Growing up in a household where my parents are both teachers, I have been surrounded with immense passion and innovation since I was born. Three core values have defined who I am and have guided me to be a leader: ambition, determination, and respect. I have had the privilege to hold leadership roles in two distinct clubs, create a successful business, and achieve my private pilot certificate. As I look ahead to college and beyond, these skills and attributions will continue to pull me forward to ensure positive contributions to the broader society. Earning my private pilot license at seventeen years old stands out as one of my greatest accomplishments so far. The countless hours of studying, marked by determination and drive, left me with an incredible achievement. The achievement of earning my private pilot license at seventeen shaped my character and instilled a sense of determination and drive into me. With passion and self-discipline, I serve as a reminder that people at any age can achieve their goals. Respect is the foundation for building lasting relationships and serving as a leader. As President of Film and TV Production club, I have the responsibility to listen to my fellow club members, and encompass the acknowledgement of the dignity of each individual. Without respect, there would be no empathy or understanding for others in a community. Working closely with members of the club, encouraging creative ideas, and ensuring necessary resources are provided are some examples of the critical responsibilities I retain. In addition, as Vice President of Welding Club, I have actively engaged in organizing club meetings and events. This year marks the first year in over a decade that my high school has had an active welding club, as it was shut down years ago for not enough active involvement. My role in this club highlights the importance of good leadership and ensuring the well-being of a team. Ambition represents a force that propels me towards greatness. It’s central to my world view because it makes me strive for growth and improvement. With both of my parents being educators, I have first hand witnessed their ambition pull them to inspire the future generations. Despite their modest earnings, they instilled within me the mindset of doing what you love is what truly matters. Driven by ambition, I established a small business through creative thinking. This entrepreneurial adventure began during my seventh grade year when I created an online store called ‘TheZoeStore’. With the recent achievement of earning over 15,000 sales, my entrepreneurial journey exemplifies the impact of my ambition and leadership, and shows that I will leave a lasting positive influence in my future endeavors. I am currently enrolled to be a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this upcoming fall. With the decision to pursue a degree in Global Security and Intelligence Studies and participate in Air Force ROTC to fulfill my dream of becoming a fighter pilot. I am ecstatic to break gender barriers in STEM. The aviation world is made up of mostly men, therefore being a young female pilot is not without setbacks. I have had the honor to lead clubs at my school, create a business, and have earned my private pilot's license, all before the age of 18. In college and beyond, I will most definitely continue to lead, serve the community, and exceed academically to ensure good outcomes.

The greatest adversity that I have faced surrounds being a woman in aviation. I achieved a major milestone during the summer of my senior year by obtaining my private pilot certificate. Determination is the resolve that drives my resilience and courage to rise above challenges. By being a woman in aviation, I have a constant sense of not fitting in and have encountered subtle and not-so-subtle instances of sexism. The world of aviation is filled with mostly men, therefor being a young female pilot is not without setbacks. I have been told by a flight school owner that he likes when young, pretty girls fly at his school, because “they attract men to go spend money there.” It’s clear to me that breaking through the gender barrier in aviation requires determination and resilience in the face of systematic biases. Historically, men have dominated the STEM fields, and in 1970, women represented a whopping 8% of STEM workers. In 2023, it was reported that 29.2% of STEM workers were women. Despite an increase in STEM female workers, a gender imbalance still remains. My presence as a female pilot is not just about flying planes, but it also includes defying norms and stereotypes instilled by old-school pilots. My experiences contribute to the progress of growing the number of female aviators within the aviation industry. Jack Terry’s remarkable life story of being a survivor of the Holocaust to becoming a successful psychoanalyst serves as a profound source of inspiration for me. The resilience that he held to overcome the unimaginable hardships and adversity is amazing. His story has instilled within me that with the power of motivation and determination, anything is possible. Earning my private pilot certificate demonstrates my commitment to personal growth and involvement outside the classroom. As I look ahead to college and beyond, these skills and attributions will continue to pull me forward to ensure positive contributions to the broader society. My goal for the future is to pursue a degree in global security and intelligence studies and work my way through the required certificates to become an airline pilot. I hope to ensure safety within air travel and inspire young females to become pilots and spread their wings. Despite the feeling of not fitting in at times, my passion for flying has not decreased. I find strength in knowing that I am not alone in this struggle and relate to other women in aviation around the world. Every flight I take creates a step towards reshaping the future of aviation as we know it.

