When I first started college as a freshman last year, I didn't have a plan. I accepted a Division II soccer scholarship without doing much research, I had no idea what I wanted to major in, and I wasn't sure who I was as a person. Looking back, that experience shaped me in ways I never expected. As the year progressed, I struggled to find my place, which ultimately led me to transfer schools. That decision marked the beginning of the first real plan I had ever made for my future. After talking with a longtime mentor, I took an honest look at what I truly wanted. Instead of pursuing finance solely for financial security, I chose advertising because I wanted to build a career doing work that genuinely excited me. From there, I researched universities with strong Visual Communication Design programs that also offered an excellent value. That research led me to Kent State University. Once I committed to Kent State, I developed a detailed plan for making the most of my college experience. I created a document listing every club, fellowship, internship, leadership opportunity, and campus job I wanted to pursue. I researched career fairs, networking events, and campus resources and added every important date to my calendar so I never miss an opportunity. My goal is to graduate not only with a degree but also with meaningful leadership, experiences, and networks. Unfortunately, because I transferred through Kent State's regional campus before moving to the main campus, I am not receiving financial aid for the 2026–2027 academic year. Rather than allowing this setback to deter my goals, I developed a financial budget that would allow me to continue my education without relying on student loans. My monthly college expenses total to $1,900, including tuition payments, educational software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, and other school-related costs. To meet these expenses, I created a detailed monthly budget based on working approximately 32 hours each week between a local Starbucks position and campus employment. I also donate plasma twice each week, which provides additional income to cover educational expenses while allowing me to continue contributing to my savings account and Roth IRA. This financial plan requires discipline, but it allows me to remain focused on graduating debt-free. I also realize that success in college is more than academics. I intentionally created a weekly schedule that balances work, coursework, professional development, and personal time. By concentrating most of my work hours on weekends, I leave evenings available for clubs and hanging out with my friends such as my already accepted positions in Student Media as a social media editor and graphic designer. As a Visual Communication Design major, I understand that my portfolio will ultimately determine many of my career opportunities. My long-term goal is to build a career in branding and creative marketing, ideally working as a marketing manager leading branding and design initiatives. To prepare for that future, I created a calendar of internship application deadlines, networking events, and portfolio milestones. I have already begun reaching out to recruiters at organizations where I hope to intern, allowing me to build professional relationships before applications even open. My college journey has not gone the way I originally imagined. Despite being a dedicated student, I am attending a public university in my home state without financial aid and rebuilding my college experience after transferring. But that is what makes life so interesting, you never know what cards you'll be dealt, you just have to figure out how to play them.

The best movies are not those that outwardly try to change your perspective on life, but the ones that don't even mean to and do it anyway. A story of a hard worker, who believes they will finally catch that big break. But the only thing is, his boss says he doesn't have it in him to run a business. This sparks a story of triumph, defeat, heroism, desperation, growth, and can even make a grown man cry. When the man returns to save his boss from danger, it is revealed that maybe he is qualified to run a business after all. The Spongebob Movie. I was only eight when I first watched it... and I loved it. I've seen the movie over a dozen times, and every rewatch allows me to re-evaluate the impact this movie has left on me. I, much like Spongebob, am considered "too childish" or "unserious" when it comes to leading not only my soccer team but my speech and debate team as well. Because I would rather encourage someone through jokes and giggles it makes me unprofessional and a goof off. But what many fail to see is that the best teams run when every person on it is comfortable with each other. I, personally, would never be able to reach my full potential if my leader was strict and intimidating. Fear is the biggest contributor to holding someone back, but being supported and allowed to have fun at the same time makes a team so much better. While there are times that being "silly" is unprofessional, it doesn't mean that it has to be that way all the time. I relate to Spongebob tremendously in this film. After the sixth time watching, I understood that as long as I continue to be myself someone will eventually want me for me. Mr. Krabs might have initially rejected Spongebob's leadership for the Krusty Krab 2, but by the end Mr. Krabs realized the mistake he was making. I hope that one day, I will encounter a boss who understands my methods of running a team, and goofiness too can achieve perfection. I may be a goofy goober yea, but I am still able to successfully lead. Sometimes I even try to compensate by putting on my fake kelp mustache and pretend that I am a loud, assertive, and professional person. But, being true to yourself has more benefits than trying to change and fit into societal norms. Great candidates come in different shapes, sizes, and personalities. You may be square, yellow, and childish, or human-shaped and assertive. But, in the long run, it does not matter how you act, but what you do with your actions. I may be looking too deeply into it, but the Spongebob Movie may be one of the most influential movies on the planet, even if it doesn't try to be.

