One time in middle school a friend invited me to help with her Mom's Meals on Wheels route on a day we had off of school. I didn't realize how many senior citizens were in our community, or how isolated they felt. Often times when I discover areas of great need I feel as though I can never do enough, but the truth is doing something can make a larger impact than you or I could ever imagine. So I thought about who was in my life. My Great Grandma LOVES talking on the phone, and always shared how she was lonely. While she doesn't live close enough for me to visit often, calling her when I can has proved to be well worth it. My Great Grandma and I have built an amazing relationship based on my Grandma's insane stories and our shared interests. Another senior in my life is my neighbor down the street, he sits on his porch during the warmer months and always gets excited when you stop and say hi. I've also discovered he will always enjoy a good cheeseburger and fries from McDonalds and especially loves it when we bring him holiday cookies. None of these things are all-consuming or challenging, just adding a few minutes to my day, but the smiles, laughs, and even dances they create make it well worth it.

One time in middle school a friend invited me to help with her Mom's Meals on Wheels route on a day we had off of school. I didn't realize how many senior citizens were in our community, or how isolated they felt. Often times when I discover areas of great need I feel as though I can never do enough, but the truth is doing something can make a larger impact than you or I could ever imagine. So I thought about who was in my life. My Great Grandma LOVES talking on the phone, and always shared how she was lonely. While she doesn't live close enough for me to visit often, calling her when I can has proved to be well worth it. My Great Grandma and I have built an amazing relationship based on my Grandma's insane stories and our shared interests. Another senior in my life is my neighbor down the street, he sits on his porch during the warmer months and always gets excited when you stop and say hi. I've also discovered he will always enjoy a good cheeseburger and fries from McDonalds and especially loves it when we bring him holiday cookies. None of these things are all-consuming or challenging, just adding a few minutes to my day, but the smiles, laughs, and even dances they create make it well worth it.

I lead the middle school girls at my church, I signed up to mentor and guide these 6th through 8th-grade girls through life's ups and downs. I have always said my goal was to encourage meaningful relationships and conversations between both the girls and myself as well as the girls and each other. But I don’t think I could have prepared myself for handling the vulnerability the girls would be comfortable with and how little I felt like I could help. On Monday, November 29th a 15-year-old open-fired at his high school an hour away. He killed 4 students and injured 8 others. When I showed up to hang out with my little group of middle schoolers Thursday night the conversation didn’t cease. I don’t know why but these 6th through 8th graders expressing their concern about what could happen to their school caught me so off guard. These sweet, young, and amazing girls have been put in a situation where they are actively worried about their and their friends' safety when they go to school. It felt doable for me to cope with this, but the fact that they have to? And as they share all this, what can I do? I can’t promise them anything. All I can do is listen, I can relate, and I can share healthy ways to deal with anxiety and fear. I do all that to the best of my ability, I try my best. And the girls never hesitate to tell me how much simply my presence means to them. But how can listening and conversation truly help? How can this truly be enough?

Albert Einstein once said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." This isn’t to say school doesn’t teach you important lessons, because there is no doubt in my mind it does. This is to say that with no application, there is no gain. You can only do so much with a formula or concept. If you don't know how to use it, where will it get you? Where will you end up? I remember the first time I used a math equation I had been taught at school in real life. I was labeling coffee bags at my weekend job and I had a few different types to do. They each used different stickers and stamps and the bags needed boxed and given to the production team once the labeling was finished. As I figured out how to label the bags, and in what order; as well as how to store them, I realized that the whole point of learning math was so I could figure out what to do in situations like the one I was in. I wasn’t learning math to pick the right answer from a short alphabetized list or pass a test, but to live my life in a productive manner and make educated decisions about how to move forward. Furthermore, sometimes the best way to learn something is by experience alone. I am awful at directions. When I got my learner’s permit, my parents realized how much I needed to work on it and suggested that I looked at a map of our area to learn what roads took me north, south, east, and west. I tried this, but it just didn’t help. As I’ve driven more, I have landmarks that remind me where to turn for different places; for example, there is a Mediterranian restaurant off the exit I need to take for school. Or the highway to the grocery store is past our local CVS. I tried learning the book way, but it didn’t help; the experience that practice gave me helped me more than anything else could have. The application kept the information in my head. Life is a lesson, the experiences of life teach us more than just a book ever could. Without the social experiences, the job place challenges, and real-life situations; it is nearly impossible to have the knowledge necessary to excel. Obviously, with COVID-19, life has changed in many ways; but life is still teaching us so much. We’re learning how to problem solve, how to organize our own schedules, how to reach out for help, and make sure our friends know we are always here for them. We are re-writing the everyday experiences of life, and in the process gaining a new set of skills that without the pandemic we would have never had. Don’t underestimate the power of experiences and what they teach us. Life is too short to memorize every formula and concept, but with the practice of being on our toes; surely the lessons of experience will get us to the finish line.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

I see over and over in society today that we leave the acting out on our beliefs to others, oftentimes thrusting the task of helping communities that are most in need to private organizations and political leaders. But I want to be more than that. I want to take whatever privileges I have been given, no matter how many or how few, and use them to be the change. To act on what I believe and firsthand cause change. I want to serve our youth, especially middle schoolers. I want to educate our communities and provide resources for mental health dilemmas. I want to provide parents, especially those struggling, with more resources to raise and provide for their children. I want to serve in the foster care system, building relationships with both the children and the families who welcome them. I have big dreams to see a substantial change in our communities by people like myself stepping up to the challenge and selflessly serving those around us.

When I started working and making income I created a budget. I wanted to save for big things like cars and college, so I wouldn't spend. I would want something so I would spend money, and then I'd beat myself up for not saving. So I made a budget. 10% Spend, 10% Give, 80% Saving. So following that budget I would use some of my personal spending money and $100 to buy an apple watch, I've really wanted one for a while because of the ways you can use it for health and fitness. I would use another $100 to buy coloring bibles for the group of middle schoolers I mentor at my church. Finally saving. There is $800 for this category, and while I wouldn't have enough with just this I would put it towards a car. The market right now isn't great, and so my savings is mostly going towards car stuff. I just got my license and can not wait to get my own car! $1,000 might not go as far as when I was 10, but it's crazy to think of how much it could change. So right now, that's what I would do with $1,000 dollars.

"Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully." Kristen Butler said that. The first time I heard the phrase it encouraged me because I knew it was true. Sometimes the sunset is a tad dull, or maybe it's covered in clouds. The sunset doesn't come to us, rather we have to go out and see it. But no matter what every day ends with something beautiful. Not something perfect. Not something served to us on a silver platter. But something beautiful. And isn't that a metaphor for life? Not just a literal day; but periods of time. It all can end in something beautiful. Maybe that simply means you learn something through a hard circumstance. You never know what the sunset will be but the important thing is that you know there will be a sunset. And as long as I have the ability I am going to put in the effort to make sure the sunsets are seen.

Do you remember walking into elementary school after buying new shoes? Maybe you volunteered to write something on the board just because you wanted everyone to see you? Nothing could stop you; you were on top of the world. Children are truly gifted with superior confidence levels. Confidence levels I believe are so powerful that they could change our world. But what happens when you are on your way to the front of the classroom, with your new shoes, and someone laughs at you. That confidence, it dwindles, and it can only survive without support for so long. I value confidence. I strive to be confident. But how can you be confident with the constant belittlement from your peers? How can you be confident when your friends repeatedly turn their backs on you. How can you be confident when your own family doesn't want to see you succeed in your goals? The cards seem to be stacked against us, we're almost set up for failure. Self-confidence is defined as "the feeling or belief that one can rely on oneself; firm trust." I believe when you practice self-confidence, you are setting yourself up for success. We need encouragement, we need support. Human beings can't always be doing it on their own. But when no one is there to be that support, when there isn't a source of external motivation? If you DON'T believe in yourself, you CAN'T rely on yourself, there ISN'T firm trust? What is going to keep you going? Nothing. That's it. You've ended your own story of success. But what happens when no one is there to be that support, when there isn't a source of external motivation, but you DO believe in yourself? You CAN rely on yourself? There IS firm trust? You can keep going. There will be more to your legacy. Trust me, I know confidence doesn't come easy. For years I have struggled with insecurities and self-doubt that control my every move. I haven't felt like a little kid with new shoes in a very long time. I'm used to the belittling voices of my peers, the silence from my so-called friends, and the scorn from my family. But I know that if I work on confidence now, I build that trust with myself, it will propel me past my wildest goals. Nothing will be able to stop me if I know I CAN.

