I would have everyone in the world read The Bible because it is a guidebook for life. It is The Living Word of God and shows us exactly what we are supposed to do in any situation we might find ourselves in. The Bible not only brings hope, but it also brings joy and certainty into our lives. In The Bible through reading Job’s story we can see how much he was put through and how faithful God is even in the darkest times of our lives. Reading the Psalms we can see hope through both praise and cries for help from people like David. We can learn wisdom from Proverbs, learn about the creation of the world in Genesis, we can see similarities and differences between nations in The Bible and in our own world. There are so many reasons to have individuals read The Bible, but the main three would be for hope, for guidance, and for comfort. The Bible brings us hope because it tells us of the ultimate hope we can have in Christ, it brings us guidance in showing us how to live our lives for Christ, and it brings us comfort because it shows us God will never leave us or forsake us and will always be there for His children. If I had the joy of having everyone in the world read a book it would be The Bible because it will allow everyone the chance to see they are loved, to see that they matter, to give them hope for a brighter future and to show them the light they need to see in the world.

My ideal bookshelf would stretch from the floor close to the ceiling and would be painted white. It would have warm colored fairy lights lining the shelves and on top of the shelves I would place fandom merchandise for my favorite books, mostly consisting of coffee mugs. I would organize my books by series to keep each book close by to its same series and would keep other series by the same author close by to those same series. For my must have books I would include the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, the Heros of Olympus series by Rick Riordan, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, and the Renegades series by Marissa Meyer. One specific nonfiction book I would include is Atomic Habits by James Clear. The Shatter Me series alone has blown up on BookTok crediting the character Aaron Warner as one of the best fictional boyfriends to ever exist. That is actually why I initially chose to read the first Shatter Me book because I wanted to see what BookTok was talking about. Once I started reading the book I fell in love with the series for so many reasons aside from BookTok’s recommendation of the series having the best book boyfriend. One of my favorite parts in the series was where I was able to psychoanalyze the psycho who was psychoanalyzing the presumed psycho. This book has made a monumental impact on the book community already and will most likely continue to do so. In the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heros of Olympus series there are hundreds of people who cosplay characters from the books wearing either a Camp-Half Blood orange shirt or a SPQR purple shirt and hundreds of people who are fans of the Percabeth couple. For the Divergent series everyone wants to know which faction they would fit into and they want to band together in that group with one another. Personally I feel like I would be in Candor or would be a Divergent. Finally for fiction books the Renegades series, it has already made a major impact on the BookTok community due to the rivalry between governments within the book. Good versus bad and the daughter of one side falling in love with the son of the other side without either of them knowing it. In addition there is a cascading twist of secrets that unravel throughout the book that keep everyone on their toes to figure out what is truly right and wrong. Lastly, for my nonfiction book must have, Atomic Habits has been quite popular in the BookTok community for showing individuals how to make massive changes in their lives through tiny habits in their everyday lives. It is, like all of these books, an amazing book. All of these books are amazing and are definitely must haves for my ideal BookTok bookshelf. In addition they all have made a large impact on the BookTok community and continue to do so.

It was a Thursday evening when I ventured over to a local Starbucks, I ordered something new, a drink I have never tried before; a Pumpkin Cold Brew. This was the dawn of a new era as I was previously a pumpkin spice frappe only girl. I took the first sip of my new beverage and it was perfect, a new drink, new memories, and a new adventure all with the same cozy feeling of a pumpkin coffee. I have always loved pumpkin flavored coffee since I was very young. The Pumpkin Spice Latte season marks a monumental step into the fall season with comfy sweaters, pumpkin decor, and the final step into the stretch of the holiday season. For me pumpkin spice lattes are a checkpoint, a necessity between saying goodbye to the summer and a hello to autumn. It is a promise of the holidays to come, a warm smile to accompany homework, a tradition to share with loved ones. This year in particular I felt so very eager for Pumpkin Spice Latte season to begin because it would give at the very least an illusion of colder weather. The city I live in was primarily in the 100’s or above for most of the summer and felt quite miserable. Even now the temperature still hovers in the 90’s even though it is only a few days until October. The promise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte season brings hope for colder weather, hope for a happy autumn, and a hope for fond memories with friends. Studying can be a lot of mental power and sometimes all a girl needs is a nice coffee with family or friends. Take that fall coffee with a long drive through the beautiful countryside and it is a double win. There is nothing like taking the first sip of your coffee, dedicating quality time to those you care about, and driving through the beautiful local landscape. I may have previously loved the pumpkin spice frappe, however, the pumpkin cold brew now is my favorite fall drink. This goes to show that it is not solely the particular drink which matters in one’s own fall narrative, rather the adventure of fall coffees accompanied with friends and family to make the perfect memory. I believe this is why so many people, including myself, hold this season in such high regards and wait eagerly for it to come each and every year.

