Road trips are not something to be taken lightly. People usually think that the important things are having money for gas, getting the directions right, or bringing plenty of snacks.. They are wrong. The thing that really makes or breaks a road trip is the music. When you are stuck in a car with someone for six hours it can be really tough on your relationship. The music has to be just right. The wrong playlist can make or break the drive. That is what happened with my friend Maria. Maria thinks that music for road trips should be calm and quiet. She likes songs where people sing softly over guitars like they are sad about something. I do not agree. I think music for road trips should be fun and keep you awake. If a song makes me want to look out the window and cry than that is not the right song for a roadtrip. The fight started thirty minutes into our trip. I was playing my music when Maria sighed loudly. "Stacy " she said, "we cannot listen to this music for six hours." I looked at her and said, "This is a great song." Maria said, "There’s a lot of yelling in this song!" I told her "That is what music is supposed to be." Before I could stop her Maria grabbed my phone and changed the song. Suddenly through my car speakers i hear a man lightly humming to the strums of a guitar. I looked at her in shock and said, "What is this?" Maria said, "This is music." For the next hour we kept fighting over the music. One of us would play a song and then the other person would change it. I would play rap or fun party songs. Then Maria would change it to music that sounded like it was playing in a coffee shop. At one point I stopped at a gas station so I could connect my phone to the cars bluetooth again. Maria said, "You are being immature." I said, "You started it." Maria said, "You skipped my song." I told her "It was long and nobody was even singing." The fight was getting bad. We did not talk to each other for what felt like an eternity. Finally Maria said, "Okay lets make a deal. Each of us gets to play five songs at a time without the other skipping it. Deal?” I agreed. For a while things were okay again. Marias songs were still not my favorite. At least we had rules now. Then while one of my songs was playing I saw Maria trying to turn down the volume. I warned her "Don’t do that." Maria said, "I am just turning it down a bit." I stopped her. The car swerved a bit and we both got screamed. After a moment both of us started laughing. Our fight seemed silly. We were two women who almost got into an accident because of aux. By the end of the trip we still did not like each others music. However, through the laughs and arguing the music just seemed to fade to the background. We realized that what made the trip was each others company. But, if Maria ever tries to take aux from me again I can’t promise I won’t leave her at the nearest gas station.

The story that changed mine was the story of an immigration lawyer I interned for during high school. Before meeting her, I thought success meant choosing between having a career, helping others, or spending time with family. Watching her showed me that it was possible to do all three at once. She owned her own immigration law practice, worked with nonprofit organizations, and still made time for her family and community. Seeing the way she balanced those responsibilities completely changed the way I viewed my future and the kind of person I wanted to become. During my internship, I watched families come into her office carrying fear, uncertainty, and hope all at the same time. Many of them were overwhelmed by complicated legal processes, language barriers, and financial struggles. What stood out to me most was not just the legal work she did, but the compassion she showed every person who walked through the door. She treated people with patience and dignity, even when they felt invisible or ignored by society. I realized that leadership is not only about professional success; it is about using your knowledge and position to make other people feel seen and supported. Her story changed mine because it made me believe that I could create a future where I help others while also building stability for myself and my family. As a first generation college student pursuing a degree in business finance, I carry a lot of responsibility and pressure. There have been many moments when college felt overwhelming, especially because math and finance have not always come naturally to me. However, watching her persevere and build something meaningful motivated me to continue pushing forward through challenges. She showed me that success is not about having an easy path, but about continuing even when things are difficult. One problem in my community that many people walk past is the lack of guidance and support for first-generation students and immigrant families trying to navigate higher education and professional opportunities. Many students have the ability and motivation to succeed, but they do not always have access to the resources, mentorship, or financial knowledge needed to feel confident about college and their future careers. People often assume that if a student works hard enough, they will figure everything out on their own, but that is not always true. Sometimes students simply need someone to encourage them, answer questions, or show them opportunities they may not even know exist. As someone who is experiencing those challenges firsthand, I understand how isolating it can feel. That is why I want to use my education and future career to help others who come from backgrounds similar to mine. My long term goal is to open my own law firm, and I hope to create a space where people feel supported rather than intimidated. I also want to mentor younger students and help immigrant families better understand educational and professional opportunities available to them. The lawyer I interned for changed my story because she showed me the power of combining ambition with compassion. She taught me that creating change does not always start with something huge. Sometimes it starts with simply taking the time to help people who others overlook.

I chose the career path of business finance because I want to build a successful and stable future for both myself and my family. Ever since I was younger, I understood the importance of financial security and having opportunities that could create a better life. Even though math has always been difficult for me, I decided not to let that stop me from pursuing a degree in finance. Instead, I chose to see it as a challenge that would help me grow both academically and personally. College has not always been easy for me, but I have learned how important perseverance is. Through long hours of studying, asking questions, and seeking help when I need it, I have been able to continue pushing forward toward my goals. Another important reason I chose this field is because I am the first person in my family who will graduate from college. That responsibility has placed a lot of pressure on me, but it has also motivated me to work harder and take my education seriously. I know that earning a degree in business finance will not only change my own future, but it will also positively impact my family’s future. I want to be able to provide financial stability, support my parents as they grow older, and show younger members of my family that higher education is possible. Being a first generation college student has made me realize how valuable education can be and how many doors it can open. One of the biggest reasons I chose business finance specifically is because of how versatile the degree is. A business degree can lead to opportunities in finance, marketing, accounting, management, and many other areas. It also gives me the skills and knowledge needed to potentially start and manage my own business someday. My ultimate goal is to open my own law firm, so I believe having a strong background in business will help me achieve that dream. Understanding finance and business management will allow me to better run a successful practice in the future. In high school, I had the opportunity to intern for a self employed immigration lawyer during the summer, and that experience had a major impact on me. Watching her balance running her own law practice, working for a nonprofit organization, and spending time with her family was inspiring. I admired the independence and flexibility she had because she owned her own business. She explained to me that being her own boss allowed her to create a career that matched both her professional goals and personal values. That experience showed me that a career can be about more than just making money, it can also provide freedom, purpose, and the ability to help others. Getting a degree in business finance will have a major impact on my life because it will give me opportunities that my family has never had before. It will help me build financial security, create a successful career, and move closer to my long term goal of owning my own law firm. Most importantly, it will prove to myself and others that I can overcome challenges and achieve something meaningful through hard work and determination.