I am a college freshman, majoring in business management and digital marketing with a minor in Japanese. My interest in digital marketing stems from the fact that I have been editing using Adobe After Effects for about 4 years, editing TV shows, and people, and creating things! I can be creative and express my artistic side that I do not commonly portray to others. For example, I enjoy creating motion graphics and creating angst edits of my favorite shows or books on Adobe After Effects using sad music, intriguing quotes, and unveiling transitions because it allows me to not only express how that specific scene makes me feel but can also express the tone in that scene to other people, even if they have not watched or read the scene before. Near the end of 2023, I began learning Japanese despite how intimidating it was, and I have been enjoying learning it ever since, advancing my knowledge through self-study. To pursue my goals, I am studying at the University of Arizona. I plan to participate in study abroad programs, volunteer, and join clubs. An education will not only fill me with knowledge, but also help me develop personal skills such as critical thinking, leadership, adaptation, and more that will be utilized when developing and expanding my business’s range and diversity. With the skills and knowledge gained from university, I can create a more efficient company with a strong foundation. I will talk to my peers to foster friendships and volunteer, honing my skills. At university, there are thousands of diverse kinds of ethnicities, nationalities, interests, and races. This exposure will widen my horizons because I will not be limited to one group of people or interests, but a variety! Through higher education, I will access more knowledge, and learn more about thinking critically, other people, different perspectives, and group work! After receiving my business management and marketing degrees with a minor in Japanese, I will continue to push through toward my goals. I want to be an entrepreneur. My business will focus on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships to benefit local and global populations! With this, I aim to inspire those around me to do the same and aid their community. Driven by my desire to spread kindness, knowledge, diversity, and inclusion that I have learned over the years encourages me to make a positive difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to make the world a better place for generations to come. For example, my business can be a digital marketing creation company, so that I can utilize my degrees and editing skills. With my Japanese skills, I can widen my horizons, communicate with more people, and gain diverse knowledge. I also plan to aid my community by doing things such as helping incoming university freshmen with questions, providing tips for success, donating to organizations like one for environmental perseverance, and creating opportunities to learn more about other cultures such as Jamaican, scholarships, community service opportunities, and more! With my career goals, I yearn to positively impact society just like my parents who work hard at their jobs, change someone's life for the better, and gain more knowledge about the world around me, leading to my desire to impact the world by helping others pursue their own goals. To accomplish my goals, I plan on attaining degrees in business management and marketing, and a minor in Japanese, honing my editing skills, and overcoming hardships.

Until graduation, I have supported others through club participation! Key Club which focuses on volunteering around the community, like cleanup events and helping at festivals. Link Crew focuses on volunteering to help around the school and the community. I prepared the school for first-year students' orientation and helped freshmen students integrate into high school smoothly. Finally, the Black Student Union is open to everyone and enlightens members on Black history and topics like traditions. This club urges members to stand up for diversity by creating posters about Black history, paying for Black-owned food businesses to come to the school for lunch, and encouraging students to work towards equality.  Aside from clubs, just by being kind, I have impacted others through acts of love and service. Encouraging and helping people such as in dance class when we are doing solos, math class when working on a problem, or during group work. By providing a slight push, I can encourage and instill others with confidence! I support others through acts such as babysitting, dog sitting, cooking, and lending an ear to those who seek it! Though I am not the best talker, when someone wants to vent, I will listen and give advice! I am also proud to say that my family is caring for a child in Africa, as we can write letters to him, provide food, school supplies, and more so that he can have support!  By giving tips and information, I have been encouraging others to donate to Goodwill, and the Salvation Army for unused goods they may have. Though lots of people want to make money off of their items like clothes, I encourage people to support others by giving; allowing people who are less fortunate to wear comfortable clothes.  After receiving my business management degree with a minor in Japanese, I will continue on my career path to becoming an entrepreneur. My business will focus on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships to benefit local and global populations! With this, I aim to inspire those around me to do the same and aid their community. Driven by my desire to spread kindness, knowledge, diversity, and inclusion that I have learned over the years, it encourages me to make a positive difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to make the world a better place for generations to come. For example, my business can be a digital marketing creation company, I can utilize my degrees and editing skills. With my Japanese skills, I can widen my horizons, communicate with more people, and gain diverse knowledge. I also plan to aid my community by doing things such as helping incoming university freshmen with questions, providing tips for success, donating to organizations like one for environmental perseverance, and creating opportunities to learn about cultures such as Jamaican, scholarships, community service opportunities, and more!

After receiving my business management degree and minor in Japanese, I plan to start a company after enough planning and funds raised. I aim to be an entrepreneur. My company will focus on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, donations, and internships that will benefit both local and global populations! This may be a digital media marketing company! With this, I aim to inspire those around me to do the same and aid their community. Driven by my desire to spread kindness, knowledge, diversity, and inclusion that I have learned over the years, it encourages me to make a positive difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to make the world a better place for generations to come. Creating a business that is integral to people's lives is an aspiration of mine. Not only will I accomplish my aspiration of owning a business and utilizing my degree, but I can provide various opportunities and sell a product/service that represents my concepts and creativity. My business will alleviate stress, aid others, or even provide individuals with entertainment, positively impacting society and improving people’s quality of life. This is to foster healthy communities globally so that those who seek financial aid or experience can receive help towards their goals, work experience can be gained, and clubs can flourish and function within communities! Through accomplishing my aspirations, I hope to inspire others to pursue their own aspirations despite any adversity they face. Giving back to people globally is significant, as I feel it is important to not only think of yourself but what you can do to improve someone else's life, even through a small act of kindness like babysitting and dog sitting (which I do). In Canada I have been helping my church by singing, helping set up and tidy dinners, playing instruments, and selling food. After moving to Arizona, I have participated in clubs like Link Crew, which volunteers to help around the school and the community such as by preparing and managing first-year students' orientation and a Halloween event hosted on campus. The Black Student Union club urges members to stand up for diversity through activities like creating Black history posters and paying for Black-owned businesses to come for lunch. My family also sponsors a child in Africa. In the future, I intend to positively impact individuals globally by providing various opportunities through my business. With this, I aim to alleviate financial burdens for individuals pursuing their educational or career goals, provide work experience, and support recreational activities, fostering healthy communities. I aim to help with financial aid, encourage community participation through activities such as clubs, and improve the quality of life for individuals. Along with my business, I also aspire to become fluent in Japanese. I will be able to communicate with people globally, expanding my perspective and knowledge about the world. I will also be able to expand my business to places outside of English-speaking countries, such as Japan; providing a positive impact to individuals with my business and various opportunities! Even allowing individuals to achieve their dreams of coming to America! My Japanese skills will not only equip me with further knowledge but will facilitate my career/personal goal of aiding and communicating with people globally! With passion burning within me, I hope to utilize my language skills in a community with a variety of people and understand new perspectives, while creating a business that is successful globally and positively impacts individuals

