I was born to teenagers; my dad was twenty while my mom was only eighteen when they became parents. My dad worked at Pizza Hut while my mom stayed home with me; we lived with my grandparents because they couldn't afford their own home. A couple of years later, they had my younger sister and got a real house; my dad moved to a different job where the pay was better. While my life did improve, I still never had the easiest experiences. When I was in first grade, my parents split up. I moved with my dad, so I had to go to a new school. Though I adjusted quickly, I missed my friends and the teachers I was supposed to have. In third grade, my dad went to jail. My grandparents let my sister and I live with them, so we didn't have to switch schools in the middle of the year. While I was grateful for the opportunity, I was still upset that I wasn't living with either of my parents. As soon as third grade ended, I moved in with my mom, her new husband, and her other two children. My mom was working as a cook at the local restaurant, so she wasn't home often. My stepdad didn't like changing diapers or cleaning, so he assigned my sister and me to do it; I was tasked with taking care of the youngest two as well as scrubbing the kitchen every night. Along with my home responsibilities, I had to stay on top of my school work and grades. I felt like I never had time to do anything for myself and the pressure from my stepdad led to my anxiety. In seventh grade, my sister and I moved back in with my dad, who was now married himself. I was excited to leave my toxic stepdad behind, but I never wanted to be away from the babies. My anxiety and depression stayed with me, and I began to bottle up my feelings until it got to the point where my parents wanted to send me to a mental hospital. I still struggle with anxiety and depression as a high school senior, and I have to take it one day at a time. I no longer see my mother and am in three AP classes, so I always feel that I have no time to just find myself. I hope to find myself in college and as an adult; I want to break out of the struggles that I have found myself facing since I was nine years old. I hope to use my STEM education to become a soil conservationist. Soil is an unrecognized component of the earth; many people disregard its environmental importance. I hope to better soils across my area in order to improve agriculture; improving local agriculture will improve the food supply in my community. If more food is available, and the food is of a better quality, children of the future will be better served. I hope my soil science will lead other children to find their happiness.

Stranger Things has been a big hit since day one, but I personally didn't begin watching the show until the release of season 2. I loved the show immediately and recommended it to my parents, who have a very similar movie taste to me. While I love all of the characters from Stranger Things, I do prefer some over others. When building my supernatural-fighting team, I would include Jim Hopper, Murray Bauman, and Eddie Munson. Jim Hopper is the chief of police, making him a great addition to any fighting team. Hopper sticks out to me specifically because of his tragic background; his experience with loss would upset anyone. Hopper had to fight against his own grief to continue surviving, and while he coped poorly, he did turn out better in the end. Having such a resilient character on your team is the best way to go. Murray Bauman is important throughout the show, but his importance is really acknowledged in season 4. He is intelligent and helpful while also providing comedic relief. His investigative and multilingual skills would be a great benefit to the team, giving us the ability to learn much more information. I would love to be around Murray in any circumstance, so he is a must-have on my team. When I first looked at this scholarship prompt, Eddie Munson was my first choice. Hopper and Murray were obvious choices during my final decision, but I contemplated other characters in their place first. Eddie has had my heart since his first on-screen movement. Like many other fans, I found Eddie attractive, both because of his looks and personality. I felt bad that he was an outcast, but I loved that he embraced his differences; he wasn't going to change himself to fit in, even if it would have been better to do so. Loving Eddie as a character was an important factor in my decision, but his spot on the team was really deserved because of his bravery and loyalty. He was always looking out for Dustin and the rest of the team, even though he was in the most danger. Finally, his importance to the team mainly stems from his sacrifice at the end of the season; anyone who is willing to lose their life to help others is someone you want on your side. If I lived in Hawkins, I know I would be in safe hands; the characters in Stranger Things are great additions to any team, and they could help me with any supernatural threats. I would love to fight with any and all of these characters, but my preference does stand with Hopper, Murray, and Eddie.

I have taken many Harry Potter-related quizzes, and this includes the Sorting Hat quiz. Every Sorting Hat quiz I have taken led me to the same result: Ravenclaw. I just retook the Wizarding World's Sorting Hat quiz, and once again got Ravenclaw. I definitely agree with these results, though I always dreamed of being in Slytherin. The house of Ravenclaw is associated with intelligence, but there is more to these characters than meets the eye. While I agree with the fact that I am a Ravenclaw because I am intelligent, I agree with the other traits, too. I am definitely a curious person as nature, and this is a necessary trait of Ravenclaw because intelligence comes from wanting to learn more. Being intelligent often means being witty, which is true in my case; I have often been complimented on my sense of humor, and these jokes and retorts come from my intelligence. Additionally, Ravenclaws are high achievers, which I demonstrate every day through my many extracurriculars and classes. I participate in several extracurriculars, including volunteer organizations, as well as taking high-level courses. I strive to find leadership roles in every organization I am a part of, which I have achieved in some circumstances. Ravenclaws' independence is also important to note. I used to be a person who relied on being in a crowd and having friends, but now I am willing to stand up for myself and speak up when I know what to say. I no longer follow the crowd, rather I am myself, no matter what others think of me. Finally, the last positive trait of Ravenclaw that I demonstrate is being creative. I have always been a creator, whether it was writing stories or drawing scenes. This creativity has extended to my life today, where I now make bracelets and pacifier clips to sell to the public. Ravenclaws are known for many things, and out of their more positive traits, I believe I exhibit intelligence, wit, curiosity, high achievement, independence, and creativity. While I already know that I am a Ravenclaw because I have many of the main traits, there are other traits that are less common. I demonstrate many of Ravenclaw's less common traits, even though they are not always positive. Because Ravenclaws are intelligent, they are often quicker and smarter than their peers; I have noticed this in my own life. While being wiser than others is not always a bad thing, it can lead to arrogance. I like to think I am no longer arrogant, but I know there was a time when I had a large ego and thought I was better than everyone else. One of Ravenclaws' other positive traits, being an over-achiever, can lead to a negative characteristic: perfectionism. I am definitely a perfectionist, whether it is in my school assignments or personal decorations. If I cannot get my current task to match what I hoped to create, I get extremely frustrated and often give up on the assignment entirely. Being an over-achiever leads me to seek out harder challenges, but my perfectionism often stops me from actually achieving my goals. There are always two sides to the story, and the positive versus negative sides of Ravenclaw's traits demonstrate this idea. Overall, I am definitely a Ravenclaw. My younger self wished to be in Slytherin, mainly because of a crush on Draco Malfoy, but I know that I exhibit many Ravenclaw traits.

