Three years before the world saw the James Webb Telescope launch, I was in the presence of the hangar-size "clean room" that oversaw the creation of the telescope's sun shield. As part of a tour program, my cousin invited me to observe the various projects Northrop Grumman was responsible for building at Redondo Beach. I was most impressed by the James Webb Telescope as it was designed to photograph images and uncover the mysteries of a universe that expanded billions of years ago. It was going to change our understanding of everything, and it made me pay attention to the incredible endeavors engineers contribute to the world, an endeavor that I now wish to accomplish with the help of the Bright Lights Scholarship. Receiving the Bright Lights Scholarship will help me accomplish my goal of attending a four-year university. I will attain the skills to one day impact the aerospace engineering sector without worrying about my monetary strain. Throughout my high school academic career, I have enrolled myself in the Engineering Design Pathway to become proficient in developing the answers to issues engineers face. I have evaluated an extensive variety of engineering subjects such as mechanisms, the strength of structure and materials, and industrialization, and then employed them to take on real-world challenges. For instance, with the 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) Autodesk Inventor program I modeled and assembled the parts of a train. The miniature train had 10 parts and when assembled moved along a straight track. The drawings of the parts that included the cowcatcher, the body, and the axle peg each had their own symbols and dimensions. However, some of the parts did not have every dimension available. Thus, this experience made me question the purpose of certain symbols and I concluded that symbols are used because they are an effective communication tool that allows groups to function as a design team. Additionally, I acquired the skill of communicating with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine by specializing in G and M codes. I created capital alphabetical characters and marked endpoints and center points to carve my initials using the Benchmill 6000 machine. In this manner, the engineering pathway has developed my expertise in the design process. Through activity and problem-based learning, I want to continue to operate licensed equipment to study the engineering field and mentality in a four-year university with the aid of the Bright Lights Scholarship. The Bright Lights Scholarship will directly address my financial need and bolster my pursuit of an engineering career I have already prepared for. With the various engineering opportunities and programs universities offer, I know that this scholarship will enable me to be a part of planning, developing, and discovering answers to the unknown, united by investigative people with the same goals and passions in aerospace fields. I do not have the support at home for academic resources. I am a triplet and the low income my father earns will not be sufficient enough to send me and my sisters to college at the same time. This financial assistance will play a critical role in my academic success in that it will alleviate my restrictions on educational materials and technology to allow me to access essential resources and pursue extracurricular endeavors. Therefore, this scholarship would be a tremendous help to ensure my future. By receiving the Bright Lights Scholarship, I will be one step closer to attending a four-year university and becoming an aerospace engineer. I will no longer focus on my financial hardship and will instead concentrate on my studies, strive for the best results, and succeed.

Over 460 million metric tons of plastic were manufactured in 2019. Plastic has been an appealing material for its toughness as over two million plastic bags are used each minute worldwide. However, such an overused material is not biodegradable because the enzymes and microorganisms responsible for breaking down natural substances do not recognize plastic waste. Since plastic cannot be destroyed, I want to change the fact that the only solution the world has found for plastic is to dump it into the sea. The greater number of animals that perish from plastic waste are seabirds. After birds consume caps trusting that they are shrimp they may asphyxiate or be unable to digest them properly. Birds and other animals affected by plastic need people to acknowledge the harm they have caused. By recognizing the pain we have done, we can all come together to find a solution. To control plastic in the ocean, I plan to lead an environmental movement that motivates companies to create merchandise made completely from plastic waste. With the help of all of my members, we will actively buy merchandise from brands that use recycled plastic for their products such as Patagonia. Therefore, purchasing sweaters, shorts, and other commodities manufactured from plastic waste creates a demand for these products and demonstrates to other companies that they should supply this need. To end plastic in the ocean, I will protest the use of plastic bottles and encourage use of reusable water bottles, lessening the quantity of bottles discarded. However, some people perceive bottled water as a safer option from germs although about 40% to 45% of bottled water is recycled, contaminated urban water as stated by the Rochester Institute of Technology. It is critical to realize how we will put an end to this and if people cannot or do not want reusable water bottles then they should look at the recycling of plastic. The truth is that in most public areas there are more trash cans than recycling bins. If more recycling bins were readily available people wouldn’t litter or dump their trash wherever they please. I want to live in a world where all species can live together without damaging each other’s environment. I want to make this change in the world a true possibility because no marine animal has to suffer from the actions of human beings. If we pay attention to the damage we have provoked, we can change this crisis as one.

