Once sitting outside on the streets of Brooklyn I had two garbage bags containing my belongings on either side of me. I just got my room remodeled to reflect my evolution into adolescence. I can only imagine all the dust that room has collected over the years since that day! As I waited on those steps, I looked behind me and saw him staring at me through the glass of the door. My father had kicked me out. Memories stapled themselves to my mind teaching me to sugarcoat or block out many negative emotions due to my habit of putting others before myself. I was forced to suppress my emotions as if a purifier was attached to my mouth filtering what came out. Over the many years, I never got to tell my dad how his action has hurt me, due to worrying about possible further conflict and his unknown reaction. Formerly, anytime I tried to speak up, I was shut down automatically, being treated as if I was crazy for expressing my thoughts. Fast forward to the present, I am now the girl who suffers from PTSD, Anxiety, and depression. Many events have caused me to be that way but the first one to start the ball rolling was my father's absence. People treat me as if they are walking on eggshells, not knowing what may happen next. The fear of rejection and abandonment plague my mind as I walk into any room. The only thing that brings me peace is animals. Although many are prejudged they still welcome us into their hearts and allow great bonds to be made. Animals have shown me their bravery and allowed me to soon meet many people, and allow others into my world. They helped me gain the confidence to talk more and get out of my comfort zone to perform such tasks as presenting, giving demonstrations, and working alongside others. Even though that was a small step in my journey these animals helped unlock the door for it to commence. That girl standing outside her father’s apartment can look at me knowing she has evolved. I never would have been able to present with such passion on a subject, due to worrying about making others uncomfortable or upset with the information. However, I have learned that discomfort is sometimes needed at times to be heard. It means that what I am saying impacts them and if they respected me, they would listen to what I have to say. The roar of claps and cheers showed me the power my voice can have once I let it out. Character is built by the way you deal with challenges and adversities. I have had many accomplishments all showing my progression and growth as a person, whether that is helping teach conservation to kids or getting recognition for my research. My father may have tried to silence my voice, but what he actually did was teach me the importance of having a voice. I now have the power to speak even when someone is trying to silence me. I will always speak my mind and stand up for what I believe in, no matter how others view me. With my newfound wings, I will shout because opinion is worthy of being heard.

Academics and my future have always been extremely important to me. I went to a middle school and high school that was accelerated to prepare me for college. I was always encouraged to question the world around me. I always sought to see if something can be more complex than it appears or determine the morality of certain practices. My learning goals aren’t about being the smartest because there will always be someone who may understand concepts a little more than me. However, my goal is to remain open-minded and question everything because that to me, makes me a good academic learner and leader. You can truly get multiple viewpoints and ideas, that you can piece as you will to make the best possible answer or solution. Don’t get me wrong great grades are very important as well but someone can’t truly digest and understand if they don’t question or put the effort into understanding. Since a young age, I recognized that many animals had their voices silenced. They would try to speak up but no one would listen. They would show signs of how the climate crisis and the destruction of their homes affected them. All these are caused by human activity yet none of us take the responsibility. With this knowledge, I dedicated my life to change and making the world a better place. I hope to be their voice and to speak on their behalf. I have conducted animal research projects in pursuit of solving issues such as noise pollution and its effects on bats. I have presented and taught about animal conservation to a multitude of audiences from children to adults. I have dedicated my summers to classes and volunteer work revolving around the conservation and care of many species. Even within my first year of college, I dedicated myself to learning about Bacteriophages and Bioinformatics to help better my understanding of genes and bacteria. As I accumulate experience, I hope to travel the world studying animals in their natural habitats and teaching these findings to people. Bringing awareness and political action to help the damage we have caused, as well as including the voices of indigenous peoples in the discussion. Indigenous peoples have a much better understanding of the ecosystem they are in and will know more to help these animals. Through collaboration we can show that we humans aren't much different from the rest of the animal kingdom and that many species hold abilities and skills we may have never known. Humans sometimes forget that we too are affected by the loss of these animals to our ecosystems and that they are so much more important than we give recognition. I hope to change that and bring back the balance we once had with animals and other communities on this Earth, and that is why I am a leader.

Education is the portal for change. If one is willing to listen not only will their ears open but their eyes too. I have noticed coming from a low-income community the disadvantages, we face on a day-to-day basis. Ranging from food swamps to flooding. Many of the people in the community want the opportunity to grow, but systematically the government is not allowing that. I have worked alongside a program called Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity where I have done two projects concerning food justice within our community. As a majority black and brown community, we suffer from a lack of healthy and diverse food options making us a food swap. This causes many health issues to be prominent within our area. My community faces high rates of diabetes and heart disease but we only have one hospital to take care of all these patients. Many within my community are poverty-struck so most can't even afford to go to that one hospital. Trying to address this issue was complex however I was able to help survey and identify what food stores are in the community. Using this data it was able to be sent out and hopefully will make it so more affordable options of better food will be put here. I also dedicate my time to working alongside a farm to help give out fresh produce to those who need it and even giving cooked meals on Thanksgiving. Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity saw how when people were given the resources they truly did use them. That is why I helped teach about hydroponics and even help with the planning of a community garden. We have even helped make it so people can come to our center and receive vaccines if they needed. I have held multiple discussions with panels that include students, elders, and even politicians to help fight and combat the mistreatment of my community. Within my few years of helping give back, I realized that what I am doing is quite small to what I receive back. To those I help give food and education to they teach me in their own ways through stories of survival and perseverance. They have helped me realize my passion and how I can connect helping people to still helping the environment as well. People don't deserve to be systematically put down and I hope to continue promoting legislation to stop and change that. Through my degree and education, I will bring back what I learned to continue to help the community that has supported me through all of my ventures, while also helping new communities as well.