Seven papers, four exams, seventeen days. In the spring semester my assignments began to pile on top of each other. It was at the seventeenth day until summer marker that I realized all of what I needed to do to make it to summer; I had to write seven papers and take four exams. It was a lot and I was surrounded by stress. Mental health definitely plays an important part into academic success. If I did not have the right mindset in trusting in God and turning on my “academic warrior” mentality, then I might not have made it through that semester as well as I did. While academically I survived the semester as a victor with my desired grades, in my personal life I shoved my emotions inside in order to sit down and get the finals done. When I have assignments that pile on top of each other I tend to shove my emotions aside to fix the task that is in front of me. This means I don’t always process my emotions quickly and that can lead to problems within my friendships. If a friend does something which makes me feel angry or hurt, I might not realize it until a couple days later when I can sit with the emotion to understand what I actually feel. Due to this delay in response time it almost feels awkward to bring up any of those experiences and therefore it continues again and again until I decide to isolate myself for a day or two from that person to force myself to sit with my emotions, process them, and have some healthy alone time. What I have done to help with my mental health is aiming to get a good amount of sleep, communicating with my friends more and asking them how I can better communicate with them, being around friends both in my classes and in day to day life, defining clear tactical plans to tackling my homework based on my study techniques, letting my mind relax by listening to music or playing a game, and rewarding myself when finishing a test with a sweet tea. There are many ways to maintain a healthy mentality when it comes to studying. I did survive that last semester and through God I was able to obtain all A’s. Combined my seven papers totaled fifty-eight pages and through that experience, while it was highly stressful, I learned I was capable of passing my limits, I was capable of more than I imagined, I was capable of doing what seemed impossible.

My dream is to continue working towards being someone who is financially free so I can spend more time with my family and being someone who advocates for what is Biblically right to leave a positive legacy for the next generation.

In the Pacific there is a fictional island by the name of Artlandia. A grand palace sits on the northern part of the island near the sea caves. Through the gate, the palace itself is a light color with a concrete driveway and a purple limousine. Inside of the tall glass doors there is a corridor with white marble floors and double concrete staircases leading above. A maple table holds a vase of lavender, pink roses, and dark purple carnations on top of a violet Persian rug. To the left is a hallway leading to the dog houses; a two story room filled with designer dog houses that hold up to one hundred rescue dogs. In the center of their room is a play area with squeaky toys and a meal area for food and water. Just beyond the pups room would be my own bedroom; at two-hundred fifty square feet an array of white and purple radiates the theme of the room. A doorway to the left goes to my walk-in closet which contains a large ottoman for sitting, a stairway to reach the second floor, a shoe wall, and a jewelry wall. To the right of the room lies my master bathroom which contains my walk-in shower, built in speakers, and magazine holder. On the other end of the hallway lies the kitchen with dark wood cabinets, marble counters, an island with stools in the center, and a mug wall. There would be a coffee pot always brewing with people over all the time to enjoy good cups of coffee and conversation. Past the corridor we come to a hallway of doors leading to various different rooms; some lead to living rooms, some lead to offices, but two of my favorites are the doors which lead to the library and to the ballroom. The library would be larger than my bedroom and filled to the brim with books on subjects like religion, economics, strategy, and psychology. The shelves would be dark wood with an emerald carpet in the center and many comfortable chairs to sit in around the room. A large wooden table would take up the center and would be the discussion area for many meetings about leaving a positive impact on the world. The ballroom on the other hand would be grand with glass chandeliers hanging from the tall ceilings, there would be Greek carvings in the pillars, glass doors which show the outside garden, and a marble floor perfect for hosting fun and charity galas all year long. Through the glass doors there would be a magnificent garden with a patio perfect for sipping tea and watching sunsets, a personal maze, and it would be glowing with flora and fauna. To the left side of the palace would be my private section of the coast where I can watch the dolphins swim at sunset. There would be a rock cave within swimming distance my friends and I would visit often. On days not at the palace we would visit the cozy town to visit with strangers, meet tourists, and explore the cobblestone old timey town. My dream house is grand and I would enjoy it well. I would constantly invite family and friends over, I would host events to benefit charities across the world, and I would rescue dogs from the pound to live in the dog house. I would give to others so they may be blessed as I am blessed. This is my vision for my Barbie dream house and my vision for what I would do with my Barbie dream house.