I have always loved Spider-Man; since I was five years old, I have been watching Spider-Man movies and various Marvel animations. I even introduced my younger brothers to the superhero world. My love for Spider-Man extends beyond a single actor, but Tom Holland's Spider-Man has been my favorite since Captain America: Civil War was released. Tom Holland's Spider-Man is the most similar to the comics. While I began watching the movies and discovered the comics later, sticking to the comics' characters is the most important characteristic of a superhero movie. On that note, I enjoy the fact Holland's Spider-Man has his own quirks and storyline plots. Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man was the Spider-Man I grew up with, so he holds a special place in my heart; however, his age simply diminishes the character. One of the most important things to note about Spider-Man is his age; the fact that he is only a teenager is a vital characteristic to his character and story. While Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man was in high school, Tobey Maguire (and his co-stars) were obviously older, making it more difficult for the audience to connect to his character. Andrew Garfield is an amazing actor, just like the other Spider-Men, but the Amazing Spider-Man series was not very good. The storylines were okay and Andrew Garfield portrayed Peter Parker amazingly, but the films just did not fit how we see Spider-Man. Additionally, while Garfield was younger than Maguire, he was still too old to properly portray a high schooler. Tom Holland may stand out to me mostly because of my age; he is a modernized version of the long-time loved superhero. Tom Holland uses the internet and modern-day quotes, but, maybe most importantly, he has a great connection to the Avengers. Tom Holland's Spider-Man is geeky; he is on the decathlon team and constantly makes references to "nerdy" movies (like Star Wars). Tom Holland's Spider-Man also had more time to become relevant. While I loved him from the beginning, he really stood out as his presence in the MCU continued. His Spider-Man fought Captain America and developed a father-son relationship with Tony Stark himself. His emotional connections and dependence on the Avengers stand out to me because of my own love for those characters. Overall, Tom Holland brings more to the table than Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire were able to. While Maguire and Garfield were both amazing Spider-Men in their own respects, Holland's age and relevance stand out to make him the best.

I already have some books from my ideal bookshelf, but there are a few others that I would love to own and read! My current bookshelf includes the following #BookTok books: Verity (Colleen Hoover); They Both Die at the End (Adam Silvera); The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid); I'm Glad My Mom Died (Jennette McCurdy); Red, White, & Royal Blue (Casey McQuiston); Last Night at the Telegraph Club (Malindo Lo); Where the Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens); Book Lovers (Emily Henry); A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Holly Jackson); Shadow and Bone (Leigh Bardugo); The Unhoneymooners (Christina Lauren); We Were Liars (E. Lockhart); the Love Hypothesis (Ali Hazelwood); and The Spanish Love Deception (Elena Armas). I have also read other #BookTok books, but I do not own them: The Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller); Circe (Madeline Miller); It Ends With Us (Colleen Hoover); People We Meet on Vacation (Emily Henry); and The Hating Game (Sally Thorne). My ideal #BookTok bookshelf would have all of the books I have already read, including the books I own. However, my bookshelf would have other #BookTok books, too: The Inheritance Games (Jennifer Lynn Barnes); Mexican Gothic (Silvia Moreno-Garcia); The Midnight Library (Matt Haig); A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J. Maas); A Little Life (Hanya Yanagihara); A Touch of Darkness (Scarlett St. Clair); Twisted Love (Ana Huang); It Happened One Summer (Tessa Bailey); The Silent Patient (Alex Michaelides); Funny You Should Ask (Elissa Sussman); and Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Toshikazu Kawaguchi). My ideal bookshelf includes books that stand out in regard to my personal reading preferences. However, some of these books could be wonderful reads for anyone. Out of my already-owned #BookTok books, there are quite a few that have impacted the #BookTok community. Verity, I'm Glad My Mom Dies, Where the Crawdads Sing, and We Were Liars show humans at their lowest point; they bring a sense of inhumanity to the reader. Red, White, & Royal Blue is a great story to see how many celebrities struggle with their sexuality, even when the world "supports" the LGBT+ community. Out of my already-read but not-owned books, It Ends With US has had a major impact on the #BookTok community because of its realistic nature; it speaks to many people as a demonstration of how hard it is to leave abusive relationships. Finally, my to-be-read books often stand out in the #BookTok community. These books are listed as must-haves, though I do not know the specifics. I cannot wait to read and own these books to learn their impact.

Every day, I strive to be a leader. I want to help others on their journeys because I never had that for myself. I hope to inspire others to do their best and encourage their success. I am the leader in several organizations and activities, including Helping Kids Cope, Harmony Health Initiative, Cleverly Creatives, Giving Gratitude, and Envirothon. I am the founder of Helping Kids Cope, a youth-led organization that provides resources for children struggling with their mental health. I have recently expanded the organization to include international members over three committees: Outreach, Event Planning, and Information. Our outreach committee will help partner with other resources; our event planning committee will create workshops and webinars for the public; and the Information committee will research and write topics for our website blog and Instagram. For Harmony Health Initiative, I am the Head of Publications; I create a schedule that provides everyone enough time to complete their tasks but also lets us publish biweekly. I have created rules and consequences for inactive members, and I often have to step up and do tasks myself when members refuse to do their assigned work. Harmony Health Initiative is another youth-led organization, but they are dedicated to health in general. My department creates newsletters and magazines that provide general information about healthy lifestyles and our organization as a whole. I am the book club leader for Cleverly Creatives. We are in the midst of restarting our book club, but I have worked to come up with activities that engage the public; furthermore, I came up with monthly themes. I am the Maryland Chapter Head for Giving Gratitude. Unfortunately, I only have three members under me, but I am working to get more engagement. My current members are becoming inactive, so I am working on a system to get them more involved in our goal-- sending cards to frontline workers. Within this organization, I am mainly just a supervisor. Finally, I am the team captain of my school Envirothon team. Envirothon is a competition that revolves around the environment, specifically Aquatics, Forestry, Wildlife, Soils, and an annually-changing topic. We had never previously assigned a leader, but I stepped up last year, and we decided I would be the official captain. I am specifically focused on soils, but I work on all of the topics to ensure we have a general understanding of the competition. I created a document with resources for every topic and focused on our weaknesses. I also demonstrate leadership in the classroom. I recently won "Student of the Month" for my activeness in the science classroom. I try to answer questions I know, but I also stay silent sometimes to allow others to participate. Additionally, if someone has a question and the teacher is unavailable (whether they are busy with something else or absent for the day), I try to help them as best as I can. Helping others is extremely important to me, and I use my leadership positions to do so.

My parents had me young; my mother was a senior in high school and my father was only 20 years old. My father worked at Pizza Hut while my mother stayed home with me. Because of his minimum wage job, we did not have a lot of money. My father eventually got a higher-paying job as a welder, but he did not have a high school diploma, so he was not making as much as other parents may have been. We lived with my grandparents for a few years before we finally got our own house. I have always known that my life was not the best because of our lack of money. I knew other people had it worse, and I knew I was loved, but I wanted more for my future children. This wish made my ambitions grow; since middle school, I have planned for higher education. I have not gotten lower than an A- in a class since seventh grade because I did not want anything to reduce my chances of getting into a college. Along with my classes, I began looking for extracurricular and volunteer activities that I could add to my resume. I found Envirothon, which is an in-school activity administered by my favorite teacher, in tenth grade. I signed up almost immediately after hearing about it, even though I had never really been interested in the environment or science in general. Last year, as a high school junior, I became the captain of my school's Envirothon team. I committed myself to studying for our competition, and I even assigned the other members topics to study, so that we would all be prepared. Because of my dedication, we won. After our victory, I reflected on what I had learned; I realized how much I enjoyed the different subjects, especially soils and aquatics. I began doing more research on soil science careers, and I even reached out to soil scientists who had worked with us in Envirothon. I discussed their career with them, and I found out that being a soil conservationist is more than just a simple science. Soil conservationists do field work (where they examine soil systems and determine their usages) and desk work (where they work toward getting funds and other resources for individuals). One soil scientist talked about how great she feels after a good job because she feels like she is making a true difference in those individuals' lives. My goal now is to go to college for a bachelor's degree in environmental science. I want to use my degree to become a soil conservationist because I want a career that helps people and makes me money. I want a job I can depend on to earn money that will support my family.