I reside on the eastern part of a peninsula called Far Rockaway in Queens, New York. Far Rockaway is a diverse community with its fair share of devastation, effects of climate change, poor air quality, and income disparity. Some areas of Rockaway are a constant reminder of the injustices that plague minority communities and make me want to fight for equality for all. In 2012, my community was devastated by Superstorm Sandy, which left many residents displaced with no power and limited food for several weeks. The beauty of my community was destroyed as houses and the boardwalk was ripped apart. Within that time, I saw the resiliency of its residents, working together to rebuild. From this experience, I learned that Far Rockaway is a close-knit and family-oriented place. This made me passionate about my community, and want to fight for what is right and what I believe in. This catapulted my determination toward those steps to achieve my goals. Its diversity has also taught me acceptance for all even venturing to those non-human species. With all its challenges, Rockaway is a hidden gem. By participating in a program called RISE, I learned that Rockaway was one of the last protected wetlands in New York and is important for its native species. Alongside my time at RISE, I attended various animal camps including Hofstra University’s Veterinarian Camp, Busch Gardens Zoology Resident Camp, and Columbia University’s Animal Behavior and Mind Class. I learned about the anatomy of animals, the importance of proper care, animal behavior, cognition, and the effects of domestication. These experiences shaped my career path to becoming more hands-on work and field research. Within my first year of college, I completed an undergraduate wet lab research project called SEA Phages. I learned about bacteriophages and how to complete many lab procedures giving me a better understanding of microbiology and disease. I even became the first at my school to discover a prolate capsid phage. After college, with all of the experience I have gained, I plan to further study the wetlands I am from in Rockaway which will ultimately help the animals. I also hope later in my life to work alongside primates and orangutans. This interest was sparked after working at a zoo and learning of the effects that the palm oil industry had on these species. I would like to research and study their natural habitats, ways of living and how deforestation and climate change have affected them. I would also like to explore their intelligence, skills and abilities. Then using my findings to help create policies and laws to help sustain their survival and that of other animals. Education leads to many paths and answers, that is why I have focused so much on learning about these animals near and far. I will continue to dedicate myself to change as the disaster that was Hurricane Sandy allowed me to see nothing can stop me if I am dedicated. With my power, I hope to help those who may seem voiceless although if you listen closely they are quite loud. Animals have done so much for me and given me so much opportunity, what I plan to do is just a small token of appreciation for them.

Our oceans are a mysterious and beautiful place. Although most remains undiscovered the damage, we as a species have done is incomparable. Currently, our oceans are facing heavy levels of pollutants and animals are dying at rates that were never seen before in history. The ocean is being taken advantage of because it is viewed as an infinite source. Nothing in this world is infinite and people must learn to respect the world around us. Animal species are choking on plastics, swimming through sludge, and are being killed in large numbers. Things such as boat accidents with whales or even how pinnipeds are dying during migrations. These all are important issues that no one is recognizing or talking about. Since a young age, I have been promoting doing the best for the environment. We are all connected and the harm we do to our oceans will only come back to us. We are one big ecosystem and if a part as big and important as the ocean continues being destroyed, the whole ecosystem will follow. That is why I did a study on Marine Mammal Strandings in New York and Long Island that occurred between 2017 and 2021. It allowed fellow researchers, politicians, and civilians to learn how major of an issue this is and the possible causes and solutions. I also hold regular beach cleanups, and conversations about plastic alternatives, and as of recently have helped with a horseshoe crab rescue mission. Horseshoe crabs in Flushing Meadows Marina have been getting stuck and eating a nylon netting, myself alongside a few others have to go out every day and free them and remove as much of this illegal netting as possible. The world's oceans hold a beautiful world that we as humans only see the surface level of. I am currently going to the prestigious school of the University of South Florida as an Animal Biology major, where I have completed undergraduate research in Bacteriophages. I hope to use my experience and degree to be a voice for our oceans. Although our oceans show signs of the pain we cause, many people do not recognize them. I would like to be the voice that allows people to understand the harm occurring by our hands. Although the ocean is trying its best to combat it, nothing will happen unless we change our ways. My degree in Animal Biology will allow me not only a better understanding of our oceans but will give me a better connection to our oceans. Your assistance in achieving this will allow a voice for those who are silenced or unheard. No person, animal, or being such as the ocean should go unvoiced and that is why I will scream at the top of my lungs using my voice. Our oceans are beautiful and deserve to be heard.