Within the last year or so, I've lost about 50 pounds. It was hard and lonely, and I struggled. But that doesn't make me any less proud of myself. At my highest weight, I was about 350-pounds and have always struggled with my weight - I still am struggling despite an already significant weight loss. Growing up, yo-yo dieting and fad diets were all the rage, they still are, but I saw the most consistent weight loss by making small, but significant, changes to my diet and overall lifestyle. In the very beginning of my weight loss journey, I really had to re-consider what I was doing with my life, because I can't pursue my career as an art teacher if I'm constantly ill or dependent on medicine to make me feel better. I also had to consider the fact that despite the fact that I had people in my life who supported me, I was the one making changes for my life and I was the one in control of my health. After making sure that I was in a good place mentally, I could start making small changes to my diet. I started being more conscious of what I was consuming - which would be something simple as drinking water with a to-go order instead of a soda. Every few weeks, I'd replace certain foods, such as chocolates and ice creams with vegan versions - they tasted just as good - but more importantly, I knew and understood what the ingredients made up the chocolate or the ice cream. I think the problem a lot of people have when it comes to eating and living better is that companies are putting all sorts of preservatives and chemicals in packaged food that the average person: (a) doesn't know what they are and what they're supposed to do; and (b) doesn't know how their body will react to it, thus causing issues with their bodies unbeknownst to the person eating the product. That's where a lot of the struggle lies for people trying to eat and live better, including myself - not knowing what is in the food I'm eating. My journey started slowly and steady, so I could keep track, but at the same time take the time to research about simple food swaps I could make. I am still on a journey to better my health and to live a better lifestyle, because I want to ensure I treat my body well both physically and mentally.

Pursuing any sort of higher education and training allows for a wider range of opportunities and options. Neither of my parents completed university because their main focus had shifted from further pursuing their careers to caring or my sisters and I, their children. Even after moving to the United States, they put off their desire for further education to work and take care of their family, but made an effort to instill the importance of hard work and education onto my sisters and I. Since graduating high school, I ensured that I was the first person in my immediate and extended family to complete a bachelor's degree, and now to pursue a master's degree. I am constantly reminded and thankful that I have the opportunity to do so while my parents didn't, but I know that I'll be able to further my career and include them in the process. However, higher education isn't always about making other people happy and proud - it's about making yourself proud. It's a lot of hard work, time, and money that a lot of people don't have. To me, higher education is important because it shows dedication to improve oneself in a wide range of things. For some people, it means making more money, for others it means simply becoming an expert in a topic or to simply be informed.

Over the years, I've taken an interest in how x-rays came to be and how they're used in today's world. Nowadays, x-rays have a wide range of uses outside of the medical field, such as during air port security checks or when looking at cultural objects from the past to see inside them without destroying the objects. X-rays have allowed for advancements in both the medical and historical ways. Since it's invention in the early 20th century, the use of x-rays has become more advanced and refined to have less effects on the bodies of the patients and the medical professions who use them. The use of x-rays have expanded to be able to see inside historical objects to see what they're made of or what is inside them without damaging the objects themselves. A prime example of this are old paintings, and x-raying them to see how the artist had rendered a painting before the painting was finished, such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. When x-rayed, scientists and art historians could see that the background was initially much different than the background we're familiar with. As an aspiring art teacher, I think it's important to make it known how science and art are able to mesh together to be able to find out new information our past. X-rays are a prime example that and also being intended to be used for medical purposes, but with enough time, can be refined and advanced to learn more about historical pieces, which is why I think x-rays are my favorite scientific discovery.

A year ago, I weighed over 350-pounds and I come from a family that struggles with obesity and all health issues that surrounds it. After years of yo-yo dieting and struggling with losing weight, I decided to give it one more try and have lost about 50-pounds over the course of one year. It was hard and there were a lot of ups and downs throughout this past year and I'm no where near my goal. However, I have changed so much over the past year physically and mentally by making small changes over the course of the past year to get to where I am today. I believe it's very important to live a healthy lifestyle not just for the sake of physical health, but for mental health as well. Even if weight wasn't a factor, like it is in my case, simply making healthier decisions for oneself will make a difference, but it has to be decisions made for the long run. Drinking more water one day, isn't going to help if the next day you drink no water at all. Simply drinking an extra cup of water every day will make a difference in how hydrated you are. Or bringing in a snack to school or work will make a difference in mood during a certain time of the day, such as lunch time, or the 4 o'clock munchies. Other small changes that could be for the better could be as simple as trying to consistently going to sleep by eleven, instead of sleeping early one night, and staying up past midnight the next. There will be some inconsistencies because not every day is the same, but even minor things can make a difference in health. The same goes for mental health. With the rise of technology and social media, there has been an increase in studies of how young people nowadays feel more anxiety and stress over things that a few years ago, didn't matter. By trying to limit one's presence online, there could be a tremendous difference in levels of anxiety and worrying about what other people may think. For me, I've become happier and less worried about what people think of me by doing just that - limiting my online presence. Because I only have one life, and I want to make sure I live it to the fullest by being present in the moment and enjoy good food and nourishment for my body that won't interact with my body in a bad way. It has taken me a long time to get to where I am today, and I'm still getting to where I want to be, but I know that everything I've done in the last year has benefitted me in the long run. Simply making better food choices has increased my energy levels and I've become happier because my body feels better and don't react to certain foods anymore. There's more to life than going to work and going to school - I want to be able to enjoy life too.

