It’s 9 a.m. on a Saturday, and I walk downstairs to the sweet aroma of breakfast drifting from the kitchen. My eyes immediately land on my mother, a kind and resilient woman who had to navigate far more than customs when she immigrated from Jamaica in the 1970s. With one hand, she stirs a pot of cornmeal porridge while freshly fried plantains rest nearby on the counter. Moments like these paint the picture of my early childhood as a first-generation Jamaican American. Even the breakfast itself reflects a core characteristic deeply rooted in Jamaican culture: resourcefulness. Jamaicans are known for their resilience and ability to turn very little into something meaningful. Cornmeal porridge, a now staple comfort food, originated as a practical way to feed families during difficult times. A little cornmeal, hot water, condensed milk, nutmeg, and salt could stretch far enough to nourish an entire household. That ingenuity taught me an important lesson early in life: hardship does not have to limit creativity, determination, or hope. Another phrase often echoed in Jamaican households is, “Learn yuh books.” Education is valued almost like a golden ticket — an opportunity capable of changing the trajectory of an entire family. As a single mother, my mom used education to create opportunities for my sister and me that she did not always have herself. She walked through the demanding journey of nursing school so we could one day run toward our own dreams with a stronger foundation beneath us. My sister and I do not take her sacrifices lightly. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Whenever I face academically challenging seasons, I think about my mother’s stories of perseverance through nursing school, especially now that I am pursuing dental hygiene. Her example reminds me that endurance produces growth. As a woman of faith, she also consistently reminds me of God’s hand in every season, particularly when I begin to feel overwhelmed. Because of her influence, I approach both academics and life with diligence, commitment, and resilience. My mother taught me the importance of honoring responsibilities, staying true to commitments, and pushing through obstacles instead of giving up prematurely. Those same values will guide me throughout my career in healthcare. I want to serve others with both excellence and compassion. Community is another cornerstone of Jamaican culture. Looking out for others, sharing what you have, and uplifting those around you are values that shaped my upbringing. That spirit of compassion is one of the reasons I chose to pursue healthcare. I want a career that allows me to directly serve my community while also creating opportunities to give back in other ways. One of my long-term goals is to open a faith-based dance and fitness studio — a space that promotes both physical and emotional well-being while fostering encouragement, connection, and community. Being a first-generation Jamaican American has shaped the way I view perseverance, education, faith, and service. Through my mother’s sacrifices and the cultural values she instilled in me, I have learned that success is not simply personal achievement; it is also about creating pathways for others to thrive.

A wise man by the name of King Solomon once said, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). By nature, we are designed to live in community. We flourish in the presence of others; meaningful connection is woven into our very design. As I navigate my twenties, I’ve been using my faith as my compass, and the Lord has been teaching me that “two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NLT). After experiencing events such as the pandemic and studying communication, my belief in the importance of connection only grew stronger. Media often promotes a hyper-individualized mindset where people are expected to achieve everything alone just to earn bragging rights. Don’t believe me? Type the phrase “self-made” into Google, and you’ll find countless songs, brands, and slogans built around that idea. But when you take a step back, you realize it’s a vain pursuit. We were designed for community. How can someone grow in patience if no one ever tests it? How can someone grow in compassion if there’s no one to extend it to? How can someone grow in knowledge if there’s no one willing to offer correction? Life is not a one-man show, and meaningful relationships don’t happen by accident. The relationship that has shaped the way I interact with others most deeply is my relationship with God. He has taught me not only how to love Him, but how to love others as well. I believe in a sovereign God who intentionally places people in our lives, especially during seasons of growth. To emphasize this point, search the word “growth” in Google Images. One of the most common pictures you’ll find is a plant breaking through the soil and reaching toward the light. What’s a key ingredient for growth? Light! And that principle applies to us too. In order to grow, we often have to bring things into the light, and vulnerability is one of the ways we do that. Vulnerability is often interpreted in one of two ways: either as weakness and exposure to attack, or as strength — the courage to let others in and grow together. I want to challenge you to embrace the latter definition. Vulnerability has been a key part of my own personal growth. It has allowed me to recognize the people God intentionally placed in my life and to share not only the highlights of my day, but also the silent struggles, overwhelming moments, and obstacles along the way. Vulnerability allows us to walk through both the peaks and valleys of life together. I am a living testament to its impact. In one particular situation in my life, vulnerability helped restore a relationship and strengthen it even more than before. What once felt fragile became a safe environment that continuously fosters growth. But achieving that required a shift my perspective which was choosing to see vulnerability from a place of faith rather than fear. Fear tells you to keep everything to yourself to avoid being hurt. Faith reminds you that opening up can lead to healing, growth, wisdom, or restoration. I’ll end with 2 Corinthians 12:10: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” When people feel safe enough to be vulnerable, it creates an environment where growth can flourish — almost like a garden being cultivated. Thanks to Jesus, that’s how I strive to approach my relationships: unafraid to break the ice and welcome in the warmth.

The field of healthcare I am choosing to pursue is dental hygiene. My interest in this field spans back to my early childhood. It all started at age 6 when my mother drove me to the dentist's office to get my teeth cleaned. I didn’t know what to expect and walked into the office clinging to my mother's side. The appointment time comes, the hygienist calls me to the operatory, and my imagination begins to run wild with all the possibilities of what could happen. The hygienist escorted me to the room and gestured for me to sit in the chair that I assumed to be some fancy high-tech recliner. She gave me some shades, put a lead vest on me, and it all began… There were X-rays and fancy tools that I assumed to be long metal toothpicks. There was a tube that sprayed water like a miniature hose and a tube that the hygienist referred to as “Mr. Thirsty” that sucked the water up. One cleaning and one dental exam later, an experience that started with uncertainty ended with spotless teeth, a goodie bag, and anticipation of coming back in the next six months. My earliest recollection of dental hygiene was a comfortable and impressionable experience. Growing up, I have always felt inclined to help others, whether it be helping my mom out around the house or helping teachers clean after school. I didn't do those things because I "had" to; I did those things because I "wanted" to. Throughout grade school I was often asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Over the years, the answer to that question varied, sometimes for the sake of merely completing a school assignment, but deep down I kept gravitating toward dentistry. I always knew that whatever career I chose, I would want it to involve service to others, and the field of dentistry aligned with that. This brings me to the eighth grade, when the school counselor assigned us a job shadowing assignment. I took the assignment as a golden opportunity to shadow my family dentist. However, within that experience, I found myself more drawn to observing the dental hygienist. I admired her efforts to ensure the patient felt comfortable, her attention to detail, and how she provided education to the patient at the end of each appointment. I still remember the patient’s face lighting up upon seeing their clean teeth, and I thought to myself, "That’s the kind of career I want—one where I can benefit someone else’s health and generate smiles." One of my core beliefs is that you should share your time, talent, and treasure with others when given the opportunity. I also believe that good deeds plant seeds. I am pursuing dental hygiene because I see it as a way to serve marginalized communities in multiple ways. Both directly and indirectly. Directly in the sense of offering dental care to those in need and indirectly in the sense of using the extra funds I generate to pour into other community projects, such as funding food pantries and finding ways to serve the homeless population. I also plan to use the extra income toward starting a business to serve the community. Lastly, I am also considering eventually becoming a dental hygiene instructor to educate the next generation of dental hygienists.

