Mom says our similar personalities are what keep us from getting along. I do not disagree with this theory, but in the heat of the moment, I never feel as if we -- that is, my dad and I -- could be more different. Often Mom steps in as the mediator during our spats, sending us to our respective corners of the house. He is so stubborn and aggravating. Apparently I can be too. It turns out Mom was right about us though. Even so, there is nothing that brings two people closer than physics. Literally.

This last summer, I decided to finally break out the telescope that had been gathering dust in our garage for three years. Physics has always sparked an interest in me, and with the scientific media's attention on reclassifying Pluto I decided it was time to take a closer look at the night sky for myself.

The predictable question from the inside of the doorway came as I was dragging the cumbersome black telescope case out of the garage. "What are you doing?" Dad asked. With an exasperated and dismissive tone I replied, "Nothing, Dad," same as always. Every time the offer for help came while I put it together, I refused.

When night settled, I went out by myself to see if there was anything at all to view. The moon was too low behind the rooftops, but a couple of dim stars peeked through the light-polluted sky. I focused in on one of them, and in the eyepiece I could see the planet with the red spot -- except of course it was black and white. I had found Jupiter and three moons all by myself. Instead of feeling pride, though, I felt a pang of guilt. I ran inside as fast as I could. I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs, "Come see what I found!" but could not bring myself to say it. It would be too humiliating to show such excitement when I had wronged my dad by leaving him out of something of which he clearly wanted to be a part. I paused at the doorway so I could catch my breath and walked into the family room casually. I shrugged and, trying to be nonchalant, said, "I found Jupiter. Do you want to see?" As always, he reacted with enthusiasm for my discovery by practically leaping off the couch and following me out into the not-so-starry night.

Like a catalyst, this one night caused a rapid increase in a number of bonding opportunities. We watched What the Bleep Do We Know late one Friday night while doing laundry. Friendly debates concerning the string theory and fundamentals of quantum physics ensued. Together, we are reading the Dalai Lama's The Universe in a Single Atom, and soon I am surprising him with a trip to the newly refurbished Griffith Observatory in L.A. The common passionate interest in physics brought us together and reminded me that I have more in common with people than I often like to think.

Dad is always enthusiastic about my endeavors whether they are successful or not, even when they are irrational. He is there to cheer at all of my Mock Trials and ASB events. I know he will be there for me when I leave for college and am grateful for his support. I am thrilled that this passion brought my soul to a better understanding of my dad. I just wish that instead of misinterpreting his enthusiasm for a chance to hone in on my activities, I had appreciated it from the start as loving support.

A huge part of making the most of life comes from helping others. There is nothing as gratifying as seeing the entire school at the edge of their seat, watching a class competition I helped prepare and nothing as flattering as hearing someone say, "That dance was great!" As the elected secretary for student government (ASB), I sometimes spend my weekends at school and typically participate in more than the requisite five hours of work a week, but it is rewarding to know that I used power within my own life to make many others more exciting and meaningful. I joined ASB for this exact reason. I know students who resent having to go to school and I take pride in having the ability to make their experience worthwhile. I have taken part in the creation of a brand-new school, setting traditions and creating high standards of excellence with regards to activities. That I can lend myself on behalf of others, makes my improbable life even more fulfilling.

Everyone is accountable for standing up in the face of challenges in certain opportunities. After all, time is fleeting and it needs to be grasped before it's gone. I have been on a Mock Trial team since freshman year at Cornelia Connelly High School. That year, I was absolutely set on joining and was content just being court clerk. Little did I know that I would be able to use insider knowledge gained from this in creating Beckman High School's first team. Without hesitation, I contacted a teacher interested in advising a team and recruited other members. Because of my involvement, I was later voted Co-Captain. I was dedicated to helping the team improve, so I held energetic attorney practices at my house and made sure to get my examinations in for early reviews. I even served as backup. When one teammate failed to submit her closing argument two days before our first trial, I eagerly volunteered to write and present one, something I had never done. On another occasion, our defendant had a soccer game that conflicted with a trial. Our advisor knew of my diligence so I was asked to be the defendant's understudy just 24 hours before the trial. I know how opportunities have to be taken as the come, so I jumped at all chances to be involved in the program, even when they were challenging.

I did not have to be born. In fact, had statistics prevailed, I would not have been. But here I am, ready to make the most of what life has to offer. You only have one shot to get it right. My philosophy is to do everything possible to make this life worth it; we are all lucky just being here, and there will never be a second chance. I look forward to being able to meet the challenges in the University of California system and I am ready to prove that I am worthy of the life I was given.

When people ask me what I want to continue studying after graduation, I say that I would love to study physics, but everyone knows that I struggle with math. More often than not, they respond with incredulity. I understand the peculiarity in the fact that a mathematically challenged student wants to study physics -- the basis of which is math -- at the university level, but there is nothing in this world that I find more intriguing than the study of physics. The phenomenal interactions caused by friction and magnetism and the ever-changing theories on the gravitational centers of our universe keep me up at nights for hours. If only I could swap brains with Isaac Asimov for a day. The mere thought of understanding the world using math is enough to kick my intellectual drive into gear. It will take some sweat and sleepless nights, but I am ready and definitely willing to take on the challenge of advance mathematics.

I spend upwards of four hours some nights studying just like many others in my academic situation. While I take the time to study and partake in extra-curricular activities though, I have also taken time to get to know my educators. I have been able to get to know and work with the administration at school through ASB, and I have taken the time to schedule conferences and attend study sessions with teachers. One has become so close that my family has come to think of her as one of our own. It is great that I am able to be so close to the staff at school, though I will admit it can be daunting. Because these people are such a huge part of my life, I am constantly on guard. I watch my step because I know that by doing poorly, I disappoint not only my parents but my educators as well. They are so important in my life that I fear losing face toward them as much as I do toward my own family.