A few years ago, I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do in my future. Was it something with art? Something to do with the health of others? Would I go to college and get my degree or go immediately into the workforce? During the summer before junior year, I was struggling with making friends and I felt alone and like I had a loss of purpose. My escape from that was volunteering at my local humane society and as soon as I did, I fell in love. When I started volunteering and working there, I think that’s the most passionate I’ve ever been about something. I spent so many hours with the animals at the shelter, helping the faculty and the staff, and doing general tasks if it was needed. Spending countless hours there helped me discover that it was my calling. I was so dedicated to the job, and every day I was ensuring every animal received the love and care they deserved. Cleaning every single kennel before opening and after close, making sure they were dry so the animals weren’t exposed to wet floors, giving them outside time to run and play, and so much more. Even if the work was absolutely grueling on the body and the emotional toll it had was intense, it didn’t matter. I was there for the animals and that’s what fueled my energy to work there. Because of the devotion and connection I had to the job, there were many dogs I cried for. Despite the countless times I cried and the hundreds of animals I’ve mourned, it strangely shifted my mindset and what I want to do for my future. I want to solve the problem of overwhelming animals in shelters, the euthanization rate, and I want to travel to other countries and do the same thing. I want to advocate for the animals of our planet that don’t have a voice. I plan to attend a 4 year university to achieve my bachelor's degree. Once I graduate and complete my program requirements, I will go to a veterinary school and get a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine. I plan to gain experience through internships and at local veterinary clinics. Eventually, I want to open my own practice, which will help me achieve my goal to advocate for animals that are under the threat of euthanization due to shelters with limited space, travel internationally to rescue and rehabilitate vulnerable animals, and to hopefully solve overpopulation.

In some situations where leadership is required, many people choose to stay silent and do nothing because it’s the easier route. In this significant case, speaking up felt more necessary to me. That feeling occurred while working and volunteering at my local humane society. Most people would expect this job to be easy and consist of cute cats and dogs that you can spend the whole day with. While there have been many instances like this, I also saw and experienced the bad side of it. Shelters in South Carolina are constantly overwhelmed with animals, and some shelters are forced to take an animal's life away. Not because they’re dangerous or too far gone, but simply because there are too many animals and too few resources. Every year, millions of dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters nationwide, creating a crisis that many communities struggle to manage. I've witnessed hundreds of animals suddenly "disappear" to fill space for more incoming animals. This is a heartbreaking reality that consists of many being euthanized simply because there is not enough space or resources to care for them all. In my community, shelters are consistently overcrowded. These facilities are forced to make unfortunate choices, such as euthanization or even being forced to shut down due to a lack of financial support from the local government and public donations. This issue is extremely important to me because it reflects a larger problem of neglect, lack of knowledge about pet responsibility, and limited resources to affordable spay and neuter programs. I've experienced it and felt every ounce of pain for these animals. Seeing innocent animals lose their chance at a good, full life due to circumstances beyond their control is something I've had to witness to understand this issue, and I can no longer ignore it. My association with this issue has been both as an employee and a volunteer at a shelter, where I've spent hours working with animals in need. Because of this, my experiences changed my view of the world and opened my eyes to the harsh realities that many people overlook or never see. I've cried, I've wished to go back in time, and I've argued about this issue to no avail. I've witnessed animals arrive scared, abandoned, or injured, yet many are the most loving creatures, despite what they've been through. I've had to comfort those who had to leave their loved ones behind due to unfortunate circumstances. Being part of this environment pushed me to not ignore what was happening and make a difference, no matter how small. Something as simple as assisting with daily care for the animals, or volunteering for adoption events, or simply comforting animals who had no one else became my way of contributing to the solution. Since opening my eyes to this issue, I've tried to raise awareness about the importance of adoption, responsible pet ownership, and supporting local shelters. I’ve expressed my opinion to family, friends, and community members about how important it is to adopt instead of shopping. This issue will always be important to me because it's not just about the animals but about spreading the truth of our reality, and because of this, I’ll always try my best to educate those around me.

