I lost my grandmother, or Nana, on October 29, 2022, just over two years ago. She wasn’t just a grandmother to me; she was a mother figure. My parents worked long hours, and it was Nana who made sure I was cared for, loved, and safe. Despite her own health struggles, particularly her battle with Multiple Sclerosis, she never complained about the sacrifices she made for me. Growing up, I never saw her disability as something that held her back. She used a scooter to get around, and we went to the store multiple times a week. I would go inside to get her scooter, but it was never a burden. I didn’t mind because of everything she had done for me. She loved me deeply, and in return, I wanted to be there for her as much as I could. In June 2022, everything changed. Nana fell in the bathroom and broke her arm and leg. That injury set off a chain of events that ultimately led to her passing. After being rushed to the hospital, it became clear that she wouldn’t be able to return home. Nana needed round-the-clock care, and we couldn’t provide the level of support she required, so we made the heart-wrenching decision to place her in a nursing home. At first, we thought she was being well taken care of. But as the weeks passed, it became clear that Nana wasn’t happy there. She was scared. She was afraid of her nurses. One day, when my sister and I visited, Nana gave us a look that we will never forget. My sister asked if the nurses were hurting her, and the expression on Nana’s face said it all. We felt helpless, unable to protect the woman who had always been there for me. In the days leading up to her death, we knew it was coming. I skipped school that Friday to be by her side, a decision I will never regret. I had the privilege of being with the person who had mattered most to me, knowing our time together was short. She passed away two days later, at the age of 74. One of the hardest parts of losing Nana is knowing she won’t be there to see me graduate this year. She had always been my biggest cheerleader, proud of every accomplishment, no matter how small. I had hoped she would be there to celebrate this milestone with me, and the thought that she won’t be in the audience weighs heavily on my heart. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that she was proud of me while she was here. Losing Nana has been one of the hardest experiences of my life. It has shaped who I am today in ways I never expected. Her love, sacrifice, and resilience have left an indelible mark on my heart. I’ve learned the importance of cherishing every moment with the people I love, and the deep pain of realizing that no matter how much we want to hold on, time keeps moving forward. Yet, even in her absence, I carry her with me—her spirit, her lessons, and her unconditional love. For that, I will be forever grateful.

When I was younger, I thought it would be boring to be an accountant. Growing up, I never thought I would want to be an accountant because of how negatively the career is portrayed in movies and on TV. However, as I have aged and my interests and passions have developed, I have come to understand that accounting can be a really fascinating field to enter. I want to work in a particular area of accounting. My dream profession is the field of forensic accounting. When I was looking for a career that was better suited to my interests and passions, I came across the accounting field. Accounting experts who specialize in forensics look into financial transactions and protect against financial fraud. I have always enjoyed problem-solving and analysis, so I want to be this kind of accountant. I've grown to love math and business as I've gotten older. I am also interested in accounting because, besides the field of accounting I really want, there are several other interesting accounting fields such as financial analysis, personal financial advising, and financial planning. I feel like accounting is a very flexible field, and there are many different fields for people with different interests. People might be reluctant to go into the field because of the development of technology. People think the field will be taken over by AI. I think accounting is crucial to businesses because it is their foundation. A company may miss out on opportunities or experience financial instability without the guidance of an accountant. An accountant can also inform a business if there is money missing from their account and help them identify fraud. Without an accountant’s help, a business owner could make mistakes detrimental to their business. An accountant can provide guidance on how to make informed financial decisions to the general public. Accountants also monitor a person's financial situation to help ensure their financial stability. In conclusion, both businesses and the general public rely heavily on accountants. Accounting isn't boring; it's just that the media portrays it in a way that discourages people from pursuing careers in it. People are reluctant to work in the field because they are concerned about being replaced by robots. People also don't want to enter the accounting field because fewer and fewer people want to work in traditional jobs, and more and more people who could be accountants prefer to be media influencers.