John C. Maxwell once said, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” I like to view life as a time to accumulate skills and help others along the way. An analogy I often make is that you should treat life like a video game, each time you master a new skill you earn “XP,” also known as “experience points.” Every time you help someone, you gain a potential ally. The goal is to gain an abundance of “XP” and allies before the game ends. This is the game of life. Once I adopted this perspective on life, I started spending my days trying to master new skills, ranging from tapping into the arts, through cooking, drawing, sculpting, or dancing, to sharpening my professional skills such as time management, and communication. Being a student is a huge part of my identity in this current season of my life. My studies have become a huge part of who I am, and not just the content itself, but how I learn the information and the experiences that come along with it. Since I have begun my prerequisite classes, I often use resources such as Quizlet to break down information into a more digestible form. I would read the textbook, take chunks of information, and turn them into flashcard questions. By doing this I was not only breaking down the information, but I was also mastering the active recall technique. When I saw how my grades were drastically improving, I sought to help my classmates who were also struggling with certain concepts. In my first year of college, I started out by making a small group chat in my chemistry class where I would send the Quizlets that I made to help my classmates. I watched their test scores also improve and it felt good to know that I could uplift others during my academic journey. Furthermore, when I entered sophomore year, my teachers noticed my study habits and offered me a tutoring job on campus. I happily accepted this position because I saw this as an opportunity to extend my reach to even more people. While everyone loves an “A,” I learned it is not all about the test scores, it is about the relationships I have formed along the way. I attend a community college where I encounter people from all walks of life. In my experience of helping others, I have met people of all ages, each with different circumstances and different stories, but one thing always remained the same, the common goal of passing the class. Passing the class meant different things for different people. However, by helping them pass I know that I have impacted the trajectory of their life for the better. A little bit of help can go a long way. Once again, I believe you should treat life like a video game. Cultivate your skills to earn “XP” and help others along the way to gain allies. You never know when you might need help beating a difficult level. It is like John C. Maxwell once said, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Let me introduce myself… I am a second-generation American born to two immigrant parents. I was raised in a single-parent household, and I am essentially the “parentified” older sibling, considering my father chose not to be present. My family consists of three peas in a pod: My mom, my little sister and me. We have faced many trials and tribulations throughout the years, but we are each other’s support system, and we always find a way to overcome life's challenges. I may not have an ideal upbringing, but I wouldn’t change any of it because it shaped me into who I am and has motivated me to put myself on an upward trajectory. My name is Amber Walters and I aspire to be a dental hygienist! Dental hygiene, to me, is not just something I decided I wanted to do on a whim. I put a lot of thought into this decision… So why dental hygiene? I’ll tell you why! It all started when I was younger and I got my first teeth cleaning. I remember the hygienist being so nice to me, it was a calming environment, and she would ask me about my day and give me little compliments. Even though it was only a twice-a-year occurrence, it was always an encounter that would bring me joy. I remember sitting in school on the day of my appointment ready to leave the dental office with my teeth feeling extra smooth and a goodie bag in my hand. As years went by, I found myself always gravitating towards dental hygiene. In the eighth grade, I was given an assignment to job shadow. At the time, I did not fully understand the difference between a dentist and a dental hygienist. So, I started off by shadowing the dentist, but I remember my hygienist seeing me shadowing the dentist and she invited me to shadow her as well. After that day, my interest in the field only increased. Years later, going into my first year of college, I was at a crossroads, and I needed to decide on what career to pursue in life. At this point, I knew wanted a career that is hands-on. In high school, I fell in love with making pottery, and part of making pottery is carving designs onto the cups and bowls you create. The carving process itself was satisfying. I found it fulfilling how performing fine movements would create a work of art. I realized those same fine motor skills apply to dental hygiene, but instead of the final masterpiece being a cup or a bowl, it is someone’s smile. During my transition into college, I also knew I wanted a career where I could contribute to bettering other people’s lives. For as long as I can remember, I have always felt an inclination to help others, no matter how small the task. Knowing that my actions could benefit someone else means a lot to me, and part of choosing a career is choosing something that is purposeful. Speaking of purpose, not many people acknowledge that hygienists play an important role in maintaining one’s health. Statistically speaking, 64% of adults in the U.S. have some form of periodontal disease. That’s alarming considering if dental plaque gets into your bloodstream it can lead to heart problems and other complications. The beauty of dental hygiene is that it is preventative rather than restorative care, and I believe it is better to be proactive rather than reactive. Hygienists are heroes and who wouldn’t want to be a hero?

"Watch out, world, I'm grown now. It's about to go down. My heart beatin' so loud. Mama, look, I'm grown now (I'm grown!)"...These were the lyrics that rung through my head it was time to prepare for the first semester of college. Grown-ish was a popular show among my peers and I and it set the stage for what we assumed college to be. Orientation had passed and the countdown to the first day of school began. "Tip, Tap, Tip, Tap." "One foot in front of the other." Those were my thoughts as I walked toward the double glass doors of my college campus. Anxious thoughts in the back of my mind had sent butterflies to my stomach. When I stepped through those glass doors for the first time, I had yet to realize, I had stepped into a new chapter of my life. The excitement of high school graduation had ceased, and a multitude of different feelings rushed into me as I began my college years. "Culture-Shock, Learning Curve & Adaptation, Collaboration & Isolation." These were all words that I would use to describe college. The first element of excitement was the culture shock, I had gotten so excited at the fact that I could customize my schedule down to the exact credit hour, and there were no more designated lunch times and restrictions on leaving the building during school hours. The second elements of excitement were the learning curve & adaptation, which honestly hit me like a bag of bricks. There were so many changes I had to make to my learning habits. I had to go from being a “passive” reader to an “active” reader. It was a major adjustment because what used to be a 30-minute-read became an hour plus. I was no longer reading just to read; I was now having to read to understand. I also had to adapt to reviewing over periods of time and using active recall to make things stick. Prior to college, I never had to pour myself into my work like that, but as I did, it felt like my brain was being stretched and that excited me. I went from a girl who sat in the back of the class and did the bare minimum to get an A to a girl who sits in the front of the class and tries to gain a deep understanding of everything. Two weapons that every college student should have in their arsenal are collaboration and isolation. Learning how to use those to your advantage is an exciting experience. Collaborate when it is time and never gatekeep resources. College is so much more exciting whenever you meet people of all ages, hear their stories and work towards a common goal. However, maintaining balance was key. Some isolation is necessary to make time for self-care and life outside of school. I always try to allocate at least 1-2 days a week to where I can clean my space, get some exercise, and do some journaling. I believe that a clean physical space makes for a clean headspace. Exercise is also an excellent mood stabilizer and is a way for me to temporarily lift the college workload off my shoulders. Lastly, journaling is an essential part the equation, it’s always great to write down your thoughts. It is a good way to offload some things so that you don’t become overwhelmed in the heat of it all. The key to keeping a sound mind, body and soul throughout college is knowing the right times to collaborate and the right times to isolate.