Do you remember walking into elementary school after buying new shoes? You were on top of the world! Children are truly gifted with superior confidence levels. Confidence levels I believe are so powerful that they could change our world. But what happens when someone makes fun of your new shoes? That confidence, it dwindles, and it can only survive without support for so long. I value confidence. I strive to be confident. But how can you be confident with the constant belittlement from your peers? How can you be confident when your friends repeatedly turn their backs on you. How can you be confident when your own family doesn't want to see you succeed in your goals? The cards seem to be stacked against us, we're almost set up for failure. Self-confidence is defined as "the feeling or belief that one can rely on oneself; firm trust." I believe when you practice self-confidence, you are setting yourself up for success. We need encouragement, we need support. Human beings can't always be doing it on their own. But when no one is there to be that support, when there isn't a source of external motivation? If you DON'T believe in yourself, you CAN'T rely on yourself, there ISN'T firm trust? What is going to keep you going? Nothing. That's it. You've ended your own story of success. But what happens when you DO believe in yourself? You CAN rely on yourself? There IS firm trust? You can keep going. There will be more to your legacy. Trust me, I know confidence doesn't come easy. But I know that if I work on confidence now, I build that trust with myself, it will propel me past my wildest goals. Nothing will be able to stop me if I know I CAN.

Do you remember walking into elementary school after buying new shoes? Maybe you volunteered to write something on the board just because you wanted everyone to see you? Nothing could stop you; you were on top of the world. Children are truly gifted with superior confidence levels. Confidence levels I believe are so powerful that they could change our world. But what happens when you are on your way to the front of the classroom, with your new shoes, and someone laughs at you. That confidence, it dwindles, and it can only survive without support for so long. I value confidence. I strive to be confident. But how can you be confident with the constant belittlement from your peers? How can you be confident when your friends repeatedly turn their backs on you. How can you be confident when your own family doesn't want to see you succeed in your goals? The cards seem to be stacked against us, we're almost set up for failure. Self-confidence is defined as "the feeling or belief that one can rely on oneself; firm trust." I believe when you practice self-confidence, you are setting yourself up for success. We need encouragement, we need support. Human beings can't always be doing it on their own. But when no one is there to be that support, when there isn't a source of external motivation? If you DON'T believe in yourself, you CAN'T rely on yourself, there ISN'T firm trust? What is going to keep you going? Nothing. That's it. You've ended your own story of success. But what happens when no one is there to be that support, when there isn't a source of external motivation, but you DO believe in yourself? You CAN rely on yourself? There IS firm trust? You can keep going. There will be more to your legacy. Trust me, I know confidence doesn't come easy. For years I have struggled with insecurities and self-doubt that control my every move. I haven't felt like a little kid with new shoes in a very long time. I'm used to the belittling voices of my peers, the silence from my so-called friends, and the scorn from my family. But I know that if I work on confidence now, I build that trust with myself, it will propel me past my wildest goals. Nothing will be able to stop me if I know I CAN.

I'm a modern, capable, caring, and inspired young woman who embraces the future and everything it has in store. I'm not scared of the trials and challenges life will throw at me as I know they will shape me into the person who I need to be to enjoy the highs and adventures that are coming my way. I know not everything will be easy, I know I will have to work hard, I know some days I will feel like quitting. But all of these will only make the good days that much sweeter. I am the best me.

One of my favorite YouTubers, Lauren Norris, coined the term "be the girl who just went for it." On her channel, she documents her life of "just going for it." She's often not sure how things will turn out, she doesn't always have everything she needs or knows everything she needs to know. But she lives constantly aligned with just going for it. I strive to live as boldly and bravely as she does. I want to be a girl who "just went for it." Unfortunately, it's a lot harder than that to do. With so many possible consequences and reproductions just going for it seems like a sketchy choice sometimes. But so often nothing changes if we go for it and fail. So often not going for it solely means we do fail. So with nothing to lose, and so much to gain, how do I practice bravery and live boldly? I strive to "be the girl who just went for it."

Right now I am working on listening. I have been time and time again hurt by friends and family who can't listen. Whether there are too many distractions or they simply don't care. But at the end of the day it hurts, no matter the reason. But then I got to thinking, and I realized that in my life while many don't listen, many do. So many individuals in our lives are routinely silenced. Whether that be because of who they are, what they do, or what they think it breaks my heart to think that someone could be hurting but no one will listen. I'm a talker though, I always have something to say. But I'm also a silence hater, it makes me uncomfortable. Even though it's a challenge the importance is undeniable. Truly listening has a huge impact on the people around us. I try to listen to friends and family but also people I don't know well. I listen to teachers, I listen to new members at my clubs or church, I listen to people I meet in public. I truly think that our world needs more listeners, listeners who truly care. What do I do to make sure to treat others with empathy? I try to listen.

Confidence is the ability to step out of the doubt and negativity we feed ourselves and realize despite our flaws we are unique and special individuals that deserve the love and respect of our peers. The ability to put ourselves out there, share our ideas and opinions not scared of rejection or failure. My grandma always told me if I never tried, I'd never get it. Being rational is of course important but don't rationalize not taking steps towards your goals. Often times the worst possible outcome leaves you no worse off than where you're at now. Life is hard, human beings are cruel, and the cards may seem stacked against you. But confidence is the ability to recognize that and still try. Confidence is the shift from doubt to perseverance. What's the truth behind so many of the most confident people we are surrounded by. It's all fake, no one has perfect confidence. It's a routine habit of showing up and making confident choices that puts someone in the lead. I continue to practice that, to work on my ability to enforce confidence in my choices, because ultimately if I never try, I'll never get it.

Confidence is the ability to step out of the doubt and negativity we feed ourselves and realize despite our flaws we are unique and special individuals that deserve the love and respect of our peers. The ability to put ourselves out there, share our ideas and opinions not scared of rejection or failure. My grandma always told me if I never tried, I'd never get it. Being rational is of course important but don't rationalize not taking steps towards your goals. Often times the worst possible outcome leaves you no worse off than where you're at now. Life is hard, human beings are cruel, and the cards may seem stacked against you. But confidence is the ability to recognize that and still try. Confidence is the shift from doubt to perseverance. What's the truth behind so many of the most confident people we are surrounded by. It's all fake, no one has perfect confidence. It's a routine habit of showing up and making confident choices that puts someone in the lead. I continue to practice that, to work on my ability to enforce confidence in my choices, because ultimately if I never try, I'll never get it.

Right now I am working on listening. I have been time and time again hurt by friends and family who can't listen. Whether there are too many distractions or they simply don't care. But at the end of the day it hurts, no matter the reason. But then I got to thinking, and I realized that in my life while many don't listen, many do. So many individuals in our lives are routinely silenced. Whether that be because of who they are, what they do, or what they think it breaks my heart to think that someone could be hurting but no one will listen. I'm a talker though, I always have something to say. But I'm also a silence hater, it makes me uncomfortable. Even though it's a challenge the importance is undeniable. Truly listening has a huge impact on the people around us. I try to listen to friends and family but also people I don't know well. I listen to teachers, I listen to new members at my clubs or church, I listen to people I meet in public. I truly think that our world needs more listeners, listeners who truly care. What do I do to make sure to treat others with empathy? I try to listen.

Right now I am working on listening. I have been time and time again hurt by friends and family who can't listen. Whether there are too many distractions or they simply don't care. But at the end of the day it hurts, no matter the reason. But then I got to thinking, and I realized that in my life while many don't listen, many do. So many individuals in our lives are routinely silenced. Whether that be because of who they are, what they do, or what they think it breaks my heart to think that someone could be hurting but no one will listen. I'm a talker though, I always have something to say. But I'm also a silence hater, it makes me uncomfortable. Even though it's a challenge the importance is undeniable. Truly listening has a huge impact on the people around us. I try to listen to friends and family but also people I don't know well. I listen to teachers, I listen to new members at my clubs or church, I listen to people I meet in public. I truly think that our world needs more listeners, listeners who truly care. What do I do to encourage those around me? I try to listen.

