BlackPink is one of the popular K-pop groups among my friends and K-Pop served as a way for me to make friends. K-pop has become mainstream, guaranteeing meeting new friends by just talking about K-pop. BlackPink’s confidence in their music videos has been impactful in me emulating their self-confidence, making me more confident. Additionally, BlackPink has become a global culture in that fans from numerous countries around the world often tune in to their new releases and often send their comments of love in their music videos. BlackPink’s fanbase is made up of Blinks from different countries and often different languages send messages of love to BlackPink in their comments, showing just how many people have been influenced by their songs. Many girl groups have impacted my confidence in their lyrics of self-confidence and with their bold lyrics about loving yourself. Another girl group that is my favorite is TWICE. TWICE has a style that I like and their songs are some of my favorites. I resonate with the group and they are one of my favorites. TWICE has now become widely known globally and is one of the most beloved girl groups. Another favorite is ITZY for their fierce songs and lyrics. ITZY isn’t like the rest, they don’t care as much for expectations and make fierce music about loving yourself. Many of these girl groups have inspired me and have helped me gain confidence and fierceness through their lyrics of self-love. A solo artist who has been inspiring is IU. Her music has been impactful in her lyrics about wanting to stay in youth and being in your twenties. Her music can either be a fun R&B song or a sad melody. IU is one of those artists that I listen to who has been inspirational in her boldness. IU has impacted global culture in her songs and lyrics which have helped people around the world in dark places. Many listeners of IU have stated how much her songs about the complexity of life have helped them get through dark times. Circling back to BlackPink, a lot of my favorite K-pop songs are from them. BlackPink’s music has had a positive impact on my life through their lyrics on loving themselves and confidence. While some songs like Shut Down are just flexes, it still gives me a sense of confidence with their unapologetic music. To conclude, BlackPink is one of my favorite K-pop groups and has enhanced my confidance as well as gained supporting fans from numerous countries who make up their fanbase of Blinks.

I’m a fan of Sabrina Carpenter for her authenticity and nuance. Carpenter is one of the few singers who is authentically herself and pursues things like activism that matter to her. I resonate with that aspect of Carpenter, as she hasn’t changed who she is to fit in with others in her field. Her career first impacted me when I saw Girl Meets World. Her character Maya Hart was different from most of the formulaic Disney original series characters. Maya was over-confident, tough, and sarcastic. Whenever she was on screen she had something to say regarding current issues or something that mattered to her. However, under the sarcasm and overconfidence was also someone vulnerable and unsure. The nuance of Carpenter’s character and her portrayal of Maya resonated with me, as she wasn’t a cookie cutter character, and the show wasn’t afraid to give her flaws and insecurities. Carpenter to me is in a word, different. She is authentic and talented and bring nuance to her field. It’s never the same old thing with Carpenter, and she is constantly changing things up and evolving in her music. Carpenter’s early music has improved vastly and I still remember listening m to “Thumbs” by Carpenter. “Thumbs” tells its own story, which Carpenter wasn’t afraid to do. She wasn’t Afia’s to be different. In conclusion, Carpenter has always been nuanced and has been doing her own thing and that aspect of Carpenter has impacted me positively.

My favorite book-to-film adaptation is The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games movies are special to me now, after having read the first book, in their display of the book’s events on the big screen. I can now appreciate that the Hunger Games movies became so popular because the Hunger Games books deserved a movie and the insane ride of a story that Suzanne Collins wrote needed to be seen on the big screen by moviegoers who may have not been familiar with the Hunger Games novels. The Hunger Games movies bridged the gap between reading and viewing experiences by getting people interested in the Hunger Games as a whole. With the popularity of the first movie, it got fans of the movies to veer into reading the books which explained things that may have been confusing in the movies and which gave more insight into things that the movies may not have captured. With this said the movies were still very faithful to the books and did their best to convey what was happening in the book, making it one of the most adequate book adaptions. After having read the first book in the series, going back to watch the movies is honestly more fun as I get to see the direction that the movies take. The movies and the books go hand-in-hand and I can proudly say that reading the Hunger Games novels did not ruin the movies for me. Reading the nnovels have given me a sort of appreciation for the movies, and now watching the movies is interesting to see what they chose to incorporate from the Hunger Games novels into the movie. The Hunger Games movies were able to transform the story of the Hunger Games books into live action. Jennifer Lawrence’s performance as Katniss perfectly encapsulated the character that Suzanne Collins wrote, getting moviegoers to see an unlikely hero that Collins had written into a tangible character. In conclusion, The Hunger Games book-to-film adaptation is special to me because of the direction it took to faithfully portray the story of the novels. From the actors who perfectly portrayed their book characters to the factual sets to the Capitol background characters and their eccentric wigs and highlighter colors were all brought to the screen from the books. The Hunger Games movies managed to bridge the gap by taking a creative and directive approach from designing sets and character costumes to display the story that the Hunger Games books told.

