The Power Of Positive Thinking By Norman Vincent Peale This book completely transformed not only my way of thinking but my life. In my senior year of high school, I went through extreme depression. I was distancing myself from my friends and family, and I couldn't find a reason to get up in the mornings. I would wake up every day and there was something I would consistently notice. My mindset was always focusing on the negatives and what had gone wrong the past day rather than the positives. I came across this book and something it outlined to do consistently was speak positive affirmations. "This will be a good day" "Today is a new day" and positives just like that. I began incorporating this and everyday changes became noticeable. I noticed myself not consistently looking at the negatives as much, I also noticed myself not speaking negatively towards myself as much. As little as it was, this technique slowly helped heal me out of this depressive state. I am thankful to this author for instilling in me the value of positivity and its effect on my life!

We adopted my dog from a lady who passed away named Agnes. She had gotten the dog from another lady before her who never told her what the dog's name was. Agnes had been calling him "Fable". The next few months after we brought him home, he just wouldn't respond to Fable. One day we take him to the vet and she tells us he has a microchip. She then tells us that his name wasn't Fable all along, but instead, it is Arnold. This picture is capturing the first time we called him Arnold. A priceless photo.

In Highschool, I took an advanced film class because I have always been interested in film-making. I immediately fell in love with the class. I love that filmmakers are able to convey so many messages through film and editing. Filmmaking soon became a hobby of mine, and I began recording content almost every day. I have noticed a huge epidemic spreading amongst mine and older generations: "Distracted Driving". Distracted driving causes about 3,000 deaths per year: 3,142 deaths in 2019, 2,628 deaths in 2018, and 3,003 deaths in 2017, according to the NHTSA. In 2019, A school in my area's softball coach passed away after being struck by a driver on their phone. This was absolutely heartbreaking to hear. The Problem of Distracted Driving in America breaks my heart, and I feel convicted to work towards ending this. I am currently in college studying Elementary Education to become a teacher! Along with teaching, I want to create something bigger than myself, to help the community. When I'm out of college, I plan to start a foundation to work towards finding effective solutions to end distracted driving. I recently created this PSA about the dangers of distracted driving. By creating this PSA, I hope at least one person can walk away knowing how deadly this problem is. We as a society need to change! The link to my PSA is down below! Thank you so much for considering me for this scholarship!

On my second night of college, my roommates and I were thinking of things to do. We attended a small Christian university with not much student life. We decided to go to a gas station at midnight and get ramen and chips and have a movie night! We got back to our dorm and promptly realized we do not have a TV. Me and my roommates busted out laughing and realized that all we need really is each other. We weren't able to watch a movie, but we all just had fun eating snacks in each other's company.

Although it hasn't been created yet, I feel this new piece of technology would be absolutely groundbreaking. Several people leave Doctors frustrated or disappointed they may not have gotten an answer to the pain they're experiencing. Several people come into doctors' offices and Emergency rooms daily. Some for chronic previously diagnosed issues, and some for completely bizarre/unknown ailments. Doctors spend years in medical school studying and learning as much as they can to diagnose and treat everybody to their best ability. However, sometimes Doctors are left perplexed by some patients' unique symptoms. I believe the best solution to this, is to create a piece of technology to diagnose people. I don't have any ideas on names, but possibly something along the lines of "Diagnose-atron 3000". Here is the rundown on how it would be used and operated in the medical field. People come into the ER with specific pain and symptoms and they're unsure why. Lucky for them, with just one blood or urine test, they are instantly diagnosed. No more long-awaited answers or unclear diagnoses. The computer will give them an instantaneous answer to their possibly long experienced pain. Not only does it diagnose the patient, but lists treatment options specific to that patient. With this piece of technology, we don't have to worry about patients leaving without an answer to their pain. Patients can be leaving knowing that this incredibly accurate piece of technology diagnosed them, and they are on a path to a smooth recovery. This could catalyze an end to the medical mystery, and much more clarity in the medical field! This could be groundbreaking medical technology! However, as much as I wish I was, I am not a doctor.....this is just an idea! Technology is so expansive and open, who knows what next invention is going to come out next!