Behind a brunette-shaded sofa, next to a pied-cockatiel’s cage lies a desk. On top of the desk is a partially painted wooden model of a helicopter, a 2007 Spider-Man Burger King toy, and the miniature skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Its bookcases are filled with a lifetime collection of films and replicas of picture cars. As I stand in front of the sofa, I can not see the subtle, visual hints and clues of my interests that the majority of people do not know about, but when my eyes move up there is a framed painting on the wall. It is a ten by eight collage of iconic props, scenes, and characters from the most influential movies in history. A symbol I created to commemorate the motivational connection I made with my teacher. During the pandemic, my teacher, Mrs. Barrera, created conferences. On the third one, I realized I was alone and was forced to talk. However, I no longer wanted it to end once I was able to throw trivia on movies Mrs. Barrera was unaware of and displayed my art. From my time in each of our conferences, I saw that nobody was there for me to get nervous. Ever since the first day of school in-person, I sat in the back of the class in front of a wooden cabinet, barely saying a few sentences, but with Mrs. Barrera I was free to talk about what I wanted for so long: movies and drawing. Inspired by our time together, I merged drawings and movies in a painting titled Celebration of Film. I no longer wanted the conferences to end and neither did Mrs. Barrera. She then asked me if I could send her a message everyday with a new fact, thus, Daily Movie Fact was born. The gratitude I felt toward Mrs. Barrera ignited me a desire to reciprocate the act of belongingness. I was motivated to no longer be a reserved person. Thus, last year I started volunteering at my school's library. I was assigned the role of library intern one. This meant that during lunch, I became in charge of the circulation desk where I checked in and out books for students. At the end of the school year, I also lent a hand with textbook collections and once it was arranged to register students for the new school year in the summer, I was allocated my own registration station. I had already familiarized myself with the textbooks that correspond with classes, therefore I was able to manage a trouble-free station, verifying schedules and distributing textbooks. Now that I have entered my senior year, I have increased the amount of people who volunteer and have embarked on the new adventure of training future library interns. I have created friendships with the librarians, Ms. Blanco and Ms. Rodriguez, that makes me look forward to working everyday with a community connected by the goal to serve students and staff. For over three years, I have sent a Daily Movie Fact which describes the innovations and inspirations for movies. I know that every fact I send is received with encouragement from Mrs. Barrera, for my passion to continue to grow, as I am able to openly share my talent to someone who genuinely cares. Without her support, my family would be the only ones to hear about my ability. For that, I am grateful to have Mrs. Barrera who taught me about the importance of getting out of my comfort zone to not only broaden the lives of more individuals but create longer-lasting relationships.

Three years before the world saw the James Webb Telescope launch, I was in the presence of the hanger-size "clean room" that oversaw the creation of the telescope's sun shield. As part of a friends and family tour program, my cousin invited me to learn and observe the various projects Northrop Grumman was responsible for building at Redondo Beach. I was most impressed by the James Webb Telescope as it was designed to photograph images and uncover the mysteries of a universe that expanded billions of years ago. It was going to change our understanding of everything and it made me pay attention to the incredible endeavors engineers contribute to the world, an endeavor and passion that I now wish to accomplish. I am passionate about the aerospace engineering degree I am pursuing because I want to be part of planning, developing, and discovering answers to the unknown, united by investigative people with the same goals and passions in aerospace and mechanical fields. I enrolled myself in the Engineering Design Pathway to become proficient in developing the answers issues engineers face. However this decision was significantly influenced by the pandemic. My first year of my engineering journey was spent at home. I imagined the only way to teach engineering was in-person and I was not going to have that experience from my dining table. However, my teacher assigned tasks using household items. From my makeshift classroom, I built a tower utilizing index cards. In my first attempt I folded the cards into boxes, but this could not carry the weight of my empty Pepsi can. I was confronted with my first engineering issue. Defining my problem, I pondered on changes I could test with my cards. Failure after failure, I concluded two cards could stabilize each base, therefore successfully supporting my can. To mirror the engineer career at home was complicated but I was determined to draw on the engineering mindset to investigate solutions. Returning to school, my mission was to maximize my learning. In particular, I designed VEXcode software instructions to control a machine. The machine choices' difficulty ranged from one (the easiest) to four (the hardest). Naturally, my partner and I chose the elevator with a level of four. The elevator traveled between three floors in any order and a VEX bump switch on each floor called it. To prevent damage, we created a safeguard mechanism granting the elevator to rest on the ground floor and return after ten seconds of nonuse. For my skills to progress, I had to be challenged. I could have chosen a simpler machine but I pushed myself to brainstorm solutions. Through all of the modifications, my tenacity led to growth. As a result of the Engineering Design Pathway, I have become impassioned to pursue aerospace engineering as it has developed my expertise in the design process. I will be working alongside subsystem and unit engineers to progress spacecraft, manufacture, and analyze materials required for design and preparedness assessment. Through activity and problem-based learning, I have evaluated an extensive variety of engineering subjects such as mechanisms, the strength of structure and materials, and industrialization, and then employed them to take on real-world challenges. By embarking on the journey to an undergraduate aerospace engineering program, I am thrilled to continue to operate licensed equipment to study the engineering field and mentality.

My first year of my engineering journey was spent at home. I imagined the only way to teach engineering was in-person and I was not going to have that experience from my dining table. However, my teacher assigned tasks using household items. From my makeshift classroom, I built a tower utilizing index cards. In my first attempt I folded the cards into boxes, but this could not support my can. I was confronted with my first engineering issue. Defining my problem, I pondered on changes I could test with my cards. Failure after failure, I concluded two cards could stabilize each base, therefore successfully supporting my can. To mirror the engineer career at home was complicated but I was determined to draw on the engineering mindset to investigate solutions. Returning to school, my mission was to maximize my learning. In particular, I designed VEXcode software instructions to control a machine. The machine choices' difficulty ranged from one (the easiest) to four (the hardest). Naturally, my partner and I chose the elevator with a level of four. The elevator traveled between three floors and a VEX bump switch on each floor called it. To prevent damage, we created a safeguard mechanism granting the elevator to rest on the ground floor and return after ten seconds of nonuse. For my skills to progress, I had to be challenged. I could have chosen a simpler machine but I pushed myself to brainstorm solutions. Through all of the modifications, my tenacity led to growth.