My chosen career path is to work with animals and possibly solve a significant issue that America deals with globally. My reasoning for this has grown significantly due to being an employee and a volunteer at a shelter, where I've spent hours working with animals in need. Because of this, my experiences changed my view of the world and opened my eyes to the harsh realities that many people overlook or never see. Every year, millions of dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters nationwide, creating a crisis that many communities struggle to manage. I've witnessed hundreds of animals suddenly "disappear" to fill space for more incoming animals. This is a heartbreaking reality that consists of many being euthanized simply because there is not enough space or resources to care for them all. In my community, shelters are consistently overcrowded, with kennels often filled beyond capacity, and many have limited staff. These facilities are forced to make unfortunate choices, such as euthanization or even being forced to shut down due to a lack of financial support from the local government and public donations. This issue is extremely important to me because it reflects a larger problem of neglect, lack of knowledge about pet responsibility, and limited resources to affordable spay and neuter programs. I've experienced it and felt every ounce of pain for these animals. Seeing innocent animals lose their chance at a good, full life due to circumstances beyond their control is something I've had to witness to understand this issue, and I can no longer ignore it. I've cried, I've wished to go back in time, and I've argued about this issue to no avail. I've witnessed animals arrive scared, abandoned, or injured, yet many are the most loving creatures, despite what they've been through. I've had to comfort those who had to leave their loved ones behind due to unfortunate circumstances, including families facing eviction, medical emergencies, or financial hardship. These moments are emotionally devastating for everyone involved. Being part of this environment pushed me to not ignore what was happening and make a difference, no matter how small. Something as simple as assisting with daily care for the animals, or volunteering for adoption events, or simply comforting animals who had no one else became my way of contributing to the solution. Since opening my eyes to this issue, I've tried to raise awareness about the importance of adoption, responsible pet ownership, and supporting local shelters. I’ve expressed my opinion to family, friends, and community members about how important it is to adopt instead of shopping. If I had the money and resources to help solve this issue, I’d open a practice that reduced the price of spaying and neutering, have shelters understand the importance of a foster network program, and try to educate the community through colleges or campaigns. This issue will always be important to me because it's not just about the animals but about spreading the truth of our reality, and because of this, I’ll always try my best to educate those around me. My experiences have shaped not only what I care about, but also the way I change and contribute to something.

One social issue that occurs across the globe and deeply resonates with me is the overwhelming number of animals entering shelters. Every year, millions of dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters nationwide, creating a crisis that many communities struggle to manage. I've witnessed hundreds of animals suddenly "disappear" to fill space for more incoming animals. This is a heartbreaking reality that consists of many being euthanized simply because there is not enough space or resources to care for them all. In my community, shelters are consistently overcrowded, with kennels often filled beyond capacity and staff stretched thin trying to provide adequate care. These facilities are forced to make unfortunate choices, such as euthanization or even being forced to shut down due to a lack of financial support from the local government and public donations. This issue is extremely important to me because it reflects a larger problem of neglect, lack of knowledge about pet responsibility, and limited resources to affordable spay and neuter programs. I've experienced it and felt every ounce of pain for these animals. Seeing innocent animals lose their chance at a good, full life due to circumstances beyond their control is something I've had to witness to understand this issue, and I can no longer ignore it. My association with this issue has been both as an employee and a volunteer at a shelter, where I've spent hours working with animals in need. Because of this, my experiences changed my view of the world and opened my eyes to the harsh realities that many people overlook or never see. I've cried, I've wished to go back in time, and I've argued about this issue to no avail. I've witnessed animals arrive scared, abandoned, or injured, yet many are the most loving creatures, despite what they've been through. I've had to comfort those who had to leave their loved ones behind due to unfortunate circumstances, including families facing eviction, medical emergencies, or financial hardship. These moments are emotionally devastating for everyone involved. Being part of this environment pushed me to not ignore what was happening and make a difference, no matter how small. Something as simple as assisting with daily care for the animals, or volunteering for adoption events, or simply comforting animals who had no one else became my way of contributing to the solution. Since opening my eyes to this issue, I've tried to raise awareness about the importance of adoption, responsible pet ownership, and supporting local shelters. I’ve expressed my opinion to family, friends, and community members about how important it is to adopt instead of shopping. If I had the money and resources to help solve this issue, I’d open a practice that reduced the price of spaying and neutering, have shelters understand the importance of a foster network program, and try to educate the community through colleges or campaigns. This issue will always be important to me because it's not just about the animals but about spreading the truth of our reality, and because of this, I’ll always try my best to educate those around me. My experiences have shaped not only what I care about, but also the way I change and contribute to something.