My parents are two of the hardest-working people I know. They both work overtime in their jobs just to provide for my brother and I. Because of the pandemic, My Dad lost his job. This made my family take a huge financial hit. Seeing my dad desperately looking for a job and being short on income put an unnecessarily huge burden on my Mom. After coming home from her 9-5, she then went to work nights at a cooking supply store. It’s daunting to me how parents are able to put on a mask in front of their children, so we never really know the reality they're facing. I would come downstairs to see my mom still working away at her desk around midnight. She assured me that she was fine and would tell me to go back to bed, but I genuinely knew she was struggling. I picked up two jobs to help around the house and to start putting money away for college. All while still being a full-time student. I wanted so badly for my parents to know they didn't have to work themselves thin just for my education. My normal day transitioned from going to school most of the day, to working as a lifeguard in the afternoon, to a cashier in the nighttime. Although working several jobs on top of school was been stressful, to say the least, I won’t let financial hardship end my dream of a college education. In August 2021, I was able to fund my first fall semester! This truly taught me that hard work will pay off. However, I am working hard to find as many scholarships as possible for spring semester. I know if I put my everything into it, I will be successful.

I believe health goes so much deeper than just physical/bodily health. Sure, maintaining a healthy diet and consistently exercising is fantastic for you in the long run, but this cannot be achieved without being healthy in another aspect. Mental health is often overlooked by doctors and healthcare specialists because it isn't something we can see. It is so easy to give off the impression that you are mentally thriving when in reality you could be contemplating suicidal thoughts. Yes, we should make sure we are drinking enough water, exercising and being active consistently, and eating right. This is extremely important in fostering a healthy long-term lifestyle. However, let's our that same amount of effort into our mental health! Attend therapy if you need it, reach out to someone if you're struggling, don't suffer alone! You are never alone, and there is always someone who wants to be there for you. I believe if you practice ways to maintain healthy mental health, the benefits of practicing good physical health will skyrocket as well! Although not visible, Our brains are just as important as our bodies!

I began my investing journey when I got my first job. I became fascinated with the concept of being able to "plant a seed". My father explained to me that Buying a share of a companies stock makes you a part-owner in that business. I am a very impulsive person by nature. I find that whenever something goes wrong, It tends to freak me out, and I panic. I heard this is not good in the investing realm. When making smart financial decisions, I have been told it's important to remain cool, calm, and collected. Freaking out and selling your stock too low, leads to even more financial danger than possibly the outcome before. The biggest tip I have learned overall is to make well-thought out decisions before making the next move. It's better to take a second and think before acting on Impulse. You may end up rich in the end! Just kidding....but your wallet will thank you!

My parents are two of the hardest-working people I know. They both work overtime in their jobs just to provide for my brother and I. I remember coming home from school, seeing my dad in a state I had never seen him in before. Because of the pandemic, My Dad lost his job. This made my family take a huge financial hit. Seeing my dad desperately looking for a job and being short on income put an unnecessarily huge burden on my Mom. After coming home from her 9-5, she then went to work nights at a cooking supply store. It’s daunting to me how parents are able to put on a mask in front of their children, so we never really know the reality they're facing. I would come downstairs to see my mom still working away at her desk around midnight. She assured me that she was fine and would tell me to go back to bed, but I genuinely knew she was struggling. I wanted to help so badly, so I knew what I needed to do. I picked up two jobs to help around the house and to start putting money away for college. All while still being a full-time student. I wanted so badly for my parents to know they didn't have to work themselves thin just for my education. My normal day transitioned from going to school most of the day, to working as a lifeguard in the afternoon, to a cashier in the nighttime. Although working several jobs on top of school was been stressful, to say the least, I am also looking for scholarships every day to chase my dreams. University is so expensive, and I'm really trying to avoid taking out too many loans. I know if I take out too much in loans, that will stress me out as an adult. I would love the opportunity to receive as much financial assistance as I am able. This is teaching me to be a leader and advocate for my future and my education. I won’t let financial hardship end my dream of a college education. This taught me leadership, and to work for what is important to you. I plan on sharing my story with my students and explaining to them that hard work will pay off. I hope I am teaching my students to also be kind and loving individuals as well!

I believe listening, is letting others know they are seen. In this world, it is so easy to feel forgotten and lost without purpose. Listening to someone is very intentional to me. That word is very important to me. Why not take the time to let someone know that they're not alone? Why not take the time to let someone know what their going through is valid, and the storms of life don't last forever. When my friends come to me to confide or just for advice, I make sure I'm being intentional about how I'm receiving what they're saying. There are some days where I'm genuinely not in a good headspace myself to be able to be 100% present. I want them to know their brokenness is welcome here! I am here for them! This took a long time to sit with comfortably but I've learned that's ok! I want someone to get me at my best all the time. People deserve to feel heard and loved, so this is one way I strive to make someone feel that way!

