Chances are you've seen "Legally Blonde" multiple times, and chances are you enjoyed it. It's probably my favorite film because I can resonate with the main character, Elle Woods. Growing up, I was super girly and seemed to focus too much on my social life. Many thought that because of this, I was an average student with average grades who would probably attend one of the so-called in-state "party" schools once I graduated. While I was still a social butterfly, I was well above average in school and will graduate top fifteen percent of my class. I'm going to a tech school to pursue a degree in computer science once I graduate, as I have an intense inclination towards math and science. Like Elle Woods, many see me as an average student who doesn't know much because I have a large social circle and don't seem super engaged in class. Once people know me more, though, they realize that I'm more intelligent than they initially thought, and I have serious career goals that aren't too far out of reach. People will see I have more potential than just having friends and posting on Instagram.

At the beginning of summer 2020, my (now ex) boyfriend dumped me. He and I had been together for two years at the time. My mental health ended up taking a sharp decline during that time. However, my mental health ended up benefiting from the breakup in the long run, and it’s one of the most relieving feelings I’ve experienced. I feel like I was in such a comfort zone in that relationship that my mental health was at a neutral standstill. I wouldn’t say it was terrible, but it wasn’t good. Once I broke out of that comfort zone and focused on myself after the heartbreak, I developed a mindset that I wish I had when the relationship started. The way I see life, I'd rather have a fun time now than spend my present dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. I can't change what has already happened, and if something should occur in the future, then I believe it will. I'm also the only person that can control my emotions. Other people aren't responsible for my happiness. I am. If I like the way I look or act, that's all that matters to me. I don't want to change myself to make somebody else like me. If somebody doesn't like me, I can't change that, and I'm not going to waste my time trying. I find that it's a lot easier for me to accomplish things and focus on being successful when I don't constantly stress about what might happen. I think my mindset is good to have, especially going into college this upcoming fall semester. Moving forward, I plan to attend Florida Tech to further my education in computer science. I hope to maintain a stress-free mindset to help me continue to achieve my goals. I’ve learned that I could succeed a lot easier when not worried about everything, even though I have even more of a workload than I did previously. I’m currently working one full-time and one part-time job and still being in high school. I live in a tourist location, and as the season picks up, I’m working closer to 55 hours a week and trying to manage my school work as well. Although work can be a lot to handle, I find everything so much easier to manage when I don’t overthink it. I do my schooling when I get off work, and I do extra assignments on my day off to put myself ahead and give myself some leeway. If you’re able to develop a schedule for yourself and put in the effort to stay on track, it isn’t that difficult to accomplish everything, even with a limited amount of time. Having a more positive mindset can make you a more successful person.

At the beginning of summer 2020, my (now ex) boyfriend dumped me. He and I had been together for two years at the time. My mental health ended up taking a sharp decline during that time. However, my mental health ended up benefiting from the breakup in the long run, and it’s one of the most relieving feelings I’ve experienced. I feel like I was in such a comfort zone in that relationship that my mental health was at a neutral standstill. I wouldn’t say it was terrible, but it wasn’t good. Once I broke out of that comfort zone and focused on myself after the heartbreak, I developed a mindset that I wish I had when the relationship started. The way I see life, I'd rather have a fun time now than spend my present dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. I can't change what has already happened, and if something should occur in the future, then I believe it will. I'm also the only person that can control my emotions. Other people aren't responsible for my happiness. I am. If I like the way I look or act, that's all that matters to me. I don't want to change myself to make somebody else like me. If somebody doesn't like me, I can't change that, and I'm not going to waste my time trying. I find that it's a lot easier for me to accomplish things and focus on being successful when I don't constantly stress about what might happen. I think my mindset is good to have, especially going into college this upcoming fall semester. Moving forward, I plan to attend Florida Tech to further my education in computer science. I hope to maintain a stress-free mindset to help me continue to achieve my goals. I’ve learned that I could succeed a lot easier when not worried about everything, even though I have even more of a workload than I did previously. I’m currently working one full-time and one part-time job and still being in high school. I live in a tourist location, and as the season picks up, I’m working closer to 55 hours a week and trying to manage my school work as well. Although work can be a lot to handle, I find everything so much easier to manage when I don’t overthink it. I do my schooling when I get off work, and I do extra assignments on my day off to put myself ahead and give myself some leeway. If you’re able to develop a schedule for yourself and put in the effort to stay on track, it isn’t that difficult to accomplish everything, even with a limited amount of time. Having a more positive mindset can make you a more successful person.