“Teamwork makes the dream work!” As humans, we are social beings, and we thrive on cultivating interpersonal relationships. Whether it be between a mother and child, a brother and sister, a teacher and a student, or a healthcare provider, and their patient, all of these relationships are crucial to the well-being of one’s life. As different as those relationships may be, they all have one common denominator: collaboration. I have learned the significance of collaboration through my life experiences starting with the household I am being raised in. My father was not in the picture, so my mom and I must collaborate every day to take care of my little sister. If my mother cooks, I clean. If she is tired, I handle her laundry and the cooking for the night. I know she works late hours, being that she is a nurse, so I always pick my sister up from school. I consider her feelings in everything that I do because I understand that collaboration is key for us to function as a family. My mom also reciprocates by being there for me emotionally and supporting me financially. Our dynamic is a primary example of collaboration. Other life experiences that have taught me collaboration is my experiences within school. Throughout high school and college, I have always been one who supports teamwork. If there is a difficult test that we all need to pass, I would be the one to create a Quizlet that we could all study from to prepare. It worked in high school and continues to work in college. There was also a time were I was part of a debate team. When I noticed that the team was having a difficult time breaking the ice, I made sure to create a group chat and reach out. If I noticed someone needed help doing research for the debate, I would look up articles and encourage others to look up articles to send that person, so that they would be able to contribute to the debate. It was through that teamwork that we were able to win the debate. I have also had the honor of volunteering to help my former English professor conduct a speech event for 2 days. My roles were being a stage assistant and a greeter. I was happy to help her out and in return, she later ended up writing a letter of recommendation for me. Nonetheless, All of those experiences have taught me that collaboration is best in anything that you do because not only can you be someone else’s blessing, but someone else may bless you in return. Collaboration and diversity are especially essential in healthcare. In any field of healthcare, all components must work together so the whole unit functions as a well-oiled machine. In a hospital, the nurses and the doctors, the nurses, the dieticians, and the psychologists must all work together to ensure the well-being of patients. In a dental office, dentists must communicate and collaborate with dental hygienists and dental assistants to ensure that each patient receives the most effective plan of care. The same collaborative skills that I have acquired through life experiences will directly translate to my dream career in dental hygiene. I plan to apply the same teamwork skills, to the healthcare setting. If someone is having a tough time, I will not hesitate to communicate and collaborate to obtain the objective of delivering quality healthcare to every patient. My goal is to be someone else’s blessing; to be able to make a valuable contribution to healthcare and society as a whole.

Say it with me now…”Inflation! Inflation! Inflation!” It is no secret that while pursuing a college education, money will be scarce. College is often a time when students cannot work much if at all, and yet have so many expenses to take care of. If you throw inflation into the equation, it can spell a recipe for disaster. Good financial hygiene is important now more than ever, to stay afloat in this whirlpool we call the U.S. economy. Based on my current college experience I have learned some “do’s” and “don’ts” of managing my finances. Let’s start with the “do’s.” Firstly, do some scholarships, matter of fact do as many as you can find. By applying to as many scholarships as possible, you increase your chances of landing at least one. Secondly, “do” establish a weekly budget. If there is one thing I have learned, it's that it costs to just exist. There are some expenses that cannot be avoided, so make sure to budget for things like tuition, transportation, school supplies, and groceries. Get used to living below your means for this specific season of life. Thirdly, “do” some internships. Not everything is about instant gratification, doing internships may not guarantee you instant money, but it can set you up for a very lucrative career or other paid opportunities. Shifting gears, let’s talk about the “don’ts.” Firstly, “don’t” blow all your money on housing. If possible try taking some of your classes at a community college because while living at home may hinder your social freedom right now, it will enable you to have financial freedom later. Secondly, “don’t” take out more loans than your future career can pay back! As much as tv shows glamorize the idea of having an extravagant college experience, with lots of parties and exotic spring break destinations, it can be tempting to take out large student loans to fund that lifestyle. However, television is not reality and loans must be paid back at some point. If you are going to take out a loan, only take out what’s necessary to cover tuition and educational materials because usually those expenses can be paid back relatively fast once you enter your career. Speaking of splurging, “don’t” use your refund check to splurge on miscellaneous items! Instead of rushing to the mall when the refund checks are released, it is best to put the majority of the money back into savings and put it towards next semester's tuition. In conclusion, money management is not always fun, but it is necessary to survive college. When it comes to finances, it is best to think rationally and not act on impulse. Personally, I try to educate my peers on financial tips as I learn them myself. In today’s day and age, social media is a hub for spreading information, so I often post financial advice on my Instagram story and on my Tik Tok account. In my opinion, college students need to stick together when it comes to financial literacy because the financial odds are not in our favor. I plan to continue using social media to spread the word, because knowledge is power, and the more people who can receive financial knowledge, the better.

When most people think of the medical field they most often think of doctors and nurses, but what about the other allied healthcare professionals? The body is a very complex machine with many parts that need to be maintained and taken care of. Sure most often think that healthcare only comes into play in the direst situations, but I am here to tell you that preventative care is just as important as restorative care. Being proactive is always better than being reactive, that is why I would like to pursue a career in dental hygiene. A dental hygienist is more than just someone who makes your teeth look pretty. They are one’s first line of defense against oral health complications; and fun fact, your oral health plays a direct role in overall health. In a way, they can be seen as soldiers on the front line trying to defend the patient against the opposing army of gingivitis, heart issues, and everything in between. Furthermore, not only does a dental hygienist have the power to improve someone’s physical health, but they can also improve someone’s mental health as well. Happiness and health often go hand in hand. Healthier people are generally happier. By becoming a hygienist, I can quite literally brighten someone’s smile and their health; and who doesn’t like to show off their pearly whites? A bright smile can be a real confidence booster. Let’s be real, we all have experienced that satisfying moment after a cleaning, where we run our tongues across our front teeth and feel that the grooves of plaque that were once there are now gone. That is the precise experience that I would love to recreate for others. My goal is to be able to go to work and say that I genuinely improved someone else’s life. It would mean the world to me If I can be the reason someone walks out of a practice happy and healthy. However, as much as I can visualize my career goals, I see that the statistics are not in my favor. According to the article, “Dental Hygienist Demographics and Statistics [2021]: Number of Dental Hygienists in the US,” of the 59,611+ dental hygienists that are currently employed in the U.S., only 3.7% are black. That means that my chances are slim, but nothing good in life comes easily. While my career goal may not be easy for me to obtain, it definitely will not be impossible. By trying my hardest and putting passion into every step of my educational and career journey, I hope to someday become a hygienist and contribute to leveling the playing field. Diversity is essential, because the larger the variety of people working in a field, the better it can carry out its function. It is much easier to be a service provider or to receive a service when both parties can empathize and understand each other. Diversity can provide a sense of comfort and community for people, which is one of the most important parts of healthcare; making sure the patient feels comfortable enough to communicate effectively. Overall earning this scholarship would help me get one step closer to achieving my goal and improving the diversity statistics of the dental hygiene occupation. We need a broader variety of people from all ethnic backgrounds in this field. Healthcare as a whole shouldn’t have one specific look for its professionals. It should be all-inclusive, everyone deserves an opportunity to be helpful. References: “Dental Hygienist Demographics and Statistics [2021]: Number of Dental Hygienists in the US.” Www.zippia.com, 29 Jan. 2021, www.zippia.com/dental-hygienist-jobs/demographics/.

