A couple reasons why I love literature is because of video games and my junior/senior high school English teacher. One may find this strange, but video games and literature go together quite well! Many literary elements go into video game design that are essential for establishing conflict and setting, all in an interactive medium that I absolutely adore! Pair this with a nerdy and quirky English teacher who has similar interests, and a passion for creative writing is born! Needless to say, literature has had a big impact on my goals in life and how my personal philosophy is structured. A notable piece of modern literature that has influenced my goals is “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The main theme of the book is the illusion of the American Dream which is fitting given the setting: New York during the Roaring ‘20s. Another theme of the book is the desire to live in the past. These themes are characterized by the protagonist Jay Gatsby: an enigmatic millionaire with a mysterious past. His character has taught me valuable lessons regarding greed, social status, and obsessive nostalgia. I learned that the “American Dream” is an oversold concept that can lead people to corruption and tragedy, trying to impress others with luxury is pretentious, and pursuing the past is a fruitless endeavor. A few personal goals shaped by this book include living a life of modesty, not trying to impress others with success and wealth, and leaving past mistakes behind and progressing through life. Another book I would like to mention is “Significant Zero” by Walt Williams: co-writer of the critically successful video game “Spec Ops: The Line.” In his book, he describes working in the video game industry as a struggle to remain innovative, explains the crucial role of narrative designers and the difficulties he encounters when fusing gameplay with storytelling, and criticizes the video game industry for its glorification of violence. As someone who considers video games an art form, his connection between serious topics such as war crimes and the video game industry’s apathy towards the accurate and sincere portrayal of such acts in video games resonates with me heavily in what is a great piece of postmodern literature. Being one of my favorite writers and how casual his style of writing is, I feel like I’m having a conversation with him rather than just reading words written by him. Walt Williams has taught me that we should reconsider our attitudes towards the violence we see portrayed in media. We shouldn’t be so comfortable with witnessing violent acts on the news or simulating them in video games. This lesson has shaped my general life goal of pacifism and support for the anti-war movement. Literature has helped me formulate my beliefs and goals that I could not express with my own words.

Math is the language of the Universe. It is our transcription of every observation, experiment, and abstract concept conceived in science. It is how we deconstruct the mechanics of the natural world and apply them to our society. Math is more than just numbers and occasional letters, it’s a blueprint. It contains many layers and theorems that are intertwined to establish the framework of everything we understand about the world around us. From this perspective, math is like a puzzle. I love deciphering problems step-by-step by simplifying information, whether it be by basic arithmetic operations or more complex operations like exponents, roots, and logarithms. Of course, not all math is created equally. There are branches of mathematics I prefer over others. Elementary algebra and calculus are my favorite branches of mathematics! Elementary algebra is the simplest and most applicable branch of mathematics in daily life besides arithmetic. Of course, the simplicity of it is why I love it! Solving problems in elementary algebra is simple, yet it feels rewarding! Solving problems in calculus feels even more rewarding, though! Calculus is a lot harder than elementary algebra, but they are both important in aiding the operation of our society. After all, calculus is "integral" to today’s technology! Jokes aside, calculus is great as well because it has a greater application to STEM fields. In my case, it is fundamental to physics, especially classical mechanics. Math is one of the most important subjects to learn in today’s world. Math is all around us; we just have to find it and interpret it!

Heavy metal, specifically the new wave of American heavy metal, is my favorite music genre of all time! My love for heavy metal stems from when I first listened to songs made by video game music composer Kevin Sherwood when I was younger. The heavy electric guitar riffs and aggressive vocals by Elena Siegman really struck a proverbial chord with me and set the foundation for my preferred music taste. While Kevin Sherwood was the foundation for my love of heavy metal, it wasn't until I met my best friend that a door had been placed and opened to a world of different voices and experiences that would influence me forever. Ever since he introduced me to new metal bands in high school, my favorite heavy metal band has been Avenged Sevenfold! My two favorite albums of theirs is "Hail to the King" and "Nightmare" with M. Shadows as the lead vocalist and front man. A lot of what I love about Avenged Sevenfold is that their songs don't always follow the same formula and evoke a range of emotions. For example, the song "Nightmare" is aggressive and symbolizes punishment and damnation, while the song "So Far Away" is melancholic, symbolizes grief, and reflects the loss of life. I remember when I listened to "So Far Away" for the first time, my eyes were like a pair of waterfalls. Metal is just one of those genres of music I feel as though I can have my feelings manifested into an art form. Another one of my favorite metal bands that excels at reflecting my feelings but isn't heavy metal is Linkin Park. Late lead vocalist Chester Bennington mastered the art of singing and screaming in their songs, releasing all his stress and internal quarrels into the microphone. Even the titles and lyrics of their old songs reflect what he was going through when he was alive. His story is truly a remarkable one, and he changed the music industry forever by putting nu metal on the world stage. With all his achievements and the connection he made with millions of people, he cemented himself as one of the greatest rock stars of all time. If I could say something to him, I would like to thank him for everything he's done and making me feel understood and heard. As a physics major, I understand the feeling of being overwhelmed in life—the feeling of wanting to give up, but I must take inspiration from Mr. Bennington and keep pushing. I plan to complete my Bachelor of Science degree in physics with a minor in astronomy in three more years. I plan to work as either a research assistant at an observatory or college or a fuel analyst at the company my brother works for. Of course, I won't just be taking classes at college. I hope to get a part-time on-campus job during the fall semester and future semesters down the line or an internship over the next summer or two. My goal is to acquire work experience in college and help my parents pay for my rent for the next few years. With the deteriorating state of today's economy, the cost of attendance for school and renting an apartment has inflated substantially. It doesn't help that my father is retired and my mother is juggling a job and an internship for her master's degree at the same time either. I hope to help them pay for my college by being a diligent worker/student and applying to scholarships like this one! Any financial assistance reduces the stress caused by tuition payments and is greatly appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read my essay and hearing about my experiences with metal music. Rock on!

