In essence, college has significance for me that goes beyond academic performance and furthering my career. For me, going to college involves becoming an independent person capable of developing my character and living up to my full potential. College is associated not only with education; rather, it means taking control of my life, finding my place in society, and growing into an adult who does not need to depend on his parents anymore. The one thing I expect to learn in college is independence. During my high-school years, I relied on my family for help, direction, and support. College will be quite different in this sense because it is designed to test my ability to act independently and responsibly, which means handling responsibilities related to attending classes, managing time and assignments, etc. The idea might be scary, but at the same time, I am sure it is necessary. Additionally, one of the most crucial aspects of this learning experience involves the idea of learning from both positive and negative relationships. In this case, I recognize that not all friendships or connections would be ideal and some may not even last. I accept the reality that some individuals would be supportive while others may betray me. On top of that, I believe that college would offer me the chance to meet different people, including some who would make me realize some valuable lessons about life that I never expected to learn. Moreover, one of the most essential aspects of this growth experience involves the recognition that failure is not something to be afraid of. Mistakes are part of this learning experience because they allow me to grow and improve. When looking back on my high school experiences, I acknowledge that there were certain instances wherein I viewed these situations in a less optimistic manner. During my years in high school, I believed that everything should go smoothly without any problems along the way. Now that I look back, I recognize that such an assumption was far from the truth. In college, I am aware that such lessons would continue Other than my own development, another thing that I look forward to is the formation of significant relationships and having a good influence on other people. For instance, I would like to become a mentor for people who might be facing similar experiences that I have encountered during my life. For instance, if I am able to provide any sort of guidance and advice to people, then this will prove to be a good experience for me. Moreover, I would also be interested in creating new friendships that will provide me with challenges. Finally, it would be ideal if I could contribute something that will remain at the university for a long period of time. This means that whether I start a club or plan a program, or join an organization, I would love to become a part of something significant. College means more than an endpoint for me; rather, it represents change. It involves becoming self-reliant, gaining wisdom through all the experiences, making connections that matter, and discovering how one can contribute to society.

Trust is not necessarily constructed through what is said, but through what is done. The relationship between law enforcement and the African American population in the United States has, in many cases, been problematic and has led to a lack of trust and understanding between the two. For law enforcement agencies to build a better relationship with the African American population, they need to be concerned with communication, transparency, and accountability. One of the most important ways in which law enforcement can build better relationships is by showing, through their actions, that they are there to protect and serve all people, not just whites. Many people in African American communities feel like they are being targeted, not protected. This is a major source of fear and mistrust. Police officers can help to combat this by becoming more involved in the communities in which they serve. This could mean attending community events, visiting schools, mentoring young people, and attending meetings in the communities. By becoming familiar faces, police officers can begin to build some trust. Another important step is improving communication. Misunderstandings and fear often come from a lack of communication. Law enforcement agencies can hold community forums where citizens can openly express their concerns, ask questions, and share their experiences. These conversations may be uncomfortable at times, but they are necessary. When people feel heard, they are more likely to be willing to work together to create safer communities. Transparency and accountability are also very important in enhancing relationships. In instances where there is a problem, people want to be told the truth and be treated with fairness rather than being ignored. When law enforcement agencies are transparent in their dealings and make law enforcement personnel accountable for their misconduct, it shows people that they operate on the principle of justice rather than favoritism, and this may help to restore trust that was lost in the past. Another factor is training. Law enforcement officers should be trained not only on how to enforce the law but also on cultural awareness, how to resolve conflicts, and how to de-escalate situations. This helps officers to handle situations calmly and with a lot of respect. It helps prevent situations from getting too aggressive or dangerous. When people are treated with a lot of respect by law enforcement officers, it changes their perception of the entire system. It is not going to be an easy task to improve the relationship between the police and the African American community, but it is possible. This can be done through the actions of the police, showing the African American community that they care for them. It is also important to note that the police and the African American community need to work together. Ultimately, the goal of law enforcement and the African American community is the same: to have safe neighborhoods, safe families, and a better future for the next generation. Law enforcement agencies can start to mend the relationship and build a partnership that will make the community stronger and safer by focusing on the issues of trust, communication, accountability, and community involvement.

I have always been someone who looks to the future. Not just in terms of where I will live and what I will do, but in terms of what kind of life I want to build and what kind of person I want to become. I am currently a senior in high school and plan to pursue a career in the medical field as a cardiovascular surgeon. I want not only to build a successful career but also to make a difference in people’s lives through the work I do. Growing up, one thing I’ve learned is that life does not always go as planned. For one, my family has not always been financially stable, and for another, I’ve had to navigate personal issues, like dealing with my own mental health in school while still trying to maintain my grades, responsibilities, and future goals. All of these experiences, however, have taught me to be resilient and disciplined. I’ve learned to continue going despite the overwhelming circumstances, and to ask for help and lean on the people around me who care for me. These experiences have made me the person I am today, and that is determined, hardworking, and sympathetic to other people’s struggles. My interest in the medical field began when I started taking medical and science-related classes in high school. The more I learned about the human body, the more I became fascinated by it, especially by the heart and cardiovascular system. I learned that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death, but it is also one of the leading preventable diseases if one has the proper education and treatment at a young age. This is what has pushed me to want to become a cardiovascular surgeon because I want to make a difference by saving lives. Looking to the future, I plan to make a difference in the world by not only being a surgeon but also by focusing on prevention and education. I want to help people understand how to take care of their hearts before serious problems arise. This includes helping patients understand nutrition, exercise, stress management, and warning signs of heart disease. I also believe that to be a good doctor, you must help people avoid illness, not just treat them for it. I also want to leave a positive mark by becoming a doctor who listens to the patient. There are cases where people are scared, confused, or do not feel that they are being listened to in the medical community, and I want to become a doctor that makes the patient feel heard and cared for. Little things such as taking the time to explain something to the patient or just listening to the patient can go a long way in the patient’s recovery. All in all, I hope to make a difference in the world in a positive way by using the skills and knowledge I will acquire to help others and make the world a better place. I understand that it will not be easy to become a cardiovascular surgeon, but I am willing to do the work necessary to become this profession because I know that the job I am working towards is not just a job, it is a way to make a difference in the world.

