Leading by example: a simple, yet effective approach to spark change. Although something like holding a door open for someone or paying for the person behind you in a drive thru creates an impactful chain, I lead by example in the ways that I present myself. In middle school, I struggled to come to terms with my sexuality. Being gay was looked down upon in my household as none of my family – extended or not – had gone through the same struggles as I did. For a while, I tried to hide my identity and conform to pre-pubescent standards to avoid being called that dreaded word: gay. However, as time passed I began to come to terms with myself. I knew I couldn’t keep hiding and slowly (but surely) began expressing my true self in a more confident manner. Whether it was my wardrobe or mannerisms, I proudly showed people who I was. I’ve since learned the importance of self-love and how it reflects on other people. When I finally prioritized this important ideal, I began to express more affection to others. A simple “I love your shirt!” or “You have a great sense of humor!” can brighten someone’s day, creating a chain reaction. Many others struggle with self-image, but demonstrating empathy and affection to others can inspire one to have a more optimistic outlook on life. So, I’m just one person, but by simply leading by example, I can drive others to create their own compassionate chain reactions. Prompt 2: At a young age, I always looked forward to dumping out a big tub of LEGO Duplo pieces and building whatever occupied my young mind: flying cars, mega mansions, and huge dinosaurs. The opportunities were endless! One day, my mom superglued my favorite cat piece to another LEGO. Suddenly, my freedom was restricted. I yearned for my favorite piece and endlessly tried to undo this permanent change, but I was never strong enough. As time went on, I started building with the “big kid” LEGOs. While this figurine hardly crossed my mind, I knew I would never glue my new LEGO pieces to each other: I desired creative freedom. Years passed and I finally made it to high school, where I took my first chemistry class. I learned about all the applications of this field and felt that creativity thrived in a lab. Whether inflating balloons with vinegar and baking soda or performing a successful titration, combining different chemicals to create compounds reminded me of these seemingly simple times when I would build with LEGOs. From that moment on, I knew the possibilities with chemistry were endless. Later on, I had the opportunity to work in a real chemistry lab: I obviously accepted. I synthesized Prussian blue and learned about its ability to power batteries. How was this dye able to power devices? Curiosity and innovation thrived in this lab, solidifying my love for chemistry. Now, I plan to major in chemical engineering – a field with innumerable applications that satisfy my imaginative thoughts. Climate change, health issues, and food insecurity pose threats to billions of people, but I can tackle these problems head on as a chemical engineer. The development of new, eco-friendly technology is possible in these fields, and can save the lives of millions by reducing the impacts of things like climate change. All in all, I feel that as a chemical engineer I will not only positively impact thousands of lives, but also satisfy my creative ambitions.