Behind a smile lies a million thoughts we may never know. It is not only important, but also essential to help others for one simple reason, we can make a difference. This world is full of hurt and too often people will answer the question “How are you” with the normalized lie of “I’m fine”. Our actions, big and small alike, can impact someone in a positive way we may never know about. That little random compliment you tell a stranger, they may have heard it a thousand times or they may have never heard that compliment before. Either way, that small act of kindness can brighten their day tremendously. The simple act of helping someone with their groceries, opening the door for them, or even arriving to an event early to help with the set up can make an enormous positive difference for that person. We might never know what a person is dealing with on the inside and we may never know if our actions made a difference. We hold the power to be able to help them which might make all the difference in the world. Our words and our actions can show others that they are heard, seen, valued, appreciated, and most importantly loved. In everything we do we should strive to show others The Love of Christ, to show others how much they are truly loved and valued. Helping others is important because we need to be the good in the world as reflections of Christ within us. If we are not then we will be faced with a generation that is self centered, greedy, and materialistic. When we help others we can lift them up, encourage them, and genuinely help them in areas they may be struggling in. The world is not fair, but we can make the difference by going the extra mile, by being kind to others, by joining organizations dedicated to helping others, and by looking around us to see where we can help. It is important for us to be educated on what is happening in the world so we can stand up to fight against those evils. Being involved in churches to spread The Gospel, in community service organizations to help a certain cause, being involved in student organizations that run events to raise awareness and funds for a cause; these are all simple ways we can fight to preserve some of the good in this world and fight back against the evils which try to consume the earth. It is important to help others not only because we can make a difference in their lives and in the lives of this generation, but also because when we help others we are showing the true nature of our hearts. We can show others that they really matter and in that we show ourselves that we also really matter as well.

Ode to Millennials-Gen Z posed a snapshot of endless questions and theories. Each generation has had their own unique set of issues and uncertainty in facing those issues. It poses the difference of oppression between a world war or a global pandemic. One in which democracy is threatened and the other in which the economy is crumbling. The older generation tends to value their traditions while the newer generation tends to value innovation. A gap exists between the two in the form of age, technology, and the speed of change. The world is now a fast-paced machine which seems to grow more unstable each day, but does this benefit or harm our society? I believe many people in the old days were hardworking, family centered, and courteous while today it seems more people are becoming resentful, self-centered, and materialistic. I would disagree with the Ode to Millennials-Gen Z, I do not believe this generation will be the “Greatest Generation 2.0”. Instead, I think if we do not act upon the world in a way to positively change the attitude, the economy, and the negative consequences of our actions then things will only get worse from where we are now. I do believe we can change the world, but I also believe that if we don’t make advances towards changing the world then the world will continue to grow worse until we do work towards a positive change. There are many faults which can contribute to errors in our society. Children growing up without a parent due to increased divorce rates, increase in social pressure and heightened stressful situations within the public and private education system, and even an increase in the negative effects of social media. Not to mention the housing crisis, increase in gas prices, or ridiculously high inflation. With so much going wrong how can one person make a difference? As Nehemiah did in The Bible, he told each person to build the wall directly in front of their house for their yard. Nehemiah was in charge of leading a city to rebuild a wall in what seemed like an impossibly short amount of time. His strategy was brilliant though, he told each person to focus on their own yard. If each person was in charge of their own property they would have a higher incentive to take care of it as it would be theirs. The same is true in todays world; focus on what you have. Find your skills, find your God given calling, and go after it with everything you have. Each individual should pursue their God given gifts, become educated in ways to benefit society through the specific way they can, and through seeing any and all potential options through which they might be able to make a difference. In this we can optimize what we all are individually good at to benefit society as a whole by always putting our best forward and letting others in differing areas put their best forward as well. For myself I have chosen to pursue leadership, business, and writing. With guidance and much self reflection I found what my skills are early on, I worked hard and continue to work hard in developing these skills so that I can make a difference in the unique purpose God has given me. I tend to be involved in Biblical groups, community service groups, and recently activist and political groups. My particular vision for a better world is founded on legacy; creating a legacy for the next generation, creating a better world for those generations far beyond myself, and optimizing the efficiency of usage of what we are currently stewards of. We all can make a difference, the start to this difference is to find what we are good at, develop these skills further, and chase after making a difference in how we can to then add to the larger difference we all can make together. To summarize my thoughts on Ode to Millennials-Gen Z, it will only get worse if there is no change but our efforts to combat that can minimize the negative in an attempt to strive for the positive.