There’s a lot of different people that I could say are the most important to me. So many people have made an impact on my life and so many people continue to. However, I believe currently the most important person to me is my manager at work, Latoya. She always has an eye out for me, she makes sure I’m staying caught up in school, and she makes sure I get what I deserve (whether that’s good or bad). I like to call her my “work mom” because she essentially acts as my second mother and keeps up with my life more than I do. Latoya has four children of her own, which she manages to keep very well behaved and spoiled at the same time. On top of that, there’s me. Before I had a car, Latoya would take me home every night that I worked with her because she knew my mom had to work early the next morning. She would buy me lunch if I didn’t have any and always was giving me advice as far as saving money, investments, and school. From day one Latoya has always looked out for me and I am grateful for that. She makes sure I have my priorities straight and wants me to succeed because she knows I’m capable of a lot if I just put my mind to it.

Your life is perfect: you just got a new well-paying job, you’re in a happy relationship, you have a ton of friends, overall you just don’t see how life could get better. Then one day, you come home, and one little thing flips your world upside down. This exact little thing happened to me, and it was all over a breakup. While I know that probably sounds dumb, let me elaborate on why this moment changed my life for the better. My ex-boyfriend and I were together for two years. I had known nothing but him, and I was so comfortable with where I was in my life that I didn’t want anything to change. I was perfectly content with where I was and how my life was at the time. One night after working a long shift, I got home just for him to tell me he wanted to break up with me to be with someone else. I was so confused and had no idea what even to say or think. I was mad, I was upset, and I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what I would do anymore, and I felt like I had lost everything. It ended up being the complete opposite because I gained more respect for myself, learned to love myself more and put more dedication into my work and school. Within a month of having my heart shattered, I ended up getting a raise at work, which I still think is ironic. I also began to focus on myself and my happiness, and I lost some friends along the way who didn’t like the changes I was making for myself. I went through my closet to sell old clothes I no longer wore, and I got a new wardrobe. I began working out a little more as well to feel more confident in my skin. Over that summer, I saved up enough money to buy myself my car, and a nice one at that. I originally wasn’t able to focus on my schoolwork being virtual, but after a while, I was finally able to catch up and bring my grades back to where I like to have them. I applied and got into colleges, and I felt like I was becoming a better person, one who I liked way more than the person I was in that relationship. I honestly think that having a heartbreak pushed me to be a better person and change myself into a person I could be proud of in the future. I continue to work a full-time job, pay my insurance, complete my schoolwork, and prepare myself for the next phase of my life. After seeing how far I brought myself, I almost wish I would get broken up with again because it was such a motivation to get my life together and evolve into a person with a positive mindset to look back on and be proud. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I’ll be proud of how far I go.

In a world where everyone has an opinion about what everyone says and does, it can be challenging not to let things affect you. For a while, I let people’s words and actions impact me and how I felt. My manager at work recognized this, and she told me, “you can’t let what people say get to you.” At first, that phrase went in one ear and out the other, but after having that thought stuck in the back of my mind for a little bit, I began to use it. Since adopting that mindset, my mental health has incrementally improved, and I’m a lot happier with myself as a person. I wish I could have adopted the same mindset earlier on. The way I see it, the only person that should be responsible for my mood and my happiness is me. I don’t want to dwell on something that previously happened or worry about something that might occur later. If somebody doesn’t like what I’m wearing, it doesn’t matter. Suppose somebody doesn’t think well of what I’m doing, oh well. The only person that needs to like me is me. It’s not worth changing yourself to please others, especially if you’re not enjoying the person you’re becoming. I started focusing on myself a lot after a rough break-up, and I developed my mindset to be more positive and self-loving. Being able to love yourself first makes relationships with other people a lot easier, especially if meeting new people. You don’t worry about what they think of you or if they think you look nice. You act yourself, and you develop stronger relationships and more positive ones. When you don't let others affect you, it becomes a lot easier to love yourself and become somebody you want to be. Life seems a lot better, and you feel a lot happier. Focusing on yourself is rewarding, and it seems you get a lot more accomplished. Changing your mindset can be challenging, but it is well worth it in the long run. For me, adapting to this new mindset allowed me to live a much more positive lifestyle and opened up so much room for improvement that I didn't even know I had. It was easier for me to learn self-love and feel confident in my skin. I can live a much more carefree life and not worry about what others think about me. I'm responsible for my happiness.