It devastates me to see pictures of the ocean and ocean shores covered in plastic of all shapes and sizes. Furthermore the images of animals who have been affected by this plastic waste. Turtles that have grown in abnormal shapes due to being caught in plastic loops, birds that have eaten bottlecaps and beads, and multitudes of animals suffocating because of plastic bags. The pollution that humans have instigated is unacceptable and inhumane. While many individuals like myself have switched to more eco-friendly ways of life such a reusable bags and metal water bottles but this doesn't erase the pounds of plastic that have wound up in our precious ecosystems. And the sad truth is that plastic never fully decomposes. Ever. So with pounds of plastic being spread through our oceans and most precious tropical shores, something needs to be done. And this is where I am genuinely inspired by both the innovative thinking and compassionate hearts that so many people possess. As I continue on a personal journey towards being more sustainable, so many charities and organizations have come in clutch. And with the world of social media, many charities can receive funding from individuals merely watching a video they have posted or sharing something on our own social platforms! There are endless ways to help these charities and in turn, help so many communities and ecosystems across the world.

Right now I am working on listening. I have been time and time again hurt by friends and family who can't listen. Whether there are too many distractions or they simply don't care. But at the end of the day it hurts, no matter the reason. But then I got to thinking, and I realized that in my life while many don't listen, many do. So many individuals in our lives are routinely silenced. Whether that be because of who they are, what they do, or what they think it breaks my heart to think that someone could be hurting but no one will listen. I'm a talker though, I always have something to say. But I'm also a silence hater, it makes me uncomfortable. Even though it's a challenge the importance is undeniable. Truly listening has a huge impact on the people around us. I try to listen to friends and family but also people I don't know well. I listen to teachers, I listen to new members at my clubs or church, I listen to people I meet in public. I truly think that our world needs more listeners, listeners who truly care. What do I do to make your friends, family, or other people in your life feel loved? I try to listen.

In my life joy is being able to search out the positives even when surrounded by so much negativity. Yes, we are surrounded by so much negative but we are also surrounded by a lot of positives as well; literally. The sky never fails to stun me with its beauty in the most random of moments. Sunsets, sunrises, stary nights, foggy mornings, or even a basic blue sky with cotton candy clouds. I so often fail to notice the little things, but the sky is something you simply can't avoid... and thank goodness for that fact. Its gorgeous presence in my life makes early mornings to middle of the afternoon car rides to late-night bonfires more precious. It's so easy to ignore the perfectly decorated ladybug, the precise outline of a flower, the tinkling call of a bird, or the fading treeline in the distance. But it's more challenging to miss the beauty of a sky we are surrounded by, and it's pretty easy to be joyful after admiring it.

I lead the middle school girls at my church, I signed up to mentor and guide these 6th through 8th-grade girls through life's ups and downs. I have always said my goal was to encourage meaningful relationships and conversations between both the girls and myself as well as the girls and each other. But I don’t think I could have prepared myself for handling the vulnerability the girls would be comfortable with and how little I felt like I could help. On Monday, November 29th a 15-year-old open-fired at his high school an hour away. He killed 4 students and injured 8 others. When I showed up to hang out with my little group of middle schoolers Thursday night the conversation didn’t cease. I don’t know why but these 6th through 8th graders expressing their concern about what could happen to their school, and discussing details of what could happen caught me so off guard. These sweet, young, and amazing girls have been put in a situation where they are actively worried about their and their friends' safety when they go to school. It felt doable for me to cope with this, but the fact that they have to? And as they share all this, what can I do? I can’t promise them anything. All I can do is listen, I can relate, and I can share healthy ways to deal with anxiety and fear. I do all that to the best of my ability, I try my best. And the girls never hesitate to tell me how much simply my presence means to them. But how can listening and conversation truly help? How can this truly be enough?

Susan was just moving into her new habitat with a fresh new wheel and colorful house with multiple levels and a twisty slide, but of course, the most exciting things in this new habitat is the new bedding and a purple water bottle!

It devastates me to see pictures of the ocean and ocean shores covered in plastic of all shapes and sizes. Furthermore the images of animals who have been affected by this plastic waste. Turtles that have grown in abnormal shapes due to being caught in plastic loops, birds that have eaten bottlecaps and beads, and multitudes of animals suffocating because of plastic bags. The pollution that humans have instigated is unacceptable and inhumane. While many individuals like myself have switched to more eco-friendly ways of life such a reusable bags and metal water bottles but this doesn't erase the pounds of plastic that have wound up in our precious ecosystems. And the sad truth is that plastic never fully decomposes. Ever. So with pounds of plastic being spread through our oceans and most precious tropical shores, something needs to be done. And this is where I am genuinely inspired by both the innovative thinking and compassionate hearts that so many people possess. As I continue on a personal journey towards being more sustainable, so many charities and organizations have come in clutch. And with the world of social media, many charities can receive funding from individuals merely watching a video they have posted or sharing something on our own social platforms! There are endless ways to help these charities and in turn, help so many communities and ecosystems across the world.

What is my greatest inspiration in life? What drives me? The short answer is a lot of things. My vision boards on Pinterest. My conversations with those who work in positions I’m interested in. Pictures of friends and family on trips I hope to take. The idea of waking up in a world in which I built and thinking… this is what I wanted. But ultimately, more important than anything else, it’s making an impact. Small personal victories are awesome, don’t get me wrong. But even better than that is when someone sits me down, or even texts, and says something like “Hey! Thanks for everything the other day, I really appreciated it!” Or after a day of volunteering and someone goes “Thank you, thank you for everything you've done.” There’s something unexplainably special about those moments. They are more important to me than small personal wins. I want to go into business, a field that is stereotypically inhumane and unjust. When I say I’m going into business the assumptions made about me are quite sad. The assumptions that I’m all about the personal benefit, personal gains, and exploiting others for fame and wealth are unsettling. The amount of comments I’ve received and shocked faces that are quickly changed to smiles to hide true thoughts is depressing. But I think this all pushes me to work harder. I see the space for impact I can have is huge. And the emotion that follows actions to create that impact is something that I strive for, it drives me.

One day I want to look up and realize I did it. I want to look up and realize that after years of effort, work, learning, failing, trying, and most importantly not giving I have made it to where I always wanted to be. But after having this be my goal for so long, after putting in effort, working, failing, trying, and not giving up, I realized the best version of ourselves keeps changing. Today's goal is tomorrow's reality. But in the new reality of tomorrow, there will be a new goal. With perfection always a breath away, I want to keep striving. I want to keep having a new and better goal for myself! I've seen too many people give up, decide that it's as good as it will get and they stop. I don't want that, My goal is to never forget that I can and will keep growing as a person.

When I think of simple pleasures I think of the sky that encompasses our world. The sky never fails to stun me with its beauty in the most random of moments. Sunsets, sunrises, stary nights, foggy mornings, or even a basic blue sky with cotton candy clouds. I so often fail to notice the little things, but the sky is something you simply can't avoid... and thank goodness for that fact. Its gorgeous presence in my life makes early mornings to middle of the afternoon car rides to late-night bonfires more precious. It's so easy to ignore the perfectly decorated ladybug, the precise outline of a flower, the tinkling call of a bird, or the fading treeline in the distance. I aspire to be the person who sees these things in their entirety but I don't. However, the sky is one thing I do see, one thing I can always count on to lift my mood.

Our culture leads us to believe the only way to give back is to travel to a different country and spend weeks on end serving the community there. But this is a misconception, in fact a really big one. Giving back is much more than a flamboyant act, it's about deepening our relationships to create community through serving one another's needs. It's about the librarian that genuinely cares about how school is going and always checks in. Or the barista that diligently adds a smiley face to your coffee in the mornings. These aren't huge acts, but they mean so much. I love that these small things we all can do at our jobs and in our personal lives can transform the way our communities function and the way we have relationships. Giving back is important to me because of the impact it has on the people around me and how this impact comes back to me. Smile, say hi, introduce yourself to someone new, do the little things because they matter the most.