In the middle of my high school career, my mother and I made the life-changing decision to leave everything familiar behind. Our family, friends, and the place I had always called home. We moved 1,000 miles away from the only place I had known my whole life to a state where I didn't know a single person. In the beginning, the move felt overwhelming, and I felt the weight of leaving behind not only the house I grew up in, but also the memories and relationships that had shaped who I was. Suddenly, I found myself having to restart in an unfamiliar place, where the comforts of my past felt both distant and tempting to cling to. This transition tested me in ways I never expected, yet it also became the foundation of my personal growth. Moving so far away challenged me to adapt and it shaped my independence, perspective, and sense of identity. At first, it was hard to adjust; The culture around me felt strange and unfamiliar, and there were no friends to escape to. Slowly, I developed a new perspective on my new home, embracing the different culture, the unfamiliar faces, and the abundance of opportunities that came with starting over. I met new people whom I am grateful to have met, because they changed me in ways I never imagined. I learned how to adapt to being uncomfortable or alone, how to speak up for myself, and eventually, I discovered who I am as a person without the safety net of my past. As I'm getting closer to the end of my senior year, I look back and am thankful I chose to move because it not only helped me grow, but it showed me what I'm capable of.

As a 17-year-old girl still exploring her passions, Sabrina Carpenter has influenced my outlook regarding the social and career aspects of the world. Knowing that Sabrina had been in the spotlight since she was 13 motivates me to find a future career I love, as it reflects the passion and love she has for her own. As she ventured into the music industry, one of her most recent albums, "Emails I Can't Send," marked a turning point for her as she shared in interviews how she poured all of the emotions she felt into these beautiful songs. In an interview with Vogue, she mentioned, "Taking personal situations in my life and being able to turn them into art was always a way of healing myself." This is significant to me because she shows that even through the hard work and dedication required for her life and career, she's found a way to express self-love through her art. Sabrina Carpenter's success has shown that hard work, commitment, and perseverance can lead to achieving your dream goals. Furthermore, Sabrina has become a role model for many, including myself. Her personal growth and development guide many new generations of young girls to pursue their dreams and fight through the obstacles they may encounter.

According to multiple sources, one in five U.S. adults deal with mental health issues daily and many go undiagnosed. As a result of seeing this go through many of my loved ones, I strive to create a positive impact on individuals dealing with mental health issues. By providing support and guidance, I aim to break the stereotypes surrounding mental health and help more people receive the care and understanding they need. The reward of becoming someone people can feel comfortable going to, so we can navigate their struggles, witness their growth, and contribute to their well-being, is more fulfilling than the challenges of reaching these opportunities. As a result, I’ve reached this standpoint through my sacrifices. As I’ve learned what I want my future to look like, I’ve had to dedicate hours to completing homework assignments, studying, or spending more hours at work to save money for college or other payments. Overall, it’s been a journey of self-discovery as I’ve juggled the twists and turns of balancing my education, work, and personal commitments. Sacrificing things that are important to you not only takes a toll on you but the people around you too. Therefore, an important lesson I’ve learned along the way is that the only way you can get somewhere is by sacrificing your time, patience, and comfort. Within the past year, my mother and I recently made the life-changing decision to move from Maine to South Carolina. When comparing the two states, there are a lot of differences. One of those is the diversity which is extremely abundant in South Carolina as opposed to Maine. In September of 2023, I chose to move down to South Carolina to experience a new perspective on life, leaving behind the little town where I was born and raised until I was 17. This decision required sacrificing time and my relationship with my Dad, who still lives in Maine, as I moved 1,106 miles away, estimating over an 18-hour long journey with no stops in between. In summary, the experience of witnessing the impact of mental health issues on my loved ones along with the sacrifices I’ve had to make along the way has fueled my determination to help support and give guidance to individuals facing mental health battles. Breaking the stigma that continues to surround mental health motivates me to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Although I know there are constant ups and downs in going into the mental health field, I feel as though I have the drive and desire to make a positive impact in my community and possibly beyond that.