Nature is my passion. I love watching the stars twinkle at night, listening to the birds singing, and watching the trees grow to reach the sky. Nature is what composes Planet Earth and contributes to the ecosystem. Without the balance of nature, no living thing would survive. My mother grew up in a farm, and before her, my grandparents and great-grandparents grew up on farms, too. So, basically, love for nature is in my blood. Although I don't live on a farm, I try to do everything possible to connect myself with the nature around me - because when I am surrounded by nature, I feel happy and relaxed. I have become more connected to nature since my hearing that Planet Earth is being destroyed. Species are becoming extinct, the air is being polluted, and the food we eat is being genetically modified - nature is endangered. My love for nature has prompted me to do something; therefore, at home, my family and I try to protect our natural surroundings as much as possible. Firstly, we try buy to organic produce or produce that contains little to no pesticides or GMO whenever we can. If possible, we try to grow our own vegetables and fruits. This helps reduce the amount of chemicals entering our atmosphere. Secondly, no pesticides are allowed on our vegetable/fruit plants. That means no herbicide, pesticide, or insecticide. This helps protect us (or the wildlife) from consuming harmful chemicals. Thirdly, we respect the wildlife that enter our property. Is a bunny out back? Let him be and do not approach him. Lastly, everything that is recyclable goes in the recycling bin - no exceptions. Nature needs to be protected. Show your love and appreciation for nature and take a stand today. Go natural to protect nature.

According to the New International Webster's Standard Dictionary (2006), a leader is defined as "one in a position of influence or importance" or one "who guides or is in command". The most obvious examples of leaders are governors, presidents, lawmakers, prime-ministers - and the list goes on. In the family, some examples are parents, grandparents, family members, and elder siblings. In my family, I am the eldest of my siblings. Therefore, I am in a position of influence because my siblings look up to me. My siblings and I are constantly together since we have all been homeschooled all our lives. Sometimes, mom needs to run some errands or head to the store but she wants us to stay home and complete our coursework. As the eldest, I stay home and take charge of whatever needs to be done. While mom is away, I grade my siblings and ensure that their work was completed properly. I also watch that all the chores were finished, enforce all the house rules, and remind my siblings of anything that they might have forgotten. I also conduct myself properly so as to give my sister and brother a good example. Good examples help them better understand what they must do and follow the right thing. To me, leadership is more than taking charge of something or someone. It's more than being in a position of power and/or wealth. Leadership is a position of servitude - leaders serve their community. Anyone can be a leader if they can love, serve, give, and follow well. My mom always taught me that to be a great leader, one must learn to be a great follower. Leadership takes humility, commitment, and integrity. Leadership results from the motivation to do something and make a change or impact. Leaders come in many different ages and genders; they might be wealthy or poor, popular or unknown. Yet, whichever they are, they all have one thing in common - they are followers. My desire is to inspire people to make a difference in this world. I want my life to be an example of God's love and make others want to love their neighbors. I want to be a great follower of rules and laws so that my peers can follow my example and do the same. I hope that my fellow citizens, regardless of their age, will look at me as a leader who does what is right.