1. The way that I would respond to someone who comes to me about a major life decision is the way my mother responds. My mother has been the "go-to" person in our family, and among her friends, for as long as I can remember. I have seen successful strategies for helping others make their own decisions over time and for many tough situations. I would first need to know what the major decision is about and why the decision-making has become difficult. Knowing why the decision is difficult is important because it gives me an understanding of what part of the decision is most important to the person needing guidance. I would then need to know the possible routes to take, analyze what the probable outcome of each route is and how each relates to what is most important to this person. After we have talked, brainstormed, compared, and contrasted, I would highlight what I think most aligns with this person's best outcome, but not directly tell them what to do. I would like for them to come to their own decision and be supportive of this decision as it would likely have a major impact on their life. 2. My STEM path isn't beyond the realm of what I have seen others do, but it is rare enough to have it's own set of challenges. I have been taking college courses since I was in middle school, however most were online, so my age had been unknown by instructors and classmates. When I was ready to take math courses at the college level, "College Algebra for Calculus", I was 13 years old and about one foot shorter than I am today, a small 5 foot kid and looked very much my age, I did not look like any older than I was. Before entering the class my mom gave me a talk, in short she said that I'm most likely the youngest person in the class and there may be skepticism about my ability to perform. Arriving in the math class it was obvious that my mother was correct, as she often is, I was definitely the youngest person in the class. While the instructor was going over the syllabus she looked directly at me and said, "This is not like a high school algebra class, this is fast paced and more difficult." I was singled out, it didn't feel good, but I was already mentally prepared for this moment because my mother had warned me this may happen. I was nervous, I got stares, people not sure if they should even talk to me. It was awkward and I couldn't wait to get in the car to tell my mother what happened. Her response was, "You know what's funny, college algebra is definitely different from high school algebra, good thing you're in middle school." My mom always finds the humor and at the time, it was pretty funny and exactly what I needed to plant the fire in my belly to prove to the instructor that this class was not too difficult for me. During the semester, the class was pretty tough mainly because I didn't know how to take good notes yet. I didn't do well on the 1st of 3 tests, I got a C. Luckily, my mother is a math whiz so she went over better strategies for note taking and studying. This was advice that I had previously rejected, but I was desperate to pass the class so I listened and agreed to try her way until the next exam. On the 2nd exam I managed to get an A. The note taking skills that I dedicated myself to as well as the new study habits meant I was working smarter, not harder, and it paid off. The class was half full by this time, meaning half of the class withdrew because it was indeed difficult. By the end of the semester, my study habits had been solidified, I aced the Final & I passed the course with a B. I have gone on to do higher math classes. I am now in the calculus series, however this first math class experience, and the unique challenge associated with mastering my skills will forever be a memory that I can rely on. I didn't just pick up the math knowledge, I responded to being singled out and doubted by succeeding.

When I was 11 years old I tried to hack into my dads old phone. Upon telling my mom what I was trying to do, instead of punishing me, she explained what Cyber Security was instead and how I can get started on it by pursuing a degree in computer science and earn certificates along the way. Later that same year she signed me up at the local college to begin my journey to my ultimate goal, becoming a cyber security expert. The way my mother explains it, “if you’re as smart as you are and like hacking things, you might as well do it as a professional and for a good cause”. So, a childhood curiosity has quickly become the core focus of my education. My other goal is to become a paid soccer player, or football player everywhere else in the world. I have participated in several sports since I was in kindergarten. Jujitsu for several years, wrestling, competition swim, football (American football) but I naturally enjoyed soccer for the team aspect, the competition, and the limits that it pushes my body to. Just like my computer science goal, my mom completely supports my athletic goal to become a soccer player. I understand that being a professional athlete is a temporary venture so as much as I put my brain energy toward coding, I put my physical energy toward maintaining my body and being competition ready. The way these 2 goals intertwine is even if I have to go overseas, I can use the funding from soccer to finance my education, or if I can manage to get an athletic scholarship and I don’t become a pro athlete, I can at least fund my masters degree. Soccer is a tool for me to continue my education as I know this will be a long journey that is an expensive journey, but I believe it will all be worth it in the end. My mom is investing, often times, her last dollar toward PC equipment, or books, or even club soccer fees and hotels when I have to travel. She pretends it doesn’t impact the family budget, but I know it does because it’s simple math that it does. So I thought I’d share my goal that answers some of the questions that one may have, I have my mom a promise; “I’m going to buy a home with enough land to build a second home, so you and the babies can always be close to me” the babies are my 2 severely autistic siblings. I am pursuing being a cyber security expert for the longevity, a soccer pro to fund my long term career, and after it’s all said and done, I’ll give my siblings a job at my cyber security firm so my mom doesn’t have to worry.

