like I’m reaching back to comfort my younger self. The light I carry today was shaped in moments that can be fun while also intentional and quiet. I am deeply interested in forensic psychiatry because I have a strong passion for understanding people. I want to understand everything the mind has to offer to give more of myself to others and grow a stronger sense of empathy. I want to take Psychology as a major to further grow myself as a leader academically while also helping shaping a beautiful future for my community. With enough resources to support me, I feel like I will be able to make a difference in not just college but the world around us. Because wherever I go, I will continue to share my light and help others find their own.