Today's innovative field of technology has constructed a limitless world of imagination and creativity that branches the gaps between people and cultures different from the one you subscribe to. During the coronavirus pandemic, however, there became an apparent need for technology to integrate itself for the betterment of society. Following this as a business student, I found the need to get a new device to increase my productivity and what better to buy than the newest iPad Pro? The iPad Pro is an excellent tool for business students for several reasons. Firstly, its versatility allows it to be used for a wide range of tasks, from note-taking and research to presentations and data analysis. Another key advantage of the iPad Pro for business students is its compatibility with a wide range of professional applications. Whether it's productivity apps like Microsoft Office or project management software like Asana, the iPad Pro can handle the demands of even the most intensive workloads. If the iPad can revolutionize the business world, what else could it bring to other parts of life? The iPad has helped promote creativity by providing a platform for artists and designers to create and share their work. With the iPad's range of drawing, animation, and design apps, artists can create digital artworks that were previously impossible to produce. The iPad has also enabled musicians to create and record music on the go and filmmakers to record and edit their videos on the fly. One of the most significant ways the iPad can make the world a better place is by improving access to education. With the rise of e-learning, the iPad has become an essential tool for students and educators alike. The COVID-19 pandemic was proof of this sentiment of the need to learn in a collaborative setting. Students and people with a simple love of learning alike can access a wealth of educational resources, including textbooks, videos, and interactive apps, from anywhere with an internet connection. Teachers can create engaging and interactive lessons that cater to individual learning styles. The iPad has also been instrumental in breaking down barriers to education by providing access to learning materials for people who may not have had access to traditional education. In conclusion, the powerful iPad Pro is an excellent choice for students from all walks of life and learning curves, thanks to its versatility, portability, and inclination towards uplifting creativity.

As a college-bound student from a Haitian family of medical professionals, I knew that there would be a lot of pressure on me to become the first Elysse doctor of medicine. I directly turned away from that life path for the sake of my two degrees in business and philosophy. Growing up, my family instilled in me the value of hard work, integrity, and perseverance, traits that have been essential to my success thus far. I managed to excel academically and have been accepted into several prestigious universities, ultimately deciding on my first choice Boston College. I plan on proudly using my experience and education to make a positive impact on the world. I have witnessed firsthand the impact of systemic inequalities and discrimination, and I am determined to make a difference. My mother would read to me every night and the books would get longer and more complex. In kindergarten, I was being read chapter books such as the Magic Treehouse series for hours on end. My best friend is my mom and she still is my favorite teacher to this day. I was four years old when I learned how to write my name because my mother realized how much I loved to read. Coming from such a background, I am passionate about education. I believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential. As a college student, I want to help them realize their own potential and provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed. By demonstrating a commitment to cultural competence and understanding, it's easy to build a sense of trust and belonging within the immigrant community and create a supportive environment for mental health and well-being. As much as I love my family, there are times when we can see our apparent generational differences. Sometimes, the older generation doesn't realize that there are different stressors of today regarding living and finances. Older generations tend to say things that they don't see as harmful, but because of their traumas, they see no issue saying. These comments will range from picking on your weight and lack of marriage to your education. This is in conjunction with the fact that we live in a predominantly low-income and diverse city in Massachusetts. Therefore, I have a community that sees the issues that stem from being a first-generation student from an immigrant family. I'm interested in combining my work on mental health and wellness with a focus on immigrant families, as there are many ways to create a collaborative program that supports the unique needs of this population. By working together, I hope to develop a program that is both culturally sensitive and evidence-based, and that provides a range of supports and interventions to meet the unique needs of immigrant families. This could include individual and family counseling, as well as group-based activities that promote mental health and well-being, such as dance classes and nutrition workshops. Overall, there are many ways to combine the interests in mental health and education focusing on immigrant families. By working collaboratively with local organizations, building trust and relationships within the immigrant community, and providing education and support that is culturally sensitive and responsive to the unique needs of immigrant families, I can make a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of this population as a member myself. When these families are equipped with knowledge and resources, they are much less afraid of being vulnerable with each other and take an active role in wellness promotion.