Say it with me now! “Tuition, books, housing, gas money, and food.” You can expect to pay these expenses as a college student. With heavy coursework loads and limited work time, money becomes scarce. Having a budget and good financial habits become a “must” to survive the years of pursuing higher education. Your bank account will choke if you don’t learn how to adapt. The good news is there are ways to prevent yourself from accumulating debt or draining your bank account too much. My first tip would be to get used to living below your means. In most cases, before college, you have more room to spend money on non-essential items like the cute outfit you saw on a website or the brand-new iPhone plastered all over the latest T-Mobile commercial. However, after you’ve completed the admissions process and received your first bill, you get hit with the reality check that higher education comes with costs and sacrifices. It is best to get used to only buying the essentials. Buy what you NEED, not what you WANT. For example, since attending community college, my monthly expenses only consist of gas for my car, food/grocery, and class materials. That way, I can maximize the money in my savings account, which can be used for next semester’s tuition. My second tip would be to “Budget! Budget! Budget.” Everyone knows that a bank only allows a limited number of transfers from a savings account to a checking account per month. As a college student, you should honor the bank’s wishes by setting a monthly budget and trying to stick to it. To help you stay within your budget, do not be scared to take advantage of rewards systems and coupons. If a company wants to help you, take their help. Many food places offer rewards points discounts simply for downloading their app or placing an online order. Also, many apps like “Fetch” and “Swagbucks” can help alleviate grocery costs by offering coupons and cash-back rewards for shopping. Once again, stick to only buying the essentials to survive and resist the urge to splurge. Using those resources will help you maintain your budget. My third tip would be to indulge in scholarship opportunities. News Flash, there’s money out there waiting for you to collect it. First, complete your FAFSA as soon as possible and apply for the HOPE scholarship. The HOPE scholarship alone will alleviate a great deal of the financial pressure. Secondly, get on websites such as “bold.org,” “Tallo.com,” “dosomething.org,” and “niche.com,” it only takes a little bit of your time to potentially make a good amount of money. Do not be scared to write an essay or volunteer to earn a scholarship. My fourth and final tip would be to link your checking account to your college’s financial account. Do this so that whenever you receive scholarship money through your refund check, the funds will be transferred directly to your checking account. You can then move the lump sum into your savings and put that money towards next semester’s tuition. Think of this as a kind of money cycle. The goal is to keep a good amount of money circulating into your savings to be prepared for next semester’s educational expenses and still have money left over. College is not cheap by any means. With little to no income, having poor money management can be detrimental. However, if you shift your mindset and take advantage of your resources, your pockets will survive. Remember, treating yourself once in a while is okay, but mainly focus on the bare essentials.

Everyone gets the same 24 hours a day; how one spends it counts the most. Being the eldest sister in a single-parent household means you become the second parent. The skills I use to care for my little sister are transferable to my education. Take time management for an example. Since my dad is not around and my mother works long hours, I had to learn how to complete all my daily tasks in the time I am given. When you are the oldest sibling in a single-parent household, time management is no longer a luxury but a necessity. My top two priorities as a big sister are to take care of my little sister and to get my coursework done. Making a to-do list at the beginning of the week helps me stay organized. I'll assign specific tasks on certain days to stay on top of things and not get overwhelmed. Even though I often have a lot on my plate as a student, I know that I am human and need to make time for myself and my family. Everything is a balance, which is the second skill that being in a single-parent household has taught me. Balance is key. In my to-do list, I always include family responsibilities, make time for exercise at least three times a week and make an effort to journal my thoughts once a day. A former teacher once told me, "Your health, is your wealth." She taught me that taking care of my physical and mental well-being is important to achieve my goals. Speaking of Achieving goals, diligence & discipline are more skills I have gained in a single-parent household. Every morning, after I thank God for waking me up, I remind myself that I need to get up and start my day not just for my own sake but for my family's sake too. On the days I feel less motivated, I have learned to let discipline be my backbone. You may wonder what these skills have to do with my education. Applying time management, balance, discipline, and diligence to my college experience have created a recipe for success thus far. In fact, my final grades for my first semester were all A's, and my GPA rests at a 4.0. There were days when I wanted to quit and felt defeated, but discipline kept me in line. Diligence pushed me to humble myself and seek additional help to pass more difficult courses. On the nights when I had to stay up late teaching myself college algebra content, it was discipline that carried me through. When I approached my first November and December in college, and the workload increased, balance and time management helped me prevail. The world around academia does not stop just because I am a college student. While it may not be easy to take care of family and school simultaneously, it is possible with the right mindset and habits. Having your own personal victories is fulfilling but creating small victories for others is also very fulfilling. I plan to give back to the community by donating food items to those in need because It's like the Snickers commercial said, "You're not you when you're hungry." I also have been volunteering around my college campus. I have already helped a professor conduct two events. I am proud of the skills that I have acquired and what I have accomplished thus far, but I am even more excited for what is to come.

“One shot”…I have one shot… I am a first-generation student; I am black, and I am a female. In the eyes of society, I am a triple minority. My opportunities are limited. From the time I was born to now, I have seen the world through a unique lens. Ethnically, certain customs have been instilled in me. My mother fought to get to America and make a decent life for herself as a Jamaican immigrant. She often reminds me, “One shot. You have one shot at making a good life for yourself, so stay in your books and do what you have to do to get to where you need to go.” I try to live by that because I know all the adversity she had to face to get to a decent place in life. To tell my story, I must begin with my mom’s story. From the time she first landed in America, she was bullied through grade school, but she overcame it. She left high school without any money or a plan, but she was skilled with her hands, so she did people’s hair to raise money, and she overcame. She used that money to pay her way through nursing school while working on the side and overcame the challenges of nursing school. Fast forward a few years, and my sister and I came into the picture. I am the oldest, and my sister is six and a half years younger than me. With my dad not being around much, I had to assume the role of the second parent of the household to take care of my sister. I learned from a very early age that the world has a way of throwing many obstacles at you to strengthen your character. However, with that being said, “God does not give you anything you can’t handle.” I learned to turn my obstacles into stepping stones. Currently, I am using that mindset to navigate college and the world. Since being in college, there have been many humbling moments, like when I failed my first attempt at an algebra exam. However, instead of beating myself up for a bad grade, I swallowed my pride and took the time to seek tutoring, re-watch lecture videos, and learn a new approach to the content. Sure, enough, with all that effort, I passed my exam on the second attempt. So far, my college experience has taught me to persevere even when things do not go as planned the first time. Every day I try to wake up with an open mind and understand that overcoming anything in life will take patience and work. To reiterate what I said about stepping stones earlier, college is a stepping stone to my future dental hygienist career. 3.5% is the amount of black female dental hygienists currently in the workforce. The odds are not necessarily in my favor statistically, but nothing good in life comes easily. My mom and other people have shown me that it is not impossible to overcome, even when faced with adversity. I know it will be a difficult journey to become a hygienist, but if I apply myself, form connections, and truly put effort into my work, I can achieve my dream. I have always known deep down that I want to help people and truly make a difference in the lives of others, and I will do whatever it takes to fulfill my dream.