When I moved to the U.S. from Canada during my sophomore year of high school I felt like an outcast. I was around different people and environments, and the spelling was different. I faced difficulty with making friends, joining clubs, and understanding schoolwork. I felt like an outcast, possibly because my skin differed from the majority. However, I knew that I had to overcome the challenge. I decided that I would be more open-minded. I asked for extra help and embraced the environment instead of rejecting it. My academics improved and taught me that I can thrive in new environments! I achieved honor roll that year, developed study habits, and adjusted to the different spelling: color, not colour! I joined clubs like the Black Student Union and Link Crew. I learned that I can overcome adversity and adapt even when scared. Since I was young, I have been helping my church community by singing church songs, participating in activities such as Christmas games, helping set up and tidy dinners, playing instruments, and selling food. I also dogsit and babysit. After moving to Arizona for high school, I have participated in clubs. Key Club focuses on volunteering around the community, like cleanup events and helping at festivals. Link Crew focuses on volunteering to help around the school and the community. For example, we prepared the school for first-year students' orientation and helped first-year students integrate into high school smoothly. Finally, the Black Student Union is open to everyone and enlightens members on Black history and topics such as traditions. This club urges members to stand up for diversity by creating posters about Black history, paying for Black-owned food businesses to come to the school for lunch, and encouraging students to work towards equality. After receiving my business management degree with a minor in Japanese, I aim to become an entrepreneur and open a business that will provide impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that benefit local and global populations! With this, I aim to inspire those around me to do the same and aid their communities. My desire to spread kindness and diversity that I have learned encourages me to make a difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to better the world for generations to come. My business may be an advertisement creation or marketing company. With my degree, I aim to have a knowledgeable foundation and resources for my business. With my Japanese skills, I aim to diversify myself so that I can communicate with numerous people, be versatile, and gain knowledge in varying topics like business or societal norms! I also plan to aid my community through activities like helping university freshmen with questions, providing tips for success, donating to organizations like one for environmental perseverance, and creating opportunities to learn about cultures like Jamaican as I am Jamaican, community service opportunities, and more.

When I first moved to the United States from Canada for my sophomore year of high school, I felt like I did not belong. I was around different people and environments, and even spelling was different. As an introverted person, adapting was difficult because of the huge change. I faced adversities with making friends, joining clubs, and understanding schoolwork because Canadian and U.S. curriculums are not the exact same. I was mentally and physically distressed. "Perhaps it is because I'm new'', is what I thought. Even those who had joined my classes after I had appeared to easily integrate, yet I was struggling. However, I knew that I had no choice but to overcome these adversities given my circumstances. I wanted to succeed, to impact others positively, and to achieve my goal of honor roll. I decided that I would be more open-minded. I asked for extra help and embraced the environment instead of rejecting it. This challenge made my academic life even stronger and taught me that I can thrive in new environments if I try to improve. I achieved straight A's that year, honor roll, learned about US history, and adjusted to the different spelling: color, not colour! I realized my passion for learning languages and entrepreneurship! By overcoming challenges, I have become more considerate of others, and open to trying new activities and meeting people. I have also become more sociable, as before I feared what other people would think of me. For my future goals, I aimed to maintain an honor roll status and a workout schedule, take AP/honors classes, and join clubs! For every year of high school I have achieved straight A’s, honor roll, joined clubs, created bonds, maintained a workout schedule, and graduated in the top 10% of my class. I have also been participating in hobbies I have been longing for like dance classes and learning Japanese, because I no longer want to limit myself from participating in interesting things! Back when I lived in Canada, I often helped out at my church. Since I was young, I have been helping my church community by singing songs, participating in activities such as Christmas games, helping set up and tidy dinners, playing instruments, and selling food. After moving to Arizona for my sophomore year of high school, I was much too nervous to truly integrate into my community at first, however, with time and perseverance I have gained confidence and have participated in clubs. Key Club focuses on volunteering around the community, like cleanup events and helping at festivals. Link Crew focuses on volunteering to help around the school and the community. This club prepares the school for first-year students' orientation and helps first-year students integrate into high school smoothly. Finally, the Black Student Union is open to everyone and enlightens members on Black history and topics such as traditions, and comes together as a family. This club urges members to stand up for diversity by creating posters about Black history around the school, paying for Black-owned food businesses to come to the school for lunch, and encouraging students to work towards equality. Aside from clubs, just by being kind, I have impacted others through acts of love and service. Encouraging and helping people such as in dance class when we are doing solos, math class when working on a problem, or during group work. By providing a slight push, I can encourage and instill others with confidence! Continuing in the future, I plan to join clubs that provide community service and foster community in college, and be a safe space for others!

Traveling is an experience that individuals should participate in, traveling to different places around the world, or even simply different states within their own country. The exposure to different ways of living, cultures, foods, environments, and perspectives will allow individuals to become more diverse beings with the ability to think critically, learn, and even adapt actions learned. Traveling to unfamiliar places is a transformative experience that allows exposure to different aspects of people's lives. For example, I was lucky enough to travel to Japan with a group for ten days. During my trip, I was able to observe different societal norms, cultures, and environments. In Japan, the walking culture is huge. I learned about how much walking there is as during my trip we walked a lot to temples, stores, city streets, and even to dinner! Though we walked so much, there were little to no garbage cans outside so people kept their garbage with them. Even with the limited garbage cans present, the streets were still clean! Finally, the environment of the country as a whole was new and interesting. I could feel the kindness in the service provided at restaurants, or even purchasing something at a convenience store; especially airport security. With this traveling experience, I was exposed to a whole new world that led me to a different perspective on customer service, societal norms, environments, and more! I even learned basic Japanese for my trip, and even with my basic skills locals were surprised and happy when I could speak some Japanese. Even after the trip I continue to study Japanese, diversifying myself and learning different things about the world! Overall, I learned about a different country, and its people, and even committed to learning a new language as a result! Just like my experience with my Japan trip, travel allows individuals to develop and learn more! Traveling does not always have to be overseas, but can be traveling to different states within one’s country. Traveling to other states will allow individuals to see that not everyone in their country lives, thinks, or has the same norms. In some states, certain fast food places may be popular, another language may be commonly spoken, and the state may have a different political stance. Upon traveling, individuals can learn about the different perspectives, and the reasons for popular food spots, and even meet new people! The ability to experience even a different state’s environment will allow individuals to subconsciously grow and develop as they will now have gained diverse perspectives, information, and more knowledge about people around the world, possibly resulting in a calling for new hobbies! Traveling is significant because it leads individuals to grow and develop as a person. After all, individuals gain a plethora of knowledge and experiences that will influence them to look at the bigger picture. Individuals will observe alternate perspectives, learn more about unfamiliar societal norms, and experience different environments to name a few transformative actions that occur when traveling.