The power of language has always held a special place in my heart. I remember sitting in my room surrounded by piles of books with my mom, lost in a world of imagination and wonder. As I grew, my love for literary arts only intensified. I learned how to write my name at five just so I could get my own library card. Each new book I picked up was like opening a door to a new world, a new adventure. I had learned the art of reading in the dark and forcing my eyes to adjust to the dark. Thanks to innovation in technology, my parents soon realized their enemy wasn't a video game console, but the iPad I would sneak to bed to read. But my love for the written word didn't stop at reading. I soon found myself captivated by the art of theatre as well. There was something magical about the way words could be woven together to create a story to evoke emotions and bring characters to life. As I reflect on what makes me unique, I realize that it is this combination of my love for reading, writing, and communication that sets me apart. It's the way that I can use language to connect with others to share ideas and passions. Naturally, I pursued this in college. Speaking solely in terms of a post-graduate plan, philosophy and business can be used together to approach problem-solving and decision-making holistically and thoughtfully. By incorporating ethical considerations, promoting social responsibility, and using critical-thinking skills, I can make a positive impact on the community. Philosophy makes it easy to understand underlying causes and business makes it easy to develop strategic plans. And yet, that's not why I declared the double major. During my sophomore year of college, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was sitting in my college dorm bored. I was wishing I was five years old again running the library halls with my mom or dancing on the stage with my friends, instead of sitting around doing work that I didn't care about anymore. The work was made a little better with one class in mind; Modernism in the Arts. It was a philosophy class taught by a woman who loved to talk at great length about the beauty of obscure films and Italian philosophers. She was grading my final paper and a comment of hers in response was: "You create a natural connection that leads to more connections, and once again with your essay, you demonstrate your understanding and appreciation of an interdisciplinary approach to education and life.". I never heard that before. I felt so grateful to have that moment that day I became a philosophy major. I want to share that same experience with the troubled youth in my hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts. So much good can come from the nurturing of curiosity. It's my dream to uplift underprivileged students and families to see that there is so much potential in them. As life speeds by, it's so easy to feel forgotten or how to be kind. As I look to the future, I know that I want to use this unique combination of attributes to give back to my community. With the use of my degree in management and philosophy and my experience in active listening, writing, and advocacy, I learned how to blend people that would have never been in the same room. For it is through the written and spoken word that we can connect, create understanding and empathy, and make the world a better place.

Lynn, Massachusetts; my hometown is notorious for an unsavory crime rate, even if I’ve been told that I “live on the good side” of town. Yet, we all grew up in a low-income community, so bullies made my looks a point of contention. As a black girl who didn't understand or feel comfortable in her skin, I made an easy target from elementary school all the way to the beginning of high school. However, I believe that people are born with a tabula rasa, or a clean slate, and nature and nurture cultivate a person's being. Education is so important and younger ages are subliminally affected by what the media portrays to them, whether they live in these cities or not. The media can be so degrading to these communities and is often biased as it can’t represent all points of a situation. These children are so much more than a statistic they will see in the news. Raising a community with values instilled in the home from good-standing role models results in higher productivity and better mental health. Today’s underprivileged communities have unfortunately fallen victim to gentrification. The individuals in them soon cannot afford necessities in these areas because of their rising prices. With what I have learned in economics, management, and leadership courses, I could recount many stories from these people and help them get back on their feet. Upon that, it is vital for me to give back to the community I grew up in and go to Lynn and Boston to help their efforts in reaching both mental and physical health. I enjoy the idea of creating a subsection of a school board that’s dedicated to the wellness of the children of the city; this is vital to manifest any positive change. To begin tackling this, I want to destigmatize the connotation of asking for help and create an after-school program centered around the health and wellness of the growing generation. As a lifelong dancer and music lover, I want to create a program that allows kids to express themselves through their bodies and singing voice as a form of therapy. If they aren't comfortable with being on the stage, they can learn how to work backstage through lighting, set and costume design, stage management, and other supplemental forms. As the arts bring me so much comfort, I would get involved with the city hall to see the arts budget and other community outreach programs that have the students as their first priority. Therapy reminds people that they are just like everybody else and that success is gained from hard work and feeling comfortable with being uncomfortable. I found better coping mechanisms and understood that my childhood didn't define me. Past actions do not predict future results. I look forward to a future where I can help implement a program to help with the self-confidence and mental and physical needs of under-served students. For years, I thought looking for mental help meant that I was throwing in the towel. It took attending college to find myself open-minded enough to put my trauma in the hands of someone I had never met. Aside from gaining more knowledge, I want to live selflessly as a role model to my community and help empower others by being someone from a background similar to theirs succeed.