Reading should be done for pleasure, whether it is to connect with different worlds or escape reality. I have always read for pleasure and have probably read more than 1,000 books in my lifetime, but one sticks out to me: "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo. I first read "Six of Crows" because of a literary page I follow on Instagram. The owner of the account was always praising this series and the then-upcoming Netflix series. With all of her enthusiasm, I kept finding myself writing the book on my to-be-read list. When I finally got the series for Christmas one year, I had the duo read in three days; I couldn't put it down. The characters were amazingly written, and I found myself immersed in their interactions. They were a group of outcasts who fell together in search of money (and freedom), but they became a family. The whole group stood out to me, but one pair of characters really struck my heart: Kaz and Inej. Kaz is a teenager who had to grow up quickly, and in a bad neighborhood, while Inej is an immigrant stuck in a large debt. Kaz does not show his emotions, and everyone seems him as scary and dangerous, but he has a soft spot for Inej. Throughout the series, you see Kaz slip up and show his true feelings for Inej. No matter who you are, where you are from, or what kind of books you enjoy, you should read "Six of Crows." With so many different characters, everyone can find someone to connect to and sympathize with. It also shows that even if you come from a bad background, you can still find a family. It shows how important relationships are, whether they are romantic, platonic, or familial. The story shows how everyone's life is different, but we are all connected. I think reading this book can give everyone an insight into friendship and empathy.

I have moved around a lot in my lifetime, so my biggest dream has always been a house I can call my own for the rest of my life. For as long as I can remember, my one true lifelong wish was to own my own house, which I could decorate as I wished. My Barbie Dream House would be a treehouse in the woods, but not just a regular treehouse. My treehouse would be like a cabin above the ground. My house will be made of wood, naturally, with one wall of full-length windows to see the view. There would be stairs up to the treehouse, and I would string fairy lights up the railing for a fantasy look at night. The porch would wrap around the entire house, and I would have a porch swing and outdoor tables across the deck. I would have a garden and maybe some goats to roam around my property. Trees would surround us, and I would not have next-door neighbors. While my exterior may be complete wishful thinking, my interior could be possible. In my Barbie Dream House, there would be many rooms: 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a laundry room, and a library. I hope to have children one day, and they will share two of these bedrooms, while my partner and I will have the master bedroom. My children's bedrooms would depend on them, of course, but I already have a vision for nurseries. I would like my nurseries to have a wall shelf of books, a wooden sign with my child's name, a canopy over the bed, and flowers/plants painted on the wall. My bedroom will be green and grey, with just a bed, dresser, and TV stand. The main bathroom will be ocean-themed while the 1/2 bathroom will be done in burgundy. The kitchen and dining room will be done in a rustic vibe while the living room will be botanical. The laundry room will be where the washer and dryer are, of course, but this will also be the area for shoes, bookbags, and other out-of-the-house belongings. But, of all these rooms, the library is my favorite. My library would have floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, desks, couches, and a fireplace. I would light fall-scented candles and spend my evenings in this room. I was not necessarily the type of girl who played with Barbies as a child, but I have always dreamed of my future home.

Fall is the perfect time of year. The weather is cooling, which means time for hoodies and blankets. The leaves are changing colors, making every drive a beautiful scenic route. Halloween is approaching, so the time for horror movies has arrived. But, none of these things compare to the treats that arrive for the fall season. Restuarants and stores all over the country prepare for the fall season. For instance, the Little Debbies snack cake brand releases pumpkin delights, pumpkin brownies, fall party cakes, and pumpkin spice rolls! Reese's shapes their chocolate like ghosts and pumpkins while Oreos add Halloween designs and change their filling to orange! Wal-Mart offers their own Halloween specials with products like "witches' brew sprinkles," orange and pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies, pumpkin spice waffle mix, and pretzel dipping kits. While many can enjoy a good cookie or cake, the real winners are the drinks, especially the coffee. Some may know of Red Robin's "Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice" shake or Panera's Cinnamon Crunch Latte, but almost everyone knows of Starbucks' fall menu. Starbucks is most known for its Pumpkin Spice Latte, but they also offer Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Lattes! With all these on the menu, it can seem like there's nothing else to try, but some people have their own special orders. With Starbucks' secret menu, customers can order a Pumpkin Cheesecake Frappucino, Caramel Pumpkin Macchiato, Butterscotch Frappucino, or Pumpkin Hot Chocolate! So many flavors in so little time, yet I never try anything new! No matter how many times I go to Starbucks during the fall season, I get a basic Pumpkin Spice Latte. For me, the fall season does not truly begin until I've had my PSL. Walking around Target with my stepmom and a tall Pumpkin Spice Latte is all it takes for me to notice the leaves changing and the temperature dropping. As a kid, I always heard of Starbucks without ever going. My mom never had enough money to take us all to the nearest Starbucks and get us a fun drink, so it was something I thought was out of reach forever. But, when my dad met his now-wife, that changed. She took us shopping and let us get whatever flavor we wanted! When we couldn't decide, she gave us ideas using her own personal favorites. When fall came around, she knew just what to recommend. My stepmother has always loved fall. She decorates for fall as soon as the temperature drops below 60, and there's always has some type of fall-inspired candle lit in our living room. With a season full of treats, we had the perfect opportunity to be introduced to Pumpkin Spice Lattes!

I have read many books throughout my life, whether it was for a school assignment or pure pleasure. I learned to read when I was four years old, and I never stopped enjoying it. Today, I own more than 100 books and continue to borrow books from the library. I am also a fast reader, with the ability to finish even longer books in a single sitting. Because of my reading speed, I am able to read even more books than the average person may. My favorite genre of books is contemporary romance, but I also enjoy classics, horror, mystery, and Holocaust novels. Through reading this variety, I have learned a lot about the world and myself. I am only seventeen, but reading contemporary romance really showed me that I never need to focus on finding or being in a relationship. These books taught me that I can want love without losing myself to get it. Through classics, I am able to learn more about how the world was during those authors' time periods; I am able to see how the world has changed, and even when modern America does not seem so great, I can acknowledge how much progress has been made. I have read many horror and mystery books, with many being written by Stephen King. Anyone who has even heard of Stephen King knows his writing ability; he is able to create entire worlds with his novels, and I lose myself in his novels every time I pick one up. While these books bring me a lot of enjoyment, they also teach me several things about humanity. Most importantly, I have learned that people will go to the ends of the earth to fight for things they believe in. Many times, this is to save a loved one, or even the world, but other times, it is to advance their own selfish greed. No matter who is writing it, horror and mystery show the extremes of human ambition. Holocaust novels will teach anyone something if they choose to read them. The Holocaust was such a major event in the world's history, and though we have an idea of what happened, it is hard to relate to those who actually went through this time. Reading true accounts of Holocaust survivors shows how resilient the survivors are and how much pain was inflicted on those who never deserved it. It demonstrates how evil humans can really be and stands to show that we must stand up against forces we don't support. With so many genres, including the ones I have never read, there is a lot to learn from books. As I continue to read, I continue to learn about the world, which helps me find my own path in life.