Someone who has had the most profound impact on my life and the way I choose to live it is my Nana, Diana Jones. Nana and I were like peas in a pod. It was almost impossible for someone to know us and not comment on how alike we were. We were like twin flames. From watching me while my parents worked to help me with my multiplication tables because I was so frustrated with trying to understand them. She was kind. She was gentle. She was selfless and she had a heart for people like no other. Nana inspired me to lead. She inspired me to stand up for what I believe in and to inspire other people through kindness. This led me to run for both Junior and Senior class President and I was elected as the first Black class president of Rampart Highschool. Nana encouraged me to love everybody, regardless of if I know them or not. I am currently considering a career in Education. In Education, I want kids to come to my classroom and know they are safe and loved. When I was a kid I was shy and never spoke up when I didn't understand. I want kids to feel encouraged to better themselves every day and I will set an example for them. Nana inspired me to be selfless. I created a community charity project called “Project Blankets” where I made and will donate tie blankets to the Children’s Hospital of Colorado Springs. Because of Nana, I want to make a significant impact on this world. She taught me that tomorrow is never guaranteed. I want to love and help people and leave an impact on this world.

I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something impactful, and encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. I think about the children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. This is what inspired me to do something with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I used the grant money to purchase material from the Joann Fabric Store and made 50 blankets to donate to sick kids in the Children’s Hospital. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has forever inspired me to pursue a career where I would be able to touch others and make them smile.

Choosing a career path has easily been the hardest decision I have ever made. It felt like a constant loop of confusion and uncertainty of what I truly wanted for my future. I have always known my passion in life is to help others and brighten other people's lives. If I could live every day and know I made at least one person happy, that makes me unbelievably happy. In Elementary school I was bullied, I was insecure, and I struggled academically. It was an awful experience for me. Going through what I went through taught me alot, and the thought of other kids going through experiences similar to what mine was broke my heart. I wish I had had a teacher that cared for each and every student beyond their academic success and let students know they were loved and had a safe space to talk and express themselves. I decided I want to be that for the children of the next generation, and I want to give back to the world in a positive way. That is my vision for the future and this is my passion. I want to foster an environment of growth, love, and learning. My studies are my number one priority, and I strive to be my best self in the classroom. I am so excited to pour into children's lives and form relationships with them. I am 100% confident this is my passion and I am so excited to embark on this path.

Choosing a career path has easily been the hardest decision I have ever made. It felt like a constant loop of confusion and uncertainty of what I truly wanted for my future. My dad once told me “If you truly love what you're doing you will never work a day in your life”, and that stuck with me. I decided to sit down and grab the notebook and paper next to my bed to write down what truly makes me happy in life. I became frustrated because when I wrote the ideas down on paper, my mind would race to find several reasons why the profession would be unfit for me. I have always known my passion in life is to help others and brighten other people's lives. If I could live every day and know I made at least one person happy, that makes me unbelievably happy. I struggled a lot in Elementary school. I struggled to understand the concepts as well as the other kids. None of my teachers really understood or were willing to help. Going through what I went through taught me alot, and the thought of other kids going through experiences similar to what mine was broke my heart. I wish I had had a teacher that cared for each and every student beyond their academic success and let students know they were loved and had a safe space to talk and express themselves. I decided I want to be that for the children of the next generation, and I want to give back to the world in a positive way. That is my vision for the future. I want to foster an environment of growth, love, and learning.

I struggle with anxiety disorder which makes my day-to-day a little more difficult. Some days I struggle to find a reason to keep going while some days it seems I don't feel anxious at all! It truly comes in waves. On days in particular when I can feel myself spiraling, I always struggle to find things that bring me peace. My best friend is one of the wisest people I know. One day she sat me down and said "When we begin to appreciate the little things in life, life becomes sweeter". She was totally right! I had been living day by day focused on nothing except what was making me anxious! I never even stopped to admire the things that bring me joy. The taste of pizza, the smooth texture of Nutella, the bass in certain songs, the sunset on a warm Thursday afternoon, humid weather, and so much more. I decided to find something that makes me appreciate the beauty of life when I'm experiencing an anxiety attack. I currently go to school in Golden Colorado and we have a beautiful location called lookout point! I decided to take a drive up there alone and just sit in the grass on the hill. I wanted to focus on anything except my anxiety, the pure beauty of nature and the mountains was captivating to say the least. This was incredibly soothing for me. Sometimes being reminded that I am bigger than what is making me anxious, is incredibly important for me.