As someone who is passionate about art and passionate about children learning about art, I try to make it a point to be involved in my community where children could benefit from learning about art and how to express themselves through art. Throughout the past year, I've helped kids in my community to find and outlet to express themselves through art in several after school programs and events run through the church I attend. Through my church, I've been able to teach children and students about art and showing them different ways that they can have fun with art and also learn. Many children are visual learners and I believe that teaching certain subjects with the help of art can help them remember certain concepts and historical events. I think this will be especially important since I will be attending the University of Georgia this fall to begin a Master's Program in Art Education. However, art isn't limited to children and young adults, there is also a large elderly community where I live. Taking the time to spend time with my community's elderly has taught me a lot about how to be kind and respectful of people and their time. The elderly also deserve an opportunity to have fun and enjoy themselves, or perhaps learn a new skill.

Out of all the people in my family, I am one of few who have lost a large amount of weight. At my heaviest I was about 350 pounds and simply going down the stairs from my room would make me slightly out of breath. In the past year I've lost about 50 pounds by making small changes to how I take care of myself. I still have a long way to go, but it's the long-term effects that matter more to my health than the short-term effects. A lot of people in my family have struggled with weigh and weight-related issued and ailments, and growing up, I didn't think that it would happen to me. But it did. It took a lot of effort on my part, but it was for the sake of my mental and physical health because I didn't want to be uncomfortable and worry for the rest of my life if I was going to get lung and heart problems, or perhaps diabetes. Despite being alone in my weight loss journey, I learned to make small changes in my diet that would benefit me in the long-run. That included eating meals with lots of vegetables and limiting the amount of processed foods I consumed. It also included drinking more water and moving my body a lot more. Most of my exercise were simple, mainly being walking - by taking a walk in the evenings after work for 30 minutes, parking my car a little further away, and taking the stairs when I could. Simple and small changes make a tremendous change in the long-run because it takes one's body time to adjust to changes. As someone who's struggled with my weight all my life and yo-yo dieting has been my go-to way of losing and gaining weight fast, it was time to re-evaluate how I lived. As I mentioned, I am far from reaching my "goal weight", but I've come far enough by losing 50 pounds in a year to see a big difference in how I feel physically and mentally. A healthy lifestyle is important to me because I've seen what an unhealthy lifestyle has done to my close family and I've seen what an unhealthy lifestyle has done for me. For many people, including myself, it's difficult and time-consuming to change your lifestyle. There is a lot of trial and error, but the act of trying is progress for something better.

An appreciation of nature is something so ingrained in my life because it's what provided the entire world with nourishment since... forever. Nature provides the fruits and vegetables we eat, it feeds the animals we care for, and it provides the necessary nourishment for animals and people to live long and healthy. However, appreciating and loving nature doesn't mean that someone has to become vegan or eat plant-based, live waste-free, or never buying or consuming anything man-made ever. Appreciating nature can simply mean buying groceries from local farmers and grocery stores and buying food that are in season. For example, transporting fruits and vegetables (usually exotic) across great distances isn't healthy for the food itself, since the produce is often picked pre-maturely and ripens while it's in a box in a truck. Versus having grocery stores buy produce that are in season from local farmers. There is less travel for the produce, they don't have to be harvested pre-maturely, and they're usually cheaper that way.

The elderly are the generations that helped build the communities we currently live in - they built the buildings and created the programs that a lot of young adults and children use today because they wanted better things for their children and their grandchildren. And as thanks and appreciation of the elderly in our communities, we should do the same. Caring for the elderly community doesn't have to include becoming a caregiver or going into a profession that works with the elderly. There are places and programs where kids and young adults can volunteer to help the elderly with home projects or home repairs because many can't do it themselves or can't afford it. Other things are helping them with grocery shopping or simply going and checking in on them every so often. Improving someone's life doesn't always have to include health - it could be as simple as spending time with them and making them feel as if they're not cast aside. The elderly have lived a long life and have so many experiences and stories to talk about, and simply spending time with them could improve their mood and have a positive outlook on life that will make them feel assured that the communities they built are in safe hands with the current and future generations.