Leaving a legacy could mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Most people will tell you something along the lines of “being remembered for a reason” when asked what it means to leave a legacy. For me, I believe leaving a legacy is a little more than that. I think people leave legacies behind when they significantly affect many people, whether it be good or bad. Martin Luther King Jr. left a legacy, but so did Charles Manson. For me, I hope to leave some legacy for innovating the world of computer science into something safer and more private. Anyone can leave a legacy, but not without putting in some work to do so. Bill Gates will undoubtedly leave one behind when he dies, but not everyone will like it. While Gates is renowned for his contributions to the technological field, many don't agree with how he chooses to share and store data like many other large companies. Many people don't feel safe browsing the internet because they think large companies will observe every move they make online. These people aren't wrong, and they shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable. Large companies shouldn't share your data with the world if you don't want it to be shared. I hope to create some innovation where you can keep your data private and still can freely browse the internet. I want people to know me for protecting their privacy online. But that's not exactly the legacy I want to leave behind. I want to leave behind a legacy where people will see me as someone who cares about an individual's privacy and wants people to feel safe on their computer in their own home. I want people to see me as a person in the technology field that for once didn't want to access your information but protect you from other people collecting it. That's the legacy I want to leave behind. Nobody should feel the need to leave anything behind when they die. Certain people will remember you how they want to, and others won’t even know who you were. If you wish to leave a legacy or not is your choice, but I know what I want to leave behind and how I hope people will see me even after I die.

There is no question that we live in a digital age, but what are the consequences that come with that? Indeed you own at least one or two smart devices, and almost everyone you know probably owns one too. It’s uncommon nowadays and age not to own a smartphone, and many feel as if they can’t live without theirs. I feel as if I’m missing something if I don’t have my phone with me. It’s what connects me to the world. I use my phone to talk to friends and family, look through my email, see what’s going on in the world, and sometimes even do my schoolwork. A world without a smartphone would be a lot different for many people. What would life be like without a smartphone for a day? You wake up at, let's say, nine in the morning. You spent around fifteen minutes the night before trying to figure out how to set the digital alarm clock you've had sitting on your nightstand for the past three years that you've never really used other than to look at the time. You wake up to an unfamiliar alarm and attempt to figure out how to turn it off. Instead of checking your phone in the morning, you turn on the television to watch the local news channel. When you get ready for the day, you leave on one of those music channels instead of playing your favorite playlist off Spotify. When you're finally willing to take on the day, you get in your car and listen to what's on the radio versus your trending music you usually would put on. You can't quite figure your way around a new area and have to use your car navigation system to get from point A to B. You find that many people are driving better without smartphones, and it seems to be easier to focus on the road and your surroundings when you don't have your smartphone buzzing right next to you. Fewer accidents occur without the distraction of smartphones in almost everyone's car. You're able to connect with your friends more at lunch when everybody isn't on their phone. You find life without your smartphone is much different but is still done, and it's almost as if there's a weight lifted off your shoulders when you aren't constantly looking through social media. In this digital age, smartphones play one of the most significant roles in our everyday lives, and life would surely be much different without them, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing. You learn how to connect with others in different ways, and you don’t compare yourself to people on social media. You’re able to use your computer when needed, and you lose the urge to look at your phone every other minute. Roads become safer and social media becomes less relevant. Life quickly changes, but it isn’t necessarily for the worse.