From an early age, I have always known deep down that whatever I choose to do in life I want to be able to say that I helped someone. As time went on and I got older I started to put more thought into careers that would allow me to do that. My mother and grandmother are nurses, so I grew up in a healthcare-centered household. Due in part to the fact that many of my family members are part of the medical field, I have always had an interest in health, medicine, and how the body works. So I started to piece together the puzzle of my future career choices. To further narrow down my options, I could recall many times, as a child when I had positive experiences with getting my teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist. I remember those little moments, like when I’d look in the mirror after my cleaning and admire how smooth my teeth were or how bright they looked. I can also recall times when they would give me goodie bags after each cleaning, or a sticker for being a good patient. It was those little things that can brighten not only a person’s smile but their day and their overall health. In fact, recently I learned how one’s oral health greatly contributes to one’s overall health. It has also been instilled in me that being proactive is better than being reactive, so the fact that hygienists can provide preventative care is another thing that draws me to the career. In my future career as a dental hygienist, I want to leave a positive impact on people by not only cleaning their teeth but by forming bonds and educating them on oral health as well. Believe it or not, oral health can be directly correlated with heart health, so by becoming a dental hygienist I can have a huge impact on keeping someone’s vital health up to par. Especially by acting as the first line of protection against many conditions. But the impact I want to leave does not stop there. I want to be a hygienist that helps patients feel confident because a good smile can boost one’s self-esteem. So not only, will I use my career to better someone’s physical health, but also their mental health to some degree. In addition, I also want to be able to provide a comfortable experience for my patient and counteract the negative stigma associated with visits to the dentist’s office. To be able to provide the same positive experiences that I had for someone else is my ultimate goal.

Prosper with a purpose (My Strong Suit): In the words of Tommy Gregory, my high school sociology teacher, “Walk through every doorway with a purpose.” Those are the words that put everything into perspective for me. It made me realize that there will always be challenges and daunting tasks that we do not want to do, but if you can find one goal to work towards, it will motivate you to enter whatever room you need to achieve that goal. When I do not feel like coming to class, I remind myself that if one of my end goals is to be a homeowner and I need to look at taking this class as one of the bricks I’ll need to build that house someday. The work I put in now will reap the benefits later. You may be wondering “How do you know life has purpose?” I cannot speak for everyone, but I realized my life had purpose the day when a truck was speeding in a school zone and almost slammed into the side of my car. My life flashed before my eyes and the truck stopped in the nick of time, but as my heart was beating through my chest, I came to realize that God spared me for a reason. He spared my life because I still have a purpose to fulfill. After that, I really tried to walk with purpose, to take every class, every life experience, and learn something from it. From early on, I’ve always had a deep-rooted intuition that I was meant to help people. I remember the first time I made soup for my mom because she was sick, how she smiled and thanked me. Although it was a small gesture, I still got to learn something new, and I still brightened her day. Then there was the time that I picked up my friend every morning and drove her to school free of charge because she was having family issues and I did not want her to get expelled for having lack of transportation. It was not always convenient nor easy to do but, in the end, she said, I made a big impact on her life because my being there for her enabled her to graduate. My point is, that I want to walk into every class with a purpose so that I can get the necessary education to fulfill my purpose. Taking Calculated risks (My Weakness): When it comes to my academics and professional goals I would say that I am one who would rather play it safe than sorry. This is good for most things, but there are instances where some risk is necessary for reward. For example, deciding whether to pay extra money for a study resource to enhance your knowledge, or whether to pay good money for extra certifications. Right now, I’d say I am very frugal sometimes too frugal for my own good. I understand it's wise to save as much money as possible but at what point does frugality become a hindrance and not a helpful value to have? I believe I need to start weighing out the potential pros and cons of anything I pursue. Recently there was a fair held at my community college that showcased all the programs and organizations I could choose to be a part of and one booth stuck out to me in particular and it was the Business booth. The man at the booth offered me a spot in the business club and suggested that take his class next term. Looking at the situation from a rational perspective, the opportunity cost would be the tuition for the class. However, the potential benefit would be that I would acquire great business skills that would be useful to my future. One of my aspirations is to someday become an entrepreneur, after having a career in Dental Hygiene. So, taking this class would provide me with the necessary foundation of business knowledge. I just must take the risk of taking on an extra class and paying extra money. My frugality and fear of biting off more than I can chew are my biggest obstacles right now, but I am trying to remind myself that nothing good in life comes easily. So, risks will be necessary. I have heard from multiple sources that staying in your comfort zone too long, can cause you to never reach your full potential. So, my plan from now on is to make a pro and con list for potential opportunities that I could take and try to look at things from a more optimistic perspective, instead of always focusing on what could potentially go wrong. After all, risk-taking is a trait that all good business owners possess, and this is the age of entrepreneurship.

“You aren’t good enough.” “You can’t do it.” “Why don’t you just…” These are all statements that I’ve heard from both external and internal sources. The external being society, the corporate world, and the societal precedents already set for someone who shares my social location. The internal being the voices of doubt and uncertainty that linger in the back of my mind that are fed by those external sources… As a double minority, a black woman to be exact, the heat and the pressure are turned up to the max. Where some people get a head start in life, I get to start from humble beginnings, and honestly, I’m proud of that. Life is the best teacher and mine has instilled some important values into me that I believe will take me far. My mother is a single mother and a first-generation citizen, and she has accomplished so much because she chose to pursue higher education and really build her skill set. Her perseverance led to her getting an associate nursing degree which enabled her to put food on the table, keep a roof over our heads and live a relatively comfortable life. None of that could have been possible without her core values. Values such as frugality, patience, diligence, and my personal favorite determination. The same values that she instills in me. She made me realize how important it is to pursue higher education and how it can set you up for a rewarding life. If she had not gone to college and completed the nursing program, who knows how my family would manage to stay afloat? You reap what you sew and she is living proof that if you sew hard work and dedication into your education, you will reap the benefits of new opportunities, newly acquired skills, and financial stability. Her education is what kept us out of the poverty cycle. With that being said, from a young age I knew that no matter what career I find myself in, I want to be able to say that I helped someone at the end of the day. In fact, due to the positive childhood experiences I had as a child when I got my teeth cleaned at the dentist, I decided that I want to take the necessary steps toward becoming a dental hygienist. I know it will not be easy, but nothing good in life ever comes that easily. With my mom being a single mother, we have to be strategic about finances and education. I have one shot to make something of myself. To prove to myself, and society that I AM good enough to be a professional in the workforce and that I AM capable of impacting people's lives in a positive way. The end goal is to make both myself and my mother proud and to be able to contribute to society in a positive way. As mentioned before, because of my social location, the pressure and the heat are constantly on me. There’s a saying that “Pressure makes Diamonds,” and I hope that someday all my “pressure” will yield “diamonds.”