Continuously working on yourself mentally and physically only motivates you further to become a better self. Continuously growing doesn't necessarily just refer to things like self-care, but also in education and in the workplace. Learning things and bettering yourself never ends and only makes you more knowledgeable. The important thing is to be open-minded to new ideas and to always be learning new. However, it's also important to keep track of your progress and see how far you've come. I think it's important to reflect on your journey to learn from it. The only way to grow is to take what you've learned and use it to move forward with your journey.

Creativity is the process of developing new and original ideas and concepts to address problems or make use of available resources and knowledge. It ranges from the simplest to the most complex concepts that lead to the introduction of different approaches to community activities (Lutnæs, 2015). Ideally, innovativeness is applicable in different fields of study, including science, environmental conservation, and psychology. Generally creativity is not limited to any discipline or field and can apply to different life aspects. As a student, my creativity is mostly applied in education-related matters. I have been a poet and a blogger for a few years now, and I normally apply creativity to develop relevant content to entertain and educate the audience. My blogs are normally centered on creative writing, whereby I write interesting stories that push chosen themes and enlighten the public. One of the last blogs was about gender sensitivity, and it highlighted how it could be applied in contemporary society. I also use creativity to make meaningful use and conserve my immediate environment. Environmental pollution is one of the significant challenges facing the world today. My creativity is applied to developing new uses for waste products such as plastics and glass. I use this waste to create vases and flower pots, thus conserving the environment (Lutnæs, 2015). Moreover, I have also developed creative ways of creating renewable energy, such as solar and biogas, which are more environmentally friendly. Overall, creativity has been an essential factor in my life. Creative people see obstacles as opportunities, and I have used the environmental conservation drive to develop better ways of environmental protection. Besides, creativity has been crucial in my blogging and poetry hobbies. In conclusion, creativity generally challenges the brain and triggers the development of meaningful thoughts applicable in life.

Friendships are one thing that shapes and influenced you as a person and as a member of society. Friendship means that there's someone who looks out for you, cares about your well-being, and holds you accountable for your actions. Some friends come and go, but there will always be that one friend that's been with you when you need it. However, friendship also means that you also be that person that holds people accountable, because you also have a responsibility to your friend to make sure that they're loved, respected, and have someone they can count on. With any sort of relationship, things go both ways. Friendship means striving to better people.

I practice self-care by striving to doing my best to find time for myself to do the things I like to do. I during often so it' sometimes hard to find time to do the things that make me happy - but it's always nice to have the time to do them. I am an artist, but I work full time in an office for the time being until I start graduate school this fall. I try my best to spend my evenings and weekends creating art, but I also have other priorities as well. However, not being able to create or not have the time to create sometime during the week really affects my mood and how I deal with the world. The world is hard place to be a part of nowadays for everyone. But, I've made a promise to myself this year that I'd spend at least a few hours each week creating art or working on a project. Two to three hours a week of painting, drawing, or doing any sort of art has really improved my mood and my mindset. At my core, I am an artist, and I will always be an artist no matter what occupation I have. However, I cannot neglect the fact that I am an artist, and I need to make time for my art and my craft.

Being patient is important because it allows me to think about the whole picture instead of whatever I'm working on or going through. Being patient allows me to take a step back a realize that tomorrow is a new day and whatever hiccup is happening won't last forever and it'll pass. Having patience means that not everything is about having instant gratification. I believe that in today's society, many people of all ages believe in the instant gratification of things. Not everything is instant - some things take time, like applying for a job, saving money, healing from an injury. Having patience means that things will get better if you give it some time and reflect. Patience should involve reflecting upon yourself or the situation you're in so you're able to make the most reasonable decision.

As an artist and a future art teacher, one of the multitude of things in that job description includes leaving a lasting impression on other people and students. Art brings people together and brings up things that wouldn't normally be brought up. Art leaves a lingering question or message for whoever sees it. I want to be one of those artists and educators who leave a lasting impression on people. I want to work towards becoming an art teacher who's students can rely on them and remember a valuable lesson that art has lasted since the pre-historic times and will continue to last. I believe that art is an important subject to teach to kids, not just at a young age, but in older teens as well. I think it's an important outlet for kids and students to be creative and have a healthy outlet. Also, I think that art history is a great way to teach history, because "a picture says a thousand words." I truly believe that students learn better visually and I want to be able to make an impact by teaching students, through art, that learning visually is a great way to retain information. Because as I've mentioned, art and all the concepts and ideas stemming from it have lasted a long time and been used by people for centuries.

