Calculus: "The branch of mathematics that deals with the finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally based on the summation of infinitesimal differences; the mathematical study of change." (Oxford Dictionary). The masterpiece was beautifully constructed by two brilliant mathematicians Gottfried Leibniz and Isaac Newton in the 17th century. Only a few hundred years have passed since the creation of calculus, yet we have learned, and continue to learn, a seemingly endless amount of knowledge from it. The precise calculations used in calculus are utilized in a plethora of studies that are essential in society. It is simply indispensable in the STEM field. This spans from the analytical practice of statistics, to the intricate studies of medical engineering, to the methodical algorithms of computer science, to the complexities and innovation of rocketry, and infinity and beyond. One way that I was exposed to the power of calculus was actually in my statistics class. We were studying the normal distribution which is home to the bell curve. Each portion of the curve is divided into standard deviations and proportions, all of which were derived from integral calculus. The way the normal distribution is used in statistics is by calculating an integral, or area under a curve, from one point to another. I was in awe! I then proposed the question: if calculus is at the root of the calculations used in probability and statistics, I wonder how many other subjects it bleeds into? After completing calculus 2, multivariable calculus, and differential equations, I finally retained enough information to begin to formulate an answer to that question. Calculus is the central processing unit of STEM in the modern world. It acts as the beating heart of the STEM field, providing the essential knowledge to understand other important areas of study like engineering, natural science, and technology. Without calculus, the meanings of these disciplines would cease to exist. For example, the use of calculus is a necessity in engineering when calculating heat loss in buildings, or using differentials in electrical circuits to relate current and charge. Calculus is vital in the medical field when calculating dosages of medications, an invaluable tool in medical practice. The applications of calculus are prevalent in natural sciences like physics when using differentials to calculate thrust in rocketry. You can also use vector calculus to examine particles in space and points of intersection of two objects, and to find the center of mass of three-dimensional objects for optimal balance. The uses of calculus are unbounded! Learning calculus is not an easy feat by any means, and many students tend to fear it because of its complexity. It is dangerously misleading to think that way. Calculus acts as a tool for us to master confronting challenges in the face of adversity. Learning calculus imparts us with more than just mathematical knowledge! It provides us the necessary skills to think critically, problem solve, and apply the best of ourselves towards challenging obstacles that we may not understand, but still find determination to persevere through. So, the next time you see medical professionals preparing a dosage plan for an operation, or a rocket taking lift off from Kennedy Space Center, or you walk through a building with various curvatures and designs, think of the methodical approaches that lead up to those moments; I can assure you that calculus was utilized in the process.

Take a look around you. Are you at your home? In a building? Perhaps you are looking out of a window peering at a busy street with cars honking in the afternoon traffic rush as red lights turn green. Nearly everything we use and see in the modern world has been developed using mathematics in some shape or form. Engineering is possible because of certain mathematic subjects like trigonometry and algebra, which we can often take for granted simply because we don't see the math being performed in front of our eyes. But, these important calculations are being done in the background with programs that have taken years to develop and perfect using mathematics and computer science! Throughout my youth, I spent a great amount of time reveling in the complexity and subtlety of mathematics. At first, I didn't quite understand why exactly it was so important. I would go to elementary and middle school simply doing math because that was what I had to do, but that ever-inquisitive question rang in the back of my mind: what is the importance of this math? I think I first gained insight into that question when I began taking algebra in high school. I was able to finally use the arithmetic and numerical strategies I learned in elementary school and the pre-algebra skills I learned in middle school, and apply it to something useful in high school algebra! I found that algebra can aid you in several REAL WORLD applications like financing, engineering, and even the medical field with exponential growth and decay models. This was only the tip of the iceberg in my discovery of the gainful properties that mathematics provided. I began to see how much mathematics was involved in natural sciences like chemistry, physics, and biology, and that is where I truly fell in love with mathematics. I loved everything about it. Calculating the quadratic formula, graphing functions of particles traveling through space, and learning about parent functions that create elegant shapes, twists, turns, corners, and curves. It was the beginning of my mathematical journey. I enrolled in courses at North Hennepin Community College in 2019 with an eager mind and passionate heart for mathematics. Since then I have studied three years' worth of mathematics curriculum, learning pre-calculus, calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, statistics, discrete mathematics, and some computer science classes. One thing I noticed throughout all of these higher-level mathematics courses was that algebra was a motif throughout them all; a skill that was utilized time and time again, aiding me in dissecting difficult problems like solving the area under a curve, finding angular momentum, right triangle trigonometry, using series and sequences, integrating the area under curves and formulating the use of derivatives, and countless other important topics. I pursue my passion for mathematics by being a STEM tutor and informing and assisting others who are also passionate about mathematics and have a similar desire to succeed. That is why I love math; it is relative. I love math because it brings people together and gives people a chance to learn about the world around us and gives us knowledge about societal functions and the existence of the universe. That meaning will change from person to person though. It molds into what you make of it. Taking these courses has fueled my desire to become the best mathematician and scientist that I can be, and has inspired me to continue raising the bar because mathematics never truly ceases; mathematics is infinite in its potential, and I will dedicate a lifetime to understanding its beauty.