Seeing documentaries of people living in impoverished places and without access to proper medical treatment have always been eye-opening. Helping others to feel better through life-changing treatment is something I have felt passionate about. I have chosen the medical field as my field of interest because I know that I can help those in need of medical care through a medical degree. The medical field is also versatile, and there are many careers to choose from, meaning in some way my work can be helpful to someone. Continuing on, how I desire to create an impact is through having patients for whom I can provide medical care whether it be through prescribing medicine or surgery which all go towards the enhancement and betterment of someone’s life that has been impacted through their condition. Furthermore, I desire to create an impact by aiding as many people in need of medical care as I possibly can. There are numerous individuals with medical conditions and problems and if I can help even just one person through my medical degree, then that will leave me with a sense of fulfillment. A personal goal that will help me achieve my professional passion is getting into a university or college that is right for me so I can be on my way to attaining a medical degree! In conclusion, I have chosen the medical field so that I can have a sense of fulfillment in helping others feel and get better. I desire to create an impact through humanitarian aid, and a personal goal that will help me achieve my professional passion is getting into a university or college so I can be on my way toward my medical degree.

One of my favorite summers was when I visited Virginia Tech and Radford University through a program called the College Partnership Program. Similarly, during the school year, one of my favorite moments was visiting Shenandoah University through an AVID class. I got to see Virginia Tech, Shenandoah, and Radford University’s distinct campuses and got to learn more about thier majors, courses, and the history of the schools themselves, creating an interest in each of these distinct schools. The feeling of simply being on a campus through college visits alone was amazing and the college visits were a lot of fun. I felt like I was there as a college student embarking on their journey. It really showed me what it’s like to attend a university or college and that is an experience in itself. Even though I was not attending these schools, I honestly felt proud of myself, as if I was a student whose hard work paid off and was now in a university. I think that’s really the most influential part of the program for me. I felt like I was a student on my way to attaining a degree, and I just felt so proud. Exploring through the campus, I felt like one of the students attending the university. I felt like I had made it, that I did well and now was on my path towards a better future. Going to college to me means that I made it, it means that all my work paid off in school and that I scored well and got good grades. As uninspiring as that may seem, “making it” additionally means being proud of myself for breaking the cycle of not going to a university. Of not getting a degree. It stands for being on the path to a bright future of infinite possibilities for any career. While I’m trying to accomplish the feeling of “making it” by going to college, what I’m also trying to accomplish is not just a feeling of being proud of myself but also of one where I can help others. What I’m trying to accomplish is getting a degree in health so that I can become a doctor or some other medical practitioner. I love to write, but attaining a medical degree has always been something I have weighed with getting a degree in writing. Seeing documentaries of people in places like Pakistan who slave away building bricks which has caused multiple respiratory and health problems, stirs a feeling of wanting to act. Not being able to do anything to help is both saddening and frustrating. Seeing people without access to proper medical treatment whether it be they cannot afford it or their area does not have adequate hospitals is something I have felt strongly about in wanting to aid in some way. I know that I will need to attain medical knowledge and a degree before I can offer any real aid to others, and so a degree in health is a path towards that. In conclusion, going to college means that I’m proud of myself for attending a university or college and that I’m on the path toward a bright future. Lastly, what I am trying to accomplish is pursuing a degree in health so that I can go where people need medical care and I can do humanitarian aid which has always been something that I felt passionate about.