To be independent, in my mind, I think of being financially independent and being smart with your money. Being smart and safe with how you use your money is so important in today's world, this is especially true for people my age and the upcoming generations. Credit cards and investments are great things and can be used to benefit the user, but there needs to be some caution when using them. When you take care of your credit cards and any debt that you have, invest wisely, and save and spend money wisely, you can truly become independent in the things you want to buy and invest in. I believe that in this economy, money can make or break someone because of how it's driving this society if you're not careful with how you're using the paycheck that you get every two weeks. Those who truly struggle with money will suffer even more if they're not careful with where their hard-earned money is going. Because to me, being able to keep track of your income, savings, credit cards - anything money related, can and will make you independent because, with those investments, good credit score, and money saved, you're able to have control over your finances and have control of where it goes and how it's used.

My favorite book is 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad because not only does it tell the tale of how corruption affects a man, but it serves as a warning to those who read the book. Because further the reader gets into the story and into the jungle the darker and grimmer the message gets and it's a message that can be applied to today's time - despite Joseph Conrad writing the book in 1899. I think that whoever reads the book knows someone who relates to at least a few of the characters of the book and knows someone who is on their way to be corrupted by all sorts of vices, if they haven't already been affected. I think this book serves as a warning to watch out for the signs and be cautious, not only for people that they know and love, but for also for themselves. 'Heart of Darkness' is one of my favorite books that I've reread often to remind myself that if you're not careful, other people can affect you and influence you to be corrupted by greed, which is what the book mostly talks about. I believe that this is an important book for older teens and young adults to read because I believe that it will give them an opportunity to learn how to be analytical and kind of redefine the places and people that influence them.

I stay true to myself in my daily life by not letting anyone live my life for me and making decisions for me. I am the person in charge of my future, and making decisions for myself about my future is one of the many things I do to make sure I stay true to myself. I believe everyone has their path in life and I don't want to walk someone else's path. However, I do believe in taking advice from people, especially those who have already taken the path you're currently taking. I will be working towards a Master's Degree in art education in the Fall of this year, so it would be natural that I take advice from current graduate students in a similar program and current educators. But at the end of the day, I stay true to myself by making my own decisions for where I want to end up in life because I am only living my own life, not someone else's.

One of the things I keep in mind when I'm going through tough times is that tomorrow is a new day and it hasn't happened yet. I try to keep this in mind because I won't stay in whatever rough patch I'm in forever and there are endless possibilities that can happen in the next few hours or the next day that will make things better. The world doesn't stand still every time I'm going through something, because just because it's raining today, doesn't mean it's going to rain tomorrow. I know that things will eventually get better and that I can always have a positive mindset. So many things are going on in the world, and a little bit of kindness and optimism that things will get better will go a long way. People always need reassurance that things will get better, the world will become a better place, because we don't know what might happen tomorrow, but we can always try to make it better than today.

One of the ways I try to have a positive impact on the world is by buying food locally from people in the community where I live and work. I am lucky to live in an area where there are farms that produce meat, dairy, eggs, honey, and fruits and vegetables for every season. They're usually cheaper, you know where the product is coming from, and you're supporting someone who's providing for their family. I encourage my family and friends to do the same - at least to some extent - because farmers are the people who put food on everyone's tables, not just their own. I believe that it's safer to buy locally and again, your money goes directly to the farmers and the people providing the food that you're buying. I think in general, buying food that is in season from local farmers makes a big impact because it can reduce the amount planes, trucks, and boats that are transporting products from across the country or from other countries - when most of those products can be grown locally.

One of my favorite pieces that I've created is the painting I'm currently working on. It's a portrait depicting Pier Gerlofs Donia, a Frisian rebel leader and pirate from the early 1500's. Legend has it that he was over seven feet tall and had a long sword that was the same length as him, which earned him the name of "Big Pier." I chose to paint him because he supposedly was a farmer and his village was attacked, and Pier's wife was one of the people killed. After that, he rebelled and became a pirate to avenge her death. I chose to paint him because I feel like he's someone in history that went unnoticed, but I think his obscurity makes him interesting. He's a big man who avenged his wife and other poor people who's villages had been destroyed just like his and made sure that he made a difference. I'm almost finished with this painting and I look forward to finishing this painting.

My dream life involves being able to constantly create art at my own pace and be able to showcase it in my own space one day. I look forward to the day when I can have my studio and have my gallery one day and be able to showcase the work that I've been working on throughout my career as an artist and future art teacher. This is my ultimate goal and dream life and I look forward to achieving it one day. It's always been my intention to pursue art and I intend to see it through because I believe that art and art education is important for everyone. Art is one of the driving forces in the world that has existed since pre-historic times and I want to be apart of that. I want to be able to have a space for other artists and myself to showcase our work and show people what the world is like in a visual, creative way.

