When I was young, I loved imagining myself as a gizmo-creating superhero/inventor. As I matured, I realized that while some heroes do fight, the most important heroes build up the world for those around them: Scientists; parents; doctors. Of all these heroes, though, teachers held my adoration. They helped satisfy my insatiable curiosity and shared vital information. Perhaps, I thought, I could become one of them someday—a college professor. Until then, I decided to focus on learning. I paid close attention in class, did my homework, and asked for extra credit to improve my mind. My only extracurricular activity was band, and having Autism made making friends challenging, so I had few of those. That was the status quo. I studied for eventual geniusdom and mostly kept to myself. My call to action came from self-reflection, inspiration, and spiritual guidance. After some personal experiences, I recognized God’s hand in my performance—not that I hadn’t done anything, but that He had strengthened me. Knowing this, I realized that if He was helping me develop a talent, He wanted me to share it now, not wait until I had a Ph.D. The following school year, I began to offer help to my peers in class. Khan Academy, AP Daily videos, and my teachers supplied the necessary assistance. With these resources, It was easier to clarify lectures and assignments for my peers. Explaining class materials also reinforced my personal research, preparing me for the challenges soon to come. Right before my senior year, my family moved. Compounding that geographical and social departure, I signed up for my first AP classes, AP Lang and AP Calc. I looked forward to the challenge, eager to learn in a college-level environment. Fortunately, being new was not a handicap: I participated in the National Honor Society, passed my tests, helped classmates, and conquered many other trials in my path. I wasn’t quite a professor, but I felt something awaken in me as I continued helping my peers through demanding classwork, felt that I was doing something right. As AP Exams approached, however, I wondered if I had done enough. On my part, I bombed a practice AP Lang exam—I only got 19 out of 45 questions right and misread an essay prompt. The rest of the class shared my concerns, and I wondered how I could help them when my own work was below average. My Calc practice exam was better (5 out of 5 composite score), but didn’t nullify my concerns for AP Lang. I felt I was failing my friends by being unable to help adequately. It was a crisis. In order to find a better testing strategy to share with my peers, I reviewed the troublesome practice exam. With the answer key, I could divine why I got so many answers wrong, but the mistakes were so small I couldn’t fathom how to prevent them. Finally, I noticed a pattern: in each incorrect response, I forgot to consider the Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, or Tone of the piece—it was SOAPSTone! One of the first lessons in AP Lang was identifying those six items for better comprehension, but I had discounted the method as simplistic and tedious. As desperation curbed hubris, I realized that the strategy I once shunned was the treasure I sought. I excitedly shared my discovery with people in my class, and the result was immediate relief. Having shared that crucial advice, I felt a sense of accomplishment, genuinely happy to have been able to help my peers. What’s more, the tip seemed to relieve my friends’ stress in part. My AP Calc and Lang exams, though still formidable, passed by without angst, and I regained the confidence that my struggles had eroded. Life returned to normal as the school year ended and exams faded into memory; I began a new life with increasing anticipation for college. Around the same time, efforts during the school year brought resolution: I began the National Youth Science Camp, earned my National Honors Society Cords and Tassels, graduated, and began a summer job at a hospital to earn money for college. Yet even as life settles into my next status quo, my journey is far from over. Helping my peers in high school is a single arch in a larger cycle. Moreover, each challenge in my story is its own Hero’s Journey, with a call to action, difficulties, and result. This fall, I attend Brigham Young University majoring in math, getting closer to becoming a professor. I’ve already described my call to action, my departure is approaching, and I have trials and treasures in store for me, with many opportunities to help others along the way.

“Mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the universe.” –Galileo Galilei. Many attribute the discovery and development of calculus to Issac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. However, the beginnings of calculus originate with Euoxus, who invented the method of exhaustion to find the area of a circle—the first record of infinite series. Archimedes then took this and other methods shockingly reminiscent of integral calculus to find the area between a parabolic curve and the x-axis, the volume of a sphere, and the approximate value of pi. The formulas and values that resulted from this primitive form of calculus are invaluable, and, in time, mathematicians would perfect the science for an even broader range of uses. Issac Newton would develop a form of differential calculus in his studies on gravity, and others would make contributions just as significant. Today, Calculus has a foothold in every science. In STEM fields, one cannot throw a pebble without hitting something requiring calculus. A formula from a mathematician in the 1830s showed physicians how to unclog arteries. In the movie Hidden Figures, Katherine Johnson used Euler’s method, an approximation model for differential calculus, to find the Saturn V rocket’s trajectory in space during the Apollo missions. With these and many other examples, calculus has proven its use in all branches of science. Technology is perhaps even more reliant on calculus. In addition to the calculations required by FitBits, calculus enables game designers to depict the natural world in virtual simulations. Analysts utilize differential and integral calculus to track their data and glean its implications, whether tracking tornadoes or animal populations. Even businesses use calculus to find the production level where cost and revenue balance, maximizing profit. Engineers use calculus in their calculations of energy efficiency, structural integrity, and aerodynamics. Vital to producing a sturdy water tower is an understanding of fluid pressure and the ability to use integral calculus to calculate force over a specific area. Calculus is also necessary for constructing towering skyscrapers, where the framework of a building must be resilient enough to withstand the sway produced by the wind, which can only be calculated by integration. And mathematics, of course, was made for calculus. Integral, Differential, Multiple Variabilities: it’s a mathematician’s playground and mine too. I enjoy finding the volumes of convoluted solids. I enjoy piecing differential or integrated functions from the rules set out by the differential equation. When I go to Brigham Young University–Provo this fall, I will be majoring in mathematics and plan to become a professor of mathematics once I earn my Ph.D. I hope to delve into mathematical research, formulating proofs to simplify complicated calculations and unearthing methods to solve intricate problems because I understand the importance of calculus. Every field of study can benefit from using differential and integrated equations, and I hope to bring about that help. Ultimately, I want to contribute to this essential field by passing my knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation. Works Cited "Archimedes." Famous Scientists. famousscientists.org. 1 Jul. 2014. Web. 5/31/2022 www.famousscientists.org/archimedes/. Revised 18 Jul. 2018. "Eudoxus of Cnidus." Famous Scientists. famousscientists.org. 26 Aug. 2019. Web. 5/31/2022 www.famousscientists.org/eudoxus/. Hidden Figures. Directed by Theodore Melfi, 20th Century Studios, 2016.

Two trains are heading toward each other at differing speeds. The one heading east is moving at 60mph; the one heading west is moving at 40 mph. When they start, they are 200 miles away. How long does it take for them to pass each other? Well, speed*time=distance, so 40t+60t=200; 100t=200 t=2 So the trains pass two hours after they start. But unless I want to jump trains or wave to a friend, what does it matter? A different scenario: a college student has 15 hours of class per week. She spends an additional 30 hours per week studying and sleeps from 10 PM-8 AM. If monthly expenses are $510 and she earns $15/hr at work, how many hours of free time does she have per week? The answer ends up being 19 hours, though it doesn't account for sports, tuition fees, transportation, and the many other problems an actual college student faces. While terribly simplified, this example illustrates how one can use math in daily life. Shopping, taxes, budgeting, and construction all require algebraic calculations. So do programming, architecture, engineering, physics, and medicine. Yet math isn’t just a method, a construct of how we process relations–it’s a way of thinking. It’s the fundamentals of the universe described in a series of numbers and symbols. It is believing we can discover those fundamentals with the rules we know, some patience, and a little ingenuity. Any situation, any issue, can be modeled with equations and calculated with algebraic manipulations, integrals, and derivatives. Whether as simple as getting enough apples from the store or as complicated as predicting the trajectory of a space shuttle bringing astronauts to the International Space Station, using math is as inevitable as the common cold and as valuable as the cure. Math runs the world’s computers: the programs that run smartphones, security systems, and industrial manufacturing have their roots in arithmetic. Math determines our laws: the statistics and predictions that influence politicians' decisions are all compiled and calculated by data analysts and mathematicians. Math even rules music: intervals and harmony are determined by set ratios, then the human brain picks up on those patterns, releasing dopamine when it recognizes a melody or correctly predicts the next note. It’s fascinating how something seemingly mundane fits into every aspect of life. That’s why I have taken such an interest in math; why I took AP Calculus and Honors Physics; why I spent four years on an advanced geometry problem until I could solve it with Differential Calculus. It’s also what I plan to do for the rest of my life. In the fall, I will attend Brigham Young University–Provo, majoring in mathematics. I plan to earn my B.A. and Ph.D. in math and find a job as a professor of mathematics. The range of mathematics, from matrices to statistics to number theory to cryptography, is vast, and more discoveries are made each year. I hope to be at the forefront of that progress and be able to share my knowledge with the next generation of eager minds.