I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something impactful, and encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. I think about the children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. This is what inspired me to do something with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I used the grant money to purchase material from the Joann Fabric Store and made 50 blankets to donate to sick kids in the Children’s Hospital. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has forever inspired me to pursue a career in Medicine where I would be able to touch others and make them smile.

Throughout my life, I have known my purpose was to serve more than myself. This is why I am pursuing a career in medicine. I love being involved in my church, school and community. I’ve always found my joy through helping others. With the overwhelming High School buffet of clubs, sports and extracurriculars available, I decided to join a club that would directly impact student life quality. I ran for student government and I was elected Class Vice President my Freshman and Sophomore years. I was elated to assist in making positive change for the school. On my second day of sophomore year, one of my closest friends attempted to take her own life. I was heartbroken and confused as to how I hadn’t noticed that she was struggling. A few days later I looked at the lunch table where my friends and I laughed with our eyes locked on our phones and realized I’d failed to notice the shy girl at the end of the table. She must have felt like she didn’t have anyone she could call a friend. I thought about the kid who may be battling depression and loneliness and needed to know someone cared about him. I was confronted with the reality that so many kids in my school were struggling right in front of me and I hadn’t noticed. There had to be a change and I wanted to be the one to initiate it. I decided to run for Junior Class President because I knew I was capable of leading the change. I believed I possessed the qualities of a leader; kindness, compassion and service to those around them. I set out to ensure that every student knew they mattered and that I would help give them a voice. I accomplished this by actively seeking out other social groups and activities that I hadn’t previously been involved in. I wanted to get to know my fellow students beyond my immediate friend circles. I was elected and I set out to change the culture within my High School and to emphasize the importance of mental health. In High School, it’s so easy to feel like you don't have a place you belong. If i could help make even one student feel seen and less alone I would feel like I had made a difference. I created a Remind app project called “Daily Encouragement” where I asked people around the school to join on their phones. I then sent a message of encouragement to their phones every morning. I wanted to make sure that every kid had encouragement for their day and to remind them someone cares and was cheering for them. I received feedback from around the school saying how we were making a difference. I was honored to be elected Senior Class President to represent kindness, leadership, and diversity. I am proud to be the first African American Senior Class President of Rampart High School and that accomplishment I will hold with me forever. This same friend inspired me to create a PSA on suicide and mental health and I attached the link here: https://youtu.be/UTx72In2qcw

The game of chess surrounds around understanding your opponent and adapting to their ways of playing. Throughout my life, I have known my purpose was to serve more than myself. This is why I am pursuing a career in medicine or law. I love being involved in my church, school, and community. I’ve always found my joy through helping others. With the overwhelming High School buffet of clubs, sports, and extracurriculars available, I decided to join a club that would directly impact student life quality. I ran for student government and I was elected Class Vice President my Freshman and Sophomore years. I was elated to assist in making positive changes for the school. On my second day of sophomore year, one of my closest friends attempted to take her own life. I couldn't understand why my seemingly happy friend, would do something so permannent. I was heartbroken and confused as to how I hadn’t noticed that she was struggling. This can be related back to chess in the way that your opponent may surprise you, but you need to understand their reasoning. A few days later I looked at the lunch table where my friends and I laughed with our eyes locked on our phones and realized I’d failed to notice the shy girl at the end of the table. She must have felt like she didn’t have anyone she could call a friend. I thought about the kid who may be battling depression and loneliness and needed to know someone cared about him. I was confronted with the reality that so many kids in my school were struggling right in front of me and I hadn’t noticed. There had to be a change and I wanted to be the one to initiate it. In chess, the queen is the most powerful piece. She is able to actively impact every other piece while maintaining an impactful position. I decided to run for Junior Class President because I knew I was capable of leading the change. I believed I possessed the qualities of a leader; kindness, compassion, and service to those around me. I set out to ensure that every student knew they mattered and that I would help give them a voice. I accomplished this by actively seeking out other social groups and activities that I hadn’t previously been involved in. I wanted to get to know my fellow students beyond my immediate friend circles. I was elected and I set out to change the culture within my High School and to emphasize the importance of mental health. In High School, it’s so easy to feel like you don't have a place you belong, to feel like a pon on a chessboard. Even though pons in chess is most likely to be taken, I want each pon to know they have a voice. If I could help make even one student feel seen and less alone I would feel like I had made a difference. I created a Remind app project called “Daily Encouragement” where I asked people around the school to join on their phones. I then sent a message of encouragement to their phones every morning. I wanted to make sure that every kid had encouragement for their day and to remind them someone cares and was cheering for them. I received feedback from around the school saying how we were making a difference. I was honored to be elected Senior Class President to represent kindness, leadership, and diversity. I am proud to be the first African American Senior Class President of Rampart High School and that accomplishment I will hold with me forever. I used this story in relation to chess to represent how every piece can come together and be something bigger. Although I was figurately a "Queen", every pon is important, and I want every pon to know they are heard and loved.