I aim to become an entrepreneur that society wishes was always there. My business will provide impactful services or products integral to society. It will aid communities by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that will benefit both local and global populations! Receiving this scholarship will allow me to pursue my educational pursuits, alleviating my worries about whether my family can pay for my meals, housing, tuition, and other university necessities. I will be able to study at the University of Arizona, majoring in business management with a minor in Japanese, while being able to focus more on my studies. With the aid of this scholarship, not only will my educational barriers be broken, but as a young black woman, in my community, I hope to portray that it is possible to exceed the limits society puts on my community, as well as other minorities’ communities. Surpassing expectations and achieving a full education is possible with perseverance and aid. I aspire to be a role model for people in my community and a role model to people who may be struggling to break off the barriers put on them by society. I aim to prove to them that it is possible to pursue their educational goals, attend college, receive help, succeed, and exceed other people’s expectations, and even one’s own expectations. This scholarship will make it possible for me to confidently pursue my college journey, partaking in clubs and study abroad programs, and helping various communities as an example of a minority accomplishing her educational goals. As I am unable to apply for the FAFSA, I am at a disadvantage when looking for ways to fund my educational journey. I am passionate about my academics, and the world, and seeking opportunities! In the past, I would let opportunities fly past me due to fear and nervousness, however, through overcoming the fear of the unknown I am devoted to seeking opportunities that arise, like this scholarship! My desire to make a positive impact in this world, and widen my horizons is immense. With the aid of this scholarship, I will be able to pursue my academics and opportunities, laying the foundation for my future goals of owning a business and providing scholarships. This scholarship will provide financial, mental, and moral support during my college journey, boosting my desire to succeed even more because it will be proof that someone believes in my cause. My goal with this scholarship is to help fund my major goal of receiving a bachelor's degree and minor by financing expenses such as tuition and inspiring others to pursue their dreams. In the face of adversity, I will choose to persevere further, achieving my goals of creating my business, and helping other people with their goals through scholarships, sponsorships, and internships. With this scholarship, I can continue my educational journey, allowing my future career to be put into preparation. Likely, I will struggle but overcome adversity and achieve my goals. This scholarship will not just be an investment in me, but in other people too. It will be a gift that keeps on giving. Not only will it go through me and then to whoever I help, but I hope to inspire those around me to do the same and help their community; whether through scholarships, sponsorship, or community service. I am a passionate person who challenges and overcomes adversity. This scholarship will help me explore countless opportunities in university, lay the pathway for my career goals, and be an investment in me and others as I positively impact others.

When I moved to the U.S. from Canada during my sophomore year of high school I felt like an outcast. I was around different people and environments, and the spelling was different. I faced difficulty with making friends, joining clubs, and understanding schoolwork. I felt like an outcast, possibly because my skin was different from the majority. However, I knew that I had to overcome the challenge. I decided that I would be more open-minded. I asked for extra help and embraced the environment instead of rejecting it. My academics improved and taught me that I can thrive in new environments! I achieved honor roll that year, developed study habits, and adjusted to the different spelling: color, not colour! I joined clubs like the Black Student Union and Link Crew. I learned that I can overcome adversity and adapt even when scared. My parents worked long hours, days and nights, to support my family with the job they’d moved from Canada to America for. They were trying to open a business. I was struggling, but my parents were bearing the stress of ensuring my family’s stability. Often when I’d get home from school, my parents would be at work, and not return until night. I also quit gymnastics to give my brothers more opportunities to participate in basketball. Observing this experience made me want to help and change this lifestyle. Not just for myself, but for others who experience the same, who struggle to find community, struggle with goals, need financial aid, or need encouragement. This inspired my goal of becoming an entrepreneur, like my parents, who positively impacts people globally with scholarships, sponsorships, and a desirable product/service! After receiving my business management degree with a minor in Japanese, I aim to open a business that will provide impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that benefit local and global populations! With this, I aim to inspire those around me to do the same and aid their community. My desire to spread kindness and diversity that I have learned over the years encourages me to make a difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to better the world for generations to come. My business may be an advertisement creation or marketing company. With my degree, I aim to be skillful and informed when creating a business. With my Japanese skills, I aim to diversify myself so that I will be more versatile and able to communicate with numerous people to gain knowledge in varying topics like business or societal norms! My goals are significant to me; they're inspired by my past experiences and are goals that will impact others. Creating a business is liberating as I can express myself in various ways like using my editing skills, developing products/services, and collaborating with others. My family will also benefit as my parents' hard work will not be in vain, because I will become successful and able to help support my family! Viewing the dedication of my parents has fueled the same dedication and perseverance within me. With this burning inside of me, I aim to pursue my educational and entrepreneurial goals! I aspire to become a symbol of perseverance and success to individuals facing similar struggles as I have such as moving homes and stereotypes. As a young black woman, in my community, I hope to portray that it is possible to exceed the limits society puts on my community, as well as other minorities’ communities.

The environmental state of our Earth is suffering more and more each day. As greenhouse gases are constantly released in the air, plastics and waste are dumped wherever people see fit, or when our water sources are polluted, killing organisms and habitats. This must change for the Earth’s wellbeing, and future generations before the damage is too severe to be fixed. In the near future, I plan on attaining my business management and marketing degree, along with a minor in Japanese or digital media. With my degrees and minor, I aim to become an entrepreneur, creating an efficient business with a strong foundation that is integral to people’s lives. My business will also provide scholarships, internships, and recreational scholarships to aid those pursuing their educational or career goals. To create a positive impact with my business platform, I plan to make sure means of production are as environmentally-friendly as possible, whether that is by reusing recycled materials, reducing the amount of gas used to decrease air pollution, or installing solar panels on the business building for renewable energy. I also plan to donate a percentage of company profit to local and global charities or nonprofit organizations such as The Rainforest Trust, Conservation International, and World Wildlife Fund. I can also positively impact the environment by using my digital media and Japanese skills to raise awareness of the environmental state of our planet. This is by creating meaningful blogs and posts and recommending organizations to donate to. In my community, I can even collaborate with local environmental organizations, so that people become more aware and can support their local environment with the guidance of the non-profit organization. With my Japanese skills, I can communicate with additional people to learn ways to decrease waste and greenhouse gases, and overall improve the environment that America may not have adapted to yet. In the next five years, my goal is to gain knowledge and experience and create a business or a business plan outlining my purpose, my product/service, and how I will use my business to impact others and my environment positively. With a business plan, I can ensure that I am following my goals and creating a positive impact with my business, not only focusing on myself but also the environment and other individuals. Not only can I create a positive impact on the environment through my business, but I can also as an individual create an impact. I have always informed my family members and friends of the importance of turning off taps and lights, not littering, and overall respecting our environment. I will continue informing by utilizing my platform to speak up about the importance of aiding our environment, making digital media posts, or even simply picking up trash around my community to help clean up are ways I can positively impact my local, global, and digital community. Also, by following my ideology, morals, and goals, I can ensure that I am not losing sight of my goal, which is success, but also using my success to support other individuals and positively impact the globe such as with positive environmental impacts. The Earth is the only planet we humans have to live within. Once we have transformed the Earth to a point of no return, we are out of luck. Therefore, we must not take the chance to improve our ways and save our Earth's environment for granted. This is why in the next five years along with my entrepreneurial goals, I aim to support individuals' goals and create a positive impact for problems that require awareness like the environment.