As an oldest sibling, I connect to Conrad in a way I simply can't with Jeremiah. I feel the urge to protect my younger siblings, even when my own feelings are at risk, just like Conrad. When Conrad finds out his mom is sick again, he slowly loses himself, quitting things he loves and closing himself off. While some may think it was wrong of Conrad to keep such a big secret from his brother, he was doing it as a form of protection. He also keeps the secret from Belly, even though he could really use her love and support to get through this time. He doesn't even tell his mom he knows because he wants her to have the best summer, without thinking about his or Jeremiah's feelings. Similarly, in season 2, Conrad finds out his Aunt Julia is selling the Cousins house. Instead of calling his brother, he decides to fix the problem on his own. Conrad drops everything, including studying for his finals, to save the Cousins house. While, once again, he should have told Jeremiah what was going on, he was trying to keep his brother happy and unworried. Conrad risked his own education to save their house. Conrad even looks into taking his own father to court in order to access his trust fund early. He wants to use that money to save the house, rather than saving it all for himself. While he is the one shutting himself off, it is to protect his family and friends. Rather than hurt anyone else, Conrad suffers alone. Conrad may not seem BETTER than Jeremiah, but his anger comes from his own selflessness. Conrad should never have been rude to Jeremiah or Belly, but he was trying to keep them happy. When they do find out the truth, he is able to ease up and have fun, which is shown when he goes with them to the boardwalk. Conrad's character is misunderstood, but this simply makes him a good character. What is it that makes him good for Belly? Most importantly, Conrad cares. He may not always show it in the best ways, but he is always there for Belly. In season 1, Conrad buys Belly an "infinity" necklace; at one time, Conrad had told Belly that infinity met forever. His buying of the necklace showed that he thought of her as his forever. In season 2, when Conrad's dad is arguing with Belly's mom, he tells her that it isn't her house to have an opinion on. Belly is immediately hurt, and when Conrad sees her face, he immediately stands up to his dad, supporting the Conklins. Other than simply caring, Conrad knows Belly almost better than anyone. He knows her favorite food (Sour Patch Kids) and can tell when she's cold (like when he hands her his jacket without hesitating). While Jeremiah has always been Belly's friend, he doesn't know her like Conrad does. The history Conrad and Belly have can't be replaced, especially not by Jeremiah. Jeremiah will always be important to Belly, but something coming easy doesn't make it the right choice. Belly has always fought for Conrad, which everyone knows, but we also find out that Conrad will always fight for Belly, too. When he sees Jeremiah and Belly kissing, he is rude to them both by making sarcastic jokes; but, his jokes are simply a way of not giving up. He wasn't willing to walk away and accept that Belly was gone. Team Conrad is the obvious choice because no one will love her like he does, not even Jeremiah.

I was still in eleventh grade when I rejoined my school Envirothon team. I had participated as a member the year before, but I wasn't fully involved in the competitions. I preferred to do homework over practicing with my team. This, like many other things, changed by the end of my junior year. I wanted to win; an extreme urge to beat my own score from the last year and go to the state competition took over my mind. When I wasn't doing homework or cleaning things up around my house, I was studying for Envirothon. I read through the Forestry, Wildlife, Aquatics, and 5th issue study guides time after time. I memorized the entire Aquatics practice test and prepared for question changes on any of the provided topics. I dedicated myself to creating and practicing with digital flashcards. I applied every study skill I ever learned to my Envirothon training, and it paid off. At the county competition, we came in first place, winning the Aquatics, Soils, and 5th issue sections. I felt like I had found my element. We had finished the Aquatics test in twenty (out of forty-five) minutes, and we earned a perfect score. We had the best score in soils at 50%, which is one of the highest scores in Garrett County Envirothon as soils are the hardest section. I found myself drawn to the soil pit, studying the different characteristics and why they mattered. I realized then that this was something I could actually do with my life. This was a career I could have that I never even knew was an option. A few months later, at the state competition, a soil scientist spoke up about her own experience on the job. She said how it was a struggle at first, especially because she was going into a male-dominated field, but that it has paid off. She talked about how her job is a balance of field and office work, giving her the ability to use a variety of skills. She is able to be outdoors and hands-on, but she also gets a break from it occasionally. Then, most importantly, she talked about how many lives she's changed. She talked about how good she felt when she was able to help small farm families with their soil issues. She helped families get financial aid and provided them with general assistance about their home soil. Her speech made me realize that I didn't have to go into a humanities field to help people; I could help people with a variety of careers. My already-existing love for soil science grew into a passion as I realized the influence I could have on others by choosing this career. It feels like all of my goals are falling together to make my life just the way I want. To become a soil scientist, I must obtain at least a Bachelor's degree in a scientific major. Soil science is not offered as a major in many places, but, after speaking to some soil scientists, I realized I could choose a broader major and still get a job. I have decided to major in environmental science, with a possible minor in biology, depending on where I go. I am hoping to go to a college out-of-state, so I would need travel costs and general funds for my adult life. College is expensive, with tuition, books, and personal finances, and I want to earn my education without also earning debt-filled loans. If I win this scholarship, I will have almost $3,000 in savings, which I will put toward college.