Since I was young, I have always been interested in STEM and male dominated industries. When I was in seventh grade, I created an online business that grew into a successful venture. With just recently achieving 15,000 total sales, I serve as a reminder that people at any age can conquer their goals. Moreover, in 2023, I earned my private pilot’s license at only seventeen years old. These accomplishments clearly reflect my undeniable commitment and adaptability. Diversity and inclusion in STEM can be defined in a number of ways. For me, it means the importance of having a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and even perspectives in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Diversity goes beyond gender as it includes race, ethnicity, economic background, etc. On the other hand, inclusion means that everyone feels welcomed, and equal opportunities are granted, helping people achieve their goals and contribute to STEM fields. The aviation world is made up of mostly men, therefor being a young female pilot is not without setbacks. I have been told by a flight school owner that he likes when “young, pretty girls” fly at his school, because they attract men to come spend money there. Obviously, not every man involved with aviation is sexist, but a lot of them are… Historically, men have dominated the STEM fields, and in 1970, women represented a whopping 8% of STEM workers. In 2023, it was reported that 29.2% of STEM workers were women. Despite an increase in STEM female workers, a gender imbalance still remains. I believe that because of a lack of gender diversity in STEM, we are missing out on a better future. Society needs new point of views to continue to grow and improve, and more women in the STEM workforce could be the solution. Furthermore, I am currently enrolled to be a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this upcoming fall. With the decision to pursue a degree in Global Security and Intelligence Studies, I am ecstatic to break gender barriers in STEM. Being awarded with this scholarship would empower me to thrive in my collegiate experience. The financial assistance offered by this scholarship would help make a seamless enrollment transition from high school to college. Receiving this scholarship would ensure that I am prepared for a successful career in the real world. I have had the honor to lead clubs at my school, create a business, and have earned my private pilot's license, all before the age of 18. With the ability to dive deeper into my academic interests, this scholarship would grant me the power to pursue a broader range of courses that hold the potential to require additional materials. In college and beyond, I will most definitely continue to lead, serve the community, and exceed academically to ensure good outcomes.

Throughout my high school career, I have had the privilege to hold leadership roles in two distinct clubs, run an online business, and become a pilot, significantly contributing to my leadership skills. As I look ahead to college and beyond, these skills and attributions will continue to pull me forward to ensure positive contributions to the broader society. Starting off, as President of the Film and TV Production Club and as Vice President of the Welding Club at my high school, I have the duty of leading club meetings and organizing club related events. Working closely with members of the clubs, encouraging creative ideas, and ensuring necessary resources are provided compile some examples of the responsibilities I retain. I have actively participated in organizing club meetings and events. My role in these clubs highlights the importance of good leadership and ensuring the well-being of teams. In addition to my leadership roles related to high school extracurriculars, I also achieved a major milestone during the summer of my senior year by obtaining my private pilot’s license. This accomplishment clearly reflects my undeniable commitment and adaptability. The countless hours of studying, marked by determination and drive, left me with an incredible achievement. Balancing being a full time student, running a business, and being a student pilot was not easy. My summer consisted of dozens of three-am wake-ups and long days of studying. The achievement of earning my private pilot license at seventeen shaped my character and instilled a sense of determination and drive into me. With passion and self-discipline, I serve as a reminder that people at any age can achieve their goals. Moreover, driven by innovation, I established a successful small business through creative thinking. This entrepreneurial adventure began during my seventh grade year when I created an online store called ‘TheZoeStore’, selling hand made lip gloss. After facing the realization that my sales were not doing the greatest, I was prompted to devise a new concept. I decided to sell custom labels I had previously made for my lip glosses. Soon after this pivot, my business flourished and kept me constantly busy with trips to the post office for outgoing orders. Using some of the revenue from my custom label sales, I expanded my products into enamel pins. My entrepreneurial journey exemplifies the impact of my determination and leadership, and shows that I will leave a lasting positive influence in my future endeavors. My experiences of holding President and Vice President roles in clubs have fostered my leadership skills and have left a positive impact in my school and work experiences. In parallel, earning my pilot’s license and creating a successful business shows my commitment to personal growth and involvement outside the classroom. I have had the honor to lead clubs, engage with new people, and have excelled at work. In college and beyond, I will most definitely continue to lead, serve the community, and exceed academically to ensure good outcomes. Aiding in my teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, these experiences have collectively prepared me to face new challenges head on and to make positive impacts as a confident and able leader.