To me, recovery means taking the time to reflect upon yourself and how you can better yourself in the long run - physically and mentally. I used to be in a deep depression during my second and third year of my undergraduate studies and turned to smoking to try and relieve some of that depression. I felt that if I didn't at least have a pack of cigarettes and a lighter on my person, I wouldn't have energy for the rest of the day. I was hiding it from people I loved, but my car and clothes smelling, and me still being depressed didn't help. Once I realized that cigarettes were causing more problems, I took the summer after my third year of undergrad to just stop. COVID-19 still had high numbers, so it gave me a reason to not go out and get cigarettes and it gave me an opportunity to spend some time reflecting on why I was feeling depressed in the first place and why I chose cigarettes to try and combat it. I spent that summer getting clean from cigarettes and figured out how to manage my depression in a healthy way by rekindling old hobbies and doing things that would benefit me in the long run - because I believe recovery is reflecting on things in the past and how you can become a better person in the long run.

One of the most memorable experiences that have shaped me as a person is the first couple of weeks after my family and I first moved to the United States. My family and I moved to the United States from Sweden after I had turned eleven and I hadn't quite learned English that well just yet. I started school a week late but I'll never forget my homeroom teacher, who was also my math teacher, who always made sure to take the time to make sure I understood what she was teaching me. Her name was Mrs. Waters and she'd always meet me sometime during the day to ask how I was doing in my classes and make sure that understood all my assignments. She also made sure I always felt welcome in class and in school. Mrs. Waters taught me that with just a little help, you can achieve anything. She is one of the biggest reasons as to why I want to pursue education as a career.

If I was a highly influential figure in society, one of the main things that I would stand for are ensuring that children in school are able to receive a hot meal when they're in school. With the impact that COVID-19 had on all students of all ages, it truly affected a large number of students who usually receive their possibly one and only hot meal for the day. Even if you take COVID-19 out of the equation, there is still a large number of children who weren't qualified for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program or couldn't afford lunch at all. A school should be a place where a student is taught about the world and is taught how to be a part of our society, without worrying whether or not they'll have something to eat. I don't believe that these restrictions should be in place because there are children who come from families who aren't able to afford regular hot meals, or regular meals at all. Since school serves as a constant to students who may not have a stable life, good, healthy, warm meals should be a part of that constant. Very few programs are in place for that, and some of the ones that are in place aren't being funded enough to be able to help all children who need it. This is the main thing that I would stand for if I were a highly influential person: giving students the meals they need if they aren't getting it from home.

I believe one thing that would make education better for future generations is increased educational and school funding. I truly believe that if school funding increased - even slightly - it would make a significant difference in how resources in schools are replenished, replaced, or are introduced. Some schools to this day, in 2022, have textbooks from at least ten years ago. Additional funding would be able to provide things like updated textbooks, which usually updates every other year, hot meals for children who can't afford it, or possibly after school programs. Additional funding to schools, especially in the near future would allow schools to provide current and future students to learn curriculum from updated sources, technologies, and textbooks and have easier access to those things. Additional funding would also allow educators, faculty, and staff to be paid more, especially due to the exponentially rising inflation. Because with most jobs nowadays, hourly wages and salaries aren't reflecting the rise in inflation and taxes, making it harder for teachers to make a living. In addition, with more funding, schools will be able to hire more educators to combat the overcrowding of students in classrooms - especially with the rise of teachers resigning and/or retiring from their jobs, resulting in a teacher shortage. Due to the current state of the economy, being largely influenced by the effects of COVID-19, and the majority of tax dollars going to things like military and social security, education is one of the things to get the least amount. I truly believe that if the tax dollars were re-budgeted so that education would get more funding, not just in Georgia, but all over the country, students and teachers would see a big difference in how both groups are more prepared to learn. Education is one of the most important things in a student's life and is one of the few things that if it's done right, it can make prepare a student for the world ahead of them and make the world a better place.

One thing that gives me hope for the future is the fact that young people today are more aware of what is happening in the nation and what is happening around the world. People my age are more than willing to work for what we want and deserve from jobs and from our leaders to ensure that we can have a better future for ourselves and for the people coming up after us. I think the current generation has a certain drive and motivation to keep society in the people's hands, which is admirable, but it takes a lot of work and activism to get society needs to be - which is a better, safer, and sustainable. I am glad to be a part of a generation that cares about the environment and what happens to it, that cares about the poor people and whether or not they get food on the table, and that cares about the well-being of other people. I'm hopeful that our society will be a better one as time goes on, because it can only get better from here and again, this generation has a certain drive and motivation to make things better. It takes time and effort, and it won't get done in one day, however, I do believe it's getting done. With today's society, and with the internet at it's upmost peak, everything is out in the open, almost everything a company or person of power does that negatively affects a large group of people is at risk of being exposed. This allows people to react fast and make demands for necessary change for the better and benefit of the people that are negatively affected.