More and more people are experiencing mental health issues every day. Whether they have someone to talk to or not, they are struggling. Some people can be medicated or go to therapy to better their mental health, but others have no access to these options. Even those on medication or in therapy may not have better mental health based on their situations. If a child is stuck in a situation with no escape, they are unlikely to have any way of bettering their mental health. I am on anti-depressants that also ease my anxiety, and I have been in therapy since eighth grade. While I feel better on my medication, it cannot completely solve my problems. I have struggled with my mental health since fifth grade because my step-father would abuse my baby brother. While he was sometimes excessively mean to my little sister and me, he directed most of his abuse toward my brother. As I got older and this continued, I started to sink into a depression and hate the world. Thankfully, I could move in with my biological father, taking me away from the abuse physically. However, I constantly thought about it due to worry for my younger siblings. I also began to have issues with my father and stepmother, exaggerating things to make them seem absolutely horrible. I could not stand to be alive, no matter what house I was in. During lockdown from Covid, I became suicidal and gave up on ever being happy. While I was in therapy, I did not feel comfortable enough to tell my therapist any of this. My parents found out, talked to my therapist, and took me to a doctor. I was prescribed anti-depressants and told to confide in my therapist. While I have a new therapist now, I depend on discussing my issues to work through them. My therapists have not been the best; their methods and approach to mental health have not worked for my personal feelings and situations. I would like to find someone who understands what I am going through entirely and provides solutions that best fit my personality. While therapy has not been a complete cure for me, I have my family to support me. I no longer speak to my stepfather or mother, but I am very close to my stepmother. I trust her enough to talk to her about anything I have on my mind, and it has been life-changing for my mental health. While I wish I could change the past, specifically what I did and said about my stepmother, I am glad I have moved past that. I rely on my stepmother a lot, so I am glad to have her around. Because of my issues with my mental health, my relationship with my stepmother had a rough patch but eventually got extremely better. She was very upset and even disgusted at how I felt toward them in the past, but now we are closer than ever. I believe mental health needs to be discussed more. Today, it is mostly hidden or used as a punchline, but its seriousness of it needs to be acknowledged. People cannot truly care for their mental wellbeings if they are unaware of the signs or consequences. To increase awareness of mental health in children, I created an Instagram account (@helping.kids.cope). While it is still new, I have made several posts that share information on mental health in children. I plan to continue running this account. I am not a trained professional, but I do research on different issues and statistics to share via my Instagram account. The account will not fix everything, but it may provide more information to those who need it. Because of my past experiences with mental health, I wanted to be a psychologist. However, this career aspiration has changed. I have decided to pursue a career in education or social work. I would love to be a teacher because I can connect with so many children, and many students simply need a caring adult in their life. I have been through a lot, and I would like to go into education to use my past for good. My past experiences can shape my perspective toward my students because I will feel empathetic. However, I had to have a backup plan (social work, in this case) because of the low wages of being a teacher. While teachers do make decent money, it does not necessarily compensate for the amount of work they have to do. They often have to work outside of school, both in the evenings and on weekends; they have to make lesson plans, grade papers, and simply be awake enough to comprehend their surroundings. I worry that all of this work is not worth the lower salary, so I have been struggling with my decision for a career. Overall, though, I would just love to go into a career where I can help young children better their lives, in any capacity. I want to be an inspiration to those around me, and this includes bettering my mental health.

Children are the future. Without the next generation, the human species would end. Therefore, children need to be educated and protected. To do this, I would like to go into social work. I live with my father, but my half-siblings who live with my mother do not have the best lives. While social services is aware of their situation, nothing has been done to take them out of the home or at least better their conditions. I do not want other children to have to go through what they, or I, have. By going into social work, I could be a part of the process in making lives better. While social work is a major I am prepared to go into, there are some drawbacks. People that know me well worry I will not be able to mentally handle the commitment that comes from social work. For example, not being able to help all children in bad situations. While I already struggle with mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, I still want to go into social work. I believe the positive outcomes will outweigh whatever I lose within myself. Additionally, I have always wanted to be a teacher. While I have gone back and forth between early childhood and secondary English, the urge to be a teacher was strong. I have been positively impacted by many teachers throughout my school career, and I would like to be that teacher for other children. I connected to some teachers on a deep level, and I would love to reach that connection with future students. However, because of the status teachers have, I let go of that dream in order to pursue social work. It would be worth it to better children's educations and overall spirits, but I worry about money. I do not want to go into my career worried about how much I will make, or will not make. Teachers are highly underpaid and underrespected, and I do not know how much of that I could take. I would love to better the lives of children, but I also have to take salary into account. Overall, I will dedicate my career to bettering children's lives. Whether this is something I accomplish through teaching or social work, I am determined to make my goal the betterment of future generations. Social workers are usually paid more than teachers but were teachers to get the pay raises they deserve, I may change my career choice.

As an extracurricular activity, I play basketball and volunteer. I have enjoyed basketball for ten years, but I just got back into playing for my school last year. Last year was the greatest experience of my life. I loved the connection I had with my team, and though we didn't always win, we always had fun. We remained determined every single game. I will always remember the cooperation and teamwork we had last year. This year, I hope to have the same connection with the other girls on my team. I also volunteer for different organizations, which also teaches me cooperation. The organizations I work with are helpful and friendly, making me want to continue volunteering for both. As a basketball player, I mostly provide entertainment for the rest of my county. I may also inspire younger kids to play basketball. By having such a large girls' team, we also show the community the importance of girls in sports, not just boys. Playing a sport is essential for learning teamwork, which is a skill that can help many people in every aspect of their life. As a volunteer, I've learned the importance of frontline workers. Because of my work as a volunteer, I am further able to appreciate frontline workers both in my community and across the world. Cooperating with others is essential for other volunteer work, group projects at school, and especially career environments. I am also planning to start a tutoring program. While this hasn't begun yet, I hope it will provide me with essential help in my future career as a teacher. I will also help other students by providing one-on-one time for harder subjects. I do well in all of my classes, and I hope others can do the same with my help. Extracurriculars are important to everyone, no matter their background or goals. Working with others is always beneficial because you will have to work with other people in the future. Feeling a connection to other people, such as your teammates, is also helpful because you have a support system. Support systems are essential to mental health. Volunteering is always a good thing because so many people need help. If you are doing work out of the goodness of your heart, you'll feel better about yourselves and help people in the process. Sometimes a little bit goes a long way, and extracurriculars will teach you that. Valuable life lessons and skills can be achieved through participating in extracurricular activities.

When you look at someone and your heart feels like it's going to explode with your love for them, that's friendship. That's when you know you truly and deeply care about your friends. These people have changed your life, whether they meant to or not. Friendship can happen anywhere at any time with anyone. You might not expect to ever know the person who becomes your best friend. You might have heard someone's name at school, heard something they did in a class. They might be in your grade, so you know them from a distance. But then maybe you have a class with them, or you join a club that they're in. You start talking and you realize you have a lot in common. Friendship is important to all parts of society and human emotion. Everyone needs to feel like they belong, and they need to feel love. Friendship ensures that you have someone you trust that you can always talk to. Friendships keep you happy because friends are there to cheer you up and remind you of your positive characteristics. I have made it through life because of my friends. Though they haven't stayed the same throughout my entire life, I have always been close to someone. It reminds me that I'm loved and supported. I can work toward achieving all of my goals when I have someone cheering me on.

Mental health is a common issue amongst modern-day teens. The rate of depression and anxiety is steadily increasing, mainly because of school and social media. I have struggled for years with anxiety and depression, and it's been difficult for me. Because I hate the way I feel with depression and anxiety, I want to help others who deal with mental illnesses. This is why I am going to become a children's counselor. I'm taking psychology courses next year, which will lead me to a psychology degree in college. Mental health has affected my relationships because I'm more closed off. I am not as ready to date someone because I feel that my mental health would be too much. I am looking for someone that knows how to handle mental health and won't make me feel worthless. If I were to date someone that had problems with their mental health, I would continuously remind them that I am there for them. I would learn what they wanted when they were upset, so I could help. I would hope that they would do the same for me. The connotations of mental health have gotten better recently, especially after the pandemic increased the amount of anxiety and depression people of all ages felt. People are more open to realizing that mental health cannot be controlled without help. People are more accepting of taking antidepressants and/or going to therapy. Many people feel that they can speak up about their mental health, whether it's with family, friends, or just on social media. There are many opportunities for people to get help. Many cities have centers for you to talk to a professional and get help. Anyone of any age can deal with mental health, meaning they can get help and support. I want to better change the world of mental health. I want everyone to be confident in themselves, this includes the problems they face both externally and internally. Many people that face mental health challenges think they don't deserve to be upset. If they have better lives than their friends, they may think they're being inconsiderate by telling someone that they are having difficulties. Some people even think they're faking it, which is not true for most people. I want people to realize that their feelings matter. Even if they have good lives, they can still experience anxiety and depression. I want them to be able to get help and support. In the best society I can imagine, all teens would have access to mental help within their schools. They would learn the different types of mental health and how to handle them, whether it's in a health class or from guidance counselors. Everyone deserves a person to talk to and go to for support.