Throughout my life, I have known my purpose was to serve more than myself. This is why I am pursuing a career in medicine. I love being involved in my church, school, and community. I’ve always found my joy through helping others. With the overwhelming High School buffet of clubs, sports, and extracurriculars available, I decided to join a club that would directly impact student life quality. I ran for student government and I was elected Class Vice President my Freshman and Sophomore years. I was elated to assist in making positive changes for the school. On my second day of sophomore year, one of my closest friends attempted to take her own life. I was heartbroken and confused as to how I hadn’t noticed that she was struggling. A few days later I looked at the lunch table where my friends and I laughed with our eyes locked on our phones and realized I’d failed to notice the shy girl at the end of the table. She must have felt like she didn’t have anyone she could call a friend. I thought about the kid who may be battling depression and loneliness and needed to know someone cared about him. I was confronted with the reality that so many kids in my school were struggling right in front of me and I hadn’t noticed. There had to be a change and I wanted to be the one to initiate it. I decided to run for Junior Class President because I knew I was capable of leading the change. I believed I possessed the qualities of a leader; kindness, compassion, and service to those around me. I set out to ensure that every student knew they mattered and that I would help give them a voice. I accomplished this by actively seeking out other social groups and activities that I hadn’t previously been involved in. I wanted to get to know my fellow students beyond my immediate friend circles. I was elected and I set out to change the culture within my High School and to emphasize the importance of mental health. In High School, it’s so easy to feel like you don't have a place you belong. My dream is that If I could help make even one student feel seen and less alone I would feel like I had made a difference. I created a Remind app project called “Daily Encouragement” where I asked people around the school to join on their phones. I then sent a message of encouragement to their phones every morning. I wanted to make sure that every kid had encouragement for their day and to remind them someone cares and was cheering for them. I received feedback from around the school saying how we were making a difference. I was honored to be elected Senior Class President to represent kindness, leadership, and diversity. I am proud to be the first African American Senior Class President of Rampart High School and that accomplishment I will hold with me forever. Choosing a career path has easily been the hardest decision I have ever made. It felt like a constant loop of confusion and uncertainty of what I truly wanted for my future. My dad once told me “If you truly love what you're doing you will never work a day in your life”, and that stuck with me. I decided to sit down and grab the notebook and paper next to my bed to write down what truly makes me happy in life. I became frustrated because when i wrote the ideas down on paper, my mind would race to find several reasons why the profession would be unfit for me. I have always known my passion in life is to help others and brighten other people's lives. If I could live every day and know I made at least one person happy, that makes me unbelievably happy. I felt stuck on the job search and I didn't know what my true educational purpose even was anymore. I have always struggled in school, and that itself is difficult trying to understand schoolwork on my own during the pandemic. A few weeks later the covid 19 pandemic started to lighten up and I was beginning to look for jobs again to earn some money. I saw that the YMCA was hiring instructors for their daycare and I instantly applied. After my first interview with the manager, I was hired and ECSTATIC. I love kids and I love to interact and play with them. I sat down on my first day to observe what the other instructors were doing with the kids. Although it sounds cheesy, I genuinely fell in love with the feeling of the job. Helping kids learn and playing with them while they have fun instantly made me realize my true passion. In Elementary school I was bullied, I was insecure, and I struggled academically. Going through what I went through taught me a lot, and the thought of other kids going through experiences similar to what mine were back then broke my heart. I wish I had had a teacher that cared for each and every student beyond their academic success and let students know they were loved and had a safe space to talk and express themselves. I decided I want to be that for the children of the next generation, and I want to give back to the world in a positive way. My dream is to make every kid feel like they have a home, and a safe space, and someone who truly cares about them. This is truly my wildest dream. I am so excited to pour into children's lives and form relationships with them. I am 100% confident this is my passion and I am so excited to embark on this path in college.