Years before the James Webb Telescope launched, I was in the presence of the "clean room" that oversaw its creation at Northrop Grumman. Fascinated by the telescope and its purpose to uncover mysteries, I acknowledged endeavors engineers contribute to the world. Consequently, I enrolled myself in the Engineering Design Pathway, a decision that would be marked by the obstacle of online learning. My first year of my engineering journey was spent at home. I imagined the only way to teach engineering was in-person and I was not going to have that experience from my dining table. However, my teacher assigned tasks using household items. From my makeshift classroom, I built a tower utilizing index cards. In my first attempt I folded the cards into boxes, but this could not support my empty can. I was confronted with my first engineering issue. Defining my problem, I pondered on changes I could test with my cards. Failure after failure, I concluded two cards could stabilize each base, therefore successfully supporting my can. To mirror the engineer career at home was an obstacle but I was determined to draw on the engineering mindset to investigate solutions. Consequently, I would take great pleasure in is participating in an internship with Millennium Space Systems, A Boeing Company. As an intern at Millennium Space Systems, I want to be surrounded by multi-disciplinary aerospace and mechanical engineering undergraduates to learn and explore space technologies. Specifically, in the Spacecraft Systems Engineering Internship I want to participate in the research and expansion of rockets and propulsion systems. At Millennium Space Systems, I will have the opportunity to accomplish my goals and actually build spacecraft by expanding my knowledge in problem solving. My communication with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine demonstrates that I have the background to learn more and record, review, and diagnose unpredicted problems, as outlined in the job description. The drawings and designs I produce to present the spacecraft will guarantee that they will accomplish all steps of the design process. In the future I will be working alongside subsystem and unit engineers to progress spacecraft, manufacture, and analyze materials required for design and preparedness assessment. Through activity and problem-based learning at Millennium Space Systems, I will have the skills to one day fulfill my goal of impacting the aerospace engineering sector. As I overcome my experience in distance learning by maximizing my engineering experience, I know that it will be an honor to be a part of the planning, developing, and discovering of answers, accompanied by investigative people with the same goals and passions in aerospace and mechanical fields.

My community in the city of Paramount is home to a fun and safe environment for all families to have a good celebration of their traditions. I remember sitting on the sidewalk past my bedtime eagerly waiting for the Santa Train, an event where Santa Claus visits children in all the neighborhoods and gifts them an apple and a candy cane. As a result of my childhood experiences, I have decided to give back to my community as I have gotten older and volunteered in the city of Paramount's Halloween Festival, managing a gaming booth in which children and anyone else up to the challenge would attempt to knock down small barrels for a chance to receive a candy prize. My contributing community has shaped me to become a volunteer not only in the city’s programs but also at my school's library. To gain 100 hours of community service is a goal most students set at my school to get a graduation cord, but I did not pay attention to this as I realized that my dedication had a meaningful impact not only on the library but also on my peers. Initially, the librarian Ms. Blanco entrusted me to shelve books and shelf read. With my continuing expertise, I became in charge of the circulation desk where I checked in and out books for students. At the end of the year, I assisted with textbook collections. Once it was arranged to register students, I was allocated my own registration station where I managed a trouble-free station, verifying schedules and distributing textbooks. Now that I have entered my senior year, I have recruited students to volunteer for different roles and have embarked on training future library interns to inspire more people to visit their library. I have taught them how to operate Destiny Library Manager and how nonfiction is organized using the Dewey Dot Decimal system, whereas fiction is categorized based on the first three letters of an author's last name. Paramount's devotion to make a difference has molded me into a person who loves volunteering. It authenticates that I can apply my knowledge to real world circumstances and have created friendships with Ms. Blanco and Ms. Rodriguez, that makes me look forward to working everyday with a community connected by the goal to serve students and staff. I have learned that I am a part of something that is bigger than myself and no graduation cord could instill in me the satisfaction of helping my community.

