6 Year Old Me, Where'd You Go? by Hallie

6 Year Old Me, Where'd You Go? by Hallie - June 2017 Scholarship Essay

When I was 6 years old, I remember exactly what I wanted to be. Rather, I remember all the things I wanted to be: an actress, a magician, a florist, and a veterinarian. I was aiming for the stars, or in the case of most of those professions, the money. I didn't realize it, but 6 year old me knew me better than I know myself today.

Fast forward 10 years and 16 year old me was auditioning for plays, commercials, TV shows, and anything my manager would let me apply for. Eventually I got a small gig and I ran with it. I used it to meet tons of people that I never would have had the opportunity to meet, went places I could have never dreamed of, and lived a life I could be proud of.

The magician part of me? Well I practiced my tricks as a kid with magic sets and slight-of-hand, but my career never took off. More than anything I used it as a way to connect with people, impress them, or make them laugh. I know I may never be a magician, but my desires to do so from a young age taught me how to connect with people from various backgrounds.

The florist part of me I never gave up. I love plants and flowers and anything in nature and now that bit translates itself into working with my peers on their own gardens and small plant collections. I love to get my hands dirty starting a new garden or watching a succulent slowly sprout and grow a new leaf. It is one of the most precious things human can do, foster life.

Finally, my dream to be a veterinarian. This is another dream that never came to fruition, but my love for helping others has fostered itself in my political science studies at my university, and I plan to continue to help people in the field of public policy. I will also use my Communication degree to continue to connect with people all around my community.

Although 6 year old me didn't get the details exactly right, my heart was in the right place: to help people and instill in them a love for each other, the earth, and all the things on it. I know that I will continue to change and I am excited to see where my passions take me.