My cousin was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2022. It was a shock to everyone in my family. She always seemed so healthy and diligent, balancing her life as a mother and an elementary school teacher. Then, all of a sudden, her whole world turned upside-down. She had to go to the hospital regularly for chemotherapy and other treatment methods for an extended period of time. She couldn't spend as much time with our family, do her job, or travel anywhere for long periods of time. Anybody who has or has had cancer knows how much of a painful and tiresome experience it is emotionally and physically. Though for her, she remained strong throughout the entire process. After an arduous battle, she won and became cancer-free in 2024. She was able to go back to her ordinary life though not without the memory of a time when her life was at stake. Although my cousin overcame her cancer, another family member would fall into the jaws of the beast. My mother's fiancé was found to have stage 4 prostate cancer earlier this year. He has had health problems for a long time due to chronic smoking, but this news was still tragic nonetheless. It felt like another slap to the face by life. One climbs out of the hole and another falls into the hole. As of today, he is maintaining his cancer well with a good attitude and chemotherapy. From these experiences with my family, I have gained a greater appreciation for the fortunate life I live. Cancer is such a terrifying disease in a sense that you never know if or when it will happen. One day, a person will be completely physically healthy, then the next, they will be fighting for their life in a hospital bed. It is especially dreadful knowing that cancer research has been hindered significantly in recent times due to agencies such as the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health receiving reduced funding that discourages crucial biomedical research on the growth of cancer and how to detect it early. Even non-profit organizations that focus on cancer research like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital may see budget cuts in the near future. Regardless, the stories I have heard from cancer victims and family members solidify cancer as a war waged by corrupted cells against the human body and mind. It is a sobering reality knowing that one day, your body could become your enemy.

What started out as just a hobby in middle school turned into a thirst to understand an enigmatic universe. I was always focused on what was below, but I never acknowledged what was above. When I saw those pictures of other objects so, so far away for the first time, something sparked within me. I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. I needed to learn more about something that is greater than us on a cosmic scale. From that moment forward, I wanted to be an astronomer. Observational astronomy is the career path I am pursuing in addition to astrophysics and planetary science. Currently, this pursuit is underway, as I am a physics major with an astronomy minor at Virginia Tech. Although it’s been a good experience so far, it has not been without its turmoil. My first semester was full of stress and uncertainty. I had never been on my own before and having to juggle 7 classes at the same time while dealing with social anxiety took a toll on my mental health. It got so bad that I did not know if I was going to continue with college or even physics/astronomy at large. Thankfully, I was able to pass the semester and continue studying my passion. Today, I am doing better mentally, and that is largely because of the people in my major that have been very nice and helpful throughout! I take solace knowing there are other people in the same boat as me who are willing to help me in times of confusion. Despite many setbacks, I have learned a lot about space and its mechanics so far. I have learned about the formation of solar systems, thermal spectrums of stars, planetary geology, and so much more! I even have hands-on experience with telescopes and have learned about the optics necessary for optimal imaging! I feel like my knowledge would prove useful in a laboratory setting such as an observatory. Ten years from now, I could see myself working at an observatory as a research assistant analyzing observational data or helping coordinate telescope operations. I could even see myself working at a planetarium helping educators teach the public about the vast reaches of the Universe and its contents! I may pursue a Master of Science degree or Ph.D. in the future depending on how successful my career is, but for now, I only desire a Bachelor of Science degree. Who knows, though. No matter what ends up happening, I will always have something to look up to.