At a young age, I started a journey that is filled with innovation, resilience, and a thirst for knowledge. When I was 14, I started ‘TheZoeStore’, an entrepreneurial adventure. At the time, I had no idea this endeavor would evolve into a successful business. As my business grew, I also achieved my goal of earning my pilot license as a senior in high school. These achievements have paved the way for my goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in business and my dream of becoming an airline pilot. Driven by innovation, I created a successful small business by thinking outside of the box. When I was in seventh grade, I started a small online business called ‘TheZoeStore’. I told friends and family that I was going to start a lip gloss business, and I did just that. Throughout the next year or so, I realized my sales were not the greatest, and I had to come up with a new idea. After the COVID-19 pandemic began, I started to print and sell the labels that I created for my lip glosses with other people’s designs. My business was flourishing, and I was always going to the post office to drop off outgoing orders. With the funds from my label sales, I transitioned into designing and manufacturing enamel pins. After uploading a video advertising my pins to TikTok, I was receiving many orders a day and sold out very fast. I have earned over fourteen thousand online sales and my business is still up and running to this day. In addition to creating a successful small business, earning my private pilot license at seventeen years old stands out as one of my greatest accomplishments so far. In September 2022 I attended a Young Eagles chapter meeting in Show Low, Arizona, where I took my first discovery flight. The excitement of this flight lingered with me throughout the following few months, prompting me to start training for my private pilot certificate. In January 2023 I started taking flight lessons and working on studying for my written and practical exams. On March 13th, 2023, I soloed, and on August 5th, 2023, I passed my initial check ride and ultimately achieved my private pilot certificate and became the first pilot in my family. The countless hours of studying, marked by determination and drive, left me with an incredible achievement. Balancing being a full-time student, running a business, and being a student pilot was not easy. My summer consisted of dozens of three a.m. wake-ups and long days of studying. The world of aviation is filled with so much knowledge, and learning about weather, aviation theory, navigation, and more, demanded my unwavering attention. When the day of my check ride arrived, nervousness and exhilaration went through me. I had been preparing daily for hours on end throughout the last few weeks, greatly helping me approach the final test head-on and with confidence. When I shook my examiner's hand, I felt a wave of accomplishment and excitement. The achievement of earning my private pilot license at seventeen shaped my character and instilled a sense of determination and drive in me. Even though I only started my aviation journey a year ago, I have met some of the most inspirational and fascinating people that I never thought I would have the chance to meet.

Dark Red by Steve Lacy has the most important message to me. This song is about Steve Lacy bracing himself for heartbreak in fear that his girlfriend is going to leave him. In his song, the lyrics "What if she's fine? It's my mind that's wrong" really spoke to me. Being in a romantic relationship can lead to overthinking and anxiety, but that's part of the commitment that you agree to when you are in love with someone. Steve explores the thought that there is no reason he needs to be concerned for the strength of his relationship, and wonders if it's just fear that engulfed him in overthinking. Dark Red has many ideas of heartbreak and not giving up on your partner. Being in a relationship, I would do whatever it takes to keep the love and commitment in my relationship going and thriving. Steve Lacy has put these feelings of fear and anxiety into a song that can speak for pretty much everyone that is or has been romantically involved with another person.