Most people believe that inspiration is like a lightning bolt, an epiphany that hits at once. But when I read the story of Jack Terry, it wasn’t like that. It wasn’t lightning. It was quiet, steady, and almost unbelievable. Not because of what happened to him, but because of what happened after. He did not let it define what he expected out of life. Instead, he just kept going. He went through a new country, a new language, an education, the Army, medicine, and a life dedicated to making other people’s lives better. It is not just the story of survival; it is the story of not letting life become small because it started hard. Although my adversity may be very different from his, his story resonates with me because I know what it is like to be trying to succeed despite a fight with something that people cannot always see. In school, I have struggled with major depression. The hardest part of my depression was not the feeling of being sad, but trying to be successful, get my schoolwork done, plan my future, and pretend everything was going great at the same time. Some days, getting through school felt like running a marathon with no finish line. What I learned from that period of my life is something that I will carry with me forever. I learned that you can’t fight everything by yourself, and that you can’t give up on your future just because the present is not easy. I learned that I had to keep my focus on my goals, even if I did not feel like it, or if my mind told me to quit. I learned, however, that being strong does not always mean not talking. Talking to my mom about what I was going through changed everything. I learned that being strong is not only about fighting through pain, but it is also about knowing when to let someone help you carry it. This experience gave me discipline, emotional strength, and empathy. This is a skill set that I will carry with me into my career and beyond. It gave me the understanding that everyone is fighting a battle that you may not see, and being kind and patient with people may be the only thing that helps someone through a situation you may not fully see. In the future, I would like to become a cardiovascular surgeon. While I know that I will be saving lives, I would not only like to treat heart problems, but also to prevent them. One of the most significant ways that we can give back to society is through preventative care. I would like to educate people about heart problems, lifestyle, early warning signs, and how to care for their bodies, so surgery is not necessary. This will allow families to spend more time with their loved ones, alleviate pain, and improve the quality of life for an entire community. Jack Terry dedicated his life to using his pain for a purpose, teaching and providing hope for his students. This is something that I find most inspiring. It does not have to take adversity to make a person bitter. It can make a person purposeful. My adversity has not held my goals back; it has helped create them. It has shown me that if I am able to get through the worst times of my life and choose a career where I get to help people live, then my adversity did not overcome me; it prepared me.

Money is not, nor has it ever been, an abstract concept to me, but rather one that is palpable through the small decisions that my family had to make every day. Having a mother whose salary was less than $50,000 per year, I quickly came to realize, especially as I was growing up, that every dollar had a purpose. Whether it was choosing between needs and wants while grocery shopping or waiting until the next paycheck to make a purchase, money was not just about numbers but about decisions. The environmental factors played a role in recognizing financial responsibility compared to others. However, it was not until I took a finance course that I understood the rationale behind the financial decisions I had witnessed throughout my life. In this course, I learned how to develop a budget, manage spending, and differentiate between fixed and variable expenses. I was also introduced to various techniques of saving, such as creating an emergency fund and "paying yourself first." I was exposed to various ideas such as credit scores, interest rates, and debt management, which highlighted how financial decisions currently affect future stability. The most impactful lesson I learned is about the power of compound interest. Understanding the power of capital accumulation over a period of time through savings and investments helped me realize that success is not achieved by sudden acquisition of wealth but by being constant and persistent. I also learned the importance of setting realistic financial goals and developing a plan for achieving them, which helped me feel a sense of control over my future, which I previously did not. My personal experiences and my financial education have shaped my understanding of what it means to be financially successful. From my perspective, being financially successful does not mean being wealthy or having unlimited resources. It means being financially secure and feeling free. It means being able to save for emergencies without undue stress, being able to indulge in some of the pleasures in life without guilt, and being able to provide for myself and my family. Looking into the future, it is my intention to apply the knowledge learned through effective budgeting and financial planning. This includes building effective saving habits at an early age, avoiding unnecessary debt, and investing wisely to accumulate interest on my capital in the future. Moreover, it is my intention to acquire more knowledge on investing, retiring, and managing wealth outside of the classroom. My goal is to break the cycle of financial difficulties and create a life that is characterized by security and opportunities. The experiences that I have gone through have shown that financial literacy is not just about education; it is a lifelong learning process that allows individuals to shape their future in a particular way. By using the knowledge that I have learned and continuing to develop my learning process, I will be able to create a comfortable and secure life not just for myself but also for others around me.