I love the aspect of an open world where I can explore for hours. The aspect of having an open world makes the game fun and keeps it engaging. I love exploring a randomized terrain in the game and seeing where it will take me. This resonates with me so deeply because it truly feels like I’m in that terrain, that I’m right there mining stone mountains or exploring a perilous cave where deadly mobs can generate. Additionally, my favorite aspect of the game is the continuously generating terrain that creates infinite possibilities. A mountain or even a sheep could generate next, resulting in an engaging game. I like that Minecraft has no finite amount of possibilities. A player could land in the game on one of Minecraft’s multiple unique terrains which could be anything from a snow terrain to a desert terrain or even a jungle terrain which has always been my personal favorite. The creatures and animals and wildlife vary based on the terrain, making each biome more special as unique animals and creatures spawn exclusively on them if you’re lucky enough to come across that terrain. For example, the speedy ocelots are only found in the jungle terrain, along with vines that grow distinctly in jungle trees. The dark oak trees in the jungle terrain additionally can only be found in the jungles. These jungle trees can also grow into mega trees, ones that are some of the tallest in the game. The jungle terrain has always been my personal favorite for its vibrant green colors which really bring you into the game. In conclusion, my favorite aspect of Minecraft is its open worlds where a player can embark on a new adventure on whichever terrain they land on, and, Minecraft’s distinctive landscapes are some of my favorite features of the game. It resonates with me deeply for all the fond memories of exploring a jungle terrain or snowy terrain and the feeling of awe at the unique places and creatures different biomes have.

One of my dream careers is becoming a best-selling author and having my writing be published for people to read. I have enjoyed writing and drawing comic books at an early age and it stuck with me until now. Writing is a way for me to express myself and I have a passion for storytelling and characters. Also, I have been interested in possibly pursuing the medical field. At first, I wanted to be a pediatrician. I gravitated towards the medical field because I saw it as a way to help people who are suffering and those without access to medical care. I thought of it as a way to essentially help people and I think that if I did pursue the medical field, it would give me a sense of fulfillment. Community service, philanthropy, and being in the medical field have come hand-in-hand as things that I think will lead to a sense of fulfillment. I do think that helping others wether it’s community service in my local community with making food and utilities for the homeless and underprivileged or helping children and people feel better through being in the medical field. I feel strongly about it, and I think that it could be a fulfilling thing that I could pursue. Even with writing and becoming an author, I think that could help people. I have started writing stories and they have given me a sense of fulfillment and purpose. I’ve always wanted my work to be read by others and it gives me a sense of purpose. This scholarship will help me with my career goals. After graduation and when I’m in a university or college, I will need help financing the cost of a college education as it is often expensive and can be a burden for anyone to handle while trying to pursue their dreams. This generous scholarship would be of tremendous help in lowering the financial costs of the college or university that I attend. I may plan on first going to a community college for two years to get my generals and then transfer to an in-state college or university. I am taking honors and two AP courses for English and History this year and the upcoming senior year so that I can get those college credits and possibly not have to pay for some courses. All of this is so that I can smoothly transition into a college or university and not have a lot of student debt. Thank you for your consideration!

The actor that is my favorite Spider-Man is Tom Holland. Tom Holland is able to capture the essence of the character. Holland brings a youthful energy and charm to the role in embodying the spirit of a teenage Spider-Man navigating the challenges of high school while saving the world. His portrayal of Peter Parker is relatable and endearing, making audiences root for him. Another reason Holland shines as Spider-Man is his physicality and dedication to the role. Holland performed many of his own stunts, showing his agility and athleticism in the action sequences. His background in dance and gymnastics allowed him to bring a sense of fluidity and grace to Spider-Man's movements, making the character's acrobatics look natural and exciting on screen. Also, Holland's chemistry with the other characters such as Iron Man and MJ, add depth and emotion to the character. Holland's Peter Parker deals with loss, friendship, love, and the weight of responsibility that comes with great power. Also, Holland’s enthusiasm in interviews and his down-to-earth was make him a like able actor for Spider-Man. Holland shows his love for the character of Spider-Man and works hard to bring the superhero to the big screen. Tom Holland's portrayal of Spider-Man has captured the hearts of fans, solidifying his place as the best Spider-Man actor. His talent, dedication, and charisma, has brought a new depth and authenticity to the character, redefining what it means to be Spider-Man.

