If I could have any magical power, I wouldn't waste it on teleportation or time traveling, both of those things can be simulated by a good book, it would be to be able to summon the next book on my TBR straight to my bookshelf. I have always loved to read, for as long as I can remember I have toted a book around with me, whether it is physical, electronic, or audio, there is almost constantly some form of literature being consumed when I have down time. Now that I am older my book taste has adjusted, but there are just some tropes and titles that I simply cannot put down. One BookTok author that is on my Must Buy list is Ali Hazelwood. As a fellow woman in academia (granted it is currently undergrad, but we're getting there) reading about strong women being able to find love while keeping up with their career and academic goals is inspiring and just overall gives me hope for my potential future possibilities. A trope that I love is enemies to lovers or rivals to lovers. I am a relatively sharp witted individual and I love a good verbal sparring match. I also love the idea that someone could see the worst parts of me and still ultimately decide that I am worth it. Overall, I think the idea of being able to be fully yourself and still be loved regardless of flaws and faults is incredibly powerful and it is something I hope to emulate in the future. I know that I am not unique in this at all, but I'm still going to claim it because I read these books before I was on social media, I adore Sarah J Maas. I read the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, probably a bit earlier than I should have, but I adored it. It had all of the parts of a classic retelling but it progressed so well and continued to twist and adjust into something entirely new by the end of the series. If I could choose anywhere to go it would be to Velaris. The emphasis that is placed on artistry and family is so wonderful. The Inner Circle is ultimate found family goals and the thought of being adopted into that group would absolutely amazing. I am not unique in choosing these authors or these tropes, and honestly, I am in no way mad about that. Having these books become more popular and having more people wanting to read just makes it easier to find like-minded people in everyday life. I have friends who would have never picked up a great series that I love, had it not been recommended by a Book Toker first. And being able to have these great conversations about books and literature, be it online or in person, has made me so happy. The increased publicity for reading has helped create new novels and I'm sure it has helped more people realize that the stories that they have been playing out in their head are worth putting onto paper. I am so glad that I exist in this time where reading has become not just a solitary hobby but one that can be enjoyed by groups of people. The theories, edits, and conversations that are abundant on social media are a great way to entice more people to read as well as a way of introducing people to all of the great books that they may never have come across otherwise.

I am an avid reader of many genres so, obviously, it is difficult to name just one book that would have an impact on a large number of people. But if I had to pick a book that would be able to help a large number of people it would be The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. I read The Power of Habit while I was on my extended spring break from Covid. I was starting to feel antsy and like I was falling short on the things I had been doing before the world shut down. So I looked through the self-help category on my library app and found The Power of Habit. I'll be honest, the reason I picked it at the time was that it was available to check out right then. This book was really helpful in helping me understand how a habit forms and what you can do to gain new beneficial habits and how you can slowly lessen poor habits. Using this book I was able to refocus on my schoolwork and create some more beneficial habits that helped me stay healthy and productive during the extended break from school. I would want everyone to read this book because it is really beneficial for understanding how your brain works. This book makes it easy to understand how your brain changes when you do new things and how to make small daily changes that stick over time so they can actually help you. If people around the world could read this book, many people would be able to drop harmful habits like smoking, and other harmful addictions as well as learn how to form new habits like waking up early and working out daily. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg is a great book with lots of scientific evidence, as well as anecdotal stories and images that help demonstrate how effective the tools in the book can be if they are put into place.

Walking into the Credit union, I peer up at the woman behind the counter. "Hello," she says, "How can I help you today?" I go up on my tip-toes to give her my envelope of money as my mom explains that I'd like to make a deposit. I give the lady my money and she gives me a rubber dinosaur and a sucker. A fair exchange in my opinion. From a young age, I've been very invested in taking care of my finances, originally for sugar and a toy, but now to secure my future. I've always been very conscious of my spending and saving habits, especially once I got into high school and college became less of a vague idea and more of a planned event. Being able to manage my finances is a very important skill I've learned over time and that I hope to develop further. I got my first "real" job during my freshman year in high school. I started working at the pizza restaurant that had just opened in my hometown. One great thing about my job is that I make an hourly wage as well as tips from customers. A rule that I made for myself when I started was that the only money I had to spend was my tip money. As far as I'm concerned I only have the cash I walked out with. If I have to make a larger purchase like a class or a textbook, I will write a check and deposit the equivalent amount of cash as soon as I can. With this strategy, I have been able to over time build the amount of money in my savings account. In addition to just saving my money, I have also been able to grow my money from my job. I recently purchased my first CD from my Credit Union. I refuse to spend the money in my savings account so I figured I may as well earn more money while it sits there, so I decided to use a CD for 6 months to gain more interest on some of the money that was in my savings account. All too often I hear stories from my classmates about how they spent their entire paycheck in one day, and once one of my co-workers told me that she spent her entire paycheck before we even got paid that week. It is all too easy to sit and buy things on your phone or computer. I think by avoiding using my debit card I have been able to protect myself from falling into a habit of online shopping that can easily wreck a person's finances. When I start college in the fall, I am responsible for paying my tuition. That is why I have been saving money and applying for scholarships, so I can reduce the amount of debt I will be in when I graduate. My goal is to avoid taking out high--interest loans and to earn money through scholarships and grants; in hopes of leaving myself in a better financial situation when I graduate from college.