Three years before the world saw the James Webb Telescope launch, I was in the presence of the hanger-size "clean room" that oversaw the creation of the telescope's sun shield. As part of a friends and family tour program, my cousin invited me to learn and observe the various projects Northrop Grumman was responsible for building at Redondo Beach. I was most impressed by the James Webb Telescope as it was designed to photograph images and uncover the mysteries of a universe that expanded billions of years ago. It was going to change our understanding of everything and it made me pay attention to the incredible endeavors engineers contribute to the world. Consequently, I enrolled myself in the Engineering Design Pathway to become proficient in developing the answers issues engineers face. My first year of my engineering journey was spent at home. I imagined the only way to teach engineering was in-person and I was not going to have that experience from my dining table. However, my teacher assigned tasks using household items. From my makeshift classroom, I built a tower utilizing index cards. In my first attempt I folded the cards into boxes, but this could not carry the weight of my empty Pepsi can. I was confronted with my first engineering issue. Defining my problem, I pondered on changes I could test with my cards. Failure after failure, I concluded two cards could stabilize each base, therefore successfully supporting my can. To mirror the engineer career at home was complicated but I was determined to draw on the engineering mindset to investigate solutions. Returning to school, my mission was to maximize my learning. In particular, I designed VEXcode software instructions to control a machine. The machine choices' difficulty ranged from one (the easiest) to four (the hardest). Naturally, my partner and I chose the elevator with a level of four. The elevator traveled between three floors in any order and a VEX bump switch on each floor called it. To prevent damage, we created a safeguard mechanism granting the elevator to rest on the ground floor and return after ten seconds of nonuse. For my skills to progress, I had to be challenged. I could have chosen a simpler machine but I pushed myself to brainstorm solutions. Through all of the modifications, my tenacity led to growth. The Engineering Design Pathway has developed my expertise in the design process. Through activity and problem-based learning, I am taking time to operate licensed equipment to study the engineering field and mentality.

Last year I started volunteering at my school's library. Without a first or second period, I saw this as an opportunity to easily gain 100 hours of community service. At that time, all I cared about was achieving this goal in order to get a graduation cord, but once I volunteered I realized that my dedication had a meaningful impact not only on the library but also on my peers. Initially, the librarian Ms. Blanco and the librarian technician Ms. Rodriguez entrusted me to shelve books and shelf read. With my continuing expertise, I was assigned the role of library intern one, the highest possible position for a library intern. This meant that during lunch, I became in charge of the circulation desk where I checked in and checked out books for students. At the end of the school year, I lent a hand with textbook collections and once it was arranged to register students for the new school year in the summer, I was allocated my own registration station. I had already familiarized myself with the textbooks that correspond with classes, therefore I was able to manage a trouble-free station, verifying schedules and distributing textbooks. Now that I have entered my senior year, I have recruited students to volunteer for different roles and have embarked on the new adventure of training future library interns. I have taught them how to operate Destiny Library Manager and how nonfiction is organized using the Dewey Dot Decimal system, whereas fiction is categorized based on the first three letters of an author’s last name. Volunteering is a rewarding experience because it authenticates that I can apply my knowledge to real world circumstances. I have created friendships with Ms. Blanco and Ms. Rodriguez, that makes me look forward to working everyday with a community connected by the goal to serve students and staff. I know that I surpassed and may have even tripled the mark of 100 community service hours a long time ago, but now I do not pay attention to this. I have learned that I am a part of something that is bigger than myself and no graduation cord could instill in me the satisfaction of helping others. My time as a library intern has had a great impact in my college educational goals in a way that makes me want to pursue internships while studying aerospace engineering. I would take great pleasure in participating in an internship with Millennium Space Systems, A Boeing Company. As an intern at Millennium Space Systems, I want to be surrounded by multi-disciplinary aerospace and mechanical engineering undergraduates to learn and explore space technologies. Specifically, in the Spacecraft Systems Engineering Internship I want to participate in the research and expansion of rockets and propulsion systems. I need to have the opportunity to actually build spacecraft because in the future I want to be working alongside subsystem and unit engineers to progress spacecraft, manufacture, and analyze materials required for design and preparedness assessment. Through activity and problem-based learning at Millennium Space Systems, I will have the skills to one day impact the aerospace engineering sector. During my time as an undergraduate pursuing aerospace engineering, I know that it will be an honor to be a part of the planning, developing, and discovering of answers, accompanied by investigative people with the same goals and passions in aerospace and mechanical fields.

Three years before the world saw the James Webb Telescope launch, I was in the presence of the hanger-size "clean room" that oversaw the creation of the telescope's sun shield. As part of a friends and family tour program, my cousin invited me to learn and observe the various projects Northrop Grumman was responsible for building at Redondo Beach. I was most impressed by the James Webb Telescope as it was designed to photograph images and uncover the mysteries of a universe that expanded billions of years ago. It was going to change our understanding of everything and it made me pay attention to the incredible endeavors engineers contribute to the world. Consequently, I enrolled myself in the Engineering Design Pathway to become proficient in developing the answers to issues engineers face. The first year of my engineering journey was spent at home. I imagined the only way to teach engineering was in person and I was not going to have that experience from my dining table. However, my teacher assigned tasks using household items. From my makeshift classroom, I built a tower utilizing index cards. In my first attempt I folded the cards into boxes, but this could not carry the weight of my empty Pepsi can. I was confronted with my first engineering issue. Defining my problem, I pondered on changes I could test with my cards. Failure after failure, I concluded two cards could stabilize each base, therefore successfully supporting my can. To mirror the engineer career at home was complicated but I was determined to draw on the engineering mindset to investigate solutions. Returning to school, my mission was to maximize my learning. In particular, I designed VEXcode software instructions to control a machine. The machine choices' difficulty ranged from one (the easiest) to four (the hardest). Naturally, my partner and I chose the elevator with a level of four. The elevator traveled between three floors in any order and a VEX bump switch on each floor called it. To prevent damage, we created a safeguard mechanism granting the elevator to rest on the ground floor and return after ten seconds of nonuse. For my skills to progress, I had to be challenged. I could have chosen a simpler machine but I pushed myself to brainstorm solutions. Through all of the modifications, my tenacity led to growth. In the future, I plan to influence the aerospace industry by being a part of planning, developing, and discovering of answers to the unknown, united by investigative people with the same goals and passions in aerospace and mechanical fields. I want to be surrounded by multi-disciplinary aerospace and mechanical engineering undergraduates to research and model rockets, telescopes, and propulsion systems.