Does the disco ball shine or is it the light off of the surface of the disco ball which glimmers? Hello, my name is Annalise Schoening and I am a junior in college studying business. I have been fascinated with the idea of being a leader since I was very young. I was an ambassador in the Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy in high school and I am currently in my university’s Mountaineer Leadership Academy. I hold leadership positions in student government, as an academic tutor, as a mentor, I am on various registered student organization executive boards, and I was even on a state lead team for my campuses Baptist Student Ministry; none of which make me a leader. What makes me a leader is not a fancy title nor is it through participating in some prestigious leadership academy. While the leadership positions and academies I have been in so far have helped me develop and practice my leadership skills in an environment where I could grow in, they do not inherently make me a leader. Just as the disco ball is an environment or tool to amplify the light which already exists around it so that it may proper into something magnificent. What makes me a leader is my character, my dedication to my Biblical and ethical values, my mindset, and my honesty. Being a leader does not always mean that you will lead hundreds of people to a particular goal, leading can be by example and it can positively influence a few who might even go on to lead the many. It is true that I lead in my leadership positions. In student government I look at what I can write in my legislations to benefit the campus and in my tutoring I identify key areas students may be struggling with and facilitate fun and innovative approaches to helping them develop their own skills in the courses material. However, I also lead outside of my leadership positions, at my retail job I intentionally ask customers about their life and I purposely go out of my way to compliment strangers; leaving a positive note in their mind regardless of whether they remember me or not. I have always wanted to be an example and to show people what is possible, to live a life that leaves a legacy for the better. Whenever I walk into a new setting I tend to find my center on my own with Christ then will find others later down the line in which I tell them various tips on how to do better and avoid mistakes I may have made. While what makes me a leader is my character, values, mindset, and honesty. What makes me a good leader is my desire to give God the glory, my obedience and trust in Christ, and my heart to help those who are hurting or in need. I want the world to change positively and I am not afraid of finding how to fit into the larger picture to lead. God has given me a unique purpose in which I can lead with the skills The Lord has given me to fulfill that purpose. This is what makes me a leader.

Legacy Leaders; this would be the name of my nonprofit. Legacy Leaders would serve two main purposes; one to educate individuals in Christian leadership and fundamental principles of economics and politics. The second purpose would be to create a legacy for the next generation to live in a better world. Legacy Leaders mission statement would be to educate today to preserve tomorrow. My nonprofit would focus on devoting time and resources to sustainable improvement through such endeavors as preaching The Gospel to foreign countries and supporting missionaries to spread The Word of God, building wells in underdeveloped countries, and building schools for better education in third world countries. Through Legacy Leaders, volunteers would be educated on Christian leadership where they are shown how to effectively preach The Word of God around the world and how to make a difference in a variety of environments and situations. In addition, volunteers for Legacy Leaders would be educated on the building blocks of the economic and political structure of differing countries to better understand how to build from the ground up a sustainable impact that will last for many generations. This could include how to build a better well to optimize water retrieval with minimum exhaustion, how to effectively teach children to give them their best chance at doing what God has planned for their unique purpose He gave them, or how to plant and grow sustainable vegetables in various difficult terrain without depleting the soils natural minerals. Legacy Leaders would mostly be focused internally on supporting missionaries, building sustainable resources, and building higher education in third world countries. However, my nonprofit would want to partner with multiple vetted and verified other nonprofits to stop human trafficking, to stop unethical child, forced, or prison labor, and to stop abortion practices while also developing many resources for women who were or are considering abortion, in addition to aiding in programs to help heal on a spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional level, individuals from traumatic events such as abuse. My nonprofit would be controversial to a point because Legacy Leaders will stand on Biblical values and will not go with the flow to satisfy popularized norms or peer pressured viewpoints. My nonprofit will value each life as God created all life; from all nationalities, all colors, born and unborn, all sexualities, all age groups, all religions, and human and animal. This nonprofit will respect others rights to their free speech and personal beliefs but will not back down in using the same right to freely speak about Legacy Leaders rights and Biblical values. Legacy Leaders would focus on its organizational goal of missions and sustainable resources and would focus on a larger scale of creating a legacy to bring others closer to Christ, improve, and better the next generations to come in any way it can with alignment of its Biblical values. This is what my nonprofit would be and how it would positively impact the world.