The squad would be formed with Eleven, Steve, and Hopper. I would definitely bank on Eleven’s psychic prowess. Eleven is one of the most powerful characters in the show and she has honed her psychic abilities for many years, making her a stable for this squad. Eleven would also know how to go up against a new threat as she has fought them before. Additionally, Steve would be in the squad. Steve’s ‘Mom’ instincts could come in handy when making a plan to take down the new threat. He would also keep the squad safe from any peril as his ‘Mom’ instincts would watch out for the new threat. Steve is also a great friend to have in the squad for his ingenuity and smarts. He can come up with a plan to take down the new threat and would aid the squad altogether in defeating it. The third member of the squad would be Hopper. Hopper has taken down Demogorgans before and could be of great asset to the squad. Hopper is also the chief of the police in Hawkins, with his skills being an asset for the squad in taking down the new threat and he could help keep the squad together. If I had a squad in the Stranger Things series, these three characters would be my picks.

There are many series that I can watch over and over again. What makes One Piece endlessly captivating in its earlier days, when it was the Straw Hat crew exploring new islands, making new friends, and gaining more crew mates. The earlier episodes have been fun comfort episodes. The same can be said for Naruto’s first few seasons. These were nostalgic episodes that were also fun to watch. The older animation takes you back to a simpler time. I can rewatch the earlier episodes over and over again also because their story was very interesting and well written. Also, Attack on Titan is another series that I can watch over and over again. The incredible thing about the series is that most of it takes place in the future, and so when you go back to watch the first few seasons, things begin to line up and make sense. It can be mind-blowing at the foreshadowing that the author put in the earlier seasons. Attack on Titan is also simply a masterpiece and is very interesting to watch no matter the season. Every season is interesting and builds up to the next. DeathNote is another series that is endlessly captivating. DeathNote’s story was very interesting and had you rooting for many characters. It was also brilliantly written and nostalgic.

My ideal bookshelf inspired by #Booktok recommendations would have many titles. Steelstriker by best-selling author Marie Lu are must-have. These books have truly transformed the science fiction genre and have gotten me interested in seeing more books like these in the science fiction genre. Skyhunter was a phenomenal book in the duology, but Steelstriker takes it up a notch as the sequel to the book. Both Steelstriker and Skyhunter are must-haves as they are some of my favorites. Skyhunter and Steelstriker have impacted the #BookTok community with their nuanced characters and the surprising relatability of their characters and their experiences in their dystopian world. These books tackle subjects such as facing racism from the nation that took you in and loss. Additionally, The Hunger Games are must-haves inspired by #BookTok recommendations. I have just gotten into the Hunger Games trilogy, and their lore is very interesting. The #BookTok community has raved about how good the Hunger Games books are, but I didn’t get the hype until I read the first chapter of the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. The newest book in the series is a bit different from the rest in that it takes place before the events of the Hunger Games books, and it has been a very good read so far. Collins’s style of writing is really good and takes you into the minds of her characters within the Hunger Games story. Coriolanus Snow in the newest book had proven to be a very captivating narrator and character. This has gotten me interested in the Hunger Games books, and they will be additions to the bookshelf. The Hunger Games has impacted the #BookTok community in its very real characters who readers root for, which makes their tragic deaths so impactful to readers. The Hunger Games also explores many ideas and its dystopian story is not so different from our own, making its events a point of discussion. This has made The Hunger Games a beloved series in the #BookTok community. Lastly, there will be books that I have not yet read. The Fourth Wing and The Atlas Six were recommended by a friend and so was Mexican Gothic. These books have become very popular in the #Booktok community. Other notable #BookTok books are Shatter Me, The Silent Patient, Red Queen, and Shadow and Bone. These have all become popular books and staples in the #BookTok community.