Sizzle…Sizzle…pop there’s some porridge in the pot. Waking up to the sweet taste of cornmeal porridge was a highlight of many Caribbean kids’ childhood. Let me explain, I am a second-generation united states citizen born to a Jamaican mother and an Antiguan father. So, my childhood was not your average childhood. Certain things were done differently like how you must iron your clothes before you leave the house, you must take the beating when you get in trouble, and you must keep your head in the books because your parents fought hard to get here. Don’t get me wrong there are good perks too. Like the many get-togethers and the vibrant flavors of Caribbean cuisine that I consume daily. However, nonetheless, as a second-generation citizen, the stakes are still higher, and your resources are a little more limited. I am a double minority with many challenges, and some may see hardships as shackles, but I’m choosing to wear my shackles as if they are bracelets encrusted with the finest diamonds. I am a double minority because not only am I black in America, but I am also female. My shackles are the sacrifices that I make to help my family thrive on a daily basis. My shackles are the damages that my mom, little sister, and I were left to deal with after my father, tried to harm us and left us. Even as heavy as those shackles may weigh, it's only built me up as a person. My father’s absence has become a driving force for me to do better. Not only did it force me to become more responsible and help raise my sister, but it also taught me that I must make something of myself so that I will never have to depend on another man. My father’s absence is also the thing that highlights my mother’s strength & Optimism. What he did hit her the hardest and yet she still pushes on. There were dark seasons when we were living paycheck to paycheck eating ramen for dinner, but no matter what she always made sure we were comfortable and tried to show us the bright side of things. Her hard work and dedication are what inspire me to do more. The compassion that my mother shows me always puts a smile on my face and I want to be able to do the same for others. I want to see other people smile. As a child science was always my favorite subject and I come from a long line of healthcare workers, my mom being a registered nurse (RN) and my grandma being a licensed practitioner nurse (LPN). So, naturally, I gravitate toward wanting to become a part of the medical field. I figure if I combine, my deep love for science, with my interest in medicine and my goal of wanting to see people smile, pursuing dental hygiene would be a good way for me to go. I believe one of my purposes in life is to help people by brightening someone’s day and their smile. I want to be a hygienist who talks to patients and hears what they have to say while cleaning their teeth. Not one who is just there to collect a check. I know that sometimes just having a good genuine conversation with someone can improve your mood 10-fold. I got through some of my darkest days, by having at least one good conversation and a few good laughs. I hope to be able to provide the same compassion and empathy for future patients I have yet to serve.

My goal in life is to have a good career, financial stability, and time for the ones I love. Right now I am not exactly sure what path life will take me, but I know that whatever career choice I do make, I want to help people and leave a positive impact on at least one person's life. I know the first stepping stone to achieve that is learning valuable skills through higher education, so it would mean the world to me if you decide to award me this scholarship.

All plants start out as seeds, seeds waiting to be watered. And your mind starts out as a blank canvas waiting to be painted with knowledge. The more you cover up the blank spots, the more complete the masterpiece. I have always had a certain thirst for knowledge. It started at the age of 3 when I would annoy my mom with the recurring question of “Why is that?” By the time I was 5 and I got my first computer I would find myself googling every little question that came to mind. I remember spending most of my free time in middle school on YouTube learning the most random things. I would watch channels like “Life noggin” and “Brew” and dabble in various topics. I would also watch a lot of videos that listed “Top 10 most expensive foods” or “Nature’s most bizarre animals.” At this point, I was constantly drinking up little bits of knowledge much like how a plant drinks up water to grow. Not to mention, outside of the knowledge that I got from wandering the internet, there were also the 13 years of government-required schooling that I had to go through. From the ABCs in kindergarten to learning about epidemiology in senior year. The knowledge never stops flowing and it’s interesting how knowledge has a way of starting so small and gradually broadening. What’s crazy is knowledge extends even further than that. Of course, I have to give a shoutout to the best teacher, which is life itself. One of the earliest things I learned in life was when mom said do not touch something, you better not touch it. When I was 2 she told me not to touch one of her glass decorations but I did not listen and I picked it up, broke it, and accidentally cut myself on the broken glass. I ended up with a hypertrophic scar and that day I learned not to touch broken glass. Life will give you knowledge in the most unconventional ways through experiences. Whether it be, getting a flat tire and learning how to change it or having a family situation where you now must learn to take care of your siblings as if they were your kids. Or maybe you forget to study for that big exam and don’t get the grade you desire on the first go round. There’s a reason why they say, “You live and you learn,” Because life sometimes gives you lemons, but it also gives you the knowledge to make lemonade. Knowledge is important to me because it can open so many doors for you and expose you to so many things. Both good and bad, but everything works together for the greater good in the end. Knowledge is the paint to my blank canvas

Picture this, you go to the gas station, and you look at the pump. Your eyes glaze over all the options for gas. The cheapest option catches your eye but little do you know it is not clean gas and it actually contains sugar, but you still buy it anyways because it is the cheapest and most convenient. You drive a couple of minutes down the street, and you notice the car feels less smooth and starts to jerk. That’s when the grave reality hits that you have made a mistake in your choice of fuel. Everyone knows that sugar messes up the internal components of a car. You would not want to mess up your car’s insides, so why don’t you think the same way when it comes to your insides? Do you ever notice that after eating unhealthy foods, whether it be foods that are fried, full of sugar, or full of salt that your body gives you warning signs that something is off? That bloat that you feel after that last chicken tender or the headache you feel after eating that last bite of that sugar cookie is your body’s indicator that something is off. It's almost like a check engine light. It is important to have healthy eating habits because much like how you need to put the right fuel in your car to keep the engine running well, you also need to put good fuel in your body to keep your body functioning well as well. Once you gain that perspective, you start to look at the ingredients and nutritional information of everything you eat. When I became more aware of what I was putting in my body, I began to journal calories and pay attention to the macronutrients of the food I ate every day. The first thing I noticed after changing my diet was the lack of bloat and gas that used to feel prior. When measured my waist, I noticed the numbers dropping. When I looked in the mirror, I noticed my back rolls begin to dissipate and my stomach no longer hung over my beltline. My body no longer felt achy and the changes did not stop there. Mentally I changed as well, and I don’t just mean perspective-wise either. After switching my eating habits, it was like I could begin to think on a higher level. It felt like I could stretch my brain muscles a little bit more. Almost like buying more storage for a smartphone to store more data. I remember making an effort to change my eating habits when I was in the 11th grade and that was the first time I made all A’s in High school and that streak continued through my twelfth grade year. I even surprised myself because I somehow managed to pass my AP English Lit class with flying colors, despite everyone telling me it was one of the hardest AP classes you could take. The point I am trying to make is that eating healthier can almost defog your brain and help you think to a higher capacity. So, the takeaway here is to treat your body like you would treat your car. You want your car to run efficiently for as long as possible and you should want the same for yourself as well.

It is a no brainer that French fries were a heaven-sent dish. They had me in a chokehold from an early age. My grandmother even once told me the story about how at the age of two, I preferred them over drinking my bottle of milk. So much so that while she was driving and passing all the fast-food places, I threw my bottle at her windshield because she said she would drive past all the fast-food restaurants unless I finished my milk in time. But I was fixated on getting the French fries and desperate times call for desperate measures. So, “POW!” The bottle hit the windshield and there marked the beginning of my long-term relationship with fast food. When it was not French fries, it was milkshakes. Milkshakes were my comfort food. In grades 1st through 8th, I was a victim of bullying. Kids used to pick on me every day. When I tried to make friends, they used to take advantage of me, and I would find out weeks later that they had been saying mean things behind my back. Milkshakes were the bandage that I would put over my emotional wounds. Drinking a chocolate milkshake after school was my equivalent of getting a warm hug. Around the end of 8th grade became body conscious. Started to pick myself apart. I would pinch the bottom of my belly and be upset at how much I could grab. I would stand in the mirror for hours in disgust as I looked at how my back had rolls or how my stomach hung over my belt line when I stood to the side. The school I went to at the time had a uniform and required us to wear belts and I remember sitting down in my last period class feeling bloated and uncomfortable. My back ached from my sedentary lifestyle and lack of sleep coupled with my poor eating habits. The body I had was starting to work against me and I knew a change was necessary...I had tried to get into fitness once before in the 5th grade after my PE teacher told me I was overweight, but I did not stick to it because I had some family issues that led me back into my comfort eating. But this time was going to be different, I was determined to at least try to make a change. So, I started by trying to increase my physical activity, made an effort to dance at least once a day because it was an exercise that I could enjoy and commit to doing. I shed a little bit of weight, but I was still achy, bloated and out of shape. It was not until my 11th grade year when I did virtual school, that I realized “You cannot outrun a bad diet!” I began to look up the nutritional info of the foods I was frequently eating and became more conscious of what I was putting into my body. I learned that when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle 20% of it is physical activity, but 80% of it is nutrition. Since then, I began journaling the foods I eat, looking at my macros and making the effort to workout 3 times a week for at least an hour. I watched my body change for the better, through consistency. I am happy to say that I started my journey on September 28th, 2020, I am still going strong now and I have no intention of going back to my previous lifestyle.