This past semester I took what is known as the nightmare course at my university; Statistics. Every business major is required to take Statistics. Taking this course felt like an intense America Ninja Challenge for the brain. A little backstory, my freshman year of college I was put into an online College Algebra class. It was the first C I had gotten since fifth grade and was a major hit to my ego. I realized later that I had difficulty doing math online and needed an in person professor, not to mention in high school I was scared of doing math because I was a major perfectionist surrounded by engineer focused students who knew much more than me. In the winter term of my sophomore year I retook the class with an in person professor. I was beyond determined to do well in the class and ended up scoring a 105% overall, regaining my 4.0 GPA. This was the highest overall grade I had ever gotten, and it was in math of all things. This showed me I am actually good at math and am capable of scoring higher than I thought possible. After this victory I went into the spring semester taking Statistics. It felt like a battlefield of numbers and graphs. Towards the end of the class students were dropping one by one as they dropped the class. I stayed strong, not only out of determination but also because I couldn’t drop the class. At the time I only took fourteen credit hours to make it easier for the semester, as I was taking two of the hardest classes in my major. However, this meant if I dropped one class I would be below the minimum for full time enrollment and would run into a new set of issues, so I stayed in the course. The only way I made it through the class was by trusting God, putting in a lot of hard work, and working with a friend who also worked very hard. Throughout the whole class I felt the pressure of needing to succeed not only because I needed to pass the class for my credit hour, or because I wanted to be valedictorian, but also because I needed to persevere because I was told that Statistics was the class that challenged my father in college. My father never finished college, instead he dropped out and married my mother. Close to when I took this class my mother told me that statistics was what challenged my father in college and was one hard point in his college career. I needed to succeed, feeling the pressure to be better, to push forward as a first generation college student, and to fight back the class that my dad had once faced in his own studies. Somehow I not only aced the second exam, but I also made a 100% on the final which was worth 25% of our overall grade. I passed the class with an A, even though the class made me question the idea of whether running for valedictorian was even important to me anymore. It is through this challenge that I preserved because of The Lord, I learned to trust in Him in uncertain situations, to sit down and work hard until what seems impossible becomes possible, and to get the victory that seems out of reach. Now I trust The Lord more, I have more grit in my studies, and I actually enjoy math when it is applicable to my area of study.

I grew up in the southwest, but I strongly believe in good old Christian southern values; opening doors, giving strangers compliments, and smiling when passing people for class. Hello, my name is Annalise Schoening. I am a junior in college studying business and I was actually homeschooled from pre-k through high school graduation. I grew up in an older neighborhood so I was often around adults who were many years older than me. We had a loop in our neighborhood everyone walked their dogs on and talked for hours as the sun set on the mountains. These walks where I could engage with my elders were a very fond memory of my childhood. Still to this day I enjoy conversing with my elders whereas I have noticed most my age seem to prefer interactions with their same age of young adults. Being around those who were older than me gave me an insight into a different perspective than that of my age group, which I believe still benefits my values and morals to this day and has played a major role in who I am. I believe if we could unite the generations to work towards a common goal that we could be better off as a society as a whole rather than arguing which generation is better or worse than another. The older generations have the wisdom and experience, the younger generations have the ambition and time. If we know what the world was like both socially and economically in the past and the present maybe both older and younger generations can work together to better the future generation and create a legacy that is not easily forgotten. Recently I joined my university’s Student Government Association as a Member at Large for Volunteer Community Service. In this position, and others alike, I want to make active steps towards bettering our world one step at a time. One major word I use in my goals is legacy. Creating a legacy through my goals of owning a business, writing novels, and hopefully investing in others businesses one day to bring others closer to Christ, to show His Love, and to make the world a better place. Our everyday little actions say a lot about who we are individually, when they add up they say a lot about our values as an age group and as a generation. No one is perfect, but we all have the capacity to be kind. Change for the better can start off with simple values and can work from there. I was taught growing up that if you see something about someone you like, you should tell them. The simple act of telling a customer they have a pretty necklace or that they have a cool shirt can make their day brighter, when their day is brighter they might feel like complimenting someone else and continuing the chain of brightness until a large group of people are filled with smiles. Big changes for the better can often start with something small. Through my position in the Student Government Association I plan to look at service projects that will honor our past, aid our present, and preserve our future. Such as cleaning veterans gravestones, writing letters to active duty military or senior citizens, and planting trees. We can and always have been able to make a difference. We just have to start where we are to get to where we could be. Even in the face of adversity we are able to make a difference, the key is to trust The Lord and keep a positive attitude.