I have struggled with weight my entire life. As a parent, taking your child to the doctor and hearing the doctor say that they weigh more than you, is a horror within itself. You can imagine my embarrassment completing the walk of shame out of the doctor's office that Thursday morning. I was passing other kids with their smiling faces, happy they got a sticker from their checkup. Meanwhile, I was walking out pondering which meal I could skip that day so that I could lose weight and make my parents proud. Entering Middle School, My parents enrolled me in a plethora of activities including Tennis, Cross Country, Track, Basketball, and Volleyball but I still found myself never losing weight. I would cry myself to sleep at night knowing that I was trying my hardest, but wondering why I was not seeing results. In Highschool, I kept up with sports and decided to play Softball. It was the only sport that I found a real passion for, I truly fell in love with the game. Being a beginner, I wasn't the best on the team. I would miss easy plays and I would strike out a lot, which already was discouraging me. One day after practice, my friend walked out of the locker room. I was super excited to talk like we usually do after practice but instead, she ignored me. I was confused as to why she blatantly ignored me. I asked my other teammate if something was going on that she knew of. The words my teammate said to me that day, were words I will never forget. She showed me a group-chat that my friend had created to talk about my weight, how slow I was, and how I'll never be good enough to play the position that she does. "She will never be as good as anyone else on this team", she said. Out of all the messages, that is the one that stung me the most. I went home and cried. I turned my Spotify to my saddest playlist and laid in bed. I distinctly remember hearing the catchy beat of this one song start. It was catchy, and something I had never really heard before. The song is Laugh Now Cry Later by Drake. "Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry but I guess you know now". I don't know why, but that line changed hit something within me. You can't cry and expect your situation to change. YOU have to change for yourself. I was done letting that girl hold power over me and make me think I wasn't worthy of being as good as her. I was tired of feeling unworthy. I decided to begin a journey to a new me. I began waking up at 5 am to workout, journaling, eating healthy, and most importantly I stopped making excuses. That song taught me perseverance, motivation, and determination. I have lost 55 healthy pounds since August, and i don't plan on quitting!

I have struggled with my weight throughout my life. I tried Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis and Karate but none of those really clicked with me. I joined the Softball team my Freshman year just to stay active. I felt a bit intimidated because I was surrounded by many amazing athletes. This heavily affected my confidence and often days it made me want to quit. I remember one of my games where it seemed like I made error after error. Seeing my coaches and parents disappointed made me feel worthless like would never be as good as the girls next to me. I really felt the urge to quit. I must have physically looked the way I felt because a parent I’d never met before approached me and said something very kind to me. Little did I know, this conversation was about to change my life forever. This parent grabbed me by the shoulder, and he listened to me. After the countless advice, lectures, and lessons from my coaches, I realized I lacked someone who actually took the time to listen to why I was struggling. After he listened to me for a while, he explained to me how much of an impact your mindset has on the way you play, and your confidence. He told me not to give up and that I’d never make it if I didn’t believe in myself. He told me the number one key to success is to believe in yourself and motivate others in the process. This not only motivated me to not only now dedicate myself to the sport but to create something bigger than myself to help other girls too. I began working out every day after practice to be in the best shape possible. I began focusing on my skills and developing confidence in my abilities. I decided to volunteer with a softball organization for younger girls to help them improve their skills and confidence as well. This not only encourages other girls to begin the same path I did but encourages positive team-building and growth. I never want another girl to feel the same way I did that day. I never want another girl to feel like she isn't good enough, or doesn't have as much potential as the girl beside her. Softball has taught me leadership through competition, humility, determination, and most importantly to be a positive example. Softball also taught me patience when helping others, and to always be kind. Most importantly, Softball has taught me how to focus on and uplift others when they’re down and that is something I will carry with me through life. That parent that day probably has no idea how much of an impact he had on my life. His guidance really opened my eyes to the importance of believing in yourself. The guidance I received that day encouraged me to strive to be the best athlete I can be every day, and I hope one day I can also encourage other young girls to do the same.