"It always rains the hardest on people who deserve the sun." We all know that bad things happen to good people. There's no explanation for it, is there? The bad people get away without consequences, while the good people end up punished. It's how life is, whether we like it or not (and we don't like it). In English 10, we read "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. In this story, the main character is turned into an insect for no apparent reason. He's a good guy; he works a hard job to support his entire family, while they just sit at home. At the end of the story, his family has begun to hate him, and he dies alone. His family lived a happy life, moving away with a nice amount of money, but he's dead. So, in conclusion, I learned that no matter what you do, you'll have hard times. I put 110% into every one of my basketball games, and we still walk out with a loss. Sometimes your best isn't enough. This taught me that the bad things aren't always my fault. I can give my everything, but I still might not get the best out of it. This taught me to keep my head up. I still give my everything, so that my losses are more justified. If I don't receive the best results, I at least have the comfort that I did the best I could have.

The majority of oldest siblings hear the phrase "your little siblings are watching you" regularly. This is their parents' way of telling them to be successful, do the "right" things. They are telling you that you are a role model, whether you want to be or not. The oldest siblings take this to heart, and they become mentors to their little siblings. They inspire their siblings to do their best. I am the oldest sibling. My parents didn't go to college, so they don't have "careers." My dad has a nice job, but he always says he regretted not going to college. By graduating and getting a PHD, I can inspire my siblings to do the same. This will ensure they make a lot of money at a good job. They will do well. I know all of my siblings are intelligent and could have really good jobs, so I hope to show them this is achievable.

I have a natural talent for writing. I first learned how to read at age 4, and it didn’t take me long to begin writing my own stories. I’ve always enjoyed writing short stories and poems. I took a creative writing class last semester to better improve and expand my creative writing abilities. I can already sense an improvement, and I’m proud of the work I created in that class. I passed with an A. I also have a talent for basketball. I am a center for my high school’s junior varsity team. I’m always bruised and scratched because I play so tough and I’m aggressive on the court. I work 6/7 days a week. My team has only lost 2/7 games, though that is because of our chemistry, not just because of my skill. Before this season, I was only decent, but I’ve already improved so much. I plan to continue to work on my defense and offensive moves over the summer.

I plan to continue high school with at least a 4.0 GPA. I currently have a 4.3 GPA, according to powerschool, the grading website my school uses. I plan to take all honors or college classes for the rest of my high school career. I already have two AP classes done, and I’m only a sophomore now. I also play basketball, which I’m hoping I can get a scholarship for college with. I work really hard at it. Since the beginning of this basketball season, I’ve already improved so much, and I plan to continue getting better over the next few years. Once I get to college, I plan to major in psychology to get a degree. I want to become a child counselor. I want to provide therapy for children that don’t have the best home lives, because that’s what I needed as a child. I want to own my own counseling business, where I have my own building and I can be my own boss.

I think the hardest thing to do as a teenager is not to be selfish. It's hard to not always focus on yourself. But, I do my best. When my friends are going through something, I make sure to stay focused on what they're saying and be there to listen. I don't always give the best advice, but I make sure they know they can always trust me to listen to their problems. Sometimes it's hard not to add your own problems into the conversation. When you relate to something someone is talking to you about, it's hard not to tell them how you relate. I remember to focus on them. If these problems aren't currently affecting me, I don't add them in. I don't want them to feel like their problems are inadequate. I want them to be able to trust me. I don't want them to think they have no one to go through. If I am listening to someone, I'm making sure that I'm being the listener I would want. I would want my friends to listen to me. I would not want them to make it about themselves. That's the treatment I will give to them.

I plan to be a counselor for children with special needs. I am dedicated to helping people, and I would love to be paid for doing something I'd do anyway. To get to that stage in my future, I want to go to college, specifically New York University, where I will major in psychology and sociology. My parents don't have a lot of money, and I have six other siblings that will need college funds, too. Because of this, I plan to apply for many scholarships. Along with bold.org, I've subscribed to many scholarship websites. I'm only a sophomore in high school, but this simply gives me more time to get ahead in scholarship opportunities. I work over the summer. Last year, I made over a thousand dollars, which I plan to save for college. I hope that by getting to college, I can dedicate my time to getting my degree. I hope I can find the job I want. I hope I can help people the way they deserve.

I live in a small town, where there isn't much diversity. I wish I could do more because I fully support equality, but there isn't much here for me to do it with. I do post on Instagram to show my support, but I know that this doesn't do much. It shows my support, but it doesn't do anything to actually help. I am subscribed to change.org, so I get emails for important petitions that need signed. If they are petitions involving inequality or racism, I automatically sign because I want things to be better. I also share my opinion in class. If I hear people saying things that are racist, sexist, or homophobic, I will stand up against them. I will demand they see why people should be treated equally. Some things are okay for people to have their own opinions, but equal rights is not one of them. Everyone deserves to be treated as a human- nothing can change that.

I want to be a counselor for children with special needs. To get there, I'll have to go to college, majoring in psychology. I've always had a special empathy for those with special needs. It's as if they naturally trust me. I feel bad for what they go through because they didn't choose these difficulties that they face. Many people judge them, and I want to be the person they can trust to always be there for them. I've planned to be a psychologist for years anyway, but I wasn't sure which specific part of it I would like to work with. But once I thought of it, it didn't even leave my head. I couldn't wish for anything else. I love helping people, and it would be great to be paid for doing the thing I love. That's what everyone wants, isn't it? They want to do the thing they love for the rest of their life. Most people think it's impossible to find a job that pays well and you actually enjoy doing, but I'm going to work hard to get there.

I think the meaning of life is finding the people who are meant to change your life. I don't know that everyone leaves a positive affect on your life, at least it doesn't feel that way in the moment, but it will help in the end. You change every time you meet someone new. They change your life. Whether they come into your life for a brief moment, such as a person passing you on the street who compliments your hair; for a few years, such as a best friend; for a lifetime, such as family members that make you feel like your heart isn't big enough for all of your love; for eternity, such as the one you love, the one you spend your life with. I try to achieve this life by accepting new people. Sometimes I'd rather hang out with the same people because I fear new ones not liking me, but I know that I have to spread my social network out. I accept anyone that comes into my life. Even when I'm sad -over an ended relationship, a broken friendship- I remember that they changed me. Their existence made me who I am now. I love who I am now, and that's thanks to him. So, whether they break your heart into the most pieces or make you grin the widest, they're in your life for a reason.

