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Zoey Nichols

2,105

Bold Points

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Finalist

Bio

I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, in a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.

Education

American University

Bachelor's degree program
2023 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Law
    • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
    • Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Anne Arundel Community College

High School
2022 - 2022

Severna Park Senior High School

High School
2019 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Political Science and Government
    • Law
    • Public Administration
    • Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
    • Public Policy Analysis
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Government Administration

    • Dream career goals:

    • Intern

      Maryland State Senate
      2022 – Present2 years

    Research

    • Political Science and Government

      Captial Gazette Newspaper — Contributor
      2020 – 2021

    Arts

    • National Art Honors Society

      Visual Arts
      2020 – Present
    • School Of Rock Annapolis

      Music
      2016 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Lighthouse Shelter — Donor
      2018 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Temple Beth Shalom Synagogue
      2016 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Walking In Authority International Ministry Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the State of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for our local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority as I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Unfortunately, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in this scholarship, but I believe I will use the award constructively.
    Maverick Grill and Saloon Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority. I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Unfortunately, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am a very big planner. In the event that something comes up last minute, I make sure to have all of my work completed. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.
    Lillian's & Ruby's Way Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority. I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Unfortunately, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am a very big planner. In the event that something comes up last minute, I make sure to have all of my work completed. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.
    Richard Neumann Scholarship
    The first semester of my junior year presented a challenge I did not foresee—AP Physics 1. I realized, deep down, that my primary motivation for taking the class was to be viewed by my peers as intelligent. Upon getting my Interim Report, I was hit with a major reality check. I was suddenly falling behind in some subjects I could once ace without studying due to the stress of the Physics class. My mental health was declining, and I was falling into a slump. One of my biggest struggles is asking for help when I need it. But, Physics showed me that one of my biggest struggles is actually a strength. Seeking help is not a negative. I decided to start asking for help because there is no shame in admitting that something is difficult. It is probably the most valuable lesson I have learned. I’ve applied what I have gathered about my learning style to other academic and personal endeavors. I solved this problem by creating a better organization system for myself as well. I started to research what other people did to solve their academic needs and I found a lot of ideas that I mashed together into something that would work for me. I first created a spreadsheet with formatting that would allow me to filter and color code assignments. Even this small change helped me immensely. I also figured out a new study method for revising concepts I had trouble with. This included rewriting notes, creating flashcards books, and bouncing ideas off of other people. One day in class, I pulled up my spreadsheet to check off some assignments and my seat partner happened to see it. She found it very tidy and easy to understand and I found a weird sense of satisfaction in her noticing my work. I would solve this problem for others by creating a free program that had study groups, notetaking resources, organizational tools, etc so that all students can feel like they have an equal opportunity to succeed. I would implement a similar style of study resource that would be accessible to all students if they chose to take advantage of it. It is unfortunate that a lot of students learn things that go in one ear and out the other. I found that my personal method seemed to improve my grade in the class and I also learned a lot about myself and how I learn.
    Book Lovers Scholarship
    Since I was little, I loved reading, and one of the book series that first introduced me to rapidly consuming content was the Junie B Jones novels. As a little girl, I was a big fan of her silly personality and I found a lot of similarities between myself and the main character, Junie. The older I get, the more "serious" books I read. One of my favorite genres is realistic fiction which tackles social issues and real-world experiences. However, sometimes it is nice to sit down and read a book that doesn't require a lot of thinking and just makes you feel happy. If I had to recommend one book, I would choose You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have To Explain by Pheobe Robinson. This book discusses serious social issues that are woven in with humor and inspiring messages. While the book could be described by some as heavy because of its discussions of racism and gender, Robinson has a delivery that allows the reader to reflect but also connect with her on topics that others are afraid to talk about. Her use of various pop-culture references is what makes this book fun for me. I enjoy book/memoirs in which the author knows how to engage the audience and create an impactful story but also one that takes you through all emotions-good and bad. Reading has allowed me to learn about other cultures and experiences and brings new perspectives to the table that I can use to understand the world around me.
    Walking In Authority International Ministry Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interests with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority. I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Tragically, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am a very big planner. In the event that something comes up last minute, I make sure to have all of my work completed. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.
    Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority. I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Unfortunately, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am a very big planner. In the event that something comes up last minute, I make sure to have all of my work completed. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.
    Valiyah Young Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority. I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Unfortunately, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am a very big planner. In the event that something comes up last minute, I make sure to have all of my work completed. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.
    Marcarelli Community Spirit Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority. I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Unfortunately, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am a very big planner. In the event that something comes up last minute, I make sure to have all of my work completed. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.
    Sammy Meckley Memorial Scholarship
    I am very passionate about service work and enjoy combining my personal interest with things that can help other people. For example, over quarantine, I learned how to crochet and have put my skills to use by making hats for the NICU unit at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Through my synagogue, I help every year around the holidays with our winter relief program. This program gives the local homeless population a warm meal and collects basic necessities through many of our congregants. I am interested in working for the Department of Justice when I am older, with a position that helps to ignite social change. Some of my accomplishments include being selected as a Senate Youth Program Semi-Finalist to represent the state of Maryland. I have also written a few pieces for my local newspaper, The Capital Gazette, centered around topics of social injustice and racial inequality. I am very passionate about my beliefs and try to use my knowledge on certain topics in a productive and respectful manner. Being open to criticism and new information is an incredible asset when looking at fields in the government. That being said, I listen to the opinions of those around me and support my arguments with factual evidence. I have always been interested in fields that surround helping large groups of people. I believe equity is one of the most important policies of a productive society. I am a relatively introverted person, but I care very much about service and leadership. I take the initiative to incorporate everyone's ideas into projects and create open lines of communication for all members of my various groups. I work diligently behind the scenes. School has always been my number one priority. I do not participate in athletics, so I have used my service involvement as a means of school spirit. One of the most important school activities I participated in was my involvement in my school’s Student Government. I initially joined SGA as a way to meet people as a new student. SGA allowed me to break out of my shell and participate in social activities around the school. SGA not only allowed me to meet people and be involved in my school community, but it also allowed me to learn and improve my leadership skills. Through working with our Executive Board, I learned valuable skills such as time management, delegation, and cooperation. I enjoyed that SGA allowed me to work behind the scenes, yet still do something impactful for my community. One particular project that I was grateful to be a part of was our community’s first annual Mental Health Week. Unfortunately, we lost a student to a mental health crisis a few months prior. As a way to bring awareness and support to those in need, we organized a walk, which ended up with a turnout of around 250 people. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in my school community and impact those around us in such a positive manner. I am a very big planner. In the event that something comes up last minute, I make sure to have all of my work completed. I am very organized and I take school seriously. I would describe myself as hardworking, compassionate, and determined. I hold consistent grades and I participate in many extracurricular activities around the school. Many students are interested in these scholarships, but I believe I will use the award constructively.