The careers that I hope to pursue in the future are physics and civil engineering. I would like to have an environmental focus if possible. Science and math have always piqued my interest in all of the classes that I have taken. From a young age I have always liked hands-on projects that require me to build something. In third grade, I remember having to create a way for a zoo to feed and entertain the animals in their enclosures. So I grabbed a toy zebra, a toy lion, some string, rubber bands, some Magformers wheels, and borrowed one of my younger brother's toy cars. I then put the zebra on the Magformers wheels with rubber bands and attached that to the toy car. When I brought my creation in I wheeled the toy car around and showed the lion chasing it. In reality its very unlikely that they would actually tow a zebra around a lion's enclosure but there are some zoos that use a string to pull a toy around at high speeds while a cheetah chases it. My passion for the environment has also blossomed from when I was young. My parents often tell me stories of when I was little and how I always wanted to be outside playing rather than inside watching TV. Even now I often like to go for a run or bike ride down my road to take in the sounds and sights of the leaves blowing in the wind or the rays of sun falling in the woods. Not to mention, I think that animals, trees, and the environment in general are very intriguing. I want to learn how to take care of the environment because it will be a part of my life and many lives to come. I decided these career paths were right for me a few years ago. Earlier in life, I wanted to become a Veterinarian because I liked animals and wanted to help people. Then I realized that I could help people in other ways too and the fact that I didn't want to watch an animal suffer. A main reason that I want to pursue a future in these topics is because of my parents. My parents have always supported me and challenged me throughout my life. Their support is part of what inspired me to choose these career fields because they are fields that I am very passionate about. My parents want me to follow my passions so I hope to accomplish just that. 

Currently I have taken many programs and classes to help assist me on my way to a STEM or environmental career. In middle school I took as many high school classes as I could. This included Computer Science, Algebra 1, Spanish 1, and Spanish 2. This allowed me to complete Spanish 3, AP Computer Science, Geometry, and double block math of Algebra 2 and Precalculus by the end of my sophomore year. Spanish 3 and AP Computer Science gave me a further understanding of coding in java script and Spanish, which could be useful at times in engineering fields. Knowledge in Pre Calculus, Algebra, and Geometry are also very important for engineering. Double block math was an important decision because it allowed me to take AP Calculus AB last year and AP Calculus BC this year rather than taking it in college. A program that will give me lots of hands-on experience in engineering and possible certifications for engineering tools is the Engineering program at Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. In my junior year I took AP Physics 1, AP Calculus AB, and AP Language and Composition so I could have more college level classes out of the way. This year I am currently taking AP Calculus BC, AP Seminar, AP Environmental, and finishing my Engineering program. Most of my AP focus has been on the science and math because those are the classes that I will need to have taken for my major. The ELA and language classes that I have taken also help with communication within my possible degrees. 

Throughout my life I have played basketball and tennis. I started playing basketball because it was a sport that my dad used to play. My mom was the one who encouraged me to play tennis. Basketball and tennis alike, have given me a sense of confidence, leadership, teamwork, strategy, and competitiveness that I would not have been able to gain anywhere else. Confidence is used everyday, whether it's trying to make your ideas heard or trying something new. You have to be confident in your abilities to be able to use them to their fullest. Teamwork and leadership are used to collaborate with others in group settings. Without either in a group setting it can be hard to get along with others and it would be harder and take more time to complete a group task. Competitiveness is a strive to win or to do something the best that you can. It allows you to put out your best work. Finally, strategy is used everyday in preparing. It is how and when you should do something to get the best result. Planning things out and strategizing can help people become more productive. A extracurricular that has given me an environmental background is Envirothon. Envirothon is a club that teaches you about the environment throughout the year. At the end of the year there is a competition between the schools in the county. The top team of five goes onto states and if they win, onto nationals. This club gives environmental knowledge as well as shows teamwork. More of my extracurricular activities include National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Student to Student, and Freshman Mentoring. These clubs are all leadership and community service based, which are helpful traits in any profession. There are also activities outside of school that help with my career choice. One example is the summer between my freshman and sophomore year in high school I participated in a solar stem camp. In this camp we used AutoCAD to print 3D modeled cars and attach solar panels to them. We learned about solar panels and how to attach them together to produce the best speed for our 3D model cars. We also had a small lesson in Arduino. This camp gave me knowledge in AutoCAD and in solar panels. Over that same summer as well as other summers I worked at a restaurant. The job taught me to be more vocal, work hard, and once again teamwork. 

After I graduate high school I hope to go to a four year college with a possible masters degree afterword's. As a senior I have looked at some colleges but I am undecided between physics and civil engineering or a school. I would prefer to stay within a four to five hour maximum distance from where I currently live. I also prefer smaller schools with lots of hands on learning. A four year college would give me a crucial Bachelors degree that I need to be able to pursue a STEM or environmental career. Depending on where I stand after the four year college I may want to get a Masters in that degree. Also depending on where I go some schools offer a four year Bachelor's degree and then one extra year for a Masters in certain degrees. I will most likely stay at the same school for my four years. 

Once I graduate from college I hope to come back close to where I live now. As a physicist or civil engineer I will find a job and use my degree to help others. If I become an engineer I want to create things or improve things that currently exist so that it can help the people in my community and even around the world. If I got a physics degree I would like to use that degree to help society gain knowledge, create new things, or do something similar to engineering. Overall, in my possible careers I want to help as many people as I can, whether that is helping to create something new or helping to improve something that already exists. I hope to make a positive difference on the people around me and even the world if I can. I believe that being kind and compassionate can make a difference towards the people you are around, even if that is just me saying "Good morning" to someone.