I love how quickly and willingly I am to learn things. I've always learned things quickly. I have definitely demonstrated this in the past few months because I joined my high school basketball team. I have seen drastic improvement in myself. I'm shooting (and making) more shots than I ever used to take. I have more moves. I have a better defense. I learn things in less than an hour, and even after long breaks, it doesn't take me long to get back into this rhythm. My coaches were shocked by how quickly I used the move they taught me. I'm also very willing to learn. Some of my teammates are very set in their traditional ways: they don't want to listen to our coaches, and they just do their own thing. I'm not like that. Even if I feel like I'm doing something right, if my coach is telling me different, I'm at least going to hear them out. If I don't agree, I know I can tell them that I think my way is better. They'll either agree or they'll explain why my way isn't working as well. I know my coaches know what they're doing, so if they tell me to do something, I'm going to do it. They constantly praise me for my listening skills. If they need something done, they know I'll do it- no questions asked. It's hard to always love myself, and I do get mad at myself when I mess up. If I make a mistake in a game and during practice, I hold it against myself. But, I also try to focus on my positives. My listening and learning skills are definitely a positive personality trait of mine.

One practical solution to helping people with mental health would be to address it in schools. Many students don't have time to prioritize their mental health because they have so much school work. Anxiety rates in teens are at an all time high and this is mainly because of school. Whether it's stress from having to do hours of homework and studying for tests (while maintaining the rest of your needs, such as showering, eating, sleeping for at least eight hours a night, and even just relaxing) or dealing with bullying. Social anxiety is a big thing because many students talk about each other. In high school, a lot of people pretend to be your friend, but then they go to other people and say bad things about you. Once you know this, it's hard tot rust people again, and you start feeling as if you're being judged every time you walk into a room. Bullying is a thing that is constantly addressed in elementary and middle school. Despite kids being punished, there will always be bullies. But, the amount of work given to students can be reduced. Students should be able to feel safe at school. They shouldn't dread waking up because they know they'll be stressed all day, and then they'll have to deal with homework when they get home. I think teachers should not assign so much work or at least provide adequate deadlines. Students deserve to have resting time, not dedicate their entire lives to school. They need time to hang out with friends and do the hobbies they enjoy. School systems should address this to make sure students aren't getting overworked.

My dream life would look impressive. I would live in a nice, two-story house; it would have four bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, a full kitchen and dining room, a laundry room, a giant living room, and maybe an office or study. I would have a husband. We would adore each other. Maybe we'll meet before I graduate high school or in college where I get a degree in psychology. We won't get married for a few years, but everyone knows we will eventually. It will be like a fairy tale come to life. If soulmates are real, I'll be with mine. I think I'd like to have kids, maybe three. At least one boy and one girl. I would love to watch them grow and become their own people. I would want them to love me and their father. I would hope that they always come to me with their problems. I hope that they trust me and know I'll always be there for them. I hope I'm a good mother. And, if I'm being really honest, I'd like to do some comedy. Maybe before my husband and I settle down, we can live in New York. I can make it to Saturday Night Live. My name will be known across the country. Kids will talk about me; teenage girls will want to be me. I'd be famous.

My experience with mental health has shaped my goals because I was able to decide what I want to do with my life. Before I had to deal with my mental health, I had no idea what I wanted to go to college for. I didn't even want to college because I knew it would cost a lot of money, and I would have no idea what I wanted to do while there. Now, I want to go to college for psychology. I want to help others that deal with mental health issues. I want to learn how the brain works and learn what goes wrong for mental health issues to occur. For a long time, mental health issues were not addressed. They were either not taken seriously or people with these issues were sent to insane asylum. There are still many complications today for people with mental health problems. Many people, especially males, find themselves unable to talk about it or acknowledge they have a problem. They blame themselves and feel worthless for having these issues. I want to spread the point that mental health is a serious issue that isn't your fault. If you have problems, it's simply a malfunction in your brain. Yeah, that makes you different, but it doesn't make you lesser than "normal" people. I still struggle myself, but I'm doing better. I went to a doctor who put me on antidepressants and sent me to counseling, where I am able to talk about my problems rather than holding them in. I have a better relationship with my parents now because I've dealt with my mental health. I'm more open, more accepting of myself. I am stronger now and more confident in myself. I understand the world a bit better now as well. I understand that some people are going through these mental health issues and are too scared to accept help. Some people simply don't think anything is wrong with them, so they don't know to get help. I also understand that EVERYONE is going through something. It's not just me or people that have "obviously" bad lives. Even people with the best parents or the best homes have things that aren't going right in their life. I've been dealing with my mental health for about five years now, and it was only in the past year that I actually began receiving help. Receiving help completely changed my viewpoint on almost everything. I am grateful for finally receiving help and moving past my mental health.

I have been affected by mental health for years. I was eleven when it began to hit me. I'm fifteen now. Four years of depression, anxiety, PTSD. I went three of these years undiagnosed. I hid it for years. I thought it was normal. I didn't realize that other people were happy most of the time; they didn't want to die every day. I didn't know this until I was 13. My parents went through my phone, seeing the way I talked to my friends. They thought I was faking it. They assumed I was trying to get attention from my friends. They told me I had a good life. There were so many kids that had it worse. I knew this, and I hated the fact that I was taking away from those who had it worse. I tried to ignore my feelings. I tried to ignore the fact that my heart was always heavy, I was always crying. I never allowed myself to accept the fact that I felt nervous 98% of the day. I never acknowledged the panic I felt when someone yelled at me, or even near me. Until it got to be too much again. I relapsed. I wanted to feel pain, to feel something. I didn't see the point of living. I wasn't okay. I didn't think I'd ever be okay. I felt that my life was over. But, I finally went to therapy. I got put on anti-depressants. My family was told that I had depression, anxiety, and PTSD. My therapist knew how to help me. She began to show me that it was okay for me to be down sometimes, but she taught me ways to feel better. I've been influenced by my mental health experiences because my beliefs have changed. I'm more secure in my body, so I have higher standards for relationships. I usually don't feel comfortable in a relationship. Neither of my parents had healthy relationships, especially not with each other, so I was scared to ever give someone my heart. Now, however, I feel better. I'm not dependent on anyone else, but if I were to like someone, I'd be okay with developing a relationship with them. My career goals have changed because now I'd like to go to college for psychology. Before I went to therapy, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I was scared I would graduate high school and be stuck. I didn't think I'd be able to get a major. But, here I am. I'm prepared to help other people deal with their mental health. I love helping people; if it's something I can relate to, I think that makes it easier. I'm way more determined to get through college and live as a psychologist. I also want to be a comedian. Most comedians are funny because of their past trauma. They laugh at themselves and the things they go through. Most of them had bad childhoods, so as adults, they make fun of it. For many, it's a way of processing it. I feel like I could follow through with it because I also prefer to laugh instead of actually accept the things wrong with me. Many people are affected by mental health. People are mean, both in school and online, so it's hard to love yourself. Social media also makes you compare yourself to others, and it puts you in a negative light. Home lives also seem to be getting worse for kids. If more parents were open to therapy and medication for their kids, kids may become more dedicated to school, and life in general.