I grew up in a conservative household, so I was bound to be a pro-life individual. My parents have always taught me that humans are born in God’s image and the life of the unborn is sacred. However, I am not conservative myself, and I never went to church very often when I was younger and do not go to church currently. Despite this, I am a pro-life advocate who is against abortion in most circumstances. As an agnostic man, I know the value of every person from the moment of conception. This just goes to show that you do not have to be conservative or religious to understand the sanctity of human life. Of course, the topic of maternal health goes deeper into social complexities, though. According to a 2024 study by the Pew Research Center, 63% of U.S. adults said abortion should be legal in most/all cases, while 36% said abortion should be illegal in most/all cases. The percentage of those who said abortion should be legal in most/all cases increased by 2% from 2022 after the ruling of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The uptick in the support for abortion and the resentment of the pro-choice movement was caused by what is perceived as a breach of the right to privacy and a blow to women’s reproductive rights and the autonomy they hold over their bodies. These are valid arguments; however, what is not considered often is the lives of fetuses. They can’t object or speak for themselves. They literally have no say in the matter when they ARE the matter. Additionally, it may be interpreted that the U.S. Constitution protects the lives of the unborn, Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment stating: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” However, the first sentence of the Fourteenth Amendment classifies citizens as every person BORN or naturalized in the United States, so this argument is subjective. An action I have taken to promote the lives of the unborn is this scholarship essay. This scholarship has helped me put my thoughts to words regarding abortion and its morality. Hopefully, other students applying for scholarships will be open to my perspective on the matter and formulate their own ideas from it. Another action I have taken and will continue to take in the future is merely having a conversation about this topic with someone else. I have spoken to family members, close friends, and peers about abortion, and all the conversations we have had were insightful and civil. No matter what your political or religious beliefs are, no debate should devolve into verbal or physical violence. Every conversation regarding a controversial topic should be handled with mutual respect and an open mind to encourage the transmission of different ideas. I believe abortion is immoral in most cases, but I would never patronize those who think otherwise.

Most of the adversities I face are social-related because I have social anxiety. The most recent and prominent example of this is the presentation I had to give to get my associate’s degree. I had to present in front of dozens of people including judges, my teachers, fellow students, and parents for 12 minutes on a topic I researched and experimented on for half of my senior year. The situation was made worse by the fact that I was the last one to present. As each presentation finished, I could feel my heart beating faster and my body trembling more. Once it was my turn, I stood up and walked to the podium, my outer confidence masking my inner fear. With no turning back, I began presenting. However, as I progressed, I felt that fear slowly fade away. Once I finished speaking and answering the judges’ questions, I felt a wave of accomplishment wash over me. I overcame the thing I was dreading the entire school year. Of course, this was on the academic side of things. My service to my community has yielded great accomplishments as well! My service to my community was facilitated by my membership in the National Beta Club in high school. As a member of Beta Club, I accumulated almost 100 hours of community service over the course of 2.5 years! As a result, I have received the “Beta Club Member of the Year” award twice for my sophomore and junior years at Magna Vista High School! Meeting and working with people in my community was a great experience thanks to Beta Club! A particular organization I would like mention is the First United Methodist Church Food Distribution Center. The people who work/volunteer there are lovely people who put their hearts and backs into taking care of those in poverty in my community. The first community service event I ever attended was at their food bank almost 3 years ago! I remember being quite nervous when I arrived, unsure of what to expect. Thankfully, they were willing to give me hand and show me how to package and deliver food to people waiting outside. All it took for me to overcome my anxiety was to just work and communicate with them consistently every month. Their friendly and unique personalities contributed to this as well! Regarding my volunteering experience there, I was mainly responsible for delivering food to people’s vehicles outside. I upheld that role for 2.5 hours every month for 2.5 years. Of course, there were a couple of challenges I faced during my time there, though. Oftentimes, the weather ranged from mildly chilly to freezing. One time, I was helping deliver food in temperatures in the tens! For 2.5 hours, I couldn’t feel my face or fingers and my finger joints and knees were locking up, but I persisted. Another time, they were short-staffed and there weren’t many other student volunteers, so two organization volunteers and I handled ALL the food deliveries that day when there would normally be around eight volunteers delivering food. Despite these adversities, volunteering at their food bank for so long was a privilege, and I would love to volunteer there again in the future!