School...work...sleep...repeat. School...work...sleep...repeat. Life can feel like an endless loop of bland tasks to take care of, but that’s where hobbies come to the rescue. They stop your life from feeling like a broken record and open doors to new experiences and skills. Before indulging in hobbies, I felt like I was just going through the motions. Like I was not living, just existing. Counting the hours on the clock. Concluding my day with nothing to show for it. Of course, I completed all my schoolwork, but other than that I felt unfulfilled, like something was missing. Until one day, while I was in elementary school, my mom took me to a party in my neighborhood and I stepped foot on the dance floor. Everything changed... I remember befriending the other kids my age and doing dances like the “Cha Cha Slide” and the “Cupid Shuffle.” We even used to make up our own dance routines. For the first time life had a certain vividness to it. Dance brought me joy and a sense of community because it gave my friends and I something to bond over. So, I took it up as a hobby. From that day on I would always dance around the house, make up my own routines in my bedroom and eventually even make an Instagram account where I garnered an audience around my hobby. Dancing is a way for me to let out my emotions and because it is also a form of physical activity, it helps me manage my stress. When I have had a long week sometimes, I just have to stop and bust a move to boost my serotonin!

I learned that I have a strong sense of resilience. Over the years I have faced a lot of trials and tribulations whether it be from family matters or trying to climb the ropes in an education system that is wired against me. Let me elaborate, when I was only in 5th grade my dad walked out on us and this pushed me to step up and take on more household responsibilities than the average kid my age. From that point I started learning how to cook, clean and do more things for myself because I saw that my situation was no longer ideal, and I needed to make some changes for everything not to fall on my mom. As a 5th grader it is not easy making those adjustments, but I took it one day at a time. Around the same time, I had realized standardized tests would become a sole determinant of whether you could move onto the next grade. As a person of color, we are not known to particularly do well on these kinds of tests. I remember my mom having to buy me a prep book from School Box just to help me adapt to the content and time pressure of that test. However, even as the odds were not in my favor, I learned to adapt and conform to the expectations to advance in my education. Sometimes facing hardships are what shape you. They test the amount of resilience you possess and the lengths you will go to overcome obstacles. When times get rough, I still surprise myself at my ability to withstand and adapt in certain situations.

I use creativity to come up with unconventional solutions to conventional problems. Someone once told me “There are many ways to skin a cat.” and those words resonated with me. Anytime a problem presents itself in my life my mind has already thought of multiple ways to solve it. I have been like this from as young as age 4. When I got hungry and my parents were busy, I used to climb the pantry shelves to get the snacks I wanted, a prime example of an unconventional solution. Then there was the time that I wanted a dollhouse, but we could not afford it at the time so, I got some old boxes and some hot glue and made one. I even remember blowing up a Ziploc bag and using it as an air mattress for my dolls. Moving onto my issue of reading comprehension, I came up with the strategy of summarizing what happened for every couple of pages I read while reading novels. Creativity spruces everything up. I come from a working-class family so I am accustomed to having to make do with what I have until I can work towards what I want. So, when I got my first car it was nothing special, it gets me from point A to point B but there is no “pizazz” to it. So, I took it upon myself to go amazon and find decorative LED lights to install in the interior and projectors for the door. It is a unique way to turn something basic into something unique. Creativity helps me make the best of any situation. It helps me make lemonade from my lemons.

I like to consider myself a multidimensional individual. I have many goals that I want to accomplish in different niches of my life. Just like how most people want a variety of food on their plate, I have a variety of ambitions to pursue. On one hand, I am working towards pursuing higher education to reach my long-term career goal of being a dentist. On the other hand, I am a fitness enthusiast whose goal is to maintain a long and healthy life and create the best version of myself. Not to mention I also have other interests with goals tied to them. For example, Art. Art has always been an outlet for me to put my thoughts onto a canvas. Recently I have made it my objective to sell my art as NFT’s and become part of the digital art space. Switching gears to my personal life goals, I choose to focus on self-improvement. Since the start of the pandemic, I have made the effort to take the necessary steps to improve my mental well-being by reevaluating my old habits, distancing myself from negative people and conquering the biggest opponent of all...Procrastination. By making to-do lists and getting things done. I constantly tell myself “There is no point in sitting here and feeling sorry for myself. If I want to see progress, I must act on it.” I have a variety of goals that cater to various aspects of my life. Some call me scatterbrained, but I just have many layers.

As people we are wired to desire change and success. It is in human nature to want to become the best version of yourself and leave your mark in the world. We are not stagnant beings; I am sure you and I can both attest to that. Everyone has a calling, a purpose that they were meant to fulfill. Progress...It is something that I try to make every day in some way shape or form...whether it be in pursuing my education, my side hustle or even my fitness goals. Molly Mae once said, “Beyonce has the same 24 hours in a day that we do. We’re given one life and it’s down to you what you do with it.” That statement constantly replays in the back of my mind and every day that I wake up I put at least 3 things on my to-do list that I want to accomplish before midnight. It helps me visualize what I need to get done in the current 24 hours, to get closer to obtaining my long-term goals. I also keep in mind that progress does not have one specific look to it. Progress can be studying for a few minutes to expand your knowledge. Progress can be convincing yourself to put in that extra rep in the gym to get closer to your fitness goal. Progress can even be simply learning a new skill like cooking to gain more independence. It is all about waking up and taking on the day with a purpose. Any little progress that you make in a day is growth toward a goal. Growth is the key to self improvement

The best way to live a long, healthy life is to have both a sound mind and body. Your mental health and physical health are interconnected. The key to longevity is good health and to have good physical health you must have good mental health. A strategy that I use to maintain good mental health is to write down my thoughts when something is bothering me or if something is weighing heavy on my mind. This alleviates some of my mental strain. Another way to keep a sound mind is to surround yourself with people who bring positive energy because believe it or not, if you are surrounded by negative people, their negative energy has a way of weighing down your spirit. Shifting gears, a little bit, an effective way to maintain mental and physical health is to dedicate time to working out two to three times a week. It has been scientifically proven that exercise causes you to release endorphins that combat anxiety and stress. Exercise is a way to kill two birds with one stone. Another way to achieve a sound body is to watch what you eat. Eating junk food can leave you feeling sluggish, bloated, and unmotivated. The better you eat, the better you will feel. If you keep both your physical and your mental health in check, then you can live a long healthy life.