I think my best skill is writing. I've always loved writing, even when I was five years old. The second I learned how to make words, I turned them into stories; I shared my stories. I held on to writing even as the rest of my life changed. I may not have been the best, but I knew I was good. I don't write every day, or even on a set schedule. I just get into moods where I need to write, so I do. I write as ideas come to me. I write in notebooks, on computer documents, and even on my phone if I have nothing else in reach. I am improving my writing by continuing to write any chance I get. I'm in a creative writing class, where I learn how to write different genres. We do different units on the different ways of writing. I have high A's in the class and do well on almost all of my assignments. My teacher finds that I'm an excellent writer. She does give me comments, which helps me improve even more.

My favorite book is "Only Mostly Devastated," by Sophie Gonzales. It's about two gay high school boys, but one of them has internalized homophobia. He's stuck between being scared that his friends will judge him and liking the other boy, Oliver. Oliver is content in being out as gay, so he's mad that the other boy won't make the extra step to be with him. However, by the end, Oliver realizes relationships are 50/50, and he has to do more to get more in return. I love this book for several reasons. I prefer gay relationships, personally. I'm not entirely sure why, but it's just so important to me because they have to go through more obstacles (homophobia) to get love. I also love it because one of the boys is a basketball player, and basketball is my favorite sport. I loved how he went to Oliver's music competitions and performances, while Oliver went to his basketball games. It showed how far they had gone. Initially, they hadn't acknowledged each other, but now they're being supportive. It was a cliche high school romance story, but I enjoy those. Because I have no relationship, it makes me feel love vicariously. It's something I like reading about because it's inspirational. I want a relationship like that, and since I can't get one, I enjoy reading about it instead. If I was ever in a relationship, I'd need someone that meets what I give. I also like supportive relationships because I love someone being there for while I do something I enjoy.

Joy is the happiness you feel. You get it from many things, and it's different for everyone. Joy is not a constant, because if it was, it wouldn't be as special. Joy is bright colors, sunny skies. Joy is smiles, laughter. Joy is kittens, puppies. Joy is sunsets, sunrises, the start of a new day. The growth of flowers, of babies, of relationships. Joy is pure pleasure. Joy is what I hope to feel every day. For me, joy is the feeling of being included. Joy is when I'm hanging out with my friends. Joy is when I am in on the inside joke, able to laugh along with the crowd. Joy is the feeling of the basketball leaving my hand, moving through the net. It doesn't even hit the rim as my team claps me on the back. I grin, my basketball shoes squeaking on this court. Joy is seeing my little brothers and sisters grow up, learning to say my name, learning to walk. Joy is that feeling of my heart expanding as I laugh. To find joy, I ignore the sadness. I pull myself out of it. I watch videos, shows. I read books. I focus on this pure joy.

Being independent means to do things on your own. Being independent is accepting your own mistakes, not blaming it on other people. You have to fight for your goals. You can't just give up immediately. Being independent is accepting that you only have yourself. You won't be able to rely on your parents forever. You have to learn at school by yourself. When you get a job, you're making that money yourself. You don't wait for someone to come to you with the answers; if you need help, you go to the answers yourself. You find those answers. You find the help yourself. You can't rely on other people to get it for you. Independence has always had a major impact on me because it's a character trait my dad finds very important. He doesn't want me to rely on other people, whether it be him, my mom, my future partner, or even friends. He wants me to be able to take care of myself. He wants me to be able to live a good life with only my help. I do need help sometimes, but I work toward my goals alone. I choose classes that will benefit me, not the classes my friends are taking so we can hang out. I want my own life, not to be under the control of someone else.

I used to worry I'd never know what I wanted to do with my life. I worried I'd be stuck in a pattern, unable to decide how I spend my adult years. But, it only took a few minutes for me to realize I found my life goal: a psychologist and comedian. I would love to go to New York University. I want to major in psychology, to learn how brains and people work. It's so interesting how everyone is different but we have the same foundation. I also want to focus on comedic writing. Saturday Night Live is one of my favorite shows ever. It's so funny, and most of the people on there came from no where. That's where I am now, and I want to get higher. I want to be famous for being hilarious and caring. To get there, I'm continuing to strive for the best grades in the highest level classes (Honors and AP). I also plan to take the psychology courses available at my high school. I plan to continue playing basketball. I've already gotten better than I was last year. Every practice, I feel an improvement, both in myself and in my team as a whole. I hope that by college, I'll be so great, they won't know where I started.

I was very depressed all through middle school. I was never happy, and I wasn't content with being alive. I felt that nothing I did would fix this. But, that changed eventually. It took a while, but soon my parents took me to the doctor. I told them what I was feeling, what I was going through. They put me on medication and sent me to therapy. I had a group therapy session with my stepmom and dad, where they told me that they felt I was being over-dramatic and ungrateful. Though it was hard, and I cried most of the time, I was able to tell them my side of the story. My therapist diagnosed me with anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. I realized then that I really wasn't okay. Before that, I questioned whether maybe I was just being dramatic. I know people have lives a lot worse than my own, but that didn't change how unhappy I was. Now, however, I'm so happy. I feel connected with my family. Of course, I still get mad at them, but I do feel better now. I'm more content. I actually enjoy waking up in the morning, talking to my friends, even going to school. Though I sometimes regret what it took to get there, I am so happy to be where I am now.

The summer of sixth grade, I had to decide if I wanted to live with my mom or dad. My dad had a girlfriend now, who was willing to take care of us while he was at work, but I'd been living with my mom for three years. My parents hadn't been together since I was seven, but that didn't change how hard it was. Yeah, there were perks- two birthday parties, two Christmases- but I had to go five days every week, sometimes even more, without seeing one of my parents. I chose to live with my dad. I loved my mom, and I couldn't stand being away from my little siblings who lived with her, but I needed to make a better future for myself. I couldn't do that living with my mom. My stepdad only cared about housework, basketball and school coming very later in his priorities. I couldn't handle that. I want a clean house (a messy one gives me anxiety), but school was at the top of my list. He didn't understand that, so I moved away from him. It was hard, though. I had transferred schools before, but this was halfway through middle school. Everyone had someone to sit with at lunch, people to talk to in the halls, but I was alone. I knew some people, but they were closer to others, and I didn't want to intrude. It was hard to get past my homesickness for my mom's (and my friends from my old school), but soon I made new friends. I was able to get through it, and now I'm in tenth grade, with lots of friends and a healthy mindset. Moving was worth it, after.

“Carry On” by Rainbow Rowell is my favorite book of all time. It’s not just because of the fantasy plot with gay characters either. The main character is so determined to live his life. Sometimes living life can be hard, more than hard even. I can hardly ever deal with it, though I seem to be adjusting more now. Maybe I even learned from the main character subconsciously. I first read Rainbow Rowell with her book “Fangirl.” The main character writes fanfiction about the Carry On books, and I was immediately interested in reading the Carry On series. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. It’s a book I constantly reread. The main reason is because of how relatable the main character is. He has so many flaws, but he’s still the hero. He’s insecure, scared, lonely. He is so far beyond our usual protagonists, and by the end, he still has these issues. He’s not automatically fixed because he got his happily ever after. Instead, Rainbow Rowell leaves us remembering that his relationship is still going to go through hard times, that he’s not always going to be brave or strong enough, but he’s going to get through it. It’s inspiring to know such a respected hero of the World of Mages has his own flaws that no one else even notices. It really shows that ANYONE can be a hero.