The rich vibrations of reeds, bourdons, and flutes flow through my body in immersive waves. I imagine a choir of angels surrounding me. Making glorious sounds with my fingers on the keys and soles on the pedals on the pipe organ is such an energizing experience. The challenge of coordinating my hands and feet, translating dots and lines on paper into a hymn of praise, replaces any negative feelings with a peace that stays long after I leave the bench. I started becoming acquainted with the pipe organ when the organist at church decided not to play anymore. Soon, I scheduled pipe organ lessons with my piano teacher, and we worked through sheet music and lesson books. We went through classical and contemporary compositions, including voluntaries, spirituals, and some of Bach’s Little Prelude and Fugues. We spent much time on points such as phrasing and finger substitution, going through a lesson book provided by my mentor. Details such as registration (choosing which pipe sets to use) and pedal work fascinated me as we explored the specifics of this complex instrument. She was patient, passionate, and thorough, enabling me to improve my technique and musicality beyond anything I could have done. After a few months, I finally played during church services. I arrived early to warm up, played preludes, and accompanied hymns during the service. Over subsequent meetings, people complimented me on my hard work. They were surprised to learn I had started lessons only a few months earlier. Even those attending church remotely commented on the beautiful spirit my playing gave them. Eventually, I began adding ornamented hymns and classical pieces to my prelude repertoire, careful to preserve the sacred feeling of the chapel by avoiding playing extravagant compositions. As the organist, I continued to improve my talent, maintaining lessons with my teacher. We explored ways to embellish hymns and enjoyed traditional and contemporary compositions. When my family moved to Oregon, I worried about whether I could continue my hobby. Fortunately, I have had several opportunities to practice the organ in my new area and have even filled in for the church’s organist. While I miss my old mentor and have been unable to find lessons, I am glad for the instruction I received and the new skills I gained and hope to do more with the majestic instrument. In my first few years of playing the organ, I have had many memorable experiences. Learning about Zimblesterns and Chomhornes; visiting an authentic pipe organ; accidentally breaking the music stand on the organ after a sacrament meeting. I have grown fond of the pipe organ and plan to study organ performance when I get to college. Each scholarship I receive allows me time to make more memories with this beautiful, compelling instrument.

My dad once gave me this piece of financial advice from his father: "give 10% of your income to the Lord, give 10% to yourself, and live on the rest." The Lord's 10% is tithing, a sacrifice of a tenth of one's income given to the Church's general fund. My 10% is savings, the money I put aside for a rainy day. And by using only 80% of my income for regular expenses, I can prove my ability to live thriftily and without excess. I value all three of these deposits. The tithing I pay is used to build temples, maintain chapels, print scriptures, publish materials, and fund humanitarian efforts. I believe that the things I have are first God's, then mine, which makes me appreciate them all the more. Saving for the future is important to me as well. One never knows when the proverbial rainy day will come, and having money saved up for a setback always helps. Not only would these reserves become valuable in case of misfortune on my part, but I could also use the savings to assist a neighbor in need. Living off of only 80% may be the most challenging part of this guidance. It requires living within your means, avoiding debt like the plague, and saving money wherever possible. It is in this spirit that I apply for scholarships. I hope to avoid the stifling debt that follows too many college students, smothering their dreams for the future. To accomplish this, I plan to take on a part-time job, apply for many scholarships, and spend frugally to save money for the future.

Joy is a way of life. Finances, circumstances, and friends cannot control it. To me, joy means being able to live with a smile, to know that everything will work out in the end. It isn't perpetual happiness but hope for and trust in the future. One way I create joy in my life is through refining my talents. Each day, I practice percussion in school and piano at home. I take weekly piano lessons, developing a mastery of piano I can be proud of. In church, I have been able to share my talent by performing contemplative musical numbers bringing the spirit of joy to our meetings. I also try to help other people. At my school, for example, I joined the tutoring program. With other people from my church, I help friends and strangers through service, bringing gifts of joy, and simply visiting and listening to them. By attending college, I hope to increase my capacity to explore talents and help others. As well as in piano, I have many skills in arithmetic. I have always had a knack for numbers and have committed to pursuing a career in that field. My goal is to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics while participating in the musical courses available to university students, eventually becoming a college math professor. I've been earnestly searching for generous scholarships because they will push me towards this goal. With help, I can earn a job that allows me to use my talents to help others pursue their dreams.