Being a college student is difficult. You're constantly running around, studying and in the classroom, involved in a million clubs, juggling jobs and friends and possible relationships. One thing you don't really find time for is nutritional food. This is where the benefits of superfoods come in. The term “superfood” is a newer term referring to foods that offer maximum nutritional benefits for minimal calories. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The high vitamin and mineral content found in superfoods can help your body ward off diseases, which is useful in a college setting when everyone gets sick in an enclosed space. When incorporated into a well-balanced diet, these foods can promote heart health, and weight loss, improve energy levels, and even reduce the effects of aging all of which can be stressed when pulling late study nights in college. Overall, superfoods help us in various sectors of life. Healthy food does not only impact our physical health but mental health too. When we eat healthy fruits and vegetables full of nutrients, we reduce the chances of disease and syndromes. As a dancer and leader in my academic spaces, I can't afford to feel tired as I am constantly running and helping someone out. The average diet in America today is calorie-dense but nutrient-poor, with lots of processed sugars and carbohydrates, and comparatively lacking in necessary vitamins, minerals, and fiber. But that is remedied with superfoods! As a kid, I was constantly eating superfoods. I wanted to eat whatever my parents were eating for the most part, and they did their job of exposing me to healthy alternatives, even if I didn't always take them. Now, the old habits just die hard. Kale and berries are a common smoothie, iced green tea is a favorite of mine any time of the year, I can grab a handful of trail mix when I'm on the run from class to class, and every once in a while when I get a little homesick, my mother seasons a new fish for me and drives it up as my dinner. It's so easy to implement these foods in your daily life just switching foods and replacing as many processed foods as possible with whole foods will drastically improve health. Sometimes, it might not even have to be solid food. Superfood powders can be added to smoothies, oatmeal, water, and yogurt in endless combinations. At the end of the day, the detrimental cost of being sick outweighs the cost of most superfoods on the market.

Being a kid from Lynn, Massachusetts, my hometown is notorious for an unsavory crime rate, even if I’ve been told that I “live on the good side” of town. Yet, we all grew up in a low-income community, so bullies made my looks a point of contention. As a black girl who didn't really understand or feel comfortable in her skin, I made an easy target from elementary school all the way to the beginning of high school. However, I believe that people are born with a tabula rasa, or a clean slate, and nature and nurture cultivate a person's being. Education is so important and younger ages are subliminally affected by what the media portrays to them, whether they live in these cities or not. The media can be so degrading to these communities and is often biased as it can’t represent all points of a situation. These children are so much more than a statistic they will see in the news. Raising a community with values instilled in the home from good standing role models results in higher productivity and better mental health. Today’s underprivileged communities have unfortunately fallen victim to gentrification. The individuals in them soon cannot afford necessities in these areas because of their rising prices. With what I have learned in economics, management, and leadership courses, I could recount many stories from these people and help them get back on their feet. Upon that, it is vital for me to give back to the community I grew up in and go to Lynn and Boston to help their efforts in reaching both mental and physical health. I enjoy the idea of creating a subsection of a school board that’s dedicated to the wellness of the children of the city; this is vital to manifest any positive change. To begin tackling this, I want to destigmatize the connotation of asking for help and create an after-school program centered around the health and wellness of the growing generation. As a lifelong dancer and music lover, I want to create a program that allows kids to express themselves through their bodies and singing voice as a form of therapy. If they aren't comfortable with being the stage, they can learn how to work backstage through lighting, set and costume design, stage management, and other supplemental forms. As the arts bring me so much comfort, I would get involved with city hall to see the arts budget and other community outreach programs that have the students as their first priority. Therapy reminds people that they are just like everybody else and that success is gained from hard work and feeling comfortable with being uncomfortable. I found better coping mechanisms and understood that my childhood didn't define me. Past actions do not predict future results. I look forward to a future where I can help implement a program to help with the self-confidence and mental and physical needs of under-served students. For years, I thought looking for mental help meant that I was throwing in the towel. It took attending college to find myself open-minded enough to put my trauma in the hands of someone I had never met. Aside from gaining more knowledge, I want to live selflessly as a role model to my community and help empower others by being someone from a background similar to theirs succeed.