In a world where everyone has an opinion about what everyone says and does, it can be challenging not to let things affect you. For a while, I let people’s words and actions impact me and how I felt. My manager at work recognized this, and she told me, “you can’t let what people say get to you.” At first, that phrase went in one ear and out the other, but after having that thought stuck in the back of my mind for a little bit, I began to use it. Since adopting that mindset, my mental health has incrementally improved, and I’m a lot happier with myself as a person. I wish I could have adopted the same mindset earlier on. The way I see it, the only person that should be responsible for my mood and my happiness is me. I don’t want to dwell on something that previously happened or worry about something that might occur later. If somebody doesn’t like what I’m wearing, it doesn’t matter. Suppose somebody doesn’t think well of what I’m doing, oh well. The only person that needs to like me is me. It’s not worth changing yourself to please others, especially if you’re not enjoying the person you’re becoming. I started focusing on myself a lot after a rough break-up, and I developed my mindset to be more positive and self-loving. Being able to love yourself first makes relationships with other people a lot easier, especially if meeting new people. You don’t worry about what they think of you or if they think you look nice. You act yourself, and you develop stronger relationships and more positive ones. When you don’t let others affect you, it becomes a lot easier to love yourself and become somebody you want to be. Life seems a lot better, and you feel a lot happier. Focusing on yourself is rewarding, and it seems you get a lot more accomplished. Changing your mindset can be challenging, but it is well worth it in the long run.

Your life is perfect: you just got a new well-paying job, you’re in a happy relationship, you have a ton of friends, overall you just don’t see how life could get better. Then one day, you come home, and one little thing flips your world upside down. This exact little thing happened to me, and it was all over a breakup. While I know that probably sounds dumb, let me elaborate on why this moment changed my life for the better. My ex-boyfriend and I were together for two years. I had known nothing but him, and I was so comfortable with where I was in my life that I didn’t want anything to change. I was perfectly content with where I was and how my life was at the time. One night after working a long shift, I got home just for him to tell me he wanted to break up with me to be with someone else. I was so confused and had no idea what even to say or think. I was mad, I was upset, and I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what I would do anymore, and I felt like I had lost everything. It ended up being the complete opposite because I gained more respect for myself, learned to love myself more and put more dedication into my work and school. Within a month of having my heart shattered, I ended up getting a raise at work, which I still think is ironic. I also began to focus on myself and my happiness, and I lost some friends along the way who didn’t like the changes I was making for myself. I went through my closet to sell old clothes I no longer wore, and I got a new wardrobe. I began working out a little more as well to feel more confident in my skin. Over that summer, I saved up enough money to buy myself my car, and a nice one at that. I originally wasn’t able to focus on my schoolwork being virtual, but after a while, I was finally able to catch up and bring my grades back to where I like to have them. I applied and got into colleges, and I felt like I was becoming a better person, one who I liked way more than the person I was in that relationship. I honestly think that having a heartbreak pushed me to be a better person and change myself into a person I could be proud of in the future. I continue to work a full-time job, pay my insurance, complete my schoolwork, and prepare myself for the next phase of my life. After seeing how far I brought myself, I almost wish I would get broken up with again because it was such a motivation to get my life together and evolve into a person with a positive mindset to look back on and be proud. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I’ll be proud of how far I go.

Have you ever wondered exactly how your computer works? How all the buttons communicate with each other, but sometimes don’t? Well, this is something that has intrigued me since I was old enough to understand computing technology. In a digital age, the need to learn computer science and engineering is exponentially increasing. Having a natural inclination toward math my whole life, I decided to sign up for some computer classes in high school, and I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. I know that if I can understand exactly how a computer runs, it’ll be so much easier to fix it when problems arise. On top of that, with the way technology is constantly changing, there will always be new information to learn, and I like the idea that there’s always something new to learn. I enjoy learning how to write code to make a program run, and the feeling when you finally finish a program, and it runs completely as intended is astounding. It just feels like everything fits together and makes sense, and you have a big relief taken off of your shoulders-similar to the feeling you get when you ace a test you thought you would fail. I’m ready to pursue higher education in the field of computer science, and I’m ready to know as much as I can. I’m already able to grasp the concepts, flying ahead in my computer science classes. Maybe one day, I can even create my own computing innovation. As previously mentioned, the world of technology and computer science is constantly evolving.