I was born and raised in Canada until I moved in 2021 for my parents' work. When I first moved to the United States from Canada for my sophomore year of high school, I felt like I did not belong. I was around different people, environments, curriculum, and even spelling was different. As an introverted person, adapting was difficult because of the huge change. I faced adversities with making friends, joining clubs, and even understanding schoolwork because Canadian and U.S. curriculums are not the exact same. I was not only mentally, but physically distressed. "Perhaps it is because I'm new'', is what I thought. Even those who had joined my classes after I had appeared to easily integrate, yet I was still struggling.  However, I knew that I had no choice but to overcome these adversities given my circumstances. I wanted to succeed, to impact others positively, and to achieve my goal of honor roll. I decided that I would try my best to be more outgoing and open-minded. I asked for extra help and embraced the environment instead of rejecting it. This challenge made my academic life even stronger and taught me that I can thrive in new environments if I try to improve. I achieved straight A's that year, honor roll, and I learned about US history and adjusted to the different spelling: color, not colour! I even learned more about myself! I realized my passion for learning languages and entrepreneurship! Adapting to an unfamiliar environment allowed my academics to advance and helped me develop study habits such as rewriting information that I will now be able to carry on in life through college, and adulthood. My choice to embrace  America instead of rejecting it allowed me to take AP classes, achieve all A’s on my transcripts, and meet new people.  All these experiences have shaped me in the long run into an open-minded person, who will continue to see the best in uncomfortable situations. I have also become more considerate of others as each person may be going through stressful times in their lives, I have become more open to trying the latest items and activities, learning new topics, and meeting new people. I have become more sociable, as before high school I was shy and closed in, afraid of what other people would think of me. However, by overcoming the challenge of moving countries and integrating into an unfamiliar environment, I have gained self-confidence and personal skills to aid my future journey, and I have learned that perseverance allows people to learn more about others, succeed with work, and acquire countless opportunities such as clubs and jobs.  After shaping into a more versatile, open, and knowledgeable person, if I were to advise someone experiencing the same circumstances as me, I would tell them to not let their fear hold them back. If you want to join a club or converse with someone, take a chance and do it. I wish I cared less about others' opinions of me and pursued things that interested me back then as I could've created bonds and gained knowledge. If there is an opportunity that interests you, pursue it. Also, a positive mindset is key. By simply changing your mindset from "I can't" to "I will '' will encourage a positive outlook and a positive mindset, which will attract people from your positive energy. And finally, it is okay to be scared or nervous. What's important is that you do not let your fear of the unknown limit your potential to grow, meet new people, and pursue opportunities.

As a young black woman, racial equality is a significant social justice issue to me. All my life I have had to listen to my community warn me of the dangers of doing tasks such as getting pulled over, entering a store, or eating at a restaurant that other people don’t think twice about. I always wondered why I had to have this worry in the back of my head. Why do I have to worry about my Black brothers regarding the police or simply going shopping as they could be the subject of another problem of racial inequality? It’s important to get involved to stop this ongoing cycle of fear and racism, not only for my generation but for future generations as well. It is way too often that I see racial inequality happening all over the nation and the globe. Minorities are wrongfully arrested, abused, stereotyped, assumed to be criminals, battered, ignored, and so much more by other individuals, police forces, emergency services, and employees. The quality of life for racial inequality victims and potential victims is shot down by the fear of racial inequality. Even if one does not fear racial inequality for themselves, they may fear it for their siblings, kids, or even friends. It breaks my heart to have to think like this in a world where we are filled with numerous ethnicities, traditions, cultures, and individuals. The devastating problem of racial inequality must be recognized and people must get involved for the sake of the living, and those soon to be born. Getting involved can be a variety of things such as partaking in peaceful protests, raising awareness, donating or supporting future racial inequality activists like lawyers, or even stopping acts of racial inequality if seen. Surely, with people involved the quality of life for those affected by racial inequality will improve, and the huge weight of the stress will be relieved. More job opportunities, a safer space, increased happiness, raised awareness, and more are likely to result when racial inequality is addressed and people get involved to prevent it. Even if an individual does not face racial inequality, it is still important for them to get involved because every person can make a change, even the slightest. Together, these changes will bring about a huge impact of awareness, improved behaviors in public, and policies to prevent and punish acts of racial inequality. No matter the race, racial inequality is despicable and should not be tolerated as we are all one, we all bleed red, we all have feelings, and we all deserve to be treated equally. No race deserves or is better suited for a job than another race, we are much too diverse of a population to even be considering restrictions on job opportunities. Every race is suited for a job. Getting involved in racial inequality will surely bring about nationwide change, and allow humans to take a step closer to racial equality. I no longer want to stress about what may happen if my brother is pulled over by a police officer, or if my child may face racial inequality when looking for a job. Racial equality is a social justice issue that means the most to me as I have seen and heard about its problems in my everyday life. Getting involved in the fight for racial equality through acts such as creating a YouTube video about the topic will make those affected feel heard, raise awareness, and drive humans closer to racial equality.

After receiving my business management degree and minor in Japanese, I plan to pursue a job for experience, then later start a business with prior experience and finances for support. I aim to be an entrepreneur. My company will focus on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that will benefit both local and global populations! With this, I aim to inspire those around me to do the same and aid their community. Driven by my desire to spread kindness, knowledge, diversity, and inclusion that I have learned over the years, it encourages me to make a positive difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to make the world a better place for generations to come. Creating a business that is integral to people's lives is an aspiration of mine. Not only will I accomplish my aspiration of owning a business and utilizing my degree, but I can provide various opportunities and sell a product/service that represents my concepts and creativity. My business will alleviate stress, aid others, or even provide individuals with entertainment, positively impacting society and improving people’s quality of life. This is to foster healthy communities globally so that those who seek financial aid can receive help towards their goals, work experience can be gained, and clubs can flourish and function within communities! Through accomplishing my aspirations, I hope to inspire others to pursue their own aspirations despite any adversity they face. Giving back to people globally is significant, as I feel it is important to not only think of yourself but what you can do to improve someone else's life, even through a small act of kindness like babysitting and dog sitting (I do). In Canada I have been helping my church by singing, helping set up and tidy dinners, playing instruments, and selling food. After moving to Arizona, I have participated in clubs like Link Crew, which volunteers to help around the school and the community such as by preparing and managing first-year students' orientation and a Halloween event hosted on campus. The Black Student Union urges members to stand up for diversity through activities like creating posters about Black history and paying for Black-owned businesses to come for lunch. In the future, I intend to positively impact individuals globally by providing scholarships, internships, and sponsorships through my business. With this, I aim to alleviate financial burdens for individuals pursuing their educational or career goals, provide work experience, and support recreational activities, fostering healthy communities. I aim to help with financial aid, encourage community participation through activities such as clubs, and improve the quality of life for individuals. Along with my business, I also aspire to become fluent in Japanese. I will be able to communicate with people globally, expanding my perspective and knowledge about the world. I will also be able to expand my business to places outside of English-speaking countries, such as Japan; providing a positive impact to individuals with my business and various opportunities! Even allowing individuals to achieve their dreams of coming to America! My Japanese skills will not only equip me with further knowledge but will facilitate my career/personal goal of aiding and communicating with people globally! With passion burning within me, I hope to utilize my language skills in a community with a variety of people and understand new perspectives, while creating a business that is successful globally and positively impacts individuals throughout their stages of life to achieve their goals despite any challenges!

