Generosity has a lot of weight behind it. In a dictionary, you would find a definition that looks something like; giving of yourself for the benefit of others. While yes that definition is technically true, it implies a lot. Giving of yourself doesn't have to mean giving everything you possibly can, and then offer more. I view generosity as having respect for the people around you. If you have respect for an older woman, you're going to open a door for her or help her carry something heavy. Or another example, you have respect for your parents/guardians and are therefore more inclined to commit an act of generosity to express that respect. To me, an act of generosity has its roots in respect. It doesn't mean giving of yourself completely, but rather giving what you can afford. Generosity to me means you have respect for a person and are using the gift of either your time, money, efforts, or support as a way to show that respect. Generosity is deeper than simply buying your Mom a cup of hot coffee one morning because she's been having a rough week. It is the respect you have for her hard work, and a manifestation of your appreciation for it, regardless of size or monetary value.

The meaning of life is an easy question to answer. It's happiness! Yes, it may seem over-simplified, but allow me to explain. In a world dominated by stress-inducing environments, and an almost constant negative input from social media, happiness can be hard to find. However, when I do find something or someone that helps me to feel happy, there's nothing else I want or need. Happiness itself is rewarding, and I find myself wholly content in its presence. I live my life in the pursuit of happiness, and the direction of that pursuit changes from day to day. Some days, I find happiness in spending time with family playing board games. Other days, joy finds me with a hot cup of coffee and quiet music playing. The meaning of life is simple; be happy. Because in a world filled with diseases, wars, and so much anger, finding happiness in even the smallest things can change so much.

It's the holiday season in 2021, nearly two years after the COVID-19 pandemic first shook America. It's a usual day for me and my family. Mom and Dad go to work, I go to college and my younger brother goes to school. I text my friends to make plans for this weekend and later my Grandparents will join us for dinner and a movie. This routine may sound mundane and tedious to anyone else, but to me, it is the definition of joy. My family's life was very different during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A year ago the holidays were had over Facetime or call, and this year we get to hug each other. This time last year my younger brother was struggling in school, barely passing his classes because it was virtual and his ADHD was taking over. A mere 12 months ago my Mom didn't have a job to go to, and my Dad was working overtime. My definition of joy is time spent with family. Whatever that entails, wherever it happens, whenever we can. Sitting on the couch watching a movie with my Grandparents brings me joy, as does helping my brother study for his history exam, or helping my Dad cook, even folding some laundry with my Mom. To me, joy is the happiness that we take for granted. The feeling of trust and love that's always there, but not always recognized. Because joy is not just feeling happy, it's something deeper, but not more complicated. It took a pandemic for me to realize that my family is my greatest source of joy, love, and support in my life, and I will never take that blessing for granted again.

My favorite scientist is, without a doubt, Marie Curie. She persevered through so much over the course of her life and never gave up. From the story of her migration to France and the struggles that came with that, to her discovery of Radium and the consequences that arose from her prolonged exposure, she has inspired me. Her dedication and determination to both herself and her work have encouraged me to pursue my chosen career in marine biology, and never let go of that dream.

How do you define a concept? It has different meanings, stories, definitions, and implications depending upon the people you ask. If you ask me, legacy is a reflection of how you changed the world during your lifetime. Legacy is evidence of your existence and the impact upon those you interacted with and the world you called home. Because the concept of legacy is defined so differently, understanding one’s own legacy is both interesting and intimidating. For me, leaving a legacy doesn’t have to mean changing the world dramatically. Small acts of kindness and faith can have more of an impact than what lies on the surface. These small acts build up to create an entire personality, which in turn affects and inspires those around us. All legacies left behind are important and valuable; from the greatest technological achievement to the smallest act of kindness between strangers. If you make the world better in even one way you’ve made an impact and therefore left a legacy. Some legacies teach us about the real world and how it works, how harsh and cold it can be: I call these diamond legacies because they show how crushing the world can be. A couple of examples of people who I consider to have left diamond legacies are Anne Frank, J.K. Rowling, and Malala Yousafzai. But the legacies and lessons left behind by these people each tell a different story. Just like diamonds, they were crushed by the weight of the world and everything that was wrong with it. However, they didn’t let the pressure break them; instead, they turned into diamonds and ended up becoming stronger thanks to their experiences. There are also examples out there that are more emotional and teach of the warmth and comfort you can find in humanity, and how treasuring that humanity can be a legacy itself. I have observed often, in these instances that these legacies go unrecorded. These soft legacies, as I like to call them, are often found in everyday life. A mother giving up her relaxing evening because her child needs help with his homework, and the child recalling that day when she’s the one who needs help every night. Or a father walking past someone who’s homeless on the street and offering them help, and his daughter notices and his kindness are what she remembers most about him after he’s gone. These are the actions that turn into legacies because they changed the world for the better, even if they do go unnoticed by most. Both of these teach lessons and neither is more valuable than the other. This leads me to the sort of legacy that I want to leave behind one that is both a soft legacy and a diamond legacy. I want to experience the struggles that life has to offer. I want to learn the lessons and grow from the pressure. But I also want to leave a reminder to the people who come after me that even though the world can be crushing, there are people around you to help lift the weight. I want to leave a legacy that says that the goodness of people should not and cannot be forgotten or lost. I want to learn the hard lessons and be stronger than I ever thought possible; yet still remember to be kind to a stranger on the street. I want to give as much back to the world as it gave to me, and have that be my legacy.