I admire every aspect of Zendaya’s multifaceted career from her modeling to singing, activism, acting, and fashion. Zendaya has always been an inspirational role model for me growing up black. Seeing another black woman who was accomplished and on top of that talented, was very inspirational for me. I emulated Zendaya because I wanted to be just like her. She was a role model for me growing up as I saw myself in her. One aspect of her multifaceted career that I admire is her activism. Zendaya’s activism has been something I have admired from her, in that she raises awareness for many causes using her platform. It means a lot to me to see her in activism and it has also been inspirational for me in pursuing community service. Another aspect of her multifaceted career that I admire is her singing. I remember listening to Replay by Zendaya countless times as a kid, and that is not only because the song is super catchy but also because her singing symbolized so much. To reiterate, seeing Zendaya sing and act reinforced to me as a kid that I could also sing and dance, something I was passionate about. While Zendaya may not have persuaded her singing career as much as her fashion and acting careers, her singing has still left a dent in me as a kid, seeing another black woman who is talented and who is recognized and succeeding. I saw Zendaya as an older sister figure when I was younger and latched onto her as a role model. Additionally, Zendaya’s acting and modeling are aspects of her career that I also admire. Seeing another black woman on the face of Vogue magazine has in a way altered my brain chemistry. She has been so influential in the fashion and acting field as a notable and respected fashion icon and actress. She has changed these fields, showing black faces in these fields which oftentimes did not represent many people. Zendaya's being in these fields has greatly contributed to the onset of more black models and people of color getting the spotlight in their fields and being seen.

It would be Skyhunter and it’s follow-up, Steelstriker by Marie Lu. Both books are science fiction, which are a few of the only science fiction books that has me interested in its story building of the nation of Mara, where our hero, Talin, resides, and the bordering Karnesa, where the villains reside just outside their borders. Skyhunter follows Talin, a mute Striker solider who fights Ghosts which were people from the Federation tuned into monsters who are then scattered across the borders of Mara, the nation that she has sworn to defend. How did Talin loose her ability to speak? By the Federation, who used a chemical gas which suffocated her voice. There are pay-offs to every detail in the book, and lost times it leaves you surprised at the drastic turns it takes. Talin and her mother escaped the Federation’s raid of their home nation Basea, bordering Mara. Talin is a Basean refugee who fled to Mara, but her people are treated like rats, living on the outer rims of Mara. The book delves into protecting a nation that took you in, yet won’t allow you inside its city borders because you are seen as inferior. Talin becomes a soldier to protect Mara from what happened to her home nation. The reason everyone should read this book is because it eloquently expressed in the thoughts and common shared feelings of the protagonist, Talin. It talks about her trauma as a refugee and most of the book is her inner dialogue which gives insight to her character. It changed the way I viewed science fiction, and I am now more open to the kinds of stories that this genre offers.

My dad is the first person I think of. He’s encourage me to go to a university or college since early on, wanting me and my siblings to have better career paths. Whenever I would tell him about my fears and anxieties for the future and with growing up, he’s been reassuring that everything will be okay. Similarly, when I talk to him about social anxiety and not wanting to go to school anymore, he’s been a supportive listener to my concerns while establishing that he has no choice but for me to go to school until I graduate. He also lets me know that I am enough and that I don’t need my peers’ approval to like myself. He’s told me that not everyone needs to be my friend, and that sometimes you drift away from your best friends, that it’s natural. He’s helped me to realize my full potential by taking me to therapy which has helped me with cognitive distortions. He’s been supportive of me going to get counseling for social anxiety and depression. When I feel like giving up and don’t want to do things, my dad has been an anchor pushing me to succeed. He knows that it’s easier to quit than to work hard, so he wants me to take the later route and do something with my life. He’s helped me as I’ve evolved into different people and has been there to offer his guidance. He knows I can succeed and live the life I want with a career I love when I myself don’t see it. He sees my potential to get the careers I want and live a fulfilling life. Without him, I would have given up on my life and myself. My dad has helped me to realize my full potential in being a doctor and author. He’s seen the stories I’ve written and thinks they are good, encouraging me to keep writing stories and to share my imagination with others. My dad has profoundly impacted my life by helping me realize my full potential. He’s helped my realize my full potential by being the person who’s beloved in me and seen my success before I had seen it myself. He’s led me from the path of a mediocre life and into the path of success and he doesn’t take credit for it. He sees it as his job and has been my support.