One thing that I love about myself is my compassion and empathy for people. The world around us has become very isolating and a lot of people feel as if they're alone on their journey through life. However, I was brought up by my parents that someone may not be as lucky and blessed as me and because of that, a little kindness and empathy go a long way. Offering a helping hand and being compassionate towards someone go a long way. There are a lot of things that are happening in the world that are negatively affecting people individually and as a whole. I feel lucky to be able to be compassionate and empathetic towards people because I believe that everyone needs someone that they can relate to or at least listen to them. The way the world is right now, more people feel more isolated than ever before and I believe that the act of simply being kind and compassionate - even to just one person - can make a big difference. That is why I love the fact that I am compassionate and empathetic - because I can make a difference in at least just one person.

The biggest problem that the world is facing right now is food insecurity. It's a world-wide issue that no country is exempt from. Malnourished children face things such as life-threatening illnesses that they're unable to recover from, unless they unfortunately die at a very young age. Food waste is something that contributes to that problem. People who are less fortunate often cannot afford to buy a hot meal or groceries because the food is either too expensive or it has run out because of a shortage - all while many food companies are throwing away food that still have some shelf life. Reducing food waste and changing agricultural practices can greatly reduce food insecurity amongst people in the working class and the poor in the United States. One of the leading countries, France, has a strict, zero food waste policies and laws that are benefitting everyone involved, including the people who desperately need food on the table to feed their families. Because of the severe food insecurities in the United States that have been caused by extreme demands and inflation, among other things, families are facing going days with one or two meals, if any meals at all, which would eventually lead to malnutrition. Food insecurity is not something that most people would expect from one of the wealthiest countries in the world, however, I believe that if the United States and other countries as well, followed similar ways as France or other counties to reduce food waste, food insecurity wouldn't be as big of a problem as it is. It won't be reduced overnight, but doing a little at a time would make a big difference for the people of the world. The people aren't asking for a lot, just that the government take care of them

Education has shaped my understanding of the world in a way that I'm not going into the world blind. I've been fortunate to have had great teachers and leaders in my life who have inspired me to do better in the world and what to expect when I've entered the world as an adult. Having continuous education from multiple sources keeps me in check in becoming a better person to myself and others while learning new things about the world. People get "education" from their parents, family, and friends, their religious communities, and from all the different areas of life that they're a part of. Education doesn't just revolve around what happens in a school setting because the world is so much bigger than whatever is happening in a school building or a workplace. Education and learning comes from multiple sources in my life that have shaped how I go through the world. I become more sure of myself as I'm navigating the world because I have told at my disposal that I use to tell right from wrong and challenge myself. I am lucky to be surrounded by friends and family to teach me how to stand up for myself and I am thankful to be able to go to university not once, but twice, to learn even more what it is to be a part of society and be an inspiration to younger generations. Education is an ongoing cycle and needs to be kept up with to ensure that the younger generations have even more tools at their disposal to make the world a better place. However, as I've mentioned, some of these tools and lessons aren't given to people in a school setting - some are taught at home or at work by watching those around you. People at home or at your work will unknowingly teach you determination to move forward, that if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. Education at home, at work, and at school have taught me that what I want in my life won't be handed to me, that I have to but some effort in - and if I fail, I can try again. However, I am not alone in my journey for a better self and better life for myself. I always have people around me to help me and teach me how to do things, how to deal with things, and how to manage with a challenge that sits before me.

I believe that the best way to live a long and healthy life is to form healthy habits and be surrounded by people who care about you and want to see you do better. Taking care of yourself isn't a one-person job, because you always need someone's help. There's always someone to help you by giving you a listening ear, when you need to find inspiration or motivation, and be there for you. We didn't come into this world all by ourselves, we've all been surrounded by people who want the best from us. Taking care of yourself and living a long, healthy life includes accepting help from other people and offering help to those in need. Because health doesn't just revolve around physical health, but also mental health. Surrounding yourself with people who care about you will allow you to constantly grow and become a better person, both physically and mentally so that you can also be there for someone else who may need it.

One practical solution for helping more people who struggle with mental health is simply being there and allowing them to have space to be comfortable and have room to speak about what they're going through. Not everyone who struggles are comfortable talking to a medical professional or a stranger - I believe in making it known that I am a friend and I am here to listen. From struggling with mental health myself, and having other friends and family do the same, the common thing that I've noticed is the want to have someone listen without being criticized and listened to. I personally believe that some parts of someone struggling with mental health is feeling that you're not being heard. The other person listening may not have the answers, or any answer at all, but the fact that there's someone listening is important because then the person struggling won't feel alone. In this day and age, especially towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have truly felt alone and have felt that they're the only people struggling. However, I truly believe that people can come together and lend a listening ear so that people don't feel alone and know that there is someone who is willing to listen and assure them that things will get better. Because people who struggle with mental health aren't alone, they need someone who is willing to listen to them and put labels on them that they don't need and is willing to simply listen to them.