I lead the middle school girls at my church, I signed up to mentor and guide these 6th through 8th-grade girls through life's ups and downs. I have always said my goal was to encourage meaningful relationships and conversations between both the girls and myself as well as the girls and each other. But I don’t think I could have prepared myself for handling the vulnerability the girls would be comfortable with and how little I felt like I could help. On Monday, November 29th a 15-year-old open-fired at his high school an hour away. He killed 4 students and injured 8 others. When I showed up to hang out with my little group of middle schoolers Thursday night the conversation didn’t cease. I don’t know why but these 6th through 8th graders expressing their concern about what could happen to their school, and discussing details of what could happen caught me so off guard. These sweet, young, and amazing girls have been put in a situation where they are actively worried about their and their friends' safety when they go to school. It felt doable for me to cope with this, but the fact that they have to? And as they share all this, what can I do? I can’t promise them anything. All I can do is listen, I can relate, and I can share healthy ways to deal with anxiety and fear. I do all that to the best of my ability, I try my best. And the girls never hesitate to tell me how much simply my presence means to them. But how can listening and conversation truly help? How can this truly be enough?

I lead the middle school girls at my church, I signed up to mentor and guide these 6th through 8th-grade girls through life's ups and downs. I have always said my goal was to encourage meaningful relationships and conversations between both the girls and myself as well as the girls and each other. But I don’t think I could have prepared myself for handling the vulnerability the girls would be comfortable with and how little I felt like I could help. On Monday, November 29th a 15-year-old open-fired at his high school an hour away. He killed 4 students and injured 8 others. When I showed up to hang out with my little group of middle schoolers Thursday night the conversation didn’t cease. I don’t know why but these 6th through 8th graders expressing their concern about what could happen to their school, and discussing details of what could happen caught me so off guard. These sweet, young, and amazing girls have been put in a situation where they are actively worried about their and their friends' safety when they go to school. It felt doable for me to cope with this, but the fact that they have to? And as they share all this, what can I do? I can’t promise them anything. All I can do is listen, I can relate, and I can share healthy ways to deal with anxiety and fear. I do all that to the best of my ability, I try my best. And the girls never hesitate to tell me how much simply my presence means to them. But how can listening and conversation truly help? How can this truly be enough?

I lead the middle school girls at my church on Thursday nights and I chat with them throughout the week. I signed up to mentor and guide these 6th through 8th-grade girls through life's ups and downs. I’ve done this for almost two years, and because of this I have built trust and relationships within the group. I have always said my goal was to encourage meaningful relationships and conversations between both the girls and myself as well as the girls and each other. But I don’t think I could have prepared myself for handling the vulnerability the girls would be comfortable with and how little I felt like I could help. On Monday, November 29th a 15-year-old open-fired at his high school an hour away. He killed 3 students on campus and injured 7 students and one teacher. The next day one of the students injured in the attack died while in medical care, making 4 deaths because of the attack. One of the students who died on campus died trying to disarm the shooter. In the following days school districts in the area closed and many that remained open received threats and often had to initiate lockdown. As I returned to school the following days lockdown and open fire shooter policies were reviewed. My clubs and student organizations all discussed the impact this shooting had. My entire social media feed was posts commiserating with the high school where the shooting took place, remembering those who passed because of the incident, and information about the attack and what to do to protect yourself and others. And when I showed up to hang out with my little group of middle schoolers Thursday night the conversation didn’t cease. I don’t know why but these 6th through 8th graders expressing their concern about threats and attacks that could happen to their school, and discussing details of what could happen caught me so off guard. These sweet, young, and amazing girls have been put in a situation where they are actively worried about their and their friends' safety when they go to school. It felt doable for me to cope with this, but the fact that they have to? And as they share all this, what can I do? I can’t promise them anything. All I can do is listen, I can relate, and I can share healthy ways to deal with anxiety and fear. I do all that to the best of my ability, I try my best. And the girls never hesitate to tell me how much simply my presence means to them. But how can listening and conversation truly help? How can this truly be enough? As the entire community continues to grieve and process this attack, I know that my listening and showing up for the middle school girls is truly so valuable. And as I continue to listen and show up for the girls I know it's relationships like these that bring our community together.

March 12, 2020, I woke up on my birthday with little knowledge of what that day would look like. However not because of a birthday surprise, or at least not a good one. The pandemic had officially started in the United States and suddenly I wasn’t being surrounded and mixed up with hundreds of students my age. At the end of the day, I only had myself to look to. I started to realize how much the opinions and agendas of others had caused me to fail myself. I realized how much I had been compromising to ensure others weren’t uncomfortable or frustrated with my life choices. When no one else was there, I had to start living for myself without being so concerned about what my superficial, materialistic peers would think.

The biggest form of self-care in my life is the ability to pause. So many forms of self-care seem to become burdens, they are tasks added to my ongoing to-do list. School, work, extracurriculars, and now let's add journaling, reading, working out, and sleeping enough; but what if we pause. What if we look at all we have actually done. We look at how much we have impacted those in our life. We look at what we are accomplishing. The art of being able to pause, breathe, and evaluate is something that has truly gotten me through this past year, especially with the pandemic. There is never a once size fits all answer. No one thing can be the solution for both you and me. Pausing doesn't even fix everything for me! But the impacts of pausing, and the incorporation of healthy thoughts to follow, really can do wonders in so many people's lives.

Friendship is something that for so long I didn't appreciate. But now, looking at my life I realize how much the relationships we have to affect us. Friends are ultimately the power behind us as we move through life. They are the first to pick us up when we fall, but they won't hesitate to pull us back when we go too far. They are the ones to bring hot coffee before a long day, and ice cream after it's over. They are the people to break us the hard truths we need to hear, but they are the first to shoot done the lies we are told. Friends educate us where they can and give us the opportunity to offer what we can when they don't know. Friends keep us balanced, they help us move through life without being stranded on the top of a mountain or the bottom of the ocean. They keep us humble while reminding us that we are awesome. Tue friends deserve our thanks for getting us through it.

If you stay within the space in which you are comfortable, you run out of room to grow. It is only when you step into uncomfortable spaces that you are given the excess space to grow. I don't remember exactly where I heard this, most likely a podcast. But while the source didn't stick with me, the advice did. When I started my sophomore year in high school I had lost most of my friends and the only club I had been a part of wasn't an environment I wanted to be in. At a loss, I decided to join a few clubs; one of which being Math Club. I knew one of the few members and decided that Math Club was probably a smart choice. However, I quickly realized that while I had always been ahead in math, I was very far behind the current members. The first quiz rolled around and when I was given my report, I had received 0/30. I had failed. After exiting the meeting call (thanks covid), and having a good cry, I realized that this was a safe environment to fail, it wasn't for a school test or something important, and I could review what I had done wrong and be caught up to speed. It was only when I was put in an uncomfortable situation that I truly grew.

What is my greatest inspiration in life? What drives me? The short answer is a lot of things. My vision boards on Pinterest. My conversations with those who work in positions I’m interested in. Pictures of friends and family on trips I hope to take. The idea of waking up in a world in which I built and thinking… this is what I wanted. So yes, lots of things. But ultimately, more important than anything else, it’s making an impact. Small personal victories are awesome, don’t get me wrong. But even better than that is when someone sits me down, or even texts, and says something like “Hey! Thanks for everything the other day, I really appreciated it!” Or after a day of volunteering and someone goes “Thank you, thank you for everything you've done.” There’s something unexplainably special about those moments. They are more important to me than small personal wins. I want to go into business, a field that is stereotypically inhumane and unjust. When I say I’m going into business the assumptions made about me are quite sad. The assumptions that I’m all about personal benefit, personal gains, and exploiting others for fame and wealth are unsettling. The amount of comments I’ve received and shocked faces that are quickly changed to smiles to hide true thoughts is depressing. But I think this all pushes me to work harder. I see the space for impact I can have is huge. And the emotion that follows actions to create that impact is something that I strive for, it drives me.