Have you ever wondered exactly how your computer works? How all the buttons communicate with each other, but sometimes don’t? Well, this is something that has intrigued me since I was old enough to understand computing technology. In a digital age, the need to learn computer science and engineering is exponentially increasing. Having a natural inclination toward math my whole life, I decided to sign up for some computer classes in high school, and I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. I know that if I can understand exactly how a computer runs, it’ll be so much easier to fix it when problems arise. On top of that, with the way technology is constantly changing, there will always be new information to learn, and I like the idea that there’s always something new to learn. I enjoy learning how to write code to make a program run, and the feeling when you finally finish a program, and it runs completely as intended is astounding. It just feels like everything fits together and makes sense, and you have a big relief taken off of your shoulders-similar to the feeling you get when you ace a test you thought you would fail. I’m ready to pursue higher education in the field of computer science, and I’m ready to know as much as I can. I’m already able to grasp the concepts, flying ahead in my computer science classes. Maybe one day, I can even create my own computing innovation. As previously mentioned, the world of technology and computer science is constantly evolving.

There’s a lot of different people that I could say are the most important to me. So many people have made an impact on my life and so many people continue to. However, I believe currently the most important person to me is my manager at work, Latoya. She always has an eye out for me, she makes sure I’m staying caught up in school, and she makes sure I get what I deserve (whether that’s good or bad). I like to call her my “work mom” because she essentially acts as my second mother and keeps up with my life more than I do. Latoya has four children of her own, which she manages to keep very well behaved and spoiled at the same time. On top of that, there’s me. Before I had a car, Latoya would take me home every night that I worked with her because she knew my mom had to work early the next morning. She would buy me lunch if I didn’t have any and always was giving me advice as far as saving money, investments, and school. From day one Latoya has always looked out for me and I am grateful for that. She makes sure I have my priorities straight and wants me to succeed because she knows I’m capable of a lot if I just put my mind to it.

Your life is perfect: you just got a new well-paying job, you’re in a happy relationship, you have a ton of friends, overall you just don’t see how life could get better. Then one day, you come home, and one little thing flips your world upside down. This exact little thing happened to me, and it was all over a breakup. While I know that probably sounds dumb, let me elaborate on why this moment changed my life for the better. My ex-boyfriend and I were together for two years. I had known nothing but him, and I was so comfortable with where I was in my life that I didn’t want anything to change. I was perfectly content with where I was and how my life was at the time. One night after working a long shift, I got home just for him to tell me he wanted to break up with me to be with someone else. I was so confused and had no idea what even to say or think. I was mad, I was upset, and I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what I would do anymore, and I felt like I had lost everything. It ended up being the complete opposite because I gained more respect for myself, learned to love myself more and put more dedication into my work and school. Within a month of having my heart shattered, I ended up getting a raise at work, which I still think is ironic. I also began to focus on myself and my happiness, and I lost some friends along the way who didn’t like the changes I was making for myself. I went through my closet to sell old clothes I no longer wore, and I got a new wardrobe. I began working out a little more as well to feel more confident in my skin. Over that summer, I saved up enough money to buy myself my car, and a nice one at that. I originally wasn’t able to focus on my schoolwork being virtual, but after a while, I was finally able to catch up and bring my grades back to where I like to have them. I applied and got into colleges, and I felt like I was becoming a better person, one who I liked way more than the person I was in that relationship. I honestly think that having a heartbreak pushed me to be a better person and change myself into a person I could be proud of in the future. I continue to work a full-time job, pay my insurance, complete my schoolwork, and prepare myself for the next phase of my life. After seeing how far I brought myself, I almost wish I would get broken up with again because it was such a motivation to get my life together and evolve into a person with a positive mindset to look back on and be proud. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I’ll be proud of how far I go.