Generosity to me means that being kind. Being a generous person to me means that I'm being kind to people - regardless of if I know them or not. With everything that has happened in the last two years with COVID-19 and several world conflicts, people's mindsets aren't in a good place and need to be assured that things will become better. Generosity to me means being kind and lending a hand to someone in need at the grocery store, or conversing with the cashier. I believe it's important to make sure that being a part of a functioning society is working together for a greater good - whether it's something as small as smiling and talking to the cashier at a store, or recycling. Generosity doesn't necessarily have to do with giving away money or things to people. People can be generous with their time and effort. I believe in experience's and making memories and a way to do that is being generous with my time and spending it with people who need it and being kind to people in the world. I think despite what's happening around the world and in the United States, it will bring so many more people together to better themselves and help each other on a much bigger scale.

If I was given $1,000 right now, I'd put it towards the money I've already saved for graduate school. I want to further my career and become an art teacher, however, after graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in fine arts in the Spring of 2021, I didn't have enough money saved up to be able to go back to graduate school to become an art teacher after the summer. I felt that three months wouldn't be enough to save enough money for even one semester of graduate school. I decided to not apply to graduate school for Fall 2021, but Fall 2022, because I wanted enough time to both get work experience and to be able to save enough money for at least the first year or two of graduate school. I believe that I've made the right decision since I've so far achieved both of those things. But I am also choosing to not quit working and will continue to work as much as I can throughout graduate school - because nothing is achieved without hard work and exhausting every resource you can to get to where you want to be. I've come a long way and learned a lot in the last year that I've been working, and once I start school again, I want to work hard enough to make a difference in not just my own life, but other people's lives.

As I'm pursuing an education degree, I am looking forward to using educational programs and technology as I'm pursuing my degree, which I would then use with future students. Since the pandemic, technology in education has changed drastically and advanced tremendously. I believe that students, especially younger students, learn better and faster with visual tools. In the last two years, educational software have become more refined to student's needs and are more catered to what student's are already seeing. Since students now are more exposed to technology at a much earlier age, why not adapt educational software in a way that they're already used to seeing? For example, most students in elementary schools play games on a computer or a tablet, and they can learn new concepts and topics using software that mimics a game or a video that students are already familiar with. I also believe that in general, new and updated educational software and technology are helpful for educators to stay on track with students progress and keep parents more involved in their children's education. I look forward to what sort of educational technologies will be available by the time I finish graduate school and begin teaching students because any technologies today can only improve, become better, and benefit students and adults at the same time.

One of my favorite hobbies that I have picked up during the last two years of this unfortunate pandemic is regularly watching new documentaries that are related to things that have happened around the United States and around the world. I think that regularly getting news from various different sources will eventually become repetitive because at some point. I've made it a habit to learn something new every month by watching a documentary of either something I find interesting or at least something somewhat related to current events. Staying informed about a lot of topics and current events is so easy in this time and age of technology, but it can get overwhelming at times, and I think that a documentary can take something that has happened and make it more digestible for a viewer to fully understand what is happening. I always try to include members of my family or friends in my community to be involved and learn new things and be involved in what is happening in the world. We all live in a complex world and I think that watching a documentary here and there can take the edge off of learning about certain topics and ideas. However, a lot of documentaries do not sugarcoat the seriousness of some topics but do a great job in delivering their messages rather than constantly throwing it in peoples faces.

I am passionate about becoming a teacher, regardless of a pandemic, because I believe that students aren't just numbers to be projected on a chart. Students are the future of our society and need to be prepared for it in a way that brings out their strengths. I believe that a part of a teacher's job is to figure out what works best for a student in how they learn and receive information so that the student can the turn around and make the future of our society a better one. I also truly believe that every person has a teacher that has made a large impact on them or given them a lesson about life that they've never forgotten. I want to be one of those teachers that leave a lasting impression on a student, because I want to be one of those teachers that truly believe in their students and doesn't just see them a number or a test score.

I am currently en route to start the Art Education graduate program at the University of Georgia in the Fall of 2022. The reason I specifically chose art education because I believe that it is part of the foundation of teaching children and teens entering the world the foundations that they need to be successful in life. I believe that art and art history carries a lot of weight when it comes to learning new ideas and concepts and I believe that it lends itself to other subjects, such as literature, history, and science. I believe that learning about art history will allow children and young adults to connect ideas to each other easier than simply taking notes and reading about a subject. I truly believe that helping them see things in a visual matter will help them learn faster, better, and more things than in a traditional classroom because it also allows students to express themselves in a healthy way and inspire them to be better people for themselves. I also think education in general is important and this pandemic has really proved how valuable teachers and educators are, not just in the United States but all over the world. Educators are people who wants the best for our childrens' futures so that they can be make a good difference in the world.