Mental health is an interesting thing. Everyone’s journey with it is immensely different. There’s no exact way to pinpoint and label what exactly you, and the people around you, are going through. And even the terms that are used to describe different mental health conditions are nothing more than spectrums that have overlapping similarities. But one thing is unanimous. Mental health affects everyone. Myself, you, and the person sitting next to you unaware of the fact that I am talking about them. While the effects of mental health vary to different extremes, you have been either directly or indirectly affected by its impact. Mental health has a way of creeping into every aspect of life, and if you think about it, this makes sense. Merriam Webster defines mental health as “the general condition of one's mental and emotional state.” You are always feeling your emotions and using your mind. Everything you do affects these two things and these two things affect everything you do, they are synonymous. But this makes it extraordinarily easy to spiral to a really dark place. The only way to combat this spiral is through awareness. The more the fact that mental health is real, and affecting everyone is talked about and normalized, the more individuals will know they are not alone. They won’t feel as isolated. Isolation, being alone with your thoughts and emotions (both physically and metaphorically), almost inevitably leads to a downward spiral. This fact has inspired me to reach out when I am struggling. There is no reason to force myself into isolation to look strong when everyone is struggling. And besides, reaching out for help shows so much more strength than struggling silently. But more importantly, this fact has shown me that I need to create a community within my friends and family that is a safe and supportive place for everyone. I need to reach out to my friends and make sure they are ok. Even if they didn’t ask me to. I need to check in on the person I haven’t talked to in weeks to make sure they don’t feel alone and uncared for. Because if I start doing this then maybe my friends will, and then maybe their friends, and maybe even you. Once we as a society can recognize that mental health is real, and affects everyone. We can start moving towards building safe and supportive communities where no one feels alone. We can create a society where asking for help is a sign of strength, and struggling is a part of the journey but not a final destination. We, both me, you, and everyone else can do this. But we have to start somewhere. Someone has to advocate for change. If I can encourage just one other person to fight for a mental health-conscious world, that’s progress. So yes, I can send a text to a friend. Yes, I can make a post on social media about taking care of mental health. Yes, I can write a short essay about the importance of being aware of mental health. I can sacrifice a few minutes (or even hours) here and there to advocate for change. Because if I don’t, if you don’t, who will?

Albert Einstein once said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." This isn’t to say school doesn’t teach you important lessons, because there is no doubt in my mind it does. This is to say that with no application, there is no gain. You can only do so much with a formula or concept. If you don't know how to use it, where will it get you? Where will you end up? I remember the first time I used a math equation I had been taught at school in real life. I was labeling coffee bags at my weekend job and I had a few different types to do. They each used different stickers or stamps and the bags needed boxed and given to the production team once the labeling was finished. As I figured out how to label the bags, and in what order; as well as how to store them, I realized that the whole point of learning math was so I could figure out what to do in situations like the one I was in. I wasn’t learning math to pick the right answer from a short alphabetized list or pass a test, but to live my life in a productive manner and make educated decisions about how to move forward. Furthermore, sometimes the best way to learn something is by experience alone. While school teaches so much, the real world and simply living teaches more. I find this quote so encouraging because when I am struggling to move forward through my life, I know I am growing. I’m learning, which can be difficult. Obviously, with COVID-19, life has changed in many ways; but life is still teaching us so much. We’re learning how to problem solve, how to organize our own schedules, how to reach out for help, and make sure our friends know we are always here for them. We are re-writing the everyday experiences of life, and in the process gaining a new set of skills that without the pandemic we would have never had. Don’t underestimate the power of experiences and what they teach us. Life is too short to memorize every formula and concept, but with the practice of being on our toes; surely the lessons of experience will get us to the finish line.

When I sit down to think about what self-quarantining in 2020 has taught me, it is a little complicated. Now I mean self-quarantine, not school during quarantine, or what I read online during quarantine, or what I learned from everything I watched during quarantine. I mean simply being stuck in my house with my family for months straight, a situation so entirely different than anything any of us expected to happen. Most of the stuff I have learned falls into the category, “Unnecessary, but I guess I am glad I now know?” And while these “unnecessary” things might be implanted into my “normal” life, I don’t think they will actually do much for me. Here and there they might help, but life-altering? Not so much. However, one thing I learned that I think is so important, it's what I chose to write about. What is this mysterious phenomenon? Well, it's the art of balance. It might sound simple, and maybe to you, it is. But, in my opinion, when you actually think about it, it's really not. When we are living our “normal” lives, society almost forces us to be on one side or the other in most situations. And with most of our lifestyles being, “go, go, go” all the time, we don't really have time to think about what this means for us. Most of the time we don't stop and self-reflect on our lives. Only during the occasional, about to fall asleep at 11 o’clock break down here and there. And let’s be honest, after a long day and life still progressing, none of us are at our most same point in that moment. But when you run out of things to do at 11 in the morning, there are a lot more opportunities to self-reflect. There are a lot of areas in my life that I can apply the art of balance to. One of the best examples would be my social life. Most people around me would describe me as an extrovert, and while I would agree with them, I realized through this whole quarantine that I have my introverted side. I need time alone to just do things that I want to do, by myself. And I am not talking about things I'm being forced to do alone. I need time to reorganize something in my room or to just chill out and listen to a podcast. And without that, well, I go a little crazy. As things slowly start returning to normal or whatever the future holds for us, balancing how often I'm with and without people will be important to me because, during this quarantine, I've really enjoyed being by myself a lot. To the point so much so that my dad has started calling me a cave dweller; yep a cave dweller (because I'm in my room so much). But in the end, I think it's important to realize that, yeah, I need my alone time. But the art of balance doesn't just apply to being an introvert or an extrovert; it applies to almost every aspect of life. Not all, but most. So the next time you run out of things to do during quarantine, self-reflect. Where do you need to create balance in your life? Because I think you'll be surprised at how much the art of balance can make a positive change.

Personally, I have always struggled with body image. I have acne and acne scars, I didn't "need" braces so I don't have a show-stopping smile, and I'm not a tiny stick who somehow also has curves. I don't fit the image of perfection that society has deemed normal and pretty. But songs such as Misfit by Evie Irie show how it is truly rare that anyone feels like they are on the inside, songs like this encourage me. They show me how most of us are struggling in some manner with the pressure society has placed on us. So here is the thing. If so many people are struggling, why am I working so hard to build this perfect image of myself? Why do so many people I know assume I don't have any confidence issues? Why do so many people around me assume I have this fairytale life? I personally am adding to this problem! I realized this at the end of middle school when a girl I was friends with admitted to being hesitant to become friends with me because she thought since I had a perfect life and it would make her feel bad about her life! But as we grew closer she realized my life was messed up too! I realized that putting on the illusion of having a perfect life made people around me feel isolated in their problems. It made them feel more alone. So me, a misfit at heart, was making other people feel like misfits. This is awful! It showed me that I needed to let my walls down, no matter if it was hard. It showed me that I needed to be confident in my flaws. Because I can start the change. I can be the one to create a more inclusive and supportive community. I can be the one to encourage the people around me that they aren't alone. While I still have to struggle with feeling like a misfit on a day-to-day basis, and I can only dream of a day where I "don't care" about the pressure society has given me. I can start the change to build a community where I love and support others so they don't feel alone or isolated. And by doing that I will have a community that does the same for me. So while feeling like a misfit is no one's dream, I'm glad I've had to deal with it. It's shaped me into the caring person I am and will continue shaping me into the future, and for that, I will always be grateful.

"Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created," Esther 4:14. This is one of my many favorite verses. Somedays, especially during this pandemic, it can feel as if I am fighting for nothing. It can feel like there is no reason for me to keep putting forth my best effort. In the midst of those days, so many of my close friends remind me of my incredible Savior. My incredible Savior who not only loves me, but was crucified on the cross to ensure my forever future with him. But even with this all being true, some days it still doesn't motivate me. But then I read Esther 4:14. I was created to accomplish God's will. I was created to be living through these valleys, of course in the hope to end up on a mountain; but not a second of my life was unplanned. And when I read that, it gives me courage. I may not know where I will be tomorrow, but my Savior does. And he is simply waiting for me to trust him on the path he has created.