Have you ever wondered exactly how your computer works? How all the buttons communicate with each other, but sometimes don’t? Well, this is something that has intrigued me since I was old enough to understand computing technology. In a digital age, the need to learn computer science and engineering is exponentially increasing. Having a natural inclination toward math my whole life, I decided to sign up for some computer classes in high school, and I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. I know that if I can understand exactly how a computer runs, it’ll be so much easier to fix it when problems arise. On top of that, with the way technology is constantly changing, there will always be new information to learn, and I like the idea that there’s always something new to learn. I enjoy learning how to write code to make a program run, and the feeling when you finally finish a program, and it runs completely as intended is astounding. It just feels like everything fits together and makes sense, and you have a big relief taken off of your shoulders-similar to the feeling you get when you ace a test you thought you would fail. I’m ready to pursue higher education in the field of computer science, and I’m ready to know as much as I can. I’m already able to grasp the concepts, flying ahead in my computer science classes. Maybe one day, I can even create my own computing innovation. As previously mentioned, the world of technology and computer science is constantly evolving. There are so many scholarship opportunities available for you to choose from as a student in your senior year. For me, being a white female with two parents who are alive, healthy, and married, my scholarship options are limited. The Ward Family Scholarship stood out to me because it considers everyone and isn’t limited to a specific career path. Although there is a preference for those pursuing a degree in the arts, it’s still not completely limited. I also appreciate that Lina Ward is giving the opportunity of financial aid to local students. I admire how our community supports each other, especially regarding students continuing their education at a higher level. There are a few reasons I am where I am today, and I know if I put my mind to something, I can accomplish it. One of the biggest reasons I’ve worked so hard to be where I am today is because of my ex-boyfriend. While that might sound a tad bit strange, let me explain why. My ex-boyfriend and I were together for a little over two years, and I grew comfortable in the relationship. I began to let myself go a little bit because I didn’t feel the need to impress anyone anymore, including myself. He enlisted in the military and ended up meeting someone else after he got stationed in another state. When he left me, I felt that I needed to change my life and better myself, as I no longer had that comfort I had with him. Although I don’t think you should change yourself for others, I wanted to become a different, better, and more intelligent person than I was with him. Shortly after we broke up, I got a job, quickly earned a raise, and began working hard for college. I wrote multiple college application essays and planned out my future. I started saving money to pay for college and bought myself my first car. I began to feel a hundred times more successful as a student and as a person overall. I got into Florida Tech, a college I had been looking at since my late sophomore year. To say I’m proud of myself is an understatement. I’m glad I broke out of the comfort zone and pushed myself to become a better person. While the heartbreak sucked, I’m thankful that it allowed me to become someone much better, much stronger, and smarter than I thought I would ever be.

I grew up around a lot of drinking. Most of the people in my extended family were alcoholics, including my dad and grandpa. As a child, I didn't really realize anything wrong with this, and I just thought it was a thing adults did. When I got older, I realized the astounding amount of negative consequences that were happening. My parents' and grandparents' marriages both fell apart, and they were constantly fighting. I didn't like the hostility in our household, and I didn't know what to do. I expressed my thoughts to my mom, and shortly after, my parents began relationship counseling. Within a few months, my dad also quit drinking and has been sober since. My grandpa had quit for a while, then my grandma died, and his drinking escalated. When I got into high school, there was a club my friend had talked to me about called the S.A.D.D. club, which was a club to raise awareness and prevent students from making destructive decisions. I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of, being the condition my family used to be in. We attended annual conferences in Raleigh, where we met with other S.A.D.D. chapters from around the state to discuss how we could make a difference in our community. We decided to do a mock car crash one year on prom night for the First Flight chapter. As a club, we knew that we couldn’t one hundred percent stop students from drinking, especially on prom night. So we hoped we could at least prevent them from drinking and driving. We offered solutions such as finding somewhere to stay for the night, having someone sober drive you home, or even calling your parents to pick you up. I’m sure that any parent would rather come to pick you up than have you try to drive home under the influence. I believe that it was important for me to be a part of this club because high school is a time in many teenagers’ lives where they make some of the worst decisions to seem “cool” or fit in. The S.A.D.D. club wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of all of the negative consequences that were coming out of these decisions. We made posters to hang around the school and had a group of posters of celebrities (mostly rappers loved by this generation) that had died from drug overdoses. Peer pressure can be rough in school, and we felt that making people realize all their favorite artists died from overdosing would deter them from trying any hard substances. If you can teach people early all the consequences of certain actions, they will be less likely to take those actions in the future.