I first entered university with the intention of fully becoming an educated and well-taught artist and make my mark in the art world. However, nothing is ever handed to you if you simply hold your hand out. After graduating University of Georgia with a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Art and Design, I chose to take a break to spend time working full time and networking as much as I could. This allowed me to meet people from different areas of the workforce and academic sector who, if I needed questions answered, could help me. I've recently applied and gotten into the Art Education graduate program at the University of Georgia and plan on attending in the Fall of 2022. I specifically chose this program because as I'm continuously working on my craft as an artist, I can eventually share it with the future generations of our society. I believe that children and students learn more visually than anything else. Art surpasses all methods of communication and story-telling - it goes back all to the pre-historic cave paintings, if not before that. The reason I didn't begin my post-secondary education with art education was because I wanted to familiarize myself with as much in depth information about art techniques, mediums, and history as I could before going into a specialized field. One of my painting professors inspired me to do this as she did this when she went to university. She told me that it allowed her to figure out what her niche is, what her calling was - which she then took and chose to give back to the community and teach other people as she'd been taught. I often read art books and biographies of old painters and masters to get an idea of the context for their work and the reason behind them creating the works that they do. It's interesting to read about artists' motivations to complete a body of work or what their views were and how they were reflected in their work. I truly believe that in order successfully teach other people about art and to show them why certain ideas exists, people need to be shown the works of the old masters and the drawings of pre-historic times - because the concepts of Leonardo Da Vinci or Caravaggio couldn't just appear from thin air - they were built on top of other ideas and concepts from even older artists and educators. I want to be able to teach people that things will come to them with hard work and that people are always developing new ideas from what already exists - it's a matter of putting them together to make something new or advance something that already exists.

As an artist, I always try to take a creative route to my studies to stay organized to eventually achieve academic success. I think visualizing things helps a lot with planning and studying - because concepts and ideas are easier to track if you can track and see what one concept and idea leads to. I am currently working towards a Master's Degree in Art Education and I believe that staying organized with things like charts, timelines, and again, putting information in a matter where it's visualized will be an easier way to absorb and remember information. I firmly believe that the things I do to keep myself motivated and organized in order to complete the Art Education program will eventually be shown to the future students that I will teach. Because art isn't just about being able to draw, or paint, or design - it's about learning about past artists and being able to easily reference techniques and concepts while creating at the same time.

A time where I overcame an obstacle is when I first moved to the United States in 2009. As a child, I didn't speak English very well, so I didn't and couldn't do well in school because I barely understood the language. However, I was determined to make sure I could learn and understand English so I could do well in school and be the first person in my family to complete a Bachelor's Degree and now begin a Master's Degree. I stayed persistence in reading some of my favorite books in English and watching my favorite tv shows and movies in English so I could learn and be more fluent in a language of the country I now live in. Thirteen years later, I am still learning words and phrases in English that I hadn't known before and I'm able to help and teach other people that are in similar situations that I was in. I often help people and students at church and schools that don't speak English very well learn English so that they can be more comfortable reading and speaking English more fluently. I think it's important to help people in our communities feel welcome.

One of the favorite paintings I've made was a painting I did for an art show during my final semester of my undergraduate studies. I focused my work on religion, because I wanted to reconnect with my culture and my religion and I wanted to be more involved in my church. I believe that people become more involved when there visual things involved - they can understand concepts and ideas easier when there's a visual component. This painting that I've done is of the Madonna and Mary Magdalene and I've used it as an example when speaking to a younger audience within the church to help them understand the concept of Easter and during the time of Good Friday and all the possible feelings and emotions that people felt during that time. At the time where I created this painting, I created similar portraits where people can relate certain situations.

One of my painting professors during my undergraduate studies re-kindled my interests in pursuing art further when we spoke about what I wanted to do after I graduated. I had completed my undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Art and Design with no clear idea of what to do next - but I wanted to take a break and work, then go back and eventually get a Master's Degree. During painting critiques, I spoke to her about eventually wanting to get a Master's Degree in art education because I thought that it was the most logical step to take. She was ecstatic and told me that it was the exact same route she took while she went to university. That made me relate to her even more, not just as an artist, but I saw her as somebody that I could be in the future: having a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and then getting a Master's Degree in Art Education. What she told me that I always keep in mind is that taking the time to hone my craft and skill would help me in the future in picking what I wanted to do in the future - it made me more determined to find out exactly what I wanted to do. This determination fought alongside with the determination that I was going to be the first person in my family to graduate university with two degrees in the fields that I am passionate about: art and ensuring that art is just as important in schools as other subjects.