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One of the greatest joys that I have found in this life is reading. Ever since I was young, I have embarked on thrilling quests, traversed breathtaking lands, faced daunting foes and barely imagined creatures, and lived thousands of different lives through books. I have felt myself grow through the words of authors, and have been inspired through the examples of noble and legendary characters. I've come to see past the futile indulgences of society, past the meaningless attempts of popularity and self-obsession, past the senseless bickering and pining of material gain, because of reading. And with this revelation, I've come to yearn for intangible glories; becoming a part of something larger than myself, exploring vast terrains and discovering untrodden lands, meeting genuine people with real personalities, and being content with a life centered on experience instead of wealth. While traveling through varied paper-made journeys, I've experienced external benefits as well. My vocabulary has progressively advanced, I've gained and grown relationships , and I've come to truly find beauty and wonder in the simplistic aspects of life. As I progress towards college, I hope to be able to continue cultivating my passion for literature. I know that my schedule will become much busier, and the mundanities of daily life will become even more oppressing. However, I will never cease relying on the blissful escape brought upon through reading.  It provides for me a means to rid myself of the tediousness and vain ostentation of reality, and dive into worlds that value fellowship, honor, and morality. (254)

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One aspect of life that never ceases to amaze me is music. I love absolutely everything about it. I love that you can listen to one song and feel contemplative and somber, then listen to another and feel completely alive with energy and jubilance, as if nothing could bring you down. I love how the amount of instruments is surprisingly vast, and how each one produces such a unique sound, and yet each one can sound beautiful. I began playing piano on my 7th birthday, and have now been playing for 11 years. Through my growth in playing, I have truly found a gratitude for the elegance of music. I love being able to play alternate compositions, and express myself through the varying harmonies of different pieces. I plan on continuing to further my skill in piano, and hope to never become indifferent and senseless to the inimitable brilliance of music. (151)

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A newer passion of mine has been writing. I have always held a reserved fondness for English class, and have found that my most accomplishing assignments are usually written ones. However, I have only recently taken up the habit of free-writing on my own time instead of for a school assignment, and, in the short time that I've pursued it, I've come to absolutely love it. I have never been proficient in vocally expressing myself. My mind often works faster than my mouth can get the words out, and I find myself often stumbling over my sentences, and losing the overall meaning and eloquence that I yearn so desperately to have when trying to share my ideas. I get nervous speaking in front of crowds, and, more often than not, forget important details and words that I intended to say. Despite this struggle however, I have found solace in writing. It has allowed me to organize the flurry of thoughts constantly flooding my mind, and come out with a physical manifestation of everything that I feel.  I am able to re-read previous thoughts, build off of them, and more efficiently find solutions to my problems. I don't write about what goes on in my life, but instead what I feel. I write about impressions I have of the world around me, things I find peace and contentment in, things that make me sorrowful and that I wish to change, things I yearn for, things I wish I didn't have the burden of bearing. As I begin furthering my education in college, I hope to improve my writing abilities and find an implication for them that benefits more than just myself. (280)

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Something that I suppose is not surprising, because of the current state of our country, is my interest in politics. My parents raised me on strong moral grounds, and taught me to always stand for what I believe in, even if it means that I have to stand alone. As I have observed the differing political opinions and witnessed the fighting between parties, I have formed my own opinions, and have found my parents lessons of courageously standing more and more relevant. But I didn't choose this topic to lecture about my political beliefs. I chose this topic to express my growing concern for the increasingly hostile partisan fighting present in our nation. Our country has come to a point where the majority of the population is either extremely democratic, or extremely republican. Those on one side completely despise those on the other, and vice versa. We've come to view one another as enemies, and have lost the ability to have peaceable conversations centered on enlightenment and understanding. We isolate ourselves from our political opposers, and are unwilling to listen to anything they have to say. We blindly follow anyone campaigning for our side, unwilling to accept possible misconduct and fault, mostly just to spite the other side. Both sides are equally guilty of this, and if it continues, I believe our country won't have a chance of lasting. As Lincoln once said, " A house divided against itself cannot stand". I hope to be able to find a solution to the insidiousness of partisan tension, and aim to become an example of someone who can passionately pursue politics but still remain accepting of differing views. (275)