Talking to people who I don't know is one of my biggest fears. Making a fool of myself during a first impression. But, being put in challenging situations, helps to make a person come out of their shell. I am a person who would rather watch and talk in my head than speak out. It is the personality trait that I hate most about myself, but there is very little I can do about it except getting out of my comfort zone. I have volunteered in the community through local donation drives, bell ringing during Christmas time, and volunteering to be a camp counselor for my school's D.A.R.E. program. Some of the hardest people to talk to are those who are your age or younger. As a counselor I was scared of looking dumb in front of the kids, or that they wouldn't like me. But, the truth is that being an authority figure does not make you a villain. I also struggled being a bell ringer, sitting outside of Walmart in the dark, and talking to old people about how I was such an outgoing and kind person for volunteering in my free time. Was I really outgoing? Being in awkward and uncomfortable situations makes one stronger, and when paired with community service, can provide an excellent life experience. Fear is one of the largest contributors to limited success. Being afraid that you might be awkward. Being afraid that you might say something stupid. Being afraid that people will see you differently. But the reality is that others are not as hypercritical of you as you are of yourself. I dwell on the smallest awkward interactions with another person, even while they may not remember it. Then I tell myself that I'll keep doing things that make me uncomfortable, but it doesn't help. I'm still introverted and scared of being awkward. But life isn't about perfecting your flaws, it's about mastering them. With volunteering, I master being awkward, and embody an introvert while giving back to the community. Even though volunteering and talking to dozens of people I don't know may crush my soul, it doesn't mean that I hate volunteering. I love it. Giving back to the community when you aren't struggling helps your community stay alive, and eventually, if you may need help, the community can reach out and help you. The feeling when of doing the littlest thing to help someone, and they are extremely grateful for it makes every awkward laugh, and every awkward smile worth it. Seeing a true smile from someone who is in need is the greatest reward for stepping out of your comfort zone.

Atychiphobia: the fear of failing. I have an enormous difficulty when it comes to accepting failure. While I understand that you cannot succeed without first failing, I still find it hard to do so. This is not only my experience, but one shared throughout the world. Society has propelled the concept that failing is a weakness. However, math is reimagining the idea of failure: that it is a necessary step in reaching your answer. I love learning math because there is no wrong or right way to solve a problem. As long as you work your way through the steps, you will almost always be able to find the correct answer. Math is crucial to our society. It is always around us in simple forms which we may not even notice. Whether it be in determining which item has the best price or what time you must leave your house to be punctual. Math establishes fundamentals that many rely on in all aspects of life. Without math, our skill sets of problem-solving and perseverance would be underdeveloped. One core memory many students share is turning in a tear-streaked paper with many of their answers gained through confusion and piles eraser shavings. We expect an instantaneous answer, but this is not always the case. The way math forces one to struggle and squirm before coming out on top encapsulates the determination that burns within us all. Math rekindles our perseverance, setting all students up for success in life whether they use math or not; that is the beauty of it. Math has given me the perseverance to finish writing a scholarship essay, and the confidence to fail and try again while I play soccer. Even though I still find it embarrassing and belittling to fail, I am trying every day- little by little- to overcome this fear. Math has played a major part in my journey and many others. Math is crucial for our society because it teaches us to understand the importance of failing and the importance of establishing grit and determination. Even professional mathematicians fail. They are currently trying to understand a pattern in which prime numbers occur, and with every new theory adds a new failure. However, as these failures build, mathematicians can work off of each other to eventually garner success. Math is critical not only to learning but to establishing a mindset of acceptance. Math is unlike any language that we know of. It is one that every person on this planet can speak no matter their background, race, or religion. It is one of the most challenging things a person can learn. I love learning about math because of the infinite possibilities. It never stops. Even as a child, I grew fascinated with how numbers can advance towards infinity, down a never-ending abyss. Numbers are a lot like people in their vast difference and commonalities, how not a single number is the same. There are an infinite number of ways that you can toy with integers, fractions, decimals, and exponents. You can manipulate them to your heart's desires. No matter how long you spend on a single equation, or how long you cry, you remain mesmerized by the beauty of numbers and the vast amount of possibilities.

We will never use this math in the real world. We have all heard it before, but it is not necessarily true. Math is more than word problems and numbers. Like Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It's not the destination, it's the journey.” I love math and always have. I love how one can be on the brink of insanity: ripping and pulling at their hair. But, after a few seconds and a small breakthrough, it all makes sense. My favorite part about math is the euphoria and pure bliss you receive when it just clicks. Like putting together a puzzle, you must attach all the pieces before putting in the final one. Math has acquired a pretty bad reputation among high school students. There is a multitude of stories about spending hours on a single equation and hysterically crying, but they manage to get there in the end. Most people do not understand that math is not about finding the final answer. It is about figuring out the steps to achieve it. Most people hate proofs, but that is what math is; problem-solving and trying to figure out the journey before reaching the destination. One can not drive across the country without having a map. I love math because it forces you to struggle until you finally come out on top. Pushing people to persevere in order to attain the bliss of just having it click, the euphoria when you finally say, “Ohhhh that is how you do it.” While most people will not use the math they learned in high school, they can use the tools of problem-solving, perseverance, and learning to cope with the struggle that they gained along the way. Also, I really love trig.