Patience is the cultivator of many goals. Especially when paired with ambition, determination, and consistency. Every day I spend time reflecting on how many goals i have achieved and how much I have left to reach, and I realized that everything I pursue in life is like planting a seed. The full-grown plant represents meeting a goal but to get to that you must first have the ambition to buy the seed and prepare the soil. Then you must water the plant on a regular basis, which is where consistency plays a critical role. Seeing the progress of the seed sprout into a sapling and slowly grow into a mature plant amplifies the beauty of patience. When it comes to growing a plant, you must maintain determination from the moment you first plant the seed to not give up when the soil’s conditions become less than ideal. When pursuing any goal, the odds will not always be in your favor, but that is where patience and consistency shine the most.

Picture this…it is seven AM and you wake up in a soft bed, in a room where the sunlight trickles in through the blinds of your windows. You slide out of the bed and your feet meet the soft fur rug that sits just beneath the bed. You start the day by taking a nice warm shower, brushing your teeth, and putting on your scrubs. Then you head into the kitchen to make a hardy breakfast. After eating, you start your daily commute. Soft rhythm and blues play over the radio as you drive to work. You arrive at your practice and prep for the day. Today you are expecting a younger child as your first patient and this will be their first visit. Which makes you think back to your first dentist visit. The excitement, the fear of not knowing what to expect…the satisfaction of flashing your pearly whites as you leave the dentist's office. As you reminisce on the feelings you had, you make it your mission to bring that same joy to that child that you felt as a child after your first visit The child comes and you give them X-rays, check their teeth, and clean them. The child sits up and looks into the mirror to see their teeth glistening. Before they leave, you give them a goodie bag and they give you a warm thank you in return. Congratulations you just brightened someone’s day and set them on a healthy path. That is my dream, to be a dentist who does both family and cosmetic dentistry. Your oral health is linked to your heart health, so a little bit of good dental care goes a long way and I want to be able to provide that for other people of all ages

December 12, 2019...A day that the world did not expect to be so pivotal. The Day covid-19 was first discovered in Wuhan China. The day the world would begin to change forever. The covid-19 pandemic is the biggest issue the world faces today, as the virus does not discriminate against color, ethnicity, religion, etc. It affects everyone equally and anyone can get it. Covid has claimed the lives of 5.42 million people globally as of December 30th, 2021, and It is an ongoing issue as new variants are constantly being discovered. We as a people, as a human race, need to shift perspectives from a fear-based perspective to a solution-based perspective. While finding a cure may be more complicated than we expected it to be, I have a few ideas that can slow down the infection rate of covid such as hybrid work/ school environments, public sanitizer dispensers, and walk-in covid vaccines. A hybrid work/ school environment would be a system where workers or students are divided into groups and rotated. On some days one group will come into the work/ school buildings while the other group works from home and vice versa to keep building populations lower and lower the risk of transmission. The public hand sanitizer dispensers could lower the risk of transmission when it comes to things like opening doors in public places, handling shopping carts, or pumping gas. Those are places where germs are constantly being spread because many people must touch those surfaces. By providing the public with ways to keep their hands and public surfaces clean, we can reduce the number of infectious droplets that land on those surfaces. Lastly, by allowing vaccines to be administered by simply walking into a pharmacy we can make it even more accessible to the public.

The best way to live a long, healthy life is to have both a sound mind and body. Your mental health and physical health are interconnected. The key to longevity is good health and to have good physical health you must have good mental health. A strategy that I use to maintain good mental health is to write down my thoughts when something is bothering me or if something is weighing heavy on my mind. This alleviates some of my mental strain. Another way to keep a sound mind is to surround yourself with people who bring positive energy because believe it or not, if you are surrounded by negative people, their negative energy has a way of weighing down your spirit. Shifting gears, a little bit, an effective way to maintain mental and physical health is to dedicate time to working out two to three times a week. It has been scientifically proven that exercise causes you to release endorphins that combat anxiety and stress. Exercise is a way to kill two birds with one stone. Another way to achieve a sound body is to watch what you eat. Eating junk food can leave you feeling sluggish, bloated, and unmotivated. The better you eat, the better you will feel. If you keep both your physical and your mental health in check, then you can live a long healthy life.

Throughout my 17 years of life, I have slowly formed my own philosophy that ‘every step you take is progress, and progress is power.’ I know that anything you accomplish in your 24 hours is an accomplishment no matter how big or small. In fact, everyone is given the same 24 hours a day and if you can knock at least one thing off your to-do list, that is an accomplishment. That is progress and I say that progress is power because progress is the building block to achieving a goal. When you achieve a goal, you have broken one of the many barriers that life will throw at you. That is what motivates me, knowing that any amount of progress I make in a day counts towards the bigger picture. If I chose to quit and not do anything with my time it would be counterproductive to achieving my goals in life. I once came across a quote that said, “If you quit now...You’ll end up right back where you first began. And when you first began, you were desperate to be right where you are now. Keep going.” The author of the quote was unknown, but the words spoke to me, and from that point on I have applied those words to the way I live my life. Anytime I must do a daunting task, whether it be for school or something outside of school, I keep it in mind and knock that task out so I can keep progressing to my goal.

On February 10th, 2004 a baby girl was born in Coral Springs Hospital, bright-eyed and curious to see where the world will take her. She was born to a Jamaican immigrant mother with a heart of gold and a strong sense of determination. The baby felt her mother’s positive aura and flashed her a gummy smile, solidifying her arrival into this new world.... 1 year later, the baby girl started to learn how to walk, but she had a different way of doing things. While most babies used a walker to learn how to walk, this baby crawled to the nearest wall, propped herself up, held onto the wall, and took her first steps... 2 years later, the baby girl gained self-awareness and the world seemed to become more vivid. She could now begin to see things for what they were, begin to learn right from wrong, and form memories. It was as if the entire world had truly begun to unlock... 2 years later, at age five, the girl experienced her first wrongdoing against her. Her father was her abuser. He beat her not because she did anything wrong but because her father didn’t genuinely love her or her mother... but she didn’t fully understand his motives at the time. Her mother, a hard-working immigrant in America. had to work long relentless hours as a nurse to make ends meet. The girl was left at home with her neglectful father, so the little girl figured out ways to meet her own needs. Because her father would not feed her out of spite, she learned to climb pantry shelves to find snacks and keep herself fed... 1 and a half years later, in the midst of neglect and mistreatment from the girl's father, another child was born. A little sister to accompany the little girl. The little girl and the mother loved her dearly but the hatred within the father only grew... 4 years later, the verbal abuses the father inflicted on the family eventually became physical abuse. All hell broke loose and the father not only set the house on fire in an attempt to get rid of his family, but he also threatened the girl's mother after she rightfully kicked him out of the house for his infidelities... When the girl was in 6th grade, the divorce was finalized. From this moment on, the little girl would have to step up and fill the role of a second parent and look out for her little sister. Certain parts of her childhood were altered forever. Her summers were spent watching over her little sister, teaching her new things. In her high school years, family responsibilities robbed her of the chance for extracurriculars, but every dark cloud has a silver lining. She found hobbies and really took time to discover herself and hone new life skills. In her circumstance, she saw it as motivation to live life with purpose and determination and to always find joy in the little things. My name is Amber Walters, I am that little girl, and this is my story. I do not have an ideal life, but I know “There are many ways to skin a cat.” My plan is to stay go to a 2-year for my first two years so I can be close enough to still help my family, then transfer and continue my path to become a dentist. I want to get my DDS or DMD and become a dentist so I can give other people the joy of having a nice smile, a little positivity goes a long way.