Education, most people won't deny that the idea of education is great! Learning new things to better ourselves, our communities, and our world. It sounds great! But at the end of the day, the word school holds a very different connotation to most individuals. The stress, drama, basic content, and so many other elements create an unfortunate atmosphere to enjoy getting an education. My school atmosphere as a young child was different though, I grew up homeschooled from pre-school till the middle of seventh grade. Being homeschooled as an early elementary school student was some of the best times of my life. I got to sleep in, go on tons of field trips, and was part of an amazing co-op. But when it came to middle school, my co-op ended, I went on fewer field trips and started to realize I was missing some really incredible experiences. So I sent in my application to the local charter school my parents were fine with me switching to. But based on the lottery system, I couldn't get in. I waited for a year and a half, slowly losing hope. But one weekend my mom got a call. And 48 hours later I was standing by my door in a school uniform, backpack on, ready to attend my very first day of school. I was in awe. School wasn't perfect, I hated getting up so early and had my fair share of bullies. But for the first time, I was surrounded by my friends and had classes that had new and interesting content. I had never done so many science experiments before. School opened my eyes to the world of possibilities, it showed me what I loved, and what I would be ok without. It taught me the lessons I needed to know from books and prepared me for so much more socially. I loved school. Yes, there were days I didn't want to go. And there were plenty of stressful nights finishing homework and studying. But I loved it. It was the first time in a long time I was excited to get an education, I had found my love for learning again. When high school came along, I sent out my applications to different schools in my area and slowly received my letters of admittance or the generic apologies stating I hadn't gotten in. As I picked my high school, an early college program, I saw yet again the opportunities and resources a school could provide. I saw the class listings, the clubs/organizations, the resource centers, and again I couldn't wait to go back to school. My education has opened my eyes. School isn't easy or perfect. But the opportunities, resources, and relationships it provides aren't worth trading for anything.

Albert Einstein once said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." This isn’t to say school doesn’t teach you important lessons, because there is no doubt in my mind it does. This is to say that with no application, there is no gain. You can only do so much with a formula or concept. If you don't know how to use it, where will it get you? Where will you end up? I remember the first time I used a math equation I had been taught at school in real life. I was labeling coffee bags at my weekend job and I had a few different types to do. They each used different stickers and stamps and the bags needed boxed and given to the production team once the labeling was finished. As I figured out how to label the bags, and in what order; as well as how to store them, I realized that the whole point of learning math was so I could figure out what to do in situations like the one I was in. I wasn’t learning math to pick the right answer from a short alphabetized list or pass a test, but to live my life in a productive manner and make educated decisions about how to move forward. Furthermore, sometimes the best way to learn something is by experience alone. While school teaches so much, the real world and simply living teaches more. I find this quote so encouraging because when I am struggling to move forward through my life, I know I am growing. I’m learning, which can be difficult. Obviously, with COVID-19, life has changed in many ways; but life is still teaching us so much. We’re learning how to problem solve, how to organize our own schedules, how to reach out for help, and make sure our friends know we are always here for them. We are re-writing the everyday experiences of life, and in the process gaining a new set of skills that without the pandemic we would have never had. Don’t underestimate the power of experiences and what they teach us. Life is too short to memorize every formula and concept, but with the practice of being on our toes; surely the lessons of experience will get us to the finish line.

Mental health is an interesting thing. Everyone’s journey with it is immensely different. There’s no exact way to pinpoint and label what exactly you, and the people around you, are going through. And even the terms that are used to describe different mental health conditions are nothing more than spectrums that have overlapping similarities. But one thing is unanimous. Mental health affects everyone. Me, you, and the person sitting next to you unaware of the fact that I am talking about them. While the effects of mental health vary to different extremes, you have been either directly or indirectly affected by its effects. Mental health has a way of creeping into every aspect of life, and if you think about it though, this makes sense. Merriam Webster defines mental health as “the general condition of one's mental and emotional state.” You are always feeling your emotions and using your mind. Everything you do affects these two things and these two things affect everything you do, they are synonymous. But this makes it extraordinarily easy to spiral to a really dark place. The only way to combat this spiral is awareness. The more the fact that mental health is real, and affecting everyone is talked about and normalized, the more individuals will know they are not alone. They won’t feel as isolated. Isolation, being alone with your thoughts and emotions (both physically and metaphorically), almost inevitably leads to a downward spiral. This fact has inspired me to reach out when I am struggling. There is no reason to force myself into isolation to look strong when everyone is struggling. And besides, reaching out for help shows so much more strength than struggling silently. But more importantly, this fact has shown me that I need to create a community within my friends and family that is a safe and supportive place for everyone. I need to reach out to my friends and make sure they are ok. Even if they didn’t ask me to. I need to check in on the person I haven’t talked to in weeks to make sure they don’t feel alone and uncared for. Because if I start doing this then maybe my friends will, and then maybe their friends, and maybe even you. Once we as a society can recognize that mental health is real, and affects everyone. We can start moving towards building safe and supportive communities where no one feels alone. We can create a society where asking for help is a sign of strength, and struggling is a part of the journey but not a final destination. We, both me, you, and everyone else can do this. But we have to start somewhere. Someone has to advocate for change. If I can encourage just one other person to fight for a mental health-conscious world, that’s progress. So yes, I can send a text to a friend. So yes, I can make a post on social media about taking care of yourself. So yes, I can write a short essay about the importance of being aware of mental health. I can sacrifice a few minutes here and there to advocate for change in our world that needs to occur, because if I don’t if you don’t, who will.

Personally, I have always struggled with body image. I have acne and acne scars, I didn't "need" braces so I don't have a showstopping smile, and I'm not a tiny stick who somehow also has curves. I don't fit the image of perfection that society has deemed normal and pretty. But songs such as Misfit by Evie Irie show how it is truly rare that anyone feels like they are on the inside, song like this encourage me. They show me how most of us are struggling in some manner with the pressure society has placed on us. So here is the thing. If so many people are struggling, why am I working so hard to build this perfect image of myself? Why do so many people I know assume I don't have any confidence issues? Why do so many people around me assume I have this fairytale life? I personally am adding to this problem! I realized this at the end of middle school when a girl I was friends with admitted to being hesitant to become friends with me because she thought since I had a perfect life and it would make her feel bad about her life! But as we grew closer she realized my life was messed up too! I realized that putting on the illusion of having a perfect life made people around me feel isolated in their problems. It made them feel more alone. So me, a misfit at heart, was making other people feel like misfits. This is awful! It showed me that I needed to let my walls down, no matter if it was hard. It showed me that I needed to be confident in my flaws. Because I can start the change. I can be the one to create a more inclusive and supportive community. I can be the one to encourage the people around me that they aren't alone. While I still have to struggle with feeling like a misfit on a day-to-day basis, and I can only dream of a day where I "don't care" about the pressure society has given me. I can start the change to build a community where I love and support others so they don't feel alone or isolated. And by doing that I will have a community that does the same for me.

The world of social media and internet access gives us instant access to pictures and videos of landscapes from all around the world. Pictures from Japan, Greece, Australia, and etc. suddenly fill my for you page. And in all honesty… it’s exciting. My family doesn’t travel outside of the United States because my parents hate flying; but when I see the world of opportunities, I know that as an adult I will. While I have gone all over the United States east coast and some specific spots in the west. I know so much more exists. Don’t get me wrong, the Grand Canyon? Beautiful! Myrtle Beach in South Carolina? A truly peaceful and relaxing place of perfection. Traveling and experiences inspire me as a person. They excite me and give me newfound energy for life in general. I mean just imagine... jet skiing in an isolated tropical body of water. Regular skiing down a Japanese slope! Roaming a food market in the middle east. The world is blossoming with opportunities. As I learn more and more about destinations around the globe, I have realized that travel is important to me. Many people in my life travel for weeks at a time for work. Some have even relocated to other countries for years at a time. While my parents (nor me) ever have, these types of opportunities intrigue me. As I talk to mentors in my life about career opportunities, traveling is important to me! I want to see as much of the world as I can. I want to have experiences that right now I can only dream of. I want to have stories to tell my future kids about crazy hikes and beautiful oceans. And traveling for work would be far from perfect, it would provide me with so many more opportunities than traveling independently would. This world has given the human race an entire globe of beauty and adventure that most of us seem to forget about. We get so caught up in technology and modern advancements that we seem to forget about what is right in front of us. I heard somewhere this quote about nature, “Nature never judges, it never leaves us. It is always waiting for us to come back to it. We must respect it, and it will respect us.” I have never forgotten that. Even though I don’t know quite where that quote came from, the truth behind it has always been encouraging. Nature is important. It fuels us with food, experiences, and opportunities. We must respect and take care of it with our actions, and if we do it will continue to fuel us with food, experiences, and opportunities. The beauty and perfection of this world is beyond human understanding. But I want to see and understand as much of it as I can. I want to respect it as much as I can with my actions. And I want to teach others to love and respect it. I want to show other people how beautiful and perfect the world is.