My favorite Disney as a child was Princess Belle. Then it was because of the typical reasons. Firstly, she looked like me, with her long brown hair. Then, because I also liked to read books. And lastly, there's magic DUH. Like most children, liked her for pretty vague but rational, to 5-year-old, reasons. Now as I am older I still stand by the choice of naming Belle as the supreme Disney Princess but for other reasons. I still love Belle because of her love of books. I have loved reading since I was little. Reading is a form of escape; it allows me to travel our world and make-believe worlds without ever leaving my room. It allows me to learn things that I would have never even thought to Google. It allows me to meet people who I will never have the chance to meet in real life. But I think the reason I admire this most about Belle isn't that we both love it. It's because she is the Princess synonymous with being smart, she is clever and well-read and unlike the other Princesses who fall for the first guy who looks at them she looks for more. She truly embodies the nature of not judging the book by the cover. Another reason that I still love Belle is that she was different and she did not let it affect how she viewed herself. Yes, there was one small scene where she asks her father if she really is as odd as the people in the village say she is, but beyond that, once she gets reassurance from the person she loves and trusts she remains confident with herself. I love that Belle was not constantly seeking the approval of others. Where another character might have changed herself, reading only at home, dressing differently, or choosing Gaston because it was the easier and socially acceptable choice she stayed true to herself and stood up for herself and for those she loved. Belle is a true princess, whether it be for the 5-year-old simple reasons or the more logical and analytical reasons I have now, there is no denying that Belle is indeed a beauty.

At 7 am the first Monday of summer break I rode my bike a mile to the LAB (Lancer Athletic Building) our school's weight training facility. The summer between 7th and 8th grade I started to work out. My sister and I would ride our bikes every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, to the High School to learn the basics of moving our bodies. Ever since that first week I was hooked. I had found a fun way to keep up my physical health but at the time I had no idea the effect it would have on me from then on. I have continued working out throughout high school, I participate in cheer, a very cardio and strength-intensive sport, I have continued strength training at the school and on my own, as well as starting to enjoy running. All of these things obviously have an impact on physical health as my body is moving and my heart is pumping. But for me it is more important the mental health aspects I get from exercise. I have always been a pretty anxious person and I found that when I got into High School it was even worse. The best way I have personally found to push through that is exercise. When I go for a run or go for a lift my mind goes quiet. The endorphins and whatever else happens in my brain when I work out help me to calm down and to stay in the moment, rather than worrying about all of the what if's. I feel at peace when I am able to focus only on my form and my goals. Obviously when someone is training as often as I do nutrition is very important, and previously I have gotten hyperfocused on the wrong things but I'm not going to talk about that. For me, my nutritional health comes in the form of wanting to be happy and healthy. I like to think of food as fuel, what I eat has an impact on how I train so obviously whole foods and nutrients are important. But to go along with that, I never want to have hard-set rules, if I want chocolate, I'll have some chocolate, I'll just be conscious not to eat in excess. To me, physical, mental, and nutritional health are all very entwined. I am incredibly grateful that my school has a great strength training program that allows me to get 2-3 lifts in a week during the school day. Without that, it is very possible that I would have trouble making time to make it to the gym and would then likely be stressed leading to poor eating and exercise habits. Because mental, physical, and nutritional health are so important and so connected I am very thankful that I have been able to keep all 3 up throughout high school and that I have not had any major struggles with any of them.

10:38 pm I could have called it quits about 3 hours ago when I got my revisions, but I just know that my essay could be better. Is it good, yeah, but is it good enough? I crave perfection. I know it is not always possible but when I make a goal, such as getting an 'A' on this essay, I work for it. I am a driven and ambitious person. I work hard for my goals until I achieve what I set out to do. I have spent countless hours working on various projects, assignments, and skills to make them better. I value this about myself because it helps me get what I want in life in many aspects but especially in my academics. I have always been a competitive person; whether that is in my academic or athletic endeavors. I enjoy pushing myself to be better. Be that competition between myself and my peers or competition only against myself. I have always been a person driven to academic success. I have always pushed myself to do the best I can in classes. I have always been the type of person to keep going even when I want to quit. Very often I have wanted to give up, to just call it good enough, but over the years I have gained discipline and the ability to keep trying even when it gets tedious and tiresome. Goals are important to me as they are constant motivation and they are what keep me focused. My goals keep me driven to achieve everything I know I can in life, be it a degree, gaining a new skill, or just putting myself outside of my comfort zone. I know that if I set a goal for myself I will work to achieve it so that I can be proud of myself, feel accomplished, and stay motivated until I reach my next goal. I believe that my drive and ambition to do well will help me in my life because it is essential for staying on track and getting what I want. In order to continue my education I will have to be able to focus and keep pushing even when I feel like giving up. I know that I will eventually get tired of studying all of the time, but I also know that if I can push through that, I will be stronger on the other side. I know that I can achieve what I want in life as long as I am able to stay motivated and keep reaching for my goals. I am very proud of the things I have achieved in life. I know that they came from hard work and pushing myself. I think that my ability to stay focused and keep striving for my goals is something that makes me a strong person and I think that it is exactly that quality that will help me do well in all of my future aspirations.