My best back-to-school tip is getting a digital planner and note-taking apps! It helps to see everything come down as due dates get closer and have all of your notes and coursework close at hand. Instead of having multiple paper syllabi and not knowing what comes first, I used the Actions app by Moleskine Studio to make meetings and coursework my number one priority. Instagram: @lifeofahvie

The ring he gave me was beautiful, but the words were almost ethereal. "If there's one thing I do, it's taking care of myself so I can take care of others. Keep this as a promise that you’ll do both." My 72-year-old maternal grandfather would wake up at 7 am, go for a run, and eat the most nutritional meals. He was joyful with simply waking up and reminded me what it meant to fight for something every day. When I turned fourteen, he gave me a ring as a symbol of our bond and I have worn it ever since then. He was the best role model of nutrition I can think of and I hope I can emulate his values. A week after my college sent us home for the coronavirus pandemic, my grandfather passed away alone in a hospital on a ventilator. It was right after he got a negative covid test and was ready to get sent home. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was writing an English final in the living room at home and my parents broke the news to us. I froze and couldn’t find the words to express this choking sensation. I was told not to cry, because “what good would that do”, so I wiped my eyes, took a deep breath, and finished my term paper and my first year. My grieving process was different from most because of the fact that the Elysse family didn't know how to grieve. I was angry and couldn't stop feeling that way. I self-destructed by overworking myself to studying extraordinarily hard to intentionally not sleeping or eating and binging to continue working without any breaks and lost weight. I felt weak, but I considered that to be my best. I lost myself trying to find myself and attain what I considered contentment. One day I went through my jewelry box and found the ring my grandfather gave me. It turned up at the perfect time; I was run down and had a health scare. I broke down as I couldn’t believe what I was doing to myself. Grandpa would be so sad to see me wrecking myself as if that could fix anything. He was an independent man but knew when to ask for others' help to best help the community. What good can I put out if I’m nothing but a shell? Because of that one talk, I tried therapy for the first time and can’t imagine where I would have ended up without it. It's my dream to help underprivileged students and families to see that there is so much potential in themselves. I knew that college was my way of helping others never feel the way I did. I am looking toward copywriting and event planning for companies that will uplift families and individuals through education and nutrition. I dug deep and found my purpose of helping people my own way just like Grandpa did. I spent time with my family and opened up about the problems I was facing and was instantly reminded of the support behind me. Family is my number one priority and that was what we were to Grandpa. I hope he’s looking down with pride. Because even when all is said and done and anyone else won’t remember the things he did for them, he needs to know that I was changed for good. I wish for the world to be more sympathetic. Sympathy would be healing to the soul and allows people to feel pain without feeling as if they are weak.

The gilded ring he gave me was beautiful, but the words were almost ethereal. "If there's one thing I do, it's taking care of myself so I can take care of others. Keep this as a promise that you’ll do both." My 72-year-old maternal grandfather would wake up at 7 am, go for a run, and eat the most nutritional meals. He was joyful with simply waking up and reminded me what it meant to fight for something every day. When I turned fourteen, he gave me a ring as a symbol of our bond and I have worn it ever since then. He was the best role model of nutrition I can think of and I hope I can emulate his values. In 2020, a week after my college sent us home for the coronavirus pandemic, my grandfather passed away alone in a hospital on a ventilator. It was right after he got a negative covid test and was ready to get sent home. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was writing an English final in the living room at home and my parents broke the news to us. I froze and couldn’t find the words to express this choking sensation. I was told not to cry, because “what good would that do”, so I wiped my eyes, took a deep breath, and finished my term paper and my first year. My grieving process was different from most because of the fact that the Elysse family didn't know how to grieve. I was angry and had no clue how to rid myself of it. I vented in unhealthy ways by overworking myself to studying extraordinarily hard to intentionally not sleeping or eating and binging to continue working without any breaks and lose weight. I felt weak, but I considered that to be my best version. I lost myself trying to find myself and attain what I considered content. One day I went through my jewelry box and found the ring my grandfather gave me. It turned up at the perfect time; I was run down and had a health scare. Suddenly, I broke down as I couldn’t believe what I was doing to myself. Grandpa would have been so confused to see me wrecking myself as if that could fix anything. He was an independent man but knew when to ask for others' help to best help the community. What good can I put out if I’m nothing but a shell? Because of that one talk, I tried therapy for the first time and can’t imagine where I would have ended up without it. I dug deep and found my purpose of helping people in my own way just like Grandpa did. It's my dream to help underprivileged students and families to see that there is so much potential in themselves. As life speeds by, it's so easy to feel forgotten or how to be kind. In short, this is why I am majoring in both philosophy and business. I am looking toward copywriting and event planning for companies that will uplift families and individuals through education and nutrition. I spent time with my family and opened up about the problems I was facing and was instantly reminded of the support behind me. Family is my number one priority and that was what we were to Grandpa. I hope he’s looking down with pride. Because even when all is said and done and anyone else won’t remember the things he did for them, he needs to know that I was changed for good.

