Although a legacy is most well-known as an amount of money left to another generation or ancestor, I perceive a legacy to be the notable actions and impacts that transcend one’s lifetime. When my great-grandfather passed away, he did leave a financial legacy in the form of donations to organizations such as the Humane Society and PBS and further left a small amount of money for educational purposes to each of his six great-grandchildren, but it was his value of philanthropy and education that led me to paint a better picture of the kind of person he was. The unquantifiable passion for education that stemmed from his inheritance is what I believe to be the most lasting part of his legacy, which is why a legacy means so much more to me than a dollar amount. To leave a legacy means to live beyond oneself -- to spur a change that leaves a mark on future generations and gives them something to aspire to and even go beyond during their lifetime. I also believe that leaving a legacy means inspiring young people to give back to their families and their community during their lifetime in whatever way they can. In a way, leaving a positive legacy can be a way of paying it forward. For example, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics recently received a $7.5 million gift from an alumnus that noted that the dorms could use some renovations, which in the next three years will greatly impact the students at this high school. The kindness of this action will live beyond this donor’s time, which is what makes this such a valuable legacy to leave. I believe that there are many different kinds of valuable legacies, including actions and life lessons that are adopted by newer generations. Quantifiable legacies such as charitable donations or foundations designed to help people succeed can be just as meaningful as nonmonetary legacies that teach an important lesson or inspire success in future generations. Both kinds of legacies are methods of giving back to humanity and improving it in some way, which I think composes the meaning of the word “legacy”. One of my grandfathers worked as an engineer at Grumman and his legacy was the intangible love of aerospace innovation that inspired my brother to become a pilot. He worked on circuit boards for the Apollo 11 mission as well, which remains an incredible concept to me and inspires me to leave a positive mark on the world as he did, even if he was not notorious for his work outside our family. I know that his actions during his lifetime inspired my father to be such an incredible parent and hard-working man, which has in turn inspired my brother and I to see that our dreams are worth pursuing. The spirit of my grandfather will live in our family forever, which is one of the greatest shapes a legacy can take. I’ve always dreamed of changing the world somehow and have aimed to start small in my community by joining the Student Advisory Council, participating in my county’s first Teen Court, and establishing a peer tutoring program at my high school. I hope my legacy proves that I both lived life to the fullest and helped other people succeed and be happy, especially during such a trying time as COVID-19 has produced, and that somehow future generations are able to learn from the mistakes and triumphs I experience during my lifetime. Someday, depending on my financial success, I would like to give to charity, donate to education systems that need upgraded technology or materials, or create a scholarship foundation to help inspire kids to continue their education and live to leave their own positive legacy.

When COVID-19 sent the education system straight into the world of virtual learning, students and teachers were forced to adapt in their own ways. Older and more experienced students made time to improve themselves, get jobs, and learn topics outside of school. As a tutor and seasoned online student, I hope for a future in which my generation continues to accept challenges, innovate, and adapt to tough situations as a result of getting through this arduous time period. I foresee the education system adapting to be more inclusive and tailored to students, especially those fit to learn independently. The push for students and teachers to adapt to the online environment gave younger students the opportunity to learn how to communicate digitally and led teachers to update their teaching styles to fit with the increased use of technology in the classroom. The increased use of technology in the classroom has allowed teachers to explore the possibilities of using different programs to enhance their teaching style, such as the newfound ability to post recorded lessons for students to rewatch to ensure they don’t miss a beat in the classroom. This puts educators in a position to update their methods of teaching to fit with the 21st century and gives students the opportunity to learn more efficiently. Thanks to flipped classroom models, the encouragement to learn independently, and enhanced methods of communication, students are able to pace themselves in their education and connect with their instructors and peers in ways that they could not before. The pandemic has given students and teachers the chance to get creative with the education system, leading to positive and forward-looking changes. Online learning has also made a positive impact on the environment, leading to less waste of paper and other materials. Teachers are more likely to remain paperless because of their new experiences with using technology to assign and grade work. Furthermore, there has been less of a need to commute to and from school, leading to a decrease in the use of fossil fuels. Parents are also more able to be flexible with their kids without the need to add the commute to and from school to their to-do list. This has enabled more interaction between students and their parents at home; parents are more involved in their child’s education than ever before. This will aid in fostering healthy connections within families and positive dependency of kids on their parents. Students have gained a greater appreciation for both their families and their teachers, which will enhance connections in the coming years when students are able to develop their interpersonal skills beyond home and the classroom. The opportunity to learn independently has helped students understand that the work they put into their courses is equal to the knowledge they earn from the material. Students that adjust to thrive during this time period will be more adept to adapt to change in the future, resulting in a more innovative and self-motivated generation of people in the workforce and beyond. I envision a generation taking on the world with the attitude that no challenge is too great after surviving a pandemic and triumphing the difficulties of adjusting to online instruction and interaction. When kids from my generation have the opportunity to educate the next generation, they will be able to provide an individualized learning experience for students, allowing them to have more of a deciding factor in the education they receive.

In 2019, I interviewed for and was accepted to go on a 23-day trip across the country with 81 other teens: Teens Westward Bound. On day six of the trip, all 81 of us got the chance to hike the Grand Canyon. We were given three distances to choose from: two, three, and six miles. I was unsure of myself and was leaning toward the shorter options, but when we woke up at four in the morning, I found myself rushing over to join the six mile group. I don't regret it one bit!