It’s not always possible to identify when students are struggling with their mental health as they may be smiling or receiving good grades. As a student, especially when I moved, I experienced poor mental health. However, no one knew as I didn’t address it or show distinct physical signs. Mental health is important so individuals can be confident and successful, and it is a part of one’s health that should be healthy. When I first moved to the United States from Canada for my sophomore year of high school, I felt like I didn’t belong. I was around different people, a different environment, a different curriculum, and even the way things were spelled was different. As an introverted person, adapting was difficult because of the huge change. I faced problems with making friends, joining clubs, and even understanding schoolwork because Canadian and U.S. curriculums are not the exact same. I was mentally and physically distressed. "Perhaps it is because I'm new", is what I thought. I felt out of place, I gained over 18 pounds in 5 months, I despised my appearance, and I had a horrible mindset; always negatively thinking about every action and wishing I could escape. I didn’t voice my struggles with mental health because I was embarrassed and didn’t truthfully recognize it. However, if I had sought advice from my trusted adults, it wouldn't have taken me so long to feel better about myself and my environment. Later that year, I was riding my scooter home from school when I crossed the street lights and was hit off my scooter onto the ground. My scooter snapped in half, I had a bump on my head, and I almost blacked out until I heard yelling from across the street. I couldn't believe that this happened to me. The officers said it was a miracle that I only had scratches, bruises, bumps, and body aches because a similar accident had happened a week before but unfortunately, the person didn’t survive. This was a wake-up call to me that life is so unexpected. I knew that I had to change the way I lived and the way I thought, and prioritize my mental health to improve my lifestyle. I realized how fast a life can be taken and that I had to change my way of life. My first change would be having a positive mindset, loving myself for who I am, improving my education, and integrating into my new school. First, I established a workout schedule, I watched videos for self-love, and I changed from a negative to positive mindset for even the littlest things like cooking. I also wanted to be an honor roll student, learn, make friends, and make myself proud. For my educational goals, I decided that I would be outgoing and open-minded. I asked for extra help and embraced the environment instead of rejecting it. This challenge made my academic life even stronger and taught me that I can thrive in new environments if I dedicate myself to doing better. I achieved straight A's that year, honor roll, and adjusted to the different spelling: color, not colour! By the end of that year, I was on the honor roll, had straight A's, and made friends who I love to spend time with! By overcoming challenges, I have become more considerate of others as people may not even realize their poor mental state, open to trying new activities and meeting people. I have also become more sociable, as before I was afraid of what other people would think of me. For my future goals, I aimed to maintain an honor roll status and a workout schedule, take AP/honors classes, and join clubs! For every year of high school I have achieved straight A’s, an honor roll, joined clubs such as Key Club, Link Crew, and Black Student Union, created bonds, maintained a workout schedule, and graduated in the top 10% of my class. My accident prompted the realization of my poor mental state and that I must change to achieve my goals and surpass expectations. I also have been participating in hobbies I have been longing for like dance classes, learning Japanese, and exploring different areas because I no longer want to limit myself from participating in interesting things! I also plan to study at the University of Arizona, majoring in business management. I plan to participate in study abroad programs (Japan, France, Korea), join clubs, and study Japanese. An education will fill me with knowledge, and help me develop personal skills such as critical thinking, leadership, diverse perspectives, and a new language that will be utilized when developing and expanding my business’s range and diversity. With my skills and knowledge gained, I can create a more efficient company with a strong foundation. I aim to become an entrepreneur. After university, I will pursue seeking a job for experience, then later start a business with prior experience and finances for support. My business will focus on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will contribute to communities by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that benefit local and global populations! With this, I aim to inspire individuals to pursue their goals and aid their community. By improving my mental health, I altered my perspective on life and created goals. Mental health awareness and advocacy are significant globally. They can help individuals realize their poor mental health, prompting them to address it. It took me time to truly change my mindset from negative to positive, feel accepted in my new environment, and embrace myself for who I am. I know how mental health can disrupt someone’s life, but I also know how it can improve it too. Mental health is significant in people’s lives as it may dig individuals into a deeper hole if not addressed, and good mental health promotes a brighter outlook on life, better relationships, and makes life not feel like an impossible challenge.

When I first moved to the United States from Canada for my sophomore year of high school, I felt like I did not belong. I was around different people, and a different environment, and even the way things were spelled was different. As an introverted person, adapting was difficult because of the change. I faced problems with making friends, joining clubs, and even understanding schoolwork because Canadian and U.S. curriculums are not the exact same. I was not only mentally, but physically distressed by this change. "Perhaps it is because I'm new", is what I thought. However,  I knew I had no choice but to overcome the challenge. I decided that I would try to be more open-minded, ask for help, and embrace the environment instead of rejecting it. This challenge made my academic life stronger and taught me that I can thrive in new environments if I dedicate myself to doing better. I achieved straight A's that year, honor roll, and adjusted to the different spelling: color, not colour! Through my hard work, I was able to become a leader for my younger brother who is often overwhelmed by schoolwork. I could provide him tips for success and be a symbol of perseverance to him; a sign that it is possible to succeed. Another example of my leadership is the Link Crew Club, which focuses on volunteering to help around the school and the community. For example, I prepared the school for first-year students' orientation and was the leader so freshmen could integrate into high school smoothly. In the future with my leadership skills, I aspire to become an entrepreneur and help others achieve their goals. After graduating from university, I have a fervent desire to open my own business and use my degree to build my business. My business will focus on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that will benefit both local and global populations! My business may be my own advertisement creation company, a marketing company, or other endless opportunities. With my business management degree, I aim to be more diverse when creating my company, receive insights on strategies, make business partners, and overall create a more efficient foundation. With my Japanese skills, I aim to diversify myself, so that in the future I will be more versatile and will be able to communicate with a variety of people to gain knowledge in a variety of topics such as business or societal norms!  With my leadership skills, I hope to convey my knowledge and guidance to other people, aid in projects, and lead my entrepreneurial, personal, and educational goals to success. Also, I can widen my horizons and gain diverse knowledge. With this, I aim to support individuals who wish to pursue their goals, influence people to pursue their goals and aid their community. Driven by my desire to spread kindness, knowledge, diversity, and inclusion that I have learned over the years encourages me to make a positive difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to make the world a better place for generations to come. An education will not only fill me with knowledge, but also help me develop skills such as critical thinking and leadership that will be utilized when developing my business, and expanding my business’s range and diversity. My goal is to lead a business that positively impacts society through an efficient and diverse company that creates a desired product/service, and aids others with scholarships and other opportunities!

