When I was seven years old I was left home with my grandparents over Christmas. My dad had to had to have emergency back surgery in Alabama. This is when I first heard of NF. My dad, brother and I all have NF. This wasn't necessarily a club I wanted to belong to. Every year we had to go to UAB to be monitored for any possible changes. To be honest, at first it was almost like a mini vacation. We got to stay in a hotel and explore a new city. Every year we walked to help raise money for research and watch the Concourse turn blue during the NF awareness month. My complications from NF are mild compared to others: S curve in my back, ADD, and anxiety, but I am always aware that a good bill of health now does not mean that it will continue in the future. I also worry that if I have children they have a 50/50 percent chance of having NF. Even with these challenges I have maintained a 3.9 grade point average and have held a number of leadership positions including president of the thespian society. My dream is to help other people struggling with health issues to have a way to escape and and a way to connect with other people. Movies have always been my escape. Ever since my father introduced me to Star Wars, my first science fiction movie, I have been captivated by the art of world-building. It is this intricate craft that enables stories to transcend the confines of the imagination and draws viewers into a whole new world. Each movie had its own cinematic pallet, allowing colors and textures to interact and evoke a range of emotions. While I was always drawn to the overall concept of world-building, I am especially drawn to the way props and the set design worked to serve the story being told. I remember going to Goodwill one evening in an effort to find a wooden tennis racket for a character who was an elderly aristocrat. Miraculously, I found one hidden behind all the sports equipment. While this antique racket was more decorative than useful, it showed how the character was more interested in showing off his collection of items rather than the actual functionality of them. Now, I see stories everywhere, woven into the objects I collect. After movie tickets became digital, I asked for printed versions of my tickets so I could pin them on the corkboard in my room. They served as a reminder of the fun times I had at a movie theatre. Like a set piece, these small objects tell a larger story of who I am. To those unacquainted with me, a glance at this collection would unveil not only my passion for films but also my personal worldview. While the phrasing “cinematic magic” often describes the feeling of being transported to a new world, I also think that it describes what happens to connections during that short period of time. Nothing can compare to the friendships I have made through sharing a love for movies. From long night conversations over the phone ranting about new movies to sharing my Letterbox account information, my friendships have grown over a mutual love of movies. I feel I am a good candidate for this scholarship because I want to create an escape for others struggling with medical conditions like NF. I have been able to maintain at 3.9 grade point average, even with the struggles of ADD and anxiety.