Your life is perfect: you just got a new well-paying job, you’re in a happy relationship, you have a ton of friends, overall you just don’t see how life could get better. Then one day, you come home, and one little thing flips your world upside down. This exact little thing happened to me, and it was all over a breakup. While I know that probably sounds dumb, let me elaborate on why this moment changed my life for the better. My ex-boyfriend and I were together for two years. I had known nothing but him, and I was so comfortable with where I was in my life that I didn’t want anything to change. I was perfectly content with where I was and how my life was at the time. One night after working a long shift, I got home just for him to tell me he wanted to break up with me to be with someone else. I was so confused and had no idea what even to say or think. I was mad, I was upset, and I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what I would do anymore, and I felt like I had lost everything. It ended up being the complete opposite because I gained more respect for myself, learned to love myself more and put more dedication into my work and school. Within a month of having my heart shattered, I ended up getting a raise at work, which I still think is ironic. I also began to focus on myself and my happiness, and I lost some friends along the way who didn’t like the changes I was making for myself. I went through my closet to sell old clothes I no longer wore, and I got a new wardrobe. I began working out a little more as well to feel more confident in my skin. Over that summer, I saved up enough money to buy myself my car, and a nice one at that. I originally wasn’t able to focus on my schoolwork being virtual, but after a while, I was finally able to catch up and bring my grades back to where I like to have them. I applied and got into colleges, and I felt like I was becoming a better person, one who I liked way more than the person I was in that relationship. I honestly think that having a heartbreak pushed me to be a better person and change myself into a person I could be proud of in the future. I continue to work a full-time job, pay my insurance, complete my schoolwork, and prepare myself for the next phase of my life. After seeing how far I brought myself, I almost wish I would get broken up with again because it was such a motivation to get my life together and evolve into a person with a positive mindset to look back on and be proud. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I’ll be proud of how far I go.

Your life is perfect: you just got a new well-paying job, you’re in a happy relationship, you have a ton of friends, overall you just don’t see how life could get better. Then one day, you come home, and one little thing flips your world upside down. This exact little thing happened to me, and it was all over a breakup. While I know that probably sounds dumb, let me elaborate on why this moment changed my life for the better. My ex-boyfriend and I were together for two years. I had known nothing but him, and I was so comfortable with where I was in my life that I didn’t want anything to change. I was perfectly content with where I was and how my life was at the time. One night after working a long shift, I got home just for him to tell me he wanted to break up with me to be with someone else. I was so confused and had no idea what even to say or think. I was mad, I was upset, and I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what I would do anymore, and I felt like I had lost everything. It ended up being the complete opposite because I gained more respect for myself, learned to love myself more and put more dedication into my work and school. Within a month of having my heart shattered, I ended up getting a raise at work, which I still think is ironic. I also began to focus on myself and my happiness, and I lost some friends along the way who didn’t like the changes I was making for myself. I went through my closet to sell old clothes I no longer wore, and I got a new wardrobe. I began working out a little more as well to feel more confident in my skin. Over that summer, I saved up enough money to buy myself my car, and a nice one at that. I originally wasn’t able to focus on my schoolwork being virtual, but after a while, I was finally able to catch up and bring my grades back to where I like to have them. I applied and got into colleges, and I felt like I was becoming a better person, one who I liked way more than the person I was in that relationship. I honestly think that having a heartbreak pushed me to be a better person and change myself into a person I could be proud of in the future. I continue to work a full-time job, pay my insurance, complete my schoolwork, and prepare myself for the next phase of my life. After seeing how far I brought myself, I almost wish I would get broken up with again because it was such a motivation to get my life together and evolve into a person with a positive mindset to look back on and be proud. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I’ll be proud of how far I go.