My name is Briauna Montague and I am from Canada. When I moved to the U.S. from Canada during my sophomore year of high school I felt like an outcast. I was around different people and environments, and the spelling was different. I faced difficulty with making friends, joining clubs, and understanding schoolwork. However, I knew that I had to overcome the challenge. I decided to be more outgoing and open-minded. I asked for extra help and embraced the environment instead of rejecting it. My academics improved and taught me that I can thrive in new environments! I achieved honor roll that year, and adjusted to the different spelling: color, not colour! Currently, I will be attending The University of Arizona, majoring in business management. I plan to participate in study abroad programs (Japan, France, Korea), join clubs, and learn Japanese. I aim to achieve a bachelor's degree and graduate with a minor in Japanese. With my Japanese skills, I can diversify myself, communicate with more people, and gain diverse knowledge. An education will not only fill me with knowledge, but also help me develop personal skills such as critical thinking, leadership, numerous perspectives, and a foreign language that will be utilized when developing my business, and expanding my business’s range and diversity. With the skills and knowledge gained from university, I can create an efficient company with a strong foundation. At university, there are diverse kinds of ethnicities, nationalities, interests, and races. Which I am fascinated by! This exposure will widen my horizons because I will not be limited to one group of people or interests, but a variety! I also enjoy dancing, singing, spending time with those dear to me, and exercising! Through higher education, I will access more knowledge, and learn more about thinking critically, other people, different perspectives, and group work! My goal is to impact society just like my parents who work hard at their jobs and change someone's life for the better. I am seeking further education, to gain more knowledge about the world, and other people, leading to my desire to make an impact in the world helping others. After receiving my business management degree with a minor in Japanese, I will pursue seeking a job for experience, then later start a business so that I will have prior experience and more finances for support. I want to be an entrepreneur. My business will be full of diverse individuals, focusing on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that will benefit both local and global populations! With this, I aim to support individuals who wish to pursue their goals, influence people to pursue their goals and aid their community. Driven by my desire to spread kindness, knowledge, diversity, and inclusion that I have learned over the years encourages me to make a positive difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to make the world a better place for generations to come. My business may be my own advertisement creation company, a marketing company, or other endless opportunities. As a young black woman, in my community, I hope to portray that it is possible to exceed the limits society puts on my community, as well as other minorities’ communities. Overall, I plan to establish a diverse business that offers innovative products or services integral to people's everyday lives globally. It will also positively impact the world by offering opportunities like scholarships and internships that will benefit both local and global populations!

It’s not always possible to identify when students are struggling with their mental health as they may be smiling or receiving good grades. As a student, especially when I moved, I experienced poor mental health. However, no one knew as I did not address it or show distinct physical signs. Mental health is important so that individuals can be confident and successful, and it is a part of one’s health that should be healthy. When I first moved to the United States from Canada for my sophomore year of high school, I felt like I did not belong. I was around different people, a different environment, a different curriculum, and even the way things were spelled was different. As an introverted person, adapting was difficult because of the huge change. I faced problems with making friends, joining clubs, and even understanding schoolwork because Canadian and U.S. curriculums are not the exact same. I was not only mentally, but physically distressed. "Perhaps it is because I'm new", is what I thought. Even those who had joined my classes after I had appeared to easily integrate, yet I was struggling. I felt like I wasn't wanted and out of place, I gained over 18 pounds in 5 months, I despised my appearance, and I had a horrible mindset; always negatively thinking about my every action and just wishing I could escape. I did not voice my struggles with mental health because I was embarrassed and just wanted to ignore it. However, perhaps if I had sought advice from my counselors or my family members, it wouldn't have taken me so much longer to feel better about myself and my environment. This is why I feel that it is important to have mental health awareness and advocates in communities so those facing mental health struggles are not embarrassed or feel that they lack resources. This can also help those facing these struggles to realize their poor mental health, prompting them to address it. It took me another year and a half to truly change my mindset from negative to positive, feel accepted and welcomed in my new environment, and embrace myself for who I am. As a student, I know how mental health can disrupt someone’s life, but I also know how it can improve it too! Mental health is significant in people’s lives as it may dig individuals into a deeper hole if not addressed, and good mental health promotes a brighter outlook on life, better results, various opportunities, and overall makes life not feel like an impossible challenge. To advocate for mental health in my community I have created a space for my family members and school community by not shaming or disregarding feelings conveyed to me. I have also joined the Black Student Union in high school. The club is open to everyone and enlightens members on Black history and topics such as traditions, and comes together as a family. This club urges members to stand up for diversity and people’s well-being by creating posters about Black history to put around the school, paying for Black-owned food businesses for lunch, and encouraging students to work towards equality. With this club, I aimed to create a safe space for those who needed a place to feel accepted, a club that felt like a community, and provide information regarding topics that may be upsetting such as race, and tell members that they are unique and deserve happiness no matter their appearance. I intend to continue this in college by joining clubs that focus on volunteer work, creating a space for my community.

After receiving my business management degree and minor in Japanese, I will pursue seeking a job for experience in the field I graduated from, then later start a business so that I will have prior experience and more finances for support. I want to be an entrepreneur. My company will focus on providing globally impactful services or desirable products that cater to diverse needs worldwide. It will also contribute to the community by offering scholarships, recreational sponsorships, and internships that will benefit both local and global populations! With this, I aim to inspire those around me to do the same and aid their community. Driven by my desire to spread kindness, knowledge, diversity, and inclusion that I have learned over the years, it encourages me to make a positive difference, whether through my educational pursuits or my entrepreneurial ventures, to make the world a better place for generations to come. Creating a business that is integral to people's lives is an aspiration of mine. Not only will I accomplish my aspiration of owning a business, utilizing my business degree, but I can provide various opportunities and sell a product/service that represents my concepts and creativity. My business will alleviate stress, aid others, or even provide individuals with a form of entertainment, positively impacting society and improving people’s quality of life. I will also provide scholarships, and internships, and sponsor recreational activities. This is to foster healthy communities globally so that those who seek financial aid can receive help towards their goals, work experience can be gained, and clubs can flourish and function within the community! Through accomplishing my aspirations, I hope to inspire others to pursue their own aspirations despite any adversity they face. Giving back to the community and even those around the globe is significant, as I feel it is important to not only think of yourself, but what you can do to improve someone else's life, whether through a small act of kindness, donating to charity, or providing scholarships. In the future, I intend to give to communities to positively impact someone's life by providing scholarships, internships, and sponsorships through my business worldwide. With this, I aim to alleviate financial burdens for individuals pursuing their educational or career goals, provide work experience, and allow recreational activities in communities to function, fostering healthy communities. My goal with these opportunities is to give back to my community by providing financial aid and encouraging community participation through activities such as clubs. I aim to improve the quality of life for individuals in my community, just as my community has done for me. And, for communities around the world. Along with my business, I also aspire to become fluent in Japanese. I will gain the ability to communicate with additional people globally, expanding my perspective and knowledge about the world. I will also be able to expand my business to places outside of English-speaking countries, such as Japan; providing a positive impact to individuals in Japan with my business, and various opportunities! Even allowing individuals to achieve their dreams of coming to America! My Japanese skills will not only equip me with further knowledge but will facilitate my career journey of aiding and communicating with people globally! With passion burning within me, I hope to utilize my language skills in a community with a variety of people and understand new perspectives, while creating a business that is successful globally and positively impacts individuals throughout their stages of life to achieve their goals despite any challenges!

