Imagination Impacts by Justen

Imagination Impacts by Justen - November 2023 Scholarship Essay

Nothing I did would ever have an impact, or so I thought. Getting positions in my class council, student council, and several clubs allowed me to become a role model. By establishing myself, my teachers recognized and offered roles to me, knowing that I would always step up to the event. Such positions include being a part of the Atlantic Care Youth Advisory Board, NJ Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation, and Rotary Youth Leadership Convention.

The first meeting for the youth advisory board was intimidating. I was the only student sitting at a table with my teachers and even the principal. However, I was never shy about expressing my thoughts. Being part of the student body, I understood my peers, and I was proud to be able to represent them. As my principal and teachers spoke, I input my suggestions on ways to implement health factors in the school that students would enjoy. Understanding how some students are less fortunate, we put together accessible lunch programs. Being a part of other clubs also allowed me to spread the word and involve more students, eventually reaching other schools in the county. The Youth Advisory Board, connected through Atlanticare, has representatives from many schools. To speak with other students about community concerns, I related their stories with the events happening at my school allowing a collaboration resulting in changes.

The NJ HOBY leadership conference inspired me to take action as a representative of my school and community. To volunteer and create change in the environment around me. Listening to various presenters allowed me to learn from their experiences and pass on their advice to my peers, and by meeting and talking to other ambassadors, I learned how to make a difference. Inspired, the program challenged us to volunteer for 100 hours a year in the leadership for service project. With the inspiration and ideas of other ambassadors, I completed 147 total volunteer hours, receiving the president’s volunteer service award, which I view as a symbol of hard work, dedication, and making a positive influence within my community.

Furthermore, the Rotary Youth Leadership Convention allowed me to express ideas and constructively talk with my peers about current world problems. I expressed concern about several factors, including the environment of the shore, the safety of school systems, sustainability, and mental health. After the conference, looking for ways to utilize my talents and passion to fix these issues, I joined the NJ Governor’s STEM scholars. The NJ Government STEM Scholars is a project that allows me to make a profound impact on the state. With the cooperation of my peers and team leader, we can investigate a concern of the world and take a step towards a goal of the UN.

With every experience I have gained, I return with new profound knowledge and connections to further expand my network. The importance of learning from others and communicating your ideas allows changes to be made to leave an impact on the world.

My 4th-grade science project was a failure. In an ambitious project to create infinite energy, my nine-year-old mind combined the mystery of magnets with miraculous wind turbines for the dream of infinitely rotating energy production. Inevitably, the project was nonfunctional; however, my vision and passion for wind energy have not blown away. I became invested in engineering and science because of the quote from Albert Einstein. "Failure is success in progress." I will make my imagination come true.

After taking more classes, being in the robotics club, and being in the Government STEM Scholars, my knowledge expanded, and I wrote down any new clues into my project. By learning inertia, magnetic fields, and other principles, I have developed supplementary theories, such as moving the turbine to space where no resistance will stop it. I have countless other ideas that I have kept in an inventions notebook, and I hope that one day, as I learn more, my imagination will make a difference.

When my sister returned from Princeton, she showed me a video. A video that it was possible. After learning about magnetism, her class created rotating magnets using electromagnetic fields. The video showed me proof that my imagination worked and that with the proper equipment and knowledge, improbable projects and theories are possible. I want to help accomplish Princeton's Net-Zero America project. With dedication, an absurd dream can become reality. With the tools and knowledge I can gain at college, the future can be unlocked. Innovation starts with imagination.