Choosing a career path has easily been the hardest decision I have ever made. It felt like a constant loop of confusion and uncertainty of what I truly wanted for my future. My dad once told me “If you truly love what you're doing you will never work a day in your life”, and that stuck with me. I decided to sit down and grab the notebook and paper next to my bed to write down what truly makes me happy in life. I have always been in love with traveling and reaching out to others around the world. I have also always known my passion in life is to help others and brighten other people's lives. If I could live every day and know I made at least one person happy, that gives me immeasurable joy. I felt stuck on the job search and I didn't know what my true educational purpose even was anymore. A few weeks later the Covid 19 Pandemic started to lighten up and I was beginning to look for jobs again to earn some money. I saw that the YMCA was hiring instructors for their daycare and I instantly applied. After my first interview with the manager, I was hired and ECSTATIC. I love kids and I love to interact and play with them. I sat down on my first day to observe what the other instructors were doing with the kids. Although it sounds cheesy, I genuinely fell in love with the feeling of the job. Helping kids learn and playing with them while they learn instantly made me realize my true passion. In Elementary school I was bullied, I was insecure, and I struggled academically. Going through what I went through taught me a lot, and the thought of other kids going through experiences similar to what mine were back then broke my heart. I wish I had had a teacher that cared for each and every student beyond their academic success and let students know they were loved and had a safe space to talk and express themselves. I decided I want to be that for the children of the next generation, and I want to give back to the world in a positive way. My best friend's family in 2019 adopted two children from Uganda. Going through the adoption and visiting process was stressful for them, and during this time I was able to learn about kids in Uganda. Their ages were 14 and 19, however, they were estimated to be about 3 grades behind simply because of the lack of education in Uganda. A lot of their teachers were struggling too or weren't properly equipped to teach the children. This has inspired me to hopefully teach abroad, and love and teach other kids in different nations. I want these kids to grow up and know they are worthy of becoming whoever they want to be, and know they have a teacher who cares for them too. I am so excited to pour into children's lives and form relationships with them. I am 100% confident this is my passion and I am so excited to embark on this path internationally.

Choosing a career path has easily been the hardest decision I have ever made. It felt like a constant loop of confusion and uncertainty of what I truly wanted for my future. My dad once told me “If you truly love what you're doing you will never work a day in your life”, and that stuck with me. I decided to sit down and grab the notebook and paper next to my bed to write down what truly makes me happy in life. I became frustrated because when I wrote the ideas down on paper, my mind would race to find several reasons why the profession would be unfit for me. I have always known my passion in life is to help others and brighten other people's lives. If I could live every day and know I made at least one person happy, that makes me unbelievably happy. I felt stuck on the job search and I didn't know what my true educational purpose even was anymore. A few weeks later the Covid 19 pandemic started to lighten up and I was beginning to look for jobs again to earn some money. I saw that the YMCA was hiring instructors for their daycare and I instantly applied. After my first interview with the manager, I was hired and ECSTATIC. I love kids and I love to interact and play with them. I sat down on my first day to observe what the other instructors were doing with the kids. Although it sounds cheesy, I genuinely fell in love with the feeling of the job. Helping kids learn and playing with them while they have fun instantly made me realize my true passion. In Elementary school I was bullied, I was insecure, and I struggled academically. Going through what I went through taught me a lot, and the thought of other kids going through experiences similar to what mine were back then broke my heart. I wish I had had a teacher that cared for each and every student beyond their academic success and let students know they were loved and had a safe space to talk and express themselves. I decided I want to be that for the children of the next generation, and I want to give back to the world in a positive way. I am so excited to pour into children's lives and form relationships with them. I am 100% confident this is my passion and I am so excited to embark on this path.

I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something impactful, and encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. This immediately broke my heart, but not for the reason you'd think. I was thinking about the sick children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. The families who wake up in the morning not knowing if their child is going to live another day. This is what inspired me to do something with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I used the grant money to purchase material from the Joann Fabric Store. I then handmade 50 blankets to donate to sick kids in the Colorado Springs Children’s Hospital. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has changed my life forever. This project inspired me to pursue a career through college in Education Or Medicine. I want to be able to touch people's lives in the way this project taught me to. I want to make others feel loved and cared for; whether that be in a classroom or a hospital. My overall dream is for me to be able to touch others' lives and put a smile on their faces every day. I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something impactful, and encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. This immediately broke my heart, but not for the reason you'd think. I was thinking about the sick children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. The families who wake up in the morning not knowing if their child is going to live another day. This is what inspired me to do something with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I used the grant money to purchase material from the Joann Fabric Store. I then handmade 50 blankets to donate to sick kids in the Colorado Springs Children’s Hospital. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has changed my life forever. This project inspired me to pursue a career through college in Education Or Medicine. I want to be able to touch people's lives in the way this project taught me to. I want to make others feel loved and cared for; whether that be in a classroom or a hospital. My overall dream is for me to be able to touch others' lives and put a smile on their faces every day.