A change I would make to the world is spreading more kindness and community among people by not tolerating hate. Numerous people constantly turn to drugs, harmful actions, or even fatal actions because they seek kindness and community in their workplace, school, or even home, but are unable to receive it. More kindness and community by decreasing hate tolerance in workplaces and other public environments is a solution to reducing hate and promoting kindness. I first moved to the United States from Canada for my sophomore year of high school, I felt like I did not belong. I was around different people, environments, curriculum, and even spelling was different. I faced problems with making friends, joining clubs, and even understanding schoolwork because Canadian and U.S. curriculums are not the exact same. I was not only mentally, but physically distressed. "Perhaps it is because I'm new'', is what I thought. Even those who had joined my classes after I had appeared to easily integrate, yet I was still struggling. All I sought was some support from my new community, some kindness, and to feel accepted. Perhaps I would feel less stressed, feel as though the school work was not too challenging, or even feel more at home if someone had shown me an ounce of genuine kindness sooner. I was a minority in my school. People could see me, but I felt as though I wasn't truly seen. Just a passerby, someone only good for when one’s friend is absent, not even worthy of a wave in the halls. I felt that I was just a substitute until one recollected with their group again. I felt like an outsider, unable to get in. If a club for new students had been enacted, I feel that I would have integrated more smoothly. A club for new students or even those who seek a community that introduces people to one another, plays games together, has group study sessions, and hangs out together! Sometimes community is not easily found, but forms when an opportunity is created. I would change the world by creating programs such as clubs to promote community and kindness so that hatred becomes less tolerated. I would also create mandatory classes focusing on various nationalities, promoting inclusivity and repelling hatred. Numerous people in the world hate other races, ethnicities, and those who are different from them. This can be verbal, physical, or even mental attacks. To tackle this hatred we have to think about why people may act like this. Is it because they simply hate other races? Do they not know much about this demographic? Do they not know how to approach this race? Creating a mandatory class, and enlightening individuals about others will bring about a sense of community, improve kindness, and repel hatred. Students will learn more about their peers that were previously unknown, finding some interesting information or realizing common aspects. People may not know how to approach others, causing unnecessary actions and words to be said that breed hatred and disrespect. Educating individuals while young will promote a sense of community and kindness within an area, decreasing hatred in the world, and promoting acceptance and unity. Creating a kinder world is no easy task. It may take years, decades, centuries, or even thousands of years. However, we must start somewhere. Taking a step towards kindness is better than letting hatred continuously brew for generations to come.

I love good rom-com anime. They brighten my mood, provide insights into life, and make me laugh, while also portraying a beautiful romance, filling me with a feeling of warmth, causing me to kick my feet in the air as I watch, and also making me feel a bit bittersweet about my unforeseen love life! One day I decided to watch Lovely Complex and felt all the emotions listed above. It impacted me, jumping into my top 5 favorite anime, and is an anime I have and will continue to watch endlessly, captivating me each time. Lovely Complex is an older anime compared to what is commonly watched today! It follows the story of two friends, the girl is taller, and the boy is shorter. They start as a comedic duo, everyone in their school and even the teachers know the comedic duo, who are also known troublemakers, often sleeping in class and arriving late at the same time. As the story continues, Risa, the female protagonist, begins to develop feelings for Otani, the male protagonist, and her friend, after viewing his caring side and acknowledging how well they complement each other. From then on, the plot follows Risa trying to convey her feelings to Otani, the romantic lives and troubles of their other friends (they are in a friend group), and navigating their last few years in high school. Viewing teenagers' life journeys makes it feel like a reflection of my life from an alternate universe. Though, I do not have a large friend group, make friends with ease, or am extroverted, it feels good to imagine an alternate possibility my life could have been. I could have been part of a large friend group, made friends easily, found high school love, or even be over 5 '3! Lovely Complex inspires me to take action in my life. I am now more motivated to join clubs, talk to different people, and put myself out there! I also realized that it's okay if I don't know what to do after high school, like Risa. We can both find our passions with time and should not feel pressured to have a concrete plan just because others do. Lovely Complex reflects me like a mirror of my alternate life, encouraging me to step outside the box and try to engage more in life. Lovely Complex is also a form of comfort for me. When I find myself overwhelmed, angry, struggling to find things to smile about, or feeling lonely, I find myself continuously going back to rewatch Lovely Complex. It makes me laugh, kick my feet, and my heart flutter, and it even makes me a bit frustrated sometimes! The jokes such as when Risa and Otani argue, but make funny remarks or say random things make me laugh, and seeing the love of the duo bloom warms my heart, all providing me with comfort. This anime relieves my emotions and makes me forget my anxieties. People often underestimate the impact an anime can have on an individual. Anime can provide a source of comfort in a world where one feels much too overwhelmed. Lovely Complex is a rom-com that I can watch a billion times and never get tired of. The slice-of-life aspect, school setting, comedy, and of course, the cute romances captivate me and provide comfort during stressful times. The main and side characters' relationships feel realistic with their struggles and achievements and navigation of high school life. Though it is an older anime, do not underestimate its ability to sneak into your top 3 anime of all time!

If everyone in the world could read a book of my choice, I would choose Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Though this book is a highly banned book in many regions of the world, I feel that it is ironic that the book is censored considering that it focuses on the topic of censorship and the damage censorship creates. Before first reading Fahrenheit 451, I thought it would be a book that I would dislike. It was published some time ago, focused on heavy topics, and is full of metaphors, allusions, similes, and more. I thought that the theme of the book would not be portrayed to me because of the potential reading difficulty, however, this all changed throughout my process of reading it. Fahrenheit 451 focuses on the life of a firefighter who burns books in society. Society has banned books and is filled with people who seem completely fine but are unhappy. People are unable to read, learn more about the world and controversies, or have an opinion. The storyline follows the life of the protagonist Guy Montag who realizes the uncanny society he lives in, then discovers various books and starts to rebel against society, preserving books and reading to try and understand the empty society. This novel should be read by anyone because it conveys the significance of having diverse opinions and even controversies in order to feel whole in society. The government in society banned books to have more control, decreasing the happiness and freedom of citizens. In modern day society, censorship and bans have been increasingly occurring. The society of this novel is important to observe to prevent our society from transforming into the empty society Guy Montag lives in. Though certain censorship such as curse words in elementary schools may be necessary, books and other conversations should not be banned only because they make people uncomfortable or cause clashing opinions. As Bradbury says, "There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them". Limiting people's opinions does not improve happiness, but brings about a sense of emptiness that everyone in the world should know about. I would recommend Fahrenheit 451 because the novel covers topics that relate to modern society's censorship. It is important to know history to not repeat it, however, this novel may represent a future we should be aware of to not pursue it.