Your life is perfect: you just got a new well-paying job, you’re in a happy relationship, you have a ton of friends, overall you just don’t see how life could get better. Then one day, you come home, and one little thing flips your world upside down. This exact little thing happened to me, and it was all over a breakup. While I know that probably sounds dumb, let me elaborate on why this moment changed my life for the better. My ex-boyfriend and I were together for two years. I had known nothing but him, and I was so comfortable with where I was in my life that I didn’t want anything to change. I was perfectly content with where I was and how my life was at the time. One night after working a long shift, I got home just for him to tell me he wanted to break up with me to be with someone else. I was so confused and had no idea what even to say or think. I was mad, I was upset, and I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what I would do anymore, and I felt like I had lost everything. It ended up being the complete opposite because I gained more respect for myself, learned to love myself more and put more dedication into my work and school. Within a month of having my heart shattered, I ended up getting a raise at work, which I still think is ironic. I also began to focus on myself and my happiness, and I lost some friends along the way who didn’t like the changes I was making for myself. I went through my closet to sell old clothes I no longer wore, and I got a new wardrobe. I began working out a little more as well to feel more confident in my skin. Over that summer, I saved up enough money to buy myself my car, and a nice one at that. I originally wasn’t able to focus on my schoolwork being virtual, but after a while, I was finally able to catch up and bring my grades back to where I like to have them. I applied and got into colleges, and I felt like I was becoming a better person, one who I liked way more than the person I was in that relationship. I honestly think that having a heartbreak pushed me to be a better person and change myself into a person I could be proud of in the future. I continue to work a full-time job, pay my insurance, complete my schoolwork, and prepare myself for the next phase of my life. After seeing how far I brought myself, I almost wish I would get broken up with again because it was such a motivation to get my life together and evolve into a person with a positive mindset to look back on and be proud. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I’ll be proud of how far I go.

These are my dogs, Max (bigger one) and Gracie (who goes by Gravy). There is also my cat, Kitty, who I rescued from my work where she was living as a feral.

You're sitting in class one day when an announcement comes over the loudspeaker that you and your classmates will take some time off and later switch to a virtual education after cases of COVID-19 spread into your state. You think: "Awesome! I get to stay home all day!" What you don't think of is how hard it will soon become. You have no motivation to get up to attend a live class and no motivation to write that essay that's due tomorrow. After all, you can just sit home watching T.V. or hang out with friends instead. Once a straight-A student, you begin to watch your grades drop until you're close to failing. You decide it's time to sit down, complete all those missing assignments, and tell your friends that you'll have to meet up another day. You have a far way to come, but you know all your hard work will pay off as you watch your grades go back up, and you finally adjust to being at school at home. Teachers and students alike had a lot to learn in a new virtual education setting. Both had to learn to manage their schedules accordingly and bring their school atmosphere home. Administrators looked into state mandates and precautions to see what they could do to get students back into the classrooms. Many school systems ultimately decided on splitting schools into two separate groups, A and B cohorts. The two groups would attend school on different days of the week to minimize building capacity and even gave students an option to stay virtual. However, many administrators soon learned that school was possible with students only attending in-person part-time. They also started to understand that many students don't even need to enter the building to receive an education. Some students realize they're capable of learning without being in school, while some students learn that they can't understand anything over a live meet. This newfound educational difference changes the game for both students and administrators after realizing everyone learns differently, and not everyone needs the same form of instruction to be successful. This means that future scheduling doesn't have to require students in school building five days a week, especially when they're perfectly capable of learning and comprehending everything online. Administrators are now facing a significant decision about how to schedule next year's students. Many parents don't want their children to return to the building, and many parents want the opposite. Some schools had to change schedules due to COVID-19 and now debate whether to remain on the same program or go back to the original. Boards of Education will also have to decide whether to stay on an A-B cohort schedule or go back to total capacity five days a week. They will also have to consider those students who have reasons not to return to the school building, whether it be theirs or their parents' choice. Will masks still be required? Will vaccinations be required? Many are waiting for state mandates to be put in place or lifted to further their decisions about the next school year, but it's almost as if they can't make any decisions until the month school starts, making everything even harder to plan out. Students, faculty, and administration all have made many realizations of their educations and the educations they provide during the pandemic. Many people still face questions about how they wish to proceed with their education, whether in person or online. Regardless, COVID-19 has significantly impacted schools nationwide, and many decisions need to be discussed and put into place before the next school year begins. With many options available and the increase in divided opinions, it might take some time before school can return to a typical setting as it was before COVID-19.