My parents are two of the hardest working people I know. They both work 9-5 jobs just to provide for my brother and I’s futures. When the Covid 19 pandemic hit, My Dad lost his job. This affected my family greatly financially which put an unnecessarily huge burden on my Mom. I would come downstairs to get a cup of water to see my mom still working away at her desk around midnight. She would assure me that she was fine and would tell me to go back to bed but I genuinely knew she was struggling. My Mom picked up a second job and told my brother and I that it was so she could pay for our college education. I felt awful because I care so deeply for my mom, and to see her working all day and all night to pay for My future made me heartbroken. This situation really put my life in perspective. I took so many situations and opportunities for granted. It has become so common in the world to be selfish, and focus on only ourselves. I realized I went through several days without even thanking my parents for the sacrifices they have made for me. This inspired me to change. I picked up a second job to start putting money away for school along with going to class during the day. I wanted so badly for my parents to know they didn't have to work themselves thin just for my education. I am still looking for scholarships every day to chase my dreams and so my parents don’t have to worry about my brother and I. I am working hard in school and taking 8 IB advanced courses in hopes to qualify for more scholarships. Although Covid has affected my ability to pay for college, that won't stop me from pursuing my dreams. My goal is to pay off my college and earn a degree in Elementary Education to pursue my passion to help kids grow and learn. My dream is to attend college so I can make a difference in the world. Covid has certainly changed the college world, and everyone has taken away certain life lessons. For me, I am going to live every day to serve others and show appreciation for everyone I love. Life is too short to take anything for granted, so live every day to the fullest.

I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something impactful, and encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. This immediately broke my heart, but not for the reason you'd think. I was thinking about the sick children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. The families who wake up in the morning not knowing if their child is going to live another day. This is what inspired me to do something with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I used the grant money to purchase material from the Joann Fabric Store. I then handmade 50 blankets to donate to sick kids in the Colorado Springs Children’s Hospital. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has changed my life forever. This project inspired me to pursue a career through college in Education Or Medicine. I want to be able to touch people's lives in the way this project taught me to. I want to make others feel loved and cared for; whether that be in a classroom or a hospital. My overall dream is for me to be able to touch others' lives and put a smile on their faces every day.

I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something incredibly impactful, help those in need, and that is encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer to my church and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers Hope For My City grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. This makes me constantly think about the sick children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. This is what inspired me to do something big with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I didn't possess a lot of artistic skills so I decided to search the internet for things I could make myself. I took a trip to the craft store and I used the grant money to purchase material from The Fabric Store. I immediately went home and jumped on the internet to figure out what to make. I wanted to learn how to make knot-tie blankets because they're really popular with kids especially. I handmade 50 blankets to donate to kids in the Children’s Hospital. This service project was extremely impactful to me. This skill I learned helped me to make a difference in someone else's life too. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. If I won this scholarship, I would use my newfound skills in blanket making, and raise money to donate several more blankets. Seeing how big of an impact something little can have on someone's life in times of hardship has inspired me. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has forever inspired me to pursue a career in medicine or education where I will be able to touch others every day and make them smile.

With covid recently hitting, it affected my parents financial situation greatly which has also affected my ability to pay for college. This scholarship would help me greatly as I have been struggling to figure out how I will be able to afford college, however I have been applying to thousands of scholarships in hopes to fund my future. I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something impactful, and encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. I think about the children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. This is what inspired me to do something with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I used the grant money to purchase material from the Joann Fabric Store and made 50 blankets to donate to sick kids in the Children’s Hospital. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has forever inspired me to pursue a career in medicine where I would be able to touch others and make them smile. That is what inspires me to keep going every single day.

I have always been inspired to love others and serve my community. Last summer, I attended a church camp and they told us to write down what we would do if we were given $500 to help our community. I knew I wanted to do something impactful, and encouraging to the community. I submitted my answer and a few days later I was notified that I won the National World Changers grant to fund my community service project. A Children’s hospital recently opened near my home. I think about the children and their families who are probably frightened and struggling inside. This is what inspired me to do something with the grant money to try and brighten their days; even if just a little bit. I used the grant money to purchase material from the Joann Fabric Store and made 50 blankets to donate to sick kids in the Children’s Hospital. This service project taught me to think bigger than myself, and how I can serve and brighten someone else’s day. Making these blankets for the Children’s Hospital has forever inspired me to pursue a career in Medicine where I would be able to touch others and make them smile.