Albert Einstein once said, "The only source of knowledge is experience." This isn’t to say school doesn’t teach you important lessons, because there is no doubt in my mind it does. This is to say that with no application, there is no gain. You can only do so much with a formula or concept. If you don't know how to use it, where will it get you? Where will you end up? I remember the first time I used a math equation I had been taught at school in real life. I was labeling coffee bags at my weekend job and I had a few different types to do. They each used different stickers and stamps and the bags needed boxed and given to the production team once the labeling was finished. As I figured out how to label the bags, and in what order; as well as how to store them, I realized that the whole point of learning math was so I could figure out what to do in situations like the one I was in. I wasn’t learning math to pick the right answer from a short alphabetized list or pass a test, but to live my life in a productive manner and make educated decisions about how to move forward. Furthermore, sometimes the best way to learn something is by experience alone. I am awful at directions. When I got my learner’s permit, my parents realized how much I needed to work on it and suggested that I looked at a map of our area to learn what roads took me north, south, east, and west. I tried this, but it just didn’t help. As I’ve driven more, I have landmarks that remind me where to turn for different places; for example, there is a Mediterranian restaurant off the exit I need to take for school. Or the highway to the grocery store is past our local CVS. I tried learning the book way, but it didn’t help; the experience that practice gave me helped me more than anything else could have. The application kept the information in my head. Life is a lesson, the experiences of life teach us more than just a book ever could. Without the social experiences, the job place challenges, and real-life situations; it is nearly impossible to have the knowledge necessary to excel. Obviously, with COVID-19, life has changed in many ways; but life is still teaching us so much. We’re learning how to problem solve, how to organize our own schedules, how to reach out for help, and make sure our friends know we are always here for them. We are re-writing the everyday experiences of life, and in the process gaining a new set of skills that without the pandemic we would have never had. Don’t underestimate the power of experiences and what they teach us. Life is too short to memorize every formula and concept, but with the practice of being on our toes; surely the lessons of experience will get us to the finishline.

When I think of people who have left legacies behind them, I think of singers who have broken records in sales or on charts, historical figures who fought for freedom and their countries, really anyone who is remembered for a large contribution to society. But then I think of my 7th grade English teacher, and how everyone, students, and faculty alike, loved her. Or my old piano teacher, who had an endless amount of patience and was always ready to help in whatever way possible. You don’t know these people, but they have left legacies behind them that no one can compete with. The dictionary defines a legacy as “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will” (Oxford Languages). But in my world, no amount of monetary value gives someone a legacy. A legacy is earned by arduous work and dedication. A legacy is in a sense a title, that only the best of the best can receive. It doesn’t mean you need to be famous or rich, but rather, you impacted someone. And with that being my definition of legacy, I want my legacy to be, well, Chloe. Let me explain. I want to be remembered as the girl who was always a shoulder to cry on, or a sympathetic listener. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up for what was right, not what would be easy. I want to be remembered as the girl who brings cookies to school on your birthday or picks you up for a day out after a bad break-up. I want to be remembered as that girl. In life, but I feel especially in the teen years, individuals are so focused on money, and the social ladder, and themselves that they forget how short life really is. I would much rather be able to tell my kids that I fought for a more inclusive student body than the popular girl who got to eat at the cool table every day. I want people to look back and think, “Chloe, she was always there when it mattered.”

My family's pet guinea pigs, Chocolate and Chip, are definitely the cutest guinea pigs in the world. Chocolate (brown) and Chip (black) both love food and a good cuddle. The picture I submitted is a picture I took for my sibling's Instagram account dedicated to Chocolate and Chip (@chocolatechippiggies). The photoshoot was a blast, the piggies were stoked to pose for the cameras and LOVED the snacks that we feed them. You probably won't find any pictures on my Instagram, @itschloeeden, but I follow Pettable and I LOVE the pet pics that they drop into my feed.

When I was in 8th grade I worked incredibly hard to participate in extracurriculars, keep my grades up, and log volunteer hours. The whole year I worked so, so hard. When we had graduation one of my peers shared that 3 awards would be given to individual students, I hadn't known this. When my principal announced that I had been chosen for the Student Leadership Award, I was so honored. The fact I had been chosen out of all the other students was recognization I could have never even hoped for, and I was so thankful.

Wow… social media, the internet, and technology are pretty incredible. They open so many doors and provide so many opportunities that are overlooked by many individuals. Including myself! But as I have been using so many of these resources for years now, I am realizing there is a very big fall in all this advanced technology. So much it is focussed on “look at me” and the feats that individuals get to, how can you be better than everyone else. Once you have the looks and money, life is easy and fun, right? But with this attitude, people viewing this negative content are often left feeling incomplete and less than. It leads to so many problems such as mental health issues and a multitude of disorders. But the opposite side of the scale, sad and depressing content about those who have it worse than you, is no better. It still leaves individuals feeling bad, even guilty. With these mindsets and cycles in full force, nothing can change. Individuals will go round in a circle with no positive outcome, no change. But that’s where I come in. Recently, after realizing all of this, I started a social media page called This World Called Home. It’s a page dedicating to educating individuals about social issues around the world, but with the mindset that there are so many ways to help the issues. Without even leaving your couch! The entire page is focused on a more positive way of living. Recognizing that there are so many issues in today’s society, and providing realistic ways for everyone and everyone to help. I want to use this page to build a community. Society has trained us to believe the key to achieving happiness is by climbing to the top of the social ladder. Unfortunately, this is not true. You can never truly find happiness by simply being “better” than everyone else. Furthermore, true happiness is pretty much impossible to achieve. But once individuals can see past the idea of needing to climb the social ladder, and can move to a more accepting and self-loving society where we advocate for the voices that need it and help those who can’t help themselves, everyone, yes everyone, will be happier and healthier. I don’t know about you but that sounds spectacular to me. This World Called Home is simply a resource, a launchpad. A community to encourage self-growth and societal growth. I want to work to grow and reach as many people a possible.

The world of social media and internet access gives us instant access to pictures and videos of landscapes from all around the world. Pictures from Japan, Greece, Australia, and etc. Suddenly fill my for you page. And in all honesty… it’s exciting. My family doesn’t travel outside of the United States because my parents hate flying. But when I see the world of opportunities, I know that as an adult I will. While I have gone all over the United States east coast and some specific spots in the west. I know so much more exists. Don’t get me gone, the Grand Canyon? Beautiful! Myrtle Beach in South Carolina? A truly peaceful and relaxing place of perfection. Traveling and experiences inspire me as a person. They excite me and give me newfound energy for life in general. I mean just imagine... jet skiing in an isolated tropical body of water. Regular skiing down a Japanese slope! Roaming a food market in the middle east. The world is blossoming with opportunities. As I learn more and more about destinations around the globe, I have realized that travel is important to me. Many people in my life travel for weeks at a time for work. Some have even relocated to other countries for years at a time. While my parents (nor me) ever have, these types of opportunities intrigue me. As I talk to mentors in my life about career opportunities, traveling is important to me! I want to see as much of the world as I can. I want to have experiences that right now I can only dream of. I want to have stories to tell my future kids about crazy hikes and beautiful oceans. And traveling for work would be far from perfect, it would provide me with so many more opportunities than traveling independently would. This world has given the human race an entire globe of beauty and adventure that most of us seem to forget about. We get so caught up in technology and modern advancements that we seem to forget about what is right in front of us. I heard somewhere this quote about nature, “Nature never judges, it never leaves us. It is always waiting for us to come back to it. We must respect it, and it will respect us.” I have never forgotten that. Even though I don’t know quite where that quote came from, the truth behind it has always been encouraging. Nature is important. It fuels us with food, experiences, and opportunities. We must respect and take care of it with our actions because if we do it will continue to fuels us with food, experiences, and opportunities. The beauty and perfection of this world is beyond human understanding. But I want to see and understand as much of it as I can. I want to respect it as much as I can with my actions. And I want to teach others to love and respect it. I want to show other people how beautiful and perfect the world is.