Last year I started volunteering at my school's library. Without a first or second period, I saw this as an opportunity to easily gain one hundred hours of community service. At that time, all I cared about was achieving this goal to get a graduation cord, but once I volunteered I realized that my dedication to work every day had a meaningful impact not only on the library but also on my peers. Initially, the librarian, Ms. Blanco, entrusted me to shelve books and shelf-read. With my continuing expertise, I was assigned the role of library intern one. Library intern one is the highest rank a library intern can be assigned and I was designated this position because of my integrity to live up to my promise of working every day and my ability to deliver outstanding results. This meant that as library intern one, during lunch, I became in charge of the circulation desk where I checked in and out books for students. At the end of the school year, I lent a hand with textbook collections and once it was arranged to register students for the new school year in the summer, I was allocated my own registration station. I had already familiarized myself with the textbooks that corresponded with classes in the previous school year, therefore I was able to manage a trouble-free station, verifying schedules and distributing textbooks. Now that I have entered my senior year, I have continued to demonstrate excellence by recruiting students to volunteer for different roles and have embarked on the new adventure of training future library interns. I have taught them how to operate Destiny Library Manager and how nonfiction is organized using the Dewey Dot Decimal system, whereas fiction is categorized based on the first three letters of an author’s last name. Volunteering is a rewarding experience because it authenticates that I can apply my knowledge to real-world circumstances. I have created friendships with Ms. Blanco and the librarian technician, Ms. Rodriguez, which makes me look forward to working every day with a community connected by the goal of serving students and staff. I know that I surpassed and may have even tripled the mark of 100 community service hours a long time ago, but now I do not pay attention to this. I have learned that I am a part of something that is bigger than myself and no graduation cord could instill in me the satisfaction of helping others.

That feeling when you swiftly connect a puzzle piece straight out of the box, not trying to figure out where it fits, just one smooth motion from the box to the exact place it connects to is a feeling I live for and I find it in math. I have enjoyed math all of my life. Despite the fact that a multitude of mathematical courses are challenging, each and every one of them are a rewarding and satisfying experience. Sorting, organizing, memory, visual clues, and just downright tenacity to solve a problem are all qualities I have learned from my involvement with arithmetic. I am drawn and admire mathematics given that as I continue to explore and learn from various, demanding studies in arithmetic I can always rely on this area of study. Learning mathematics is characterized by significant consideration, the vast majority of people know the laws of arithmetic. The same formulas, rules, numbers and shapes are taught to students all over the world. In this way, mathematics can be applied to transmit information in the event that an obstacle may arise that makes the exchange of information difficult. Mathematics can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, regardless of the situation. Mathematics is an expression of human skills that I want to acquire, and that is why I love to study mathematics. I desire to excel in the field of math because it shows that I have the ability to analyze and communicate with a person to analyze the situation, consider it and use the most important solutions. The principles of mathematics have shaped my understanding of the world drastically. Math is not just addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percent, geometry, algebra, or calculus. It is about how we can view general things that we take for granted, find patterns, and generalize to form equations. By pushing us to see things from different perspectives mathematics trains our ability to empathize. Ever since the beginning of archaeological digs of historic ruins, new revelations have shed light on the intellectual development of civilizations that achieved excellency in almost all the aspect of human understanding, which include craftsmanship, agricultural production, construction, and writing systems. However, individuals have the tendency to forget that these fields of study exist together, they are all one. There is no division of subjects in nature. That is why math is of crucial significance to the world we knew yesterday and the one we’ll know tomorrow. Mathematics is called the father of all subjects. The beauty of it is that it was always there. Most people do not appreciate math enough. I probably could not go through a day without using math. If I draw something, I use math. Sometimes I'II even end up using a calculator to ensure l'm using proper measurements. If I coordinate a meal, I use math to figure out the timings. If I want to do anything involving computer programming, I use math. If I am traveling, I use math to figure out my location and how to reach my destination. Every puzzle that life throws at me can be solved with the principles of mathematics.