When I choose a drink at Starbucks , it’s often dictated by the seasons. I’m the fall, I love a Zebra Hot Chocolate, some may not know what this is as it’s the “old name” for a Black & White Hot Chocolate. Typically, I order the Egg, Bacon & Gouda breakfast sandwich with this when I get out of class. The combination of the two really get me comfortable, just full enough, and back in the zone. The first time I ever had this drink I was 4 or 5 years old, it gets fairly cold in Sonoma County, so my grandma took me to get this Kids Zebra Hot Chocolate after school while I was still using a child’s booster seat and it’s been part of my cold weather routine ever since. Over a decade later and I’m making the same order every fall. During fall I also have soccer practice, games and tournaments. While I’m practicing, busy warming up, or on our way home from a win or a loss, my mom always opens the Starbucks app. She gets the soy caramel macchiato with an added shot of espresso, a cake pop and a Bacon Gouda Breakfast sandwich for herself, and she always gets me the zebra hot chocolate, which she refuses to call a black and white hot chocolate so she must explain what it is every time, and of course my bacon Gouda breakfast sandwich as well. By the time I’m done with practice or my games are over, it’s cooled down enough for me to dig in, as I prefer warm, not hot. Starbucks is a staple for our after soccer routine and when I know I have an out of town tournament, I can guarantee 2 Starbucks trips that day, one got the ride there, and one for the way home! I now have siblings, 3 years old and 4 years old, and they’re almost ready to try my drink of choice. Right now when we pull up to the Starbucks drive thru, even if fussing or rowdy, they realize where we’re at and wait patiently for their cake pops. When they’re old enough to have a kids zebra hot chocolate, I will have successfully given my siblings the gift of so memories to come, memories where you can remember the taste and remember the smell. The most vivid memories of fall, in Northern California, a kids zebra hot chocolate, crisp air, and a little breakfast sandwich for the tummy.

Driving Under the Influence, DUI, is the act of driving while under the influence of a mind altering substance, not limited to alcohol. The ultimate effect on society is a less safe place to live, walk and drive. Persons committing a DUI have driven into homes, onto sidewalks, and crashed into other vehicles and persons. The loss of life, injury and damage to property are effects that DUIs have to innocent persons directly, but there are also indirect victims, like mourning family members and friends. Since the victims of DUI are not discriminative, victims that may have unhealthy coping mechanisms could also fall to addictions with prescription pills after rehabilitating from an injury caused by an intoxicated driver, or alcohol and other drugs to cope with losses, depression and anxiety as a secondary injury from being a victim to a DUI driver. Aside from direct victims and their family members, dependence of the DUI driver could also feel the effects of a DUI incident as well their caretaker or parent could be incarcerated or lose income from a criminal record. The ramifications of DUI penalty could exacerbate addictions and make home life intolerable. The societal, macro, effects of DUIs contribute to overloaded jails, prisons, and probation work loads. Another macro effect is the general risk to all drivers on the road, drivers need to be aware that people often drive under the influence and practice defensive driving as a result. In a utopian society all cars and vehicles would have Blood Alchohol Content monitoring devices and monitoring for other mind altering substances. However, more tangible DUI prevention would be to eliminate parking at bars, wineries, and clubs so only car pools, taxis, and uber drivers can transport and remove the ability to drive to common areas where drinking takes place. One more way to prevent DUI occurrences from happening is to make ride services like Uber, Lyft and others free for persons that are intoxicated by any substance, and subsidize it with public health and safety funds. The last way to prevent DUIs from occurring is to educate people on how mental health is directly related to substance abuse and allow free withdrawal medication, support and reward system for those that seek help.