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Like most others, I dream of seeing the world. I have had the opportunity of traveling to an extent. I've explored Peru, Mexico, Canada, and numerous states and cities across the United States. However, I yearn for much more. I've harvested a passion for immersing myself in different cultures, and personally experiencing the varying wonders of our Earth. While I wish to visit as many countries and cultures as I can, the country I wish to visit most is Iceland. The Icelandic culture is so foreign and alluring to me, and the landscape is incomparable and breathtaking. I love cold, gloomy weather, vast mountains, and find the Viking culture ambiguous and interesting. Moreover, Iceland is known for its literary heritage, which completely enraptures my book-loving self. (126)

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What I believe to be one of the most vital characteristics to a person is their individualism. We are brilliant because of that which distinguishes us. Were it not for these differences, we would all be exactly the same, and life would essentially be bland and dull. However, we were blessed with contrasts, with varying perspectives and interests and incentives and experiences. And to ignore these differentiations would be to ignore the essence of magnificence in this life. That's why, in my life, I yearn to find individualism. I aim to accept who I am, and constantly strive to amount to what I know I can become. I pursue my interests with earnest passion, because I believe they help define who I am. And I find myself pensive toward the ambitions of society. I constantly observe the mass media creating a specific mold, then influencing its audience that lasting contentment can be found when one fits into that mold. And, as a result, I see those around me attempting to fit it, falling for societies facade of true joy. We have begun to disregard that which we truly feel passion toward, and in turn replace it with that which society deems as appropriate and popular. People listen to music they don't truly like, dress in certain ways, talk with intentional half-wittedness, and rebuke anything that doesn't align with these societal molds. Witnessing this has made my heart ache, and has made me yearn to bring to realization the splendor and vitality of individualism.  (253)

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The gaining of knowledge has always been a priority in my life, and it has been for many different reasons. Ever since I was young, my father has enticed me to learn. He used to promise to me gifts of ten or twenty dollars to learn different things, such as the alphabet backwards, the states in alphabetical order, or morse code. My parents would always read to me, and I eventually took up solitary reading at a young age. I have always prospered in school, and have constantly found wonder and magic in learning new things, no matter the subject. I yearn to understand everything, and one of the saddest realizations I've come to is the impossibility of that desire. However, despite this realization, I continue to pine for growing my education, and am so grateful that I live in a world were such desires are easily attainable. I think one of the biggest reasons I pursue knowledge so fervently is because of my beliefs. In my church, it is common belief that we carry nothing into the next world except what we've come to learn. Our material possession is rendered completely worthless in the afterlife, and the knowledge that we've accumulated becomes an invaluable commodity. Because of this belief, I have become infatuated with gaining knowledge. As something that can endure the restricting bands of death, I find it to be such a peculiar and vital aspect of this life. I plan to further my education at Brigham Young University, in Provo Utah. There I hope to be ale to continue my quest toward the collection of intelligence and wisdom, and desire to find a specific occupation that fits what I am most passionate about learning. (287)

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Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints has drastically changed everything about my life. I was adopted through a church affiliated adoption agency, so without my religion, I wouldn't be a part of the family I've come to love. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet and grow inseparable bonds with my best friends if it weren't for my church. I wouldn't have been able to be a part of numerous charity services, dedicate my time to serving powers that reach past my comprehension, or come to understand the true beauty of the world, and the divine potential that I individually possess. Because of the love I have for my religion, and my gratitude and infinite love I hold for my Savior, I have decided to embark on an 18 month mission when I turn 19, where I will be assigned a location and will share the Gospel to those who reside in that area. (162)

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Throughout my childhood, one of my biggest dreams has been having a big family. My parents were unable to have children of their own, and were only, because of financial reasons, able to adopt two children. And while I love my small family with my whole heart, I've felt that I've been missing something. The entirety of my extended family is made up of families with at least 4 children, and at most 9. I love visiting my cousins, and seeing the blissful chaos that inevitably ensues every time I come. Although I know big families can be a mess, there is an undeniable cohesion characterized by them, and I wish to experience the joys of watching my young children grow to become big brothers and sisters, to witness the love between siblings, and be a part of people who I know will love me and each other no matter what. (151)

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A goal that I want to seriously prioritize in my life is health. I think that the state of your body is a reflection of what you think of yourself, and I wish to show that I consider my body an invaluable gift, and not a worthless dispenser. While I am not currently at the goal I wish to be at regarding my health, I plan on taking time this summer to focus on strengthening my body and improving my physical fitness. I once held a fondness for running, and while I have become unacquainted with that passion, I am aiming to reignite it this summer. Moreover, I plan on monitoring what I eat, and focusing on only consuming food that will strengthen and nourish my body, instead of bring it fleeting pleasure and lasting unhealthiness. (136)