The penguins are evil! I have said this simple phrase since high school in a narration-based game, no one believes me, but I tell you the penguins are indeed evil. My name is Annalise Schoening, I am a first-generation college student in my junior year studying marketing. Having many interests including business, entrepreneurship, public speaking, singing, and chess; I am fascinated by all things related to writing. At the old age of eleven, I knew I wanted to obtain an MBA at a university and ultimately become an entrepreneur. At the time I had no idea what business I wanted to own, however, as I have grown I developed a deeper fondness for the written word. I have many aspirations in life; own real estate property, publish a nonfiction book, donate or hopefully start non-profits, invest in other businesses down the line, and even potentially become an inspirational speaker. However, one aspiration that is towards the beginning of my thirty-year plan is to launch the worlds of my fiction books through publication. In the writing arena, I have always excelled at whacky creative ideas, such as evil penguins. I combine these fun and crazy metaphors with deep meanings to create a reading experience flooded with adventure and emotion. I won't be shy about saying I want to change the world and I believe through Christ, enough dedication, and hard work I can indeed change the world in at least a small but impactful way. I chose to major in business to learn the fundamentals of how a company works so that when I enter into the world with my product or service, such as my books or my motivational speeches, I will be able to understand how to make the best suited, most efficient and effective choice in any given decision I am faced with. If I am chosen for this scholarship the money will aid me in my college career by helping me in areas I struggle with. Currently, I don't have a vehicle of my own and I am a commuter student. I rely on my family to bring me to college every day before their work and I have to ask my friends for rides home if my family is unable to bring me back. If I were awarded this scholarship it would help me to be able to obtain a vehicle so I can drive to school without relying on others for basic transportation, it would allow me to be able to continue further in my degree as I would finally be able to drive myself to internships, and it would quite literally take a load of pressure off of my back. Since I am a commuter without a vehicle of my own, I have neither a dorm nor a car to place any extra supplies I might need throughout the day. This means that whatever I need or think I might need for a given day is all carried in my backpack. My supplies include textbooks, notebooks, my laptop, and occasionally a change of clothes for either a formal event or for my work on campus. While none of these items alone are heavy, combined they are extremely heavy, and when having to walk all across campus to get to classes or events for organizations, it can become a very heavy burden. This scholarship would take those burdens both literally and figuratively off of my back so I can continue forward in my thirty-year plan to change the world in a positive and encouraging way with the unique gifts God gave me.

Princesses, genies, and sidekick galore! With a plethora of Disney characters that inspire honorable, noble, and just traits, it is hard to choose only one as a favorite. However, without a doubt in my mind, one of my all-time favorite Disney sidekicks is Mushu from the movie Mulan. His sassy humor and nurturing attitude add to his loveable qualities, while his need to prove his 'awe-inspiring' self to the elders adds character depth through struggle and rounds out his story. Mushu is hands down a spectacular character, however, I believe one reason this character is my favorite over others, besides his comedic presence, is that I relate to him in more ways than a few. Like Mushu, I am sassy and quick-witted with remarks on just about any subject. I have a nurturing nature as I have been given the title of the "mom-friend" in my study group because I not only make sure to help my friends understand the material, but I also push them to be their best selves, and at times act as the 'therapist' when they are dealing with everyday life struggles and drama. This is similar to how Mushu pushes Mulan to be her best self, encourages her, and is there with her throughout her entire journey. Additionally, I also have the same need as Musha to prove myself to those around me. This generally shows through in my engagement in 'overly ambitious' endevours such as joining numerous clubs and organizations, striving for straight A's, and in general trying to do everything all the time for the unfortunate needed external validation. One other way I realte to Mushu, is that I am more of an extrovert while my friends are more introverted, much like Mushu's friend Cricket. All of these similarities give me a deeper apprication and fondess for Mushu as I am able to relate to him on a more personal level and still enjoy the outward humor he bestow's upon anyone who listens to his witty comments. Mushu has most definetly accomplished his 'awe-inspiring' goal as he inspires others to be both humerous and caring.

