BRIDGING THE GAP BY BROOKE BOLLINGER

I love math and science! This means I love following rules, solving problems, and getting the right answer.

I love adventure! I like trying new and different things that scare me and push my boundaries.

While these seem like contrasting ideas, they are both very important parts of my personality. For a long time, I kept these two sides separate as I followed steps carefully in math while going white water rafting, surfing, and scuba diving in my free time. I never considered myself a creative person in the classroom because I was always thinking about getting the right answer. This was until I decided to bridge the gap between the way I approach school and the way I approach adventure. When faced with a tough problem at school, I started thinking of answers that would push the boundaries and make me a little scared just like I do with my adventures. I realized that by taking down the divide between my academic and personal life, I am capable of coming up with fun and creative ideas.

Now I strive to come up with ideas that give me the same mix of fear, fun, and adrenaline that I feel when I am about to embark on a new adventure.