One of the biggest personal finance lessons I use in my life is: don't buy it unless you can afford it twice. If I'm not mistaken, Jay-Z is responsible for that quote. Growing up, my family did not have a lot of money. My parents learned their bad money habits from their parents, and so on. I had to learn to be financially independent from a young age. For example, in the seventh grade, I was nominated to go on an AP Science field trip to Hawaii, but when I initially brought it up to my parents, they said we couldn't afford for me to go. I am very stubborn, and I usually get what I want, so I spent a full year delivering flyers, babysitting, doing bottle drives, and gardening so I could raise enough money to go. Not only did I raise the amount I needed, but I actually doubled my goal. Since then, I have adopted that same mindset. When I was looking to buy my car, I saved double what I needed to pay for it in cash. I am determined to break the money-touble cycle that seems to be plaguing my family members so I can create a stable life for my children in the future.

Last summer, I came out to my parents as a bisexual woman. I didn't come to terms with my sexuality until my senior year of high school. Before then, I was constantly hiding a big part of my identity, even from myself. That secret caused me to fall into a depressive state. I spent days in my room, avoiding contact with everyone. I was so worried about exposing myself, that I didn't feel like talking at all. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a very social person who loves to talk and have fun with friends, which is why this hit me so hard. Growing up in a strict, religious family planted this shame in me that I couldn't shake. I was honestly scared that if I told my friends and family that I liked women the same way I liked men, I would lose them. It was after almost two years of learning to accept myself that I decided I needed to tell my family members. It didn't go as badly as I thought it would. I have an extremely supportive younger sister, and my parents are growing every day. I am lucky to set the example for how the LGBTQ+ children in my family should be treated. Now, I am a happier than I have been in years. I don't have that weight dragging me down to that terrible place anymore, and I am able to thrive in my own environment and better my relationship with myself.

I love being a bisexual woman. Even though I come from a religious family and go to a religious university, I have made amazing connections with some great people. Brigham Young University-Idaho has a greater population of LGBTQ+ students than expected. I have met some of my best friends through the support groups on campus! However, it has not always been this way. When I first came out to my parents two years ago, they were extremely upset. One of them suggested that I was being controlled by demons and should be sent away to be cleansed and purified. Needless to say, it took me a while to open up to my parents again. Thankfully, time seems to heal wounds, and I am now able to have great discussions with my parents about the hardships of LGBTQ+ youth in a respectful manner. I may even go as far as to say that they are slowly becoming more accepting of those different from them. My dream is to one day be able to bring whoever I end up dating home to meet my family, and have no worries about being accepted. My biggest career goal is to become a forensic psychiatrist. I have always been fascinated by forensics, law, and more recently, medicine. The medical field needs more people who are committed to educating the youth. As a bisexual woman in a predominantly male field, I believe that I would do an excellent job. Our children must have someone to look up to because I didn't have that growing up. If I can be that for someone, it will make everything worth it!

I am the first person in my immediate family to go to university. As the oldest of five, it is my job to set high standards for my younger siblings. In doing so, I have decided that I'm going to medical school to become a forensic psychiatrist. Going to medical school is such a big deal for me because I will be the first woman in my whole family to go! I have a great uncle who is a urologist, but he's the only one. I credit my parents for my love of forensics and medicine. When I was little, they used to let me watch crime shows with them. Ever since then, I have been fascinated with this field. Though I have not always wanted to go into the medical field (this is a newly developed dream), I have known that I wanted to work in forensics for as long as I can remember. I am so thankful for this opportunity because I know that I will be able to bless so many people's lives!

As an international student living in a new country, the way I destress and connect to my roots back home is through music. I come from a family where music is central to our relationships with each other. My maternal grandfather was a band teacher for twenty years and my mother is a piano teacher. I started playing the piano very young, and through the years have accumulated knowledge in a handful of other instruments. Unfortunately, I did not have the space to bring all of them with me to America, but I did bring my flute and my ukulele. Both of these instruments have been so helpful, because they're a little piece of home in my apartment. It's very comforting to come home after a long day, and just sit down and play a little song on my instruments. Here in America, it is one of the only constants I have. Another way I apply creativity in my life is through dancing. I am fortunate to go to a university that has an excellent dance program, and there are countless opportunities for me to dance my stresses away. Through my dance classes, I have made strong friendships, and have been exposed to multiple different cultures. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have to be creative!