Personally, I have always struggled with body image. I have acne and acne scars, I didn't "need" braces so I don't have a showstopping smile, and I'm not a tiny stick who somehow also has curves. I don't fit the image of perfection that society has deemed normal and pretty. But, the more I educate myself on these issues, the more I realize most people are struggling in similar ways. So here is the thing. If so many people are struggling, why am I working so hard to build this perfect image of myself? Why do so many people I know assume I don't have any confidence issues? Why do so many people around me assume I have this fairytale life? I personally am adding to this problem! By putting on this illusion, I was making other people feel isolated in their problems. So me, a misfit at heart, was making other people feel like misfits. This is awful! It showed me that I needed to let my walls down, no matter if it was hard. It showed me that I needed to be confident in my flaws. Because I can start the change. I can be the one to create a more inclusive and supportive community. I can be the one to encourage the people around me that they aren't alone. While I still have to struggle with feeling like a misfit on a day-to-day basis, and I can only dream of a day where I "don't care" about the pressure society has given me. I can start the change to build a community where I love and support others so they don't feel alone or isolated. And by doing that I will have a community that does the same for me. So while feeling like a misfit is no one's dream, I'm glad I've had to deal with it. It's shaped me into the caring person I am and will continue shaping me into the future, and for that, I will always be grateful.

It devastates me to see pictures of the ocean and ocean shores covered in plastic of all shapes and sizes. Furthermore the images of animals who have been affected by this plastic waste. Turtles that have grown in abnormal shapes due to being caught in plastic loops, birds that have eaten bottlecaps and beads, and multitudes of animals suffocating because of plastic bags. The pollution that humans have instigated is unacceptable and inhumane. While many individuals like myself have switched to more eco-friendly ways of life such a reusable bags and metal water bottles but this doesn't erase the pounds of plastic that have wound up in our precious ecosystems. And the sad truth is that plastic never fully decomposes. Ever. So with pounds of plastic being spread through our oceans and most precious tropical shores, something needs to be done. And this is where I am genuinely inspired by both the innovative thinking and compassionate hearts that so many people possess. With poverty and completely inhumane living conditions on the rise with pollution, many global charities have found a way to work towards the betterment of society by conquering both of these issues. Building bricks with plastic that can be used to build houses, schools, and medical offices in some of the most impoverished communities. By collecting the plastic or "harvesting" plastic from the ocean, these charities have access to cheap materials to build the bricks. And in turn, these bricks can be sent to communities who really need them! As I continue on a personal journey to better society this solution has brought me so much joy. By educating myself and others about these charities and the issues they are working to fight, both my community and I can help the world by spreading the word and donating to the charities. And with the world of social media, many charities can receive funding from individuals merely watching a video they have posted or sharing something on our own social platforms! There are endless ways to help these charities and in turn, help so many communities and ecosystems across the world.

Evie Irie's song "Misfit" describes the feeling of being alone... the song describes being isolated with lines such as "I've been on the outside." But the song's greater theme is the next piece of the story, the perspective of someone who has created their own inside, even if society has convinced them they are on the outside. Personally, I have always struggled with body image. I have acne and acne scars, I didn't "need" braces so I don't have a showstopping smile, and I'm not a tiny stick who somehow also has curves. I don't fit the image of perfection that society has deemed normal and pretty. But songs such as Misfit show how it is truly rare that anyone feels like they are on the inside. Most of us are struggling in some manner with the pressure society has placed on us. So here is the thing. If so many people are struggling, why am I working so hard to build this perfect image of myself? Why do so many people I know assume I don't have any confidence issues? Why do so many people around me assume I have this fairytale life? I personally am adding to this problem! I realized this at the end of middle school when a girl I was friends with admitted to being hesitant to become friends with me because she thought since I had a perfect life and it would make her feel bad about her life! But as we grew closer she realized my life was messed up too! I realized that putting on the illusion of having a perfect life made people around me feel isolated in their problems. It made them feel more alone. So me, a misfit at heart, was making other people feel like misfits. This is awful! It showed me that I needed to let my walls down, no matter if it was hard. It showed me that I needed to be confident in my flaws. Because I can start the change. I can be the one to create a more inclusive and supportive community. I can be the one to encourage the people around me that they aren't alone. While I still have to struggle with feeling like a misfit on a day-to-day basis, and I can only dream of a day where I "don't care" about the pressure society has given me. I can start the change to build a community where I love and support others so they don't feel alone or isolated. And by doing that I will have a community that does the same for me. So while feeling like a misfit is no one's dream, I'm glad I've had to deal with it. It's shaped me into the caring person I am and will continue shaping me into the future, and for that, I will always be grateful.

I have always admired anyone who is bilingual. Most days it seems I can hardly speak and write English! But yet I go to school with dozens of students who can fluently speak another language! It is even common to hear a complete conversation in another language on your way to class. I have studied different languages off and on my whole education career, but I have never had a language that I can speak well. In 8th grade, I did a semester of Mandarin Chinese. I loved it. I thought it was so amazing that people could fluently write in Mandarin. But unfortunately, it is very difficult to learn. I was taking the course online and didn't have a teacher to ask questions to. That made it even more difficult than just trying to learn the language. I have always considered picking back up Mandarin. This grant could really help me if I decided to do that. I could have an actual teacher that could work with me and give me feedback. I could even become a bilingual individual, just like those I admire so much.

Personally, I have struggled with self-love for a long time. In an extremely judgmental world, I am constantly worried about how other people are perceiving me. I am always thinking about how my hair might have moved because of the wind, or if I messed up my makeup when rubbed my eye, or maybe something is wrong with my outfit! And the worst part is that I am always telling myself that that stuff shouldn’t even matter! I never care if someone else’s hair got messed up, or if their makeup isn’t perfect, or literally anything else! But yet I am always concerned about what people think of me. Society has trained us to believe the key to achieving happiness is by climbing to the top of the social ladder. Once you have the looks and money, life is easy and fun, right? Unfortunately, this is not true, but I don’t know this through personal experience. While celebrities and influencers have started being more open in recent years about the struggles and downsides of their lives, but there is more than that. Have you ever met someone who seems to have it all? The looks, money, lifestyle, smarts, and ect.? Then that person starts telling you about their real life, and they are struggling with things that you would have never guessed? Nobody is perfect, nobody has it all. True happiness is pretty much impossible to achieve. But once individuals can see past the idea of needing to climb the social ladder, and can move to a more accepting and self-loving society everyone, yes everyone, will be happier. Imagine going to school without- being worried about how your outfit or hair looks. For me, that is an alternate universe! But by promoting being different, and loving everyone ourselves included we can live in a society and world that is happier. I don’t know about you but that sounds spectacular to me.

When I sit down to think about what self-quarantine has taught me, it is a little complicated. Now I mean self-quarantine, not school during quarantine, or what I read online during quarantine, or what I learned from everything I watched during quarantine. I mean simply being stuck in my house with my family for months straight, a situation so entirely different than anything any of us expected to happen. Most of the stuff I have learned falls into the category, “Unnecessary, but I guess I am glad I now know?” And while these “unnecessary” things might be implanted into my “normal” life, I don’t think they will actually do much for me. Here and there they might help, but life-altering? Not so much. However, one thing I learned that I think is so important, it's what I chose to write about. What is this mysterious phenomenon? Well, it's the art of balance. It might sound simple, and maybe to you, it is. But, in my opinion, when you actually think about it, it's really not. When we are living our “normal” lives, society almost forces us to be on one side or the other in most situations. And with most of our lifestyles being, “go, go, go” all the time, we don't really have time to think about what this means for us. Most of the time we don't stop and self-reflect on our lives. Only during the occasional, about to fall asleep at 11 o’clock break down here and there. And let’s be honest, after a long day and life still progressing, none of us are at our most same point in that moment. But when you run out of things to do at 11 in the morning, there are a lot more opportunities to self-reflect. There are a lot of areas in my life that I can apply the art of balance to. One of the best examples would be my social life. Most people around me would describe me as an extrovert, and while I would agree with them, I realized through this whole quarantine that I have my introverted side. I need time alone to just do things that I want to do, by myself. And I am not talking about things I'm being forced to do alone. I need time to reorganize something in my room or to just chill out and listen to a podcast. And without that, well, I go a little crazy. As things slowly start returning to normal or whatever the future holds for us, balancing how often I'm with and without people will be important to me because, during this quarantine, I've really