Mathematics is a discipline that marvels me beyond compare. I have fallen in love with the subject so much so that I have dedicated years of my education to it. It will take me a lifetime to understand the intricacies of mathematics, but that is a revelation that propels me forward and motivates me to be the best mathematician that I can be. I chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in mathematics because I am a problem solver. Those who know me best say that I have a particular determination to find answers and reasons behind things. Both of those qualities are found in abundance in mathematics, which I found to be the perfect match for me. Throughout my early education, and even in community college, I found it to be a common position among classmates to find mathematics a very difficult and challenging topic that many were intimidated by; but not me. I wasn't intimidated by this challenge, I was enthralled by it. I wanted to learn more about how it was useful in our world, and even more so I wanted to understand it. So in the face of adversity, I challenged myself to become a better mathematician. Since high school, I have essentially "restarted" my mathematics curriculum by strengthening my skills from college algebra all the way up to differential equations and linear algebra. This strengthening was necessary for me to advance my comprehension of mathematics. The beautiful part about my thirst for mathematical knowledge is that I also have the ambition to share the knowledge that I have retained. There are many things I enjoy in this life, but there are few that rank as high as educating and helping others. I chose to become a STEM tutor at my community college to assist students in achieving their OWN academic dreams because we all deserve to see how helpful mathematics and science can be, but we also deserve the chance to better understand it. I've been in a position where I felt lost in a sea of complex equations, and I never wanted anyone to feel like they didn't have support to achieve academic success in mathematics or any other STEM topic! It is my problem-solving coupled with these life experiences that led me to pursue a mathematics degree. I realized in college though that mathematics wasn't my only passion; I also have a passion for physics. Physics and mathematics tend to amalgamate quite beautifully, and I think of physics as the subject that allows us to apply a great amount of knowledge that we learn from mathematics to understand the world around us, just as Newton and Einstein did! That is why I will be getting a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a doctorate in astrophysics. My goal is to be an astrophysicist at NASA, pursuing my career as a mathematician and physicist. A mathematics degree is ESSENTIAL in achieving that goal and will provide me with the knowledge to last a lifetime.

Volunteering is an act of honor that I believe I will never stop pursuing. The volunteering I have done involves education and food insecurity. I volunteered as a STEM tutor in high school and I still tutor as a STEM tutor at North Hennepin Community College in Minnesota. I also volunteer at Feed My Starving Children to give meals to the hungry. The thing that truly makes me passionate about volunteering is the amount of hope I feel when I can make a difference in someone else's life. It is powerful to visually witness the impact you make. I first experienced this in high school when I was able to change a few students' grades. I was filled with joy and contentment knowing that I made a positive difference. The effect that had on me left an etch in my heart that has lasted throughout my college career. When I was in high school I unfortunately didn't think much about others during my first few years. I was young, I was immature, and I was very narrow-minded. I still had positive values though -- I was determined, studious, and goal-oriented. When I started tutoring in my junior year, it allowed me to get some recognition from the National Honors Society which I didn't know much about. I decided to join because I wanted to be a part of something instead of being completely independent. It was in the NHS that I was exposed to the wonderful world of volunteering. I volunteered several hours per month at Feed My Starving Children during my time in the NHS. What made me love to spend my time there was that I was surrounded by other individuals that had the same values as me. They wanted to recognize children's pain and anguish from world hunger, and even more, to combat it by creating meals for them. There was nothing more gratifying than working hard for hours and then gazing towards the large tv screen that counted how many meals you created together for children. It was beautiful. It was in those moments that I realized that I wanted to live a life that was founded on helping others. It didn't need to be as formal as creating meals for the hungry; it could be as informal as carrying groceries out to someone's car or holding the door open for others. I fell in love with the feeling of making a difference in people's lives. This bled into other passions in my life; my passion for STEM and my passion for education, vis-a-vis tutoring. Tutoring brought about a completely new feeling in my life. It gave me hope for the future knowing that I was helping others meet their academic goals and aspirations! Of course, there were plenty of opportunities in NHS besides Feed My Starving Children, but food insecurity was something I was extremely passionate about because I came from an impoverished family that dealt with food insecurity firsthand. I don't come from an affluent family, and I've never been fortunate enough to fund my education with my or my family's money. What has made a profound difference in my life is the support of donors and grants. I wouldn't have received the education I have today without their assistance. That is why when I was accepted to Columbia University, I was shocked. Coming from a community college, the amount that tuition costs at private schools is astounding. Nonetheless, I have a dream to be educated at Columbia, and I don't want to be denied that dream because of my financial ability.