The ring he gave me was beautiful, but the words were almost ethereal. "If there's one thing I do, it's taking care of myself so I can take care of others. Keep this as a promise that you’ll do both." My 72-year-old maternal grandfather would wake up at 7 am, go for a run, and eat the most nutritional meals. He was joyful with simply waking up and reminded me what it meant to fight for something every day. When I turned fourteen, he gave me a ring as a symbol of our bond and I have worn it ever since then. He was the best role model of nutrition I can think of and I hope I can emulate his values. A week after my college sent us home for the coronavirus pandemic, my grandfather passed away alone in a hospital on a ventilator. It was right after he got a negative covid test and was ready to get sent home. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was writing an English final in the living room at home and my parents broke the news to us. I froze and couldn’t find the words to express this choking sensation. I was told not to cry, because “what good would that do”, so I wiped my eyes, took a deep breath, and finished my term paper and my first year. My grieving process was different from most because of the fact that the Elysse family didn't know how to grieve. I was angry and had no clue how to rid myself of it. I self-destructed and without any usual outlets I buckled down in unhealthy ways. From overworking myself to studying extraordinarily hard to intentionally not sleeping or eating and binging to continue working without any breaks and lose weight. I felt weak, but I considered that to be my best version. I lost myself trying to find myself and attain what I considered content. One day I went through my jewelry box and found the ring my grandfather gave me. It turned up at the perfect time; I was run down and had a health scare. Suddenly, I broke down as I couldn’t believe what I was doing to myself. Grandpa would have been so confused to see me wrecking myself as if that could fix anything. He was an independent man but knew when to ask for others' help to best help the community. What good can I put out if I’m nothing but a shell? Because of that one talk, I tried therapy for the first time and can’t imagine where I would have ended up without it. I dug deep and found my purpose of helping people in my own way just like Grandpa did. I spent time with my family and opened up about the problems I was facing and was instantly reminded of the support behind me. Family is my number one priority and that was what we were to Grandpa. I hope he’s looking down with pride. Because even when all is said and done and anyone else won’t remember the things he did for them, he needs to know that I was changed for good.