Stress, sleep deprivation, and seriousness are three things every student knows all too well; especially so when the time for finals creeps into view. In my first semester of college, I started baking snickerdoodle cookies the week of our finals to give to anyone who I ran into on campus. In my second semester of college, I took this idea a little further. Not only did I bake cookies, but I also sent out an invitation for a game night the last night of finals. My thought process was that it would be something fun people could attend after they had finished the madness of all their finals. It seemed to make some people happy, after all, who doesn't like free cookies and a game night? In addition to this, I strive to be encouraging in every situation I come across. So many people are hurting every day, while I am not excluded from life's struggles, I do my best to be there for those I am around and to be a light to the darkness they may face. That does not mean I try to cover up my own problems by painting a mask or faking a smile for false positivity, rather I try to be real and honest with my problems. I strive to work through my issues as I encourage others to express their problems instead of bottling things up inside. I believe that in being real we can then show others true and authentic care. If we let others see our true selves with all the good, the bad, and the weird, then we can authentically show we care for them and want them to have a true and genuine smile rather than a mask of happiness so many, sadly, wear today

Has anything ever sparked your interest to its core and stirred a hunger and curiosity within your soul, far beyond what you thought imaginable? Have you ever been overwhelmed with the excitement for learning something, knowing you were destined to understand more about it? If you can answer yes to either question, you will have an idea of how I feel about CHESS. When I was five, I found a chessboard and simply had to play. I asked my father if he would play a game and that’s when the grand adventure began. I quickly discovered my interest in chess and from that day forward bombarded my parents every chance I got to play another game. Unfortunately, they had other things to do than play chess all day long. Imagine that! As I got older my love of chess stayed within my heart; however, the opportunities to grow as a chess player did not match the level of excitement I had for the game. It seemed as though things I thought to be entertaining were not universally considered to be fun by others my age. But everything changed one day in September of 2017. My mother, knowing how much I loved the game, found an article in the local newspaper advertising a chess club for all ages. On September 18th, 2017 I started attending the Alamogordo Chess Club. I may not have been the best competitor, but finally, I was able to play the game I adore. It was through this I found a way to explore my passion for chess which was stronger than the crashing undertow of the sea. No longer was the significance of chess in my life a mere ember, now it was a fiery flame that hungered for involvement beyond my wildest dreams. Once I was hooked, I began learning more about the game through the old-fashioned technique of trial and error. I lost several matches against my older and wiser chess ‘teachers’, but what I lacked in skill I made up for in tenacity. As I continued to attend, I began attaining the experience and strategic battle plans I needed to become the chess player I am today. During this process my teachers were patient as I learned and grew in my abilities, oftentimes helping me to see potential blind spots and holes in my strategies, forcing my skills to strengthen. More than a dozen times I stretched the two-hour meet time into a four or five-hour session with my teachers who doubled as friends. For almost a year straight I attended the Alamogordo Chess Club every week until we moved to Texas and I disappointingly said goodbye to not only the noble chess club, home to our local Grand Master but also to the good relationships I had built there. When we arrived here in Texas it didn’t take long to realize the lack of chess clubs in the area. Now you might wonder how the story progresses without a chess club? Well, you know the old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention”? Well, I needed a chess club, no doubt about it. And, as the other saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”. There was certainly a necessity and a will for a local chess club and so, within a couple of months of moving to Kerrville, I formed a new chess club under the name of Chesspresso (Chess + Espresso) on February 19th, 2019 at Real Life Fellowship, and we continue to play there to this day. There’s always that one thing that’s close to someone’s heart. For some, it’s sports, for others, music, but the thing that beats in my heart and surges excitement through my veins is the game of chess. Guess I’m always gonna be that chess nerd of a girl, and that’s perfectly fine with me.