When I first moved to the United States from Canada for my sophomore year of high school, I felt like I did not belong. I was around different people, a different environment, a different curriculum, and even the way things were spelled was different. As an introverted person, adapting was difficult because of the huge change. I faced problems with making friends, joining clubs, and even understanding schoolwork because Canadian and U.S. curriculums are not the exact same. I was not only mentally, but physically distressed by this change. After moving again for my junior year, all I wanted was someone to show me kindness, concern, and appreciation. Thankfully, I was enrolled into my anatomy class where my anatomy teacher provided me with what I needed. I knew no one in my class and I was too nervous to speak. However, my teacher still took the initiative to make me feel included. As I was quiet, my anatomy teacher would often ask if everything was all right, just casual check-ins. Even if the check-ins were simple to her, they filled me with a sense of belonging because I felt that somebody at school cared about my well-being. She also took extra steps to make me feel comfortable by asking me if I had a preferred seat or a person I would like to sit next to. Not only was this act considerate, but it also made me feel more comfortable in the school environment, which I normally felt extremely anxious in. I then found myself looking forward to my anatomy class because it became a class I felt comfortable in. The small talk and little interactions in class may have been minor to my teacher, but they were actions that have deeply influenced me and altered my approach to life. The small talk, check-ins, and the atmosphere created in my classroom allowed me to feel more comfortable at school when my anxiety levels were high. I started to feel like an actual part of my class, and I felt seen. The feeling of being thought of and considered by my teacher will forever resonate with my heart. It resonates with me so deeply that I changed my approach to life. I am a person who is rather nervous to start conversations and does not know what to say. I am only out of my shell when surrounded by people who I feel comfortable around. However, after my experience with my teacher, I found myself trying to include others, just like my teacher did to me, even if I was nervous and had to practice what to say. I know how it feels to feel left out, overwhelmed, and unimportant and because I understand the pain of those emotions, I have the courage and desire to prevent or at least ease those feelings for the people around me. When I see someone new in a class or alone when we are doing group activities, I invite them to my group, or if I am having a conversation with my friends, I include them in the conversation. I know how significant even a small check-in or small talk can alter one’s mood and comfortability, so I strive to do the same for others. I hope to create the feeling of being noticed by those who may feel the same as me, just like my anatomy teacher did for me.

My favorite K-pop group is ZEROBASEONE. I first found out about them during the survival show, Boy's Planet. A group of 98 boys had to compete with performances and various activities to debut in a new group managed by Wake One Entertainment, ZEROBASEONE. Out of 98 boys, only 9 would make the team. The finalists, Kim Ji-Woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Gyuvin, Ricky, Kim Taerae, Sung Hanbin, Zhang Hao, Park Gunwook, and Han Yujin have all impacted my life and thoughts about global culture greatly. Throughout the show, it was not easy for the contestants as they were from their families and were constantly training and filming episodes for the program. It becomes pressuring, especially when evaluations arise, but perseverance plays an enormous impact in making it to the finalists. ZEROBASEONE members have shown perseverance throughout the program despite setbacks or failures. For example, Kim Gyuvin during an evaluation had not yet mastered the dance being learned and was harshly scolded by judges. Had Gyuvin not taken it upon himself to push himself to learn the chirograph intensely, refining details and taking the judges’ feedback as constructive criticism, debuting would not have been possible. In life, I too have also faced challenging situations, requiring perseverance to push through. Math is a subject that takes me time to truly grasp, and I find myself falling behind my peers in class, and tending to be frowned upon by the teacher when asking questions because they believe that I should already know how to do the equation. It is hurtful and humiliating to feel as if you should not be in a certain class as your peers, however, as I see members of ZEROBASEONE persevere for their dreams of debuting, I too am inspired to persevere through hardships to achieve my dreams of graduating and taking my education to the next level. Another member, Sung Hanbin, had also faced hardship during the show as he was preparing for an evaluated performance, Tomboy by (G)I-DLE, however, he felt that his performance was lacking and did not know how to improve. Hanbin was also deeply looked upon by his peers and he is a multi-talented person, an all-arounder, leading to the pressure of constantly living up to his peers’ and viewers' expectations. This leads to him relying on his friend, Zhang Hao, to be comforted as he cries, relieving his worries, and pressure off his shoulders. It is not easy to become vulnerable in front of someone because some people may take it as a sign of weakness, or their pride simply does not allow it. As someone who tends to hold their feelings in, the members of ZEROBASEONE taught me that it is okay to be vulnerable in front of people. Being vulnerable does not mean you are weak, crying does not make you weak; in fact, it is a sign of strength in itself: The ability to be able to seek comfort in others when needed. ZEROBASEONE has not only impacted my life by teaching me perseverance and strength, but they have also taught me about inclusivity. ZEROBASEONE has Korean, Canadian, and Chinese members, everyone stemming from diverse cultures. Despite not everyone originating from the same place, ZEROBASEONE is still a family and is inclusive. Members are not hesitant to teach members such as Seok Matthew, Zhang Hao, or Shim Ricky about Korean culture such as the food, events, and language, and vice versa. ZEROBASEONE has expanded my horizons on how to live life to the fullest and has portrayed that cultures are meant to be shared and loved by all.

Education can mean a lot of things to people. Opportunity, a chance to learn something new about the world, a chance to learn something new about oneself! And so many more possibilities. For me, education is a combination of all of those ideas. Education to me is an opportunity that allows me to learn more about the world, such as culture. During history, learning about the makeup of American history truly intrigued me. So many fashion trends, movements, and even people helped form a culture that even in modern days people still practice. For example, hippie culture! Hippie culture started to take form in the transcendentalism era and received huge amounts of attention after protests regarding the banning of drugs. Without education, it would have been difficult for me to have learned this information because history originally never fascinated me, however, history class allowed me to learn something new about America, as well as myself! Education can be a pipeline for people to develop a better understanding of the world we live in and themselves! As education has influenced my life by aiding me in learning various things, I was able to learn more about what I want to accomplish in the future! My life goals are constantly being added, changed and removed from my list, although some goals that I am sure of are: Becoming an entrepreneur, learning 3+ languages by my senior year of college, and studying abroad in college. Ever since I entered my French high school class, I noticed that I had a passion for learning new languages. It truly astonishes me. The fact that there are various languages spoken all over the world! How can I possibly just speak one? Won't I lose the opportunity to communicate with millions if not billions of people if I subject myself to the knowledge of one language simply because it is my mother tongue? Therefore, I wish to learn or continue learning French, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, and any other language that catches my eye! While learning languages is a significant life goal for me, another life goal is to open my own business. My parents often play entrepreneur podcasts while in the car and whether I wanted to hear it or not, I listened. This is in the past. I now look forward to hearing a new podcast about the start-ups of multi-million dollar industries because not all start-ups are easy--none are easy actually. Heavily influenced by the podcasts I hear and my parents, I aspire to open up my own business, whether that's by myself, with a family member, with a friend, or even with a college partner I meet! I love the idea of creating something I can call my own, deciding how it works and its purpose, deciding when I work, how many days off I get, salaries, and more! I know that starting a business cannot be easy, however, I believe the term "entrepreneur" might just be calling my name. It's hard to think of myself in the future without a business or two under my name, managing the business, being desired by the public, and contributing to society. My life goals are not goals that can be completed simply or quickly. Time, effort, and even money need to be put into my goals whether that's by myself or financial aid from others. Even so, they are goals I believe I can and know I can complete. Education has taught me that hard work is another essential step to achieving your goals, with overwhelming benefits.