For as long as I remember, I have never really fit in with the other kids at school. We all grew up in a low-income community, but my looks were a point of contention. As a black girl who didn't really understand how to treat her hair or feel comfortable in her skin, I made an easy target. My body and face were not the beauty standard of my town. It made me quiet and fearful of any new friends I made. The second someone moved in, I knew I would have a new friend for about a week until they would hear the jokes and decide to participate in them. Since elementary school, I learned to keep my head down and my nose in my books or plate as a coping mechanism. I gained weight and was usually the biggest kid in class, which further made me spiral. My parents weren't helping with my sense of self. They did what they could, but they would poke at my pudge and laugh, only to be upset when I got upset at their choice of words. I constantly felt alone, with nothing else to comfort me besides books, the internet, and food. Maybe then it was depression, but I was too scared to reach out from the ages of seven to eighteen. So I would lash out and didn't care if people liked me or not. I was simply here to move through grades, not make friends. The bullying stopped in high school, but now it became gossiping and teasing. I stood up for myself much more and would fight the for justice of others, but ultimately, I just wanted it all to stop. Graduating with a 3.8 out of 4.0, I kept in touch with two of my closest high school friends that I've had since middle school. On graduation day I cried; not because I would miss anyone, but because I missed the sense of comfort and familiarity that my hometown brought me. In the back of the music room ten minutes before I had to go on, I had a panic attack. I wiped my face, smiled, and continued on as I always did. What I didn't know was that I was undiagnosed with generalized anxiety, disordered eating, and body dysmorphia. I knew that college was my way to help others never feel the way I did. I went on to help younger generations of the community, face my fears, and join clubs with people that shared my interests. But I still felt that I couldn't shake off that old me. It all came to a head during the coronavirus pandemic. I lost my aunt and grandfather a week apart. I was drowning in work and the internship process. Any and all fun outlets for stress were closed due to covid and social distancing. Worst of all, I was in and out of a toxic relationship with a boy that I didn't even like; I just liked that he called me pretty and would drop everything just to talk to me. For once in my life, I felt truly beautiful to someone. One night in my dorm room alone I just cried for hours on end and have never felt that depressed. For days, I didn’t come out of my room. It wasn't until my two best friends from my hometown called to check up on me. I tried lying my way out of talking, but they caught on right away as I couldn't seem to catch my breath. They are the only people who have seen me during an anxiety attack, but they didn't run away. That's when I realized that all this time, I have been lucky enough to have a support system that wouldn't just up and leave. It didn't have to be how it used to be in my childhood. Because of that one talk, I tried therapy for the first time. For years, I thought looking for mental help meant that I was throwing in the towel. Therapy reminds people that they are just like everybody else and that success is gained from hard work and feeling comfortable with being uncomfortable. I aligned my majors with this kind of thinking by becoming a management and philosophy double major. I look forward to a future where I can help implement after-school programs to help with the self-confidence and mental and physical needs of students. To this day, coming back from school for breaks to my hometown makes me extremely uncomfortable, especially as past bullies have grown and seem to have forgotten the torture they put me through. I got prettier, grew into my body shape, learned how to dress, and overall became so much more confident in myself. Still, it's not enough to feel comfortable enough in my hometown on the off chances I do come back. Any store I go to, any mall I shop at, any restaurant I dine in, all could be places where I see someone I know and I can never enjoy myself because of it. But the therapy's helped in that area. I take a deep breath and understand that even if I do see someone I know, it can't hurt me to keep it cordial. I look back at my high school graduation photos and allow myself to reflect and feel sad for the girl I used to be in those photos. I used to call her fat, ugly, and stupid because, in reality, I was my biggest bully. I had to learn how to be kind to myself. It gets easier, but the hard part is doing it every day in order for it to become easier.

For as long as I remember, I have never really fit in with the other kids at school. We all grew up in a low-income community, but my looks were a point of contention. As a black girl who didn't really understand how to treat her hair or feel comfortable in her skin, I made an easy target. My body and face were not the beauty standard of my town. It made me quiet and fearful of any new friends I made. The second someone moved in, I would have a new friend for about a week until they would hear the jokes and decide to participate in them. Since elementary school, I learned to keep my head down and my nose in my books or plate as a coping mechanism. I gained weight and was usually the biggest kid in class, which further made me spiral. My parents weren't helping with my sense of self. They did what they could, but they would poke at my pudge and laugh, only to be upset when I got upset at their choice of words. I constantly felt alone, with nothing else to comfort me besides books, the internet, and food. Maybe then it was depression, but I was too scared to reach out from the ages of seven to eighteen. So I would lash out and didn't care if people liked me or not. My childhood taught me that I was simply here to move through grades, not make friends. College was the complete opposite; I came in open-minded for the sake of helping others. I knew that college was my way to help others never feel the way I did. I went on to help younger generations of the community, face my fears, and join clubs with people that shared my interests. But I still felt that I couldn't shake off that old me. One night in my dorm room alone I just cried for days on end and have never felt that depressed. It wasn't until my two best friends from my hometown called to check up on me. I tried lying my way out of talking, but they caught on right away as I couldn't seem to catch my breath. They are the only people who have seen me during an anxiety attack, but they didn't run. That's when I realized that all this time, I have been lucky enough to have a support system that wouldn't just up and leave. Life didn't have to be how it used to be in my childhood. Because of that one talk, I tried therapy for the first time. For years, I thought looking for mental help meant that I was throwing in the towel. Therapy reminds people that they are just like everybody else and that success is gained from hard work and feeling comfortable with being uncomfortable. I aligned my majors with this kind of thinking by becoming a management and philosophy double major. I look forward to a future where I can help implement after-school programs to help with the self-confidence and mental and physical needs of students. A degree for me isn't just a matter of pride, but it means that there's someone like the children of my community to look up to. This is the kind of job fulfillment most can only dream of, but my education and job prospects will allow me to achieve it. I have a clear picture of where I will be in the next 10 years, and I know this degree and scholarship are going to help me get there.

