My most meaningful commitment has been managing my family’s weekly budget. When my dad’s work hours were cut last year, the familiar calm of our household was replaced by a quiet anxiety. I stepped in to help. Every Sunday, I sat at our kitchen table with a stack of bills and a spreadsheet I built. I tracked every expense, from groceries to gas, looking for ways to save.

My role was to find the small efficiencies that added up. I switched our family’s phone plan, saving $40 a month. I learned to meal plan based on weekly sales, cutting our grocery bill by nearly 20%. I became the family expert on coupons and researched the most cost-effective times to run our appliances. It was not glamorous work, but it was essential.

This responsibility was meaningful because it transformed my understanding of how a household functions. I learned that stability is not a given; it is built through careful planning and small, consistent efforts. The experience sparked a genuine interest in economics, not as an abstract theory, but as a practical tool for helping people manage their resources and build secure lives. It taught me that the most important work is often the quiet work done at the kitchen table.

I would like to provide context for my academic performance during the second semester of my sophomore year. In March of that year, my family’s home was severely damaged by a flood, and we were displaced for nearly two months. We lived in a temporary apartment while our house was being repaired, and the disruption to my daily routine was significant.

During this period, my access to a quiet study space and reliable internet was limited, which directly impacted my ability to keep up with my coursework. This is reflected in my lower grades in AP World History and Chemistry that semester. I struggled to balance the stress of our housing situation with the demands of my classes.

Once we were able to move back home, I dedicated my summer to catching up. I retook the final chapters of my chemistry course online and worked with a tutor to review the history material I had struggled with. While that semester was challenging, the experience taught me a great deal about resilience and how to adapt to unexpected circumstances. I am confident that the grades I earned in my junior and senior years are a more accurate reflection of my academic abilities.

Artificial intelligence is not just a tool; it is a new language for storytelling. As an aspiring journalist, I am fascinated and concerned by AI’s power to shape public discourse. My goal is not to fear this technology, but to learn how to use it ethically and effectively to tell more powerful, data-driven stories. I plan to navigate this landscape by focusing on the intersection of AI, ethics, and journalism.

At the University of Florida, I intend to major in Journalism and take courses that will give me a strong foundation in data analysis and media ethics. I am particularly interested in courses like "Data Storytelling" to learn how to use computational tools to find and present news. Outside the classroom, I hope to join The Independent Florida Alligator, where I can work on investigative projects that analyze large datasets to uncover stories about our community. I also plan to get involved with the UF AI Club to understand the technology from the perspective of the students who are building it.

The UF Honors Program is essential to this plan because it fosters the kind of interdisciplinary thinking required to tackle this issue. I am especially excited about the Uncommon Reading Seminars. A seminar focused on AI would allow me to debate the ethical implications of this technology with peers from computer science, philosophy, and political science, giving me a more holistic understanding than I could get from my major alone.

Furthermore, the opportunity to complete an Honors Thesis would allow me to conduct in-depth research on a topic like the use of AI in detecting misinformation. Working closely with a faculty mentor from the College of Journalism and Communications would be an invaluable experience. The Honors Program will not just teach me skills; it will teach me how to think critically and collaboratively about the most important technological shift of our time.

I am interested in the Innovation Academy because its unique spring-summer academic calendar is perfectly aligned with my career goal of working in environmental policy. My dream is to work for an organization like the Environmental Protection Agency, helping to craft and implement regulations that protect our natural resources.

The IA model provides an unparalleled advantage for this path. The fall semester is a critical time for policy work, as it is when many legislative sessions are in full swing and annual budgets are being finalized. The IA’s structure would allow me to pursue a full-time internship in Washington D.C. during this peak season, giving me direct, hands-on experience without having to take a semester off. This real-world experience is essential for a career in public policy.

Furthermore, the Innovation minor will provide me with a crucial skill set. Courses like "Creativity in Context" and "Principles of Entrepreneurship" will teach me how to think like an innovator and approach complex environmental problems with a fresh perspective. This combination of practical, hands-on experience during the fall and a curriculum focused on creative problem solving is what makes the Innovation Academy the ideal program for me. It is the perfect bridge between my academic studies and my professional aspirations, preparing me to make a real impact in the world of environmental policy.