I started working the day I turned sixteen and have stayed consistently employed ever since. The most defining period came the literal day right after high school graduation in May of 2023. I worked consistently forty hours a week at Trader Joe’s, took a minimum of twelve credit hours at Northern Virginia Community College each semester, and managed a rental space job that added another six to twenty hours depending on the week and season. Altogether, I often carried a 60‑plus‑hour workload while earning my Uniform Certificate of General Studies. Despite the pace, I maintained a near-perfect academic record at NOVA. Before college, another major influence in my life was Boy Scout Troop 1853, where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout, culminating in my Eagle project; replacing an area overrun with invasive species with a monarch butterfly milkweed garden. As I’ve settled into Richmond and into my studies at VCU, I’ve tried to continue serving in ways that feel genuine. At the time of writing this, I have recently begun volunteering with the Richmond SPCA, which has allowed me to support a cause I care about while building roots in my new home. Even outside of formal organizations, I do my best to be a good/helpful member of my community; genuine examples being recently assisting those stuck after a car crash on my way home from a trip, or buying lunch for people facing homelessness in my area. I believe small, consistent acts of kindness matter. Now that I have my doctor’s approval for my own medical matters, I’m also registering to become a regular blood donor, since I know my type is in constant demand. Outside of school and work, I make it a point to protect my free time and the relationships that keep me grounded. I never stop, always moving from one project to the next, but I also know that I need to slow down. Caring for my plants and aquariums gives me space to breathe, sharing books with my cousin, or grabbing sushi with my boyfriend, I try not to neglect my immediate relationships in my life. Lastly, the person who motivates me most is my father. Many people feel uneasy when they’re told they’re becoming like their parents, but I feel proud when someone says I remind them of him. He has always shown the balance of what it means to be a good man, someone who serves his community without forgetting to care for your own livelihood and happiness. I push myself to always do more, to do better because of him. When I look at my community, I keep my head up, prepared to do whatever I can to serve.