My iPad is my favorite device. It helps me stay on task and get through my day by planning out my study and work schedule by balancing work and play. Besides this, I use digital notetaking apps to section and print out my notes for better organization. Every class gets its own digital folder where the syllabus keeps me on track and assignments are imported straight from the class website. Different fonts and colors help me remember my busy schedule, syllabi, and course work. Furthermore, it's easy to jointly work with other students and share notes in real time. Academically, the iPad helps keep my head straight and is how I stay afloat in class and work assignments. Besides being my source of productivity, it doubles as a source of community and entertainment. As a girl who is family-oreiented and gets homesick easily, I can stay connected with my friends and family. On the weekends, I'm playing bartender and DJ for the night. The split screen capability of the iPad helps me be the best host; while I make drinks, Spotify is open for all to add songs to a collaborative playlist. It makes for entertainment and leads to people coming together over shared experiences and interests. The interface of the iPad has been what keeps me a happy Apple product user. It's easy to navigate, versatile, and capable of a lot even if it's a little machine. It's the perfect size for all ages and easy to carry around. The world can truly change from the inside out when it comes together through the power of technology and the best technology that can do that is the iPad. That's kind of how I want to be seen in the world too; small, yet powerful. Maybe the iPad just speaks to me.

"Drink" Society tells us to experience ourselves in wholeness and truly imbibe ourselves. Drink in excess of our very beings. I am told to relentlessly drink in the sight of me in the mirror. How did it go again? Drinks. Drinks that are plentiful, drinks you wish were eternally flowing. As if it was the toddler’s first sip of apple juice, sweetened, and pleading. The hipster’s first heart-shaped latte fit for Instagram. The businessman’s first cup of coffee to power him for the day. But I can’t view myself as anything more. Therefore, I drink in the sight of myself in the mirror. Like alcohol after a nasty breakup, astringent and pained. The bitter gas station coffee from a lonely night. Worse yet, the taste of tears after my agonizing realization that I was never sweet enough to taste, Never pleasing enough to be seen with you, And never being what you wanted to wake up to. I just want a different drink. I just want to be a different drink. Would I be too cold for you, too hot, too scalding, too bitter, too sweet, too bittersweet, too watery, too thick, too murky. too. too. too. too much. From memory to lifetime, from curb to curb, from pillow to pillow, from giggle to giggle, from day to night there's a drink for it all. In the mirror, I catch a glimpse of myself, but within these drinks, I catch a glimpse of us. How glad I am to have been your drink for as long as I was. So, I know I am a different drink now. But free at last am I the drink of my dreams. I laugh in my sweetness, in my worth, in my security, in my wholeness. Self-described humor, wit, and any characteristic that can be dreamt up, both good and bad. This drink needs no one else's input but my own. So I sip in the sight of myself in the mirror. Oh so refreshing.

The girl on the left. The young woman on the left. The bright star who makes me want to trek through the lowest of lows. I lost my grandfather and aunt during the coronavirus pandemic and she was the first point of comfort, even though she was in Virginia and I was in Massachusetts. She made me feel comfortable in the stages of grief of not just my relatives, but of feeling lost. I cried a lot of tears, prayed, and worked on my own moral compass. She helped me through an absolutely heartbreaking time where I felt trapped within the walls of my home and family. We go to Boston College together and I was overjoyed seeing her again. Living together again gave me a sense of normalcy in a time where I feel like nothing was normal. Our movie nights, our wellness days, the city excursions, the gym days, every second, all of it makes me glad to be her friend. I am fortunate to know someone who gives so much herself to her friends and is sincere in her actions. I'm eternally thankfully for the things she has done and said to me and she has a special place in my heart.