Literature is a culturally and historically significant medium for individuals to express their ideas and opinions through creative means or autobiographies. As a result of the invention of the printing press in 1440, the significant increase in the production of books led to the greater diffusion of ideas and increased literacy over the course of hundreds of years. During this time, many great works from literary romanticism to contemporary literature were written that have had a big impact on my goals in life and how my personal philosophy is structured. A notable piece of modern literature that has influenced my goals is “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The main theme of the book is the illusion of the American Dream which is fitting given the setting: New York during the Roaring ‘20s. Another theme of the book is the desire to live in the past. These themes are characterized by the protagonist Jay Gatsby: an enigmatic millionaire with a mysterious past. His character has taught me valuable lessons regarding greed, social status, and obsessive nostalgia. I learned that the “American Dream” is an oversold concept that can lead people to corruption and tragedy, trying to impress others with luxury is pretentious, and pursuing the past is a fruitless endeavor. A few personal goals shaped by this book include living a life of modesty, not trying to impress others with success and wealth, and leaving past mistakes behind and progressing through life. Another book I would like to mention is “Significant Zero” by Walt Williams: co-writer of the critically successful video game “Spec Ops: The Line.” In his book, he describes working in the video game industry as a struggle to remain innovative, explains the crucial role of narrative designers and the difficulties he encounters when fusing gameplay with storytelling, and criticizes the video game industry for its glorification of violence. As someone who loves video games and considers them an art form, his connection between serious topics such as war crimes and the video game industry’s apathy towards the accurate and sincere portrayal of such acts in video games resonates with me heavily in what is a great piece of postmodern literature. Being one of my favorite writers and how casual his style of writing is, I feel like I’m having a conversation with him rather than just reading words written by him. Walt Williams has taught me that we should reconsider our attitudes towards the violence we see portrayed in media. We shouldn’t be so comfortable with witnessing violent acts on the news or simulating them in video games. This lesson has shaped my general life goal of pacifism and support for the anti-war movement. Literature has helped me formulate my beliefs and goals that I could not express with my own words.

Math is the language of the Universe. It is our transcription of every observation, experiment, and abstract concept conceived in science. It is how we deconstruct the mechanics of the natural world and apply them to modern society. Math is more than just numbers and occasional letters, it’s a blueprint. It contains many layers and theorems that are intertwined to establish the framework of everything we understand about the environment around us. From this perspective, math is like a puzzle. I love deciphering problems step-by-step by simplifying information, whether it be by basic arithmetic operations or more complex operations like exponents, root symbols, and logarithms. Of course, not all math is created equally. There are branches of mathematics I prefer over others. Elementary algebra and calculus are my favorite branches of mathematics! Elementary algebra is the simplest and most applicable branch of mathematics in daily life behind arithmetic. Of course, the simplicity of it is why I love it! Solving problems in elementary algebra is simple, yet it feels rewarding! Solving problems in calculus feels even more rewarding, though! Calculus is a lot harder than basic algebra, but they are both important in helping modern society operate. After all, calculus is "integral" to technology today! Jokes aside, calculus is great as well because it has a greater application to STEM fields. In my case, it is fundamental to physics, especially classical mechanics. Math is one of the most important subjects to learn in today’s world. Math is all around us; we just have to find it and interpret it!

Calculus is one of the most important branches of mathematics applicable to modern technology and society. Just about everything we use and are surrounded by daily was built using some form of calculus. It is used as a tool to model, analyze, and solve complex problems in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and even economics and medicine! As an upcoming physics major, calculus is an integral part of understanding the mechanics of the natural world. We use calculus in areas such as motion, forces, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and electromagnetism. First, in terms of motion, we calculate displacement, velocity, and acceleration by using the integrals of two or more points at a specific time and the rates of change of a moving object. The first and second derivatives of displacement can also be used to find velocity and acceleration respectively. Next, in terms of forces, we use calculus to calculate the force acting upon an object, gravitational acceleration, normal force, centripetal force, centrifugal force, friction, and more. Many of these formulas are derived from Newton’s laws of motion and Newton’s law of universal gravitation. Then, in terms of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, we use formulas for work, power, kinetic energy, and potential energy and principles such as Boyle’s law, Charles’ law, Gay-Lussac’s law, and the law of the conservation of energy to calculate heat transfer, the volume, pressure, and temperature of fluids in a system, and the amount of work done in a system. Lastly, in terms of electromagnetism, we use Maxwell’s equations in differential and integral forms to calculate electric potential energy and describe the relationship between the electric and magnetic fields. This knowledge is used to great effect in engineering, in which it helps establish electricity in homes and electronics! Suffice to say, calculus is part of everything we understand how nature operates around us. Calculus is not just restricted to physics. It is vital to other important fields as well! Adding to engineering, calculus helps design infrastructure by providing formulas for forces such as tension and compression and other mechanics such as stress, strain, ideal mechanical advantage, and actual mechanical advantage and optimizing efficiency. Calculus is also used in the digital field! For example, it is used in computer science to design algorithms in areas such as computer graphics, artificial intelligence, machine-learning, data science, statistics, and video game programming. It is even used in fields outside of STEM! In economics, compound interest is calculated using exponential formulas and derivatives of the total cost, revenue, and profit functions are used to calculate marginal cost, revenue, and profit respectively. Lastly, in medicine, calculus is used to calculate the half-life of drugs, blood flow, and disease spread, optimize dosages, and model CT, MRI, and PET scans using calculus-based algorithms. Calculus is used in so many aspects of daily life; we don’t even realize it!