When I was in kindergarten I once had a test in which to the best of my ability, had to write as many numbers as possible in order. I remember as quickly as I picked up my pencil I had also placed it back onto my desk. I had only written the numbers from one to nine. For the first time in my academic career, I was disappointed. To my mind, I had failed miserably as my teacher showed off my peer's papers as they had written numbers up to 100 or more. I wanted to be better. The following school year I moved to a new school. Although being around new children my age and becoming accustomed to a new instructor would take time to adapt, this would end up being the best thing to happen to me academically. Around this time, I collected many papers and began to write numbers in order. Something had clicked in me. I saw a pattern that was there the whole time but could not perceive it. Not only did I surpass my original number of nine, I had written well over ten thousand. To add on, as the school year went on I was given a notebook and in it, I wrote multiplication tables. On my own, I was able to comprehend that multiplication was repeated addition. At an early age, I was able to discern that there is more to math and today I recognize that math is of great significance and value since it enhances problem-solving skills and is a system of communication understood invariably. To begin, the science of numbers and their operations is significant because it improves critical thinking. When somebody is faced with a dilemma, it is mostly agreed that they have two possible outcomes: they can either give up or try. People who acknowledge the combinations and configurations of math will in a literal sense, crunch the numbers to conclude. For instance, Georges Méliès was a French illusionist turned filmmaker who witnessed a private showing of the Lumière brothers' cinematograph. After the show, the Lumières declined Méliès' initial offer of 10,000 francs for one of their devices, claiming that the camera was an invention out of time. Unable to get his hands on a video camera, Méliès used his knowledge of machinery and manufactured his own. Therefore, when inventor Georges Méliès was unable to acquire a camera he employed his formal education to create a solution. Correspondingly, in the same way, that inventors laid the groundwork for our comprehension of arithmetic throughout history, the continued practice of learning math could offer a possible explanation regarding some of the greatest mysteries and even the smallest issues facing everyday people. Furthermore, the study of mathematics is marked by meaningful worth considering the vast majority of people know the set laws of arithmetic. The same formulas, rules, numbers, and shapes are instructed to students from all over the globe. In this way, in the event, there may be an obstacle that hinders an exchange of information, math can be implemented to convey data. Everybody and anybody regardless of their situation can become fond of math. Math is an expression of human skill I have a desire to possess and for this reason, I love learning math. I incline to achieve excellence in one aspect of human understanding because it shows I have the analytical skills and the ability to communicate with a person so that I can distinguish a situation, deliberate, and utilize the foremost resolutions.

Jay Gatsby filled his luxurious palace with liquor and entertainment but none of this ever brought him any happiness. Materialism has been shown to significantly increase a person's happiness but it did not positively influence Gatsby. Gatsby was deprived of love and happiness and each party he hosted he hoped would serve to fill in this void. No matter what, an event could never replace the love of another human being. Gatsby's mansion is filled with many unwanted possessions from Gatsby but the one thing he needed the most was Daisy. Jay Gatsby spends his money as if his life depended on it, but what Gatsby could not forget was the limited time he had with Daisy. Money did not bring happiness to Gatsby as the illumination of a green light only served as a reminder of what is not found on the window of a store or what can never be bought: true happiness. The novel, "The Great Gatsby" has taught thousands of readers alike including myself that people should not hold on to the past. Reliving a particular moment over and over again prevents you from moving on and accomplishing more. You are not allowing yourself to live in the present. No matter how joyous or terrible the situation is, it is crucial to remain present at the moment. Holding on to the past becomes unhealthy if you are imagining a time when you could have changed an event or an outcome rather than finding enjoyment in the simple and little things that add up to life as you will only end in a downward spiral of self-doubt. At the same time, it is pivotal to always keep in mind where you came from. A person may reflect on a challenging period in their life and realize how much they have grown. In general, people should not cling to the past since it prevents them from living their life, but they should nevertheless look back on it to remind themselves of their perseverance during a trying time in their life. Therefore, reading a glamorous book such as "The Great Gatsby" has shaped not only my present but also my future. I have set a goal for myself to use my higher education and the money I have received from my occupation and scholarships for a collective good. I will give back to friends, family, and any else who have inspired me to reach my dream of becoming an engineer. I will never forget where I come from. Despite being financially disadvantaged, I will persevere just as Gatsby did and will pursue a degree in engineering.

What was going to be two weeks of no in-person school, turned in to a month, and eventually the rest of the school year. The rest of the semester for my final year of middle school seemed like a blur and then came the challenge of high school. My first year of high school was also online and I signed up for an Advanced Placement course, AP Human Geography. This class was rigorous, but no amount of online preparation could fulfill the the determination and patience needed to pass the AP exam. I did not prepare myself. I was too busy waiting for the clock to strike 1:00pm to be able to log off my Chromebook. Therefore, when I was shown the number two as my score and a little quotation stating I challenged myself taking not only the class but also the exam, I was dissatisfied with myself. Before I knew about my score, I had already registered for another Advanced Placement course, AP World History. This class was notorious for its difficulty and homework. I could have just given up and let myself be defeated by my performance on the AP Human Geography score, but I decided that my hard work was going to pay off. Since the first week of school, I took notes using my textbook and videos. I earned perfect scores for all of my weekly tests. I learned how to analyze and interpret historical document. And most importantly, I discovered a new found love for history. I became witness to the sequential events that led to the world I know today. All of my hard work did in fact pay off. I passed the AP World History exam with a four. Despite the fact that the state of continued difficulty in distance learning affected my ability to excel, I overcame this adverse time by prohibiting it from defining who I am. I worked arduously to maintain excellent grades and test scores. Today, I am a person who performs outstandingly on all of my tasks. I take careful attention to instructions and do all of my classwork, flawlessly. In regards to sophistication and an appropriate equilibrium for schooling, I am a level beyond my peers. With this in mind, I am responsible and capable of giving back to those in need. In the future, I see myself as a person who has created groups who call for action. The problem of those in need of medical coverage, housing, or any other vital resource is not a problem of resources, but of governmental and economic systems. It is not the duty of individuals to help those in need, but rather the duty of the collective to band together to create new systems where limited access to assets does not exist. Collective preventative action leads to a collective good.

In the future, I will become a highly successful aerospace engineer.

There has been an age-old question that has puzzled mathematicians for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, did human beings find unexpectedly the concept of math or did they bring it into existence? Although this inquiry mirrors the chicken and egg debate, I think there is a clear answer. Math was as equally fabricated as it was uncovered. This is what makes math deserving of love. The assertation that math is a found experience can be stated in view of the fact that in the course of a search, there is always an answer waiting to be found. To illustrate, in the 2022-2023 school year, I was enrolled in a course called Advanced Placement Calculus AB. This course was designed to challenge ambitious students who share an enthusiasm for math. On that account, I can firmly state that this course was and will continue to be a challenge. In the beginning, when I had to find the limit as the variable x approached a designated number, it was a walk in the park, but when it was time to solve Integrals, be instructed on the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, and perform the Washer Method, I entered a new field of math I had never been introduced to. Answers to certain questions could have a numerical solution or some problems may be considered undefined and that would suffice for an answer. I love math because as I continue to pursue and discover different and rigorous courses in math, I see that there will always be an answer. It is a field of study I can always count on. It has always assisted me in comprehending the world around me. I will not always have an answer for every question told to me, but if it is concerning mathematics, I know that if I work diligently I can get to answer and experience the satisfaction of properly estimating circumstances in the years to come by assessing the time and effort I have invested in through demonstrating what was accomplished.

Cancer is one of the preeminent fatal agents in the world. In the year 2022, 609,360 individuals passed away as a result of cancer. To prevent mortality, one of the most important strategies is early detection and artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry has been proven to increase life expectancy. Despite the fact that the employment of artificial intelligence can encourage people to accept the bias of underrepresented patients, artificial intelligence in medical science will beneficially impact society because it can detect illnesses quicker than humans and extend medical services to remote areas. First and foremost, artificial intelligence in the medical field has demonstrated a superior ability to identify diseases. In the news story, “A.I. Is Learning to Read Mammograms”, Denis Grady argues that medical professionals can effectively detect breast cancer on mammograms with the use of AI as, “There are many radiologists who are reading mammograms who make mistakes, some well outside the acceptable margins of normal human error” (Grady). Computers are taught to spot patterns and decipher pictures. When the new system was tested where diagnosis was previously known, it outrivaled radiologists. Therefore, mammography accuracy proves that “thinking systems” are a collective good. Artificial intelligence in cancer screenings will increase the survival for those diagnosed. Supporting the above, the implementation of artificial intelligence in the prevention and treatment of disease has exhibited an expansion of healthcare locations. Within the article, “A.I. Shows Promise Assisting Physicians”, the writer details how AI is vowed to aid doctors in China. Systems created by Dr. Kang Zhang to detect signs of diabetic blindness utilize medical photographs and patterns of text. These preliminary programs were implemented in China, “Because its population is so large — and because its privacy norms put fewer restrictions on the sharing of digital data — it may be easier for Chinese companies and researchers to build and train the “deep learning” systems that are rapidly changing the trajectory of health care” (Metz). The most populated nation is China. Nonetheless, this country also has one of the least amount of schooled medical professionals. For this reason, the application of AI has broadened outpatient care, granting individuals the ability to economize and no longer travel great distances to receive diagnosis and treatments. Artificial intelligence will productively influence the financial state and the public because it can discern ailments at a faster rate than humans and medicinal provisions to distant regions.

A teacher changed my life. Mrs. Barrera has known me since my nerdiest days in Battle of Books in elementary, but I never noticed her impact until I was in the 8th grade. The weekend Kobe Bryant and eight others died was when I was stricken with a cold. My doctor permitted me to not go to school. I happily missed three days and sadly returned. I walked into the small Advisory room. Since the first day of school, I sat in the back in front of a wooden cabinet, barely saying a few sentences. Mrs. Barrera addressed the elephant in the room. She said, “I’m glad to see that you’re back Valerie. I missed you.” I heard what seemed like a broken record player among teachers and naturally, I did not believe her. I said to myself, “That’s not true.” What I thought was under my breath was more like a presentation with a microphone. Everyone in the class had heard me. Mrs. Barrera turned her attention toward me. Looking back, I do not remember what she said, but I do remember how I felt. She had missed my unspoken presence. And I believed her. What was going to be two weeks of no in-person school, turned into a month, and eventually the rest of the year. To keep up with her students, Mrs. Barrera created conferences. The number of people who attended was in the single digits. On the third conference, I did as usual. I opened up the Chromebook that blinded me every morning and logged on. This time it was different. In a class of about 15, I was the only one there. In this way, I was forced to talk to Mrs. Barrera. What I didn't know was that was going to be the best decision I ever made. Instantly, I was throwing facts, trivia, and behind-the-scenes knowledge on Indiana Jones, and Jaws. I showed her my art featured in 11 sketchbooks. During my time at each of our conferences, I saw that nobody was there for me to get nervous or to judge me. I was free to talk about what I wanted for so long: movies and drawing. Inspired by our time together, I merged drawings and movies in a painting titled Celebration of Film. The painting featured iconic props, scenes, and characters from influential movies. When I asked Mrs. Barrera if she would like a movie to be included, she responded with Forrest Gump, so I included it. I no longer wanted the conferences to end and neither did Mrs. Barrera. She then asked me if I could send her a message every day with a new fact when I had time. When it was time to send her the first message, I noticed that you must type in a subject, so I titled it Daily Movie Fact. I tried my best to message her everyday day for six months and in December, a package from Amazon was delivered. It had my name, but to my parents' disbelief, I did not order anything. It was a book from Mrs. Barrera titled Christmas In the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season by Jeremy Arnold. Two years ago I was too terrified to open up to anyone, but once I did, I had meaningful conversations with Mrs. Barrera. Without the conferences, I probably would have never been able to talk to another person about my interests besides my family, and for that, I am grateful to have Mrs. Barrera in my life who taught me that it is okay to talk to somebody.

If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, I would choose To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Out of countless selections available I have chosen this novel for the reason that it instilled in me something I had long forgotten, a love of books. For the first time, as I approached the end of the novel, I began to feel sorrowful. I felt I had experienced an epic adventure. The last several paragraphs of this book are the most beautiful and well-written pieces of literature I have ever had the privilege to read. To Kill a Mockingbird’s social effect is one that has withstood the test of time. Early readers of the novel have described rooting for a black man as betraying every principle that a person had been raised to believe. In other words, individuals are hit with compassion toward Tom Robinson. Americans scorn individuals of color yet, the novel caused them to rethink all they had been educated to accept, demonstrating the effect the book had on society and to this day, still does. This begs the question, why do we read? We read to transport us to imagine a world different from the one we already live in. We read to learn about man’s triumphs, defeats, fears, villains, and heroes. To Kill a Mockingbird showed me what a hero is. A real hero is not someone who possesses abilities beyond those of an ordinary person, a hero is an ordinary person who stands up for what he believes in. Based on Harper Lee’s father, Atticus Finch is a lawyer from the small town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s. This setting is prejudiced, and unjust yet Atticus is going to defend a black man, why? Atticus Finch represents the good man in a world filled with hatred. He was the same man in the courtroom and outside the courtroom. Atticus Finch is much more heroic than what it takes to carry a gun. He had a strong sense of good and projected his morals for the purity of humanity. No matter how pointless the trial seemed to the town, Atticus set out to prove Tom Robinson’s innocence in a case for humanity. Even though a black man could be automatically found guilty of his accused crime, Atticus Finch took up the case because it was the right thing to do.

My favorite thing about Disney is their movies. In the year 1937, the Walt Disney company did something unimaginable at the time by releasing an animated feature film known as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This release would lead to other films featuring characters known as Disney princesses. There are many Disney princesses to choose from that include Aurora, Mulan, and Ariel, but the princess that captivated me the most as a child was Belle. Belle was not like the other princesses as she was fascinated with literature and had a strong sense of what she liked. Belle did not give in to standards or stereotypes. She was witness to the beauty within the beast and the ugliness of Gaston’s character. On that account, for multiple Halloween nights I dressed up as Belle. I proudly displayed her good nature. To add on, my birthdays usually featured a gift with respect to Beauty and the Beast. I had a book and numerous dolls. Moreover, the animated Disney movies also feature songs. One of my favorite songs is “Reflection” which is featured in the movie Mulan. In this song, Mulan explains that her actions will never be considered honorable to her family. Mulan has brought shame to her family and at the same time can not recognize herself in her reflections. Mulan is also not like conventional Disney princesses. Despite her families wishes, Mulan escapes to take her father's place in the army. She trains extensively, leaving her exhausted at the end of each day. It would seem that a common theme around Disney movies is disobeying or having a disregard for authority. However, this is not meant to cause poor behavior among children. What these Disney films are promoting is the message of finding who you are. People are curious and should not be limited by anyone else. The Walt Disney Company teaches children to be as ambitious as Mulan, to be as adventurous as Jasmine, and to be as bold as Pocahontas. I therefore, have taken these attributes to heart. Disney’s characters have displayed a strong sense of loyalty and kindness. Thus, at my school’s library I volunteer. My work consists of helping my peers print out documents from the library’s computers and I put away books based on their classification such as Fiction, Non-fiction, and Foreign Language. In the same way that Belle from the Beauty and the Beast is deemed a bibliophilic, I also consider myself a love of books. As I have gotten older, my love for disney has not shrunken. In fact it is greater than ever. I am closer to my family thanks to the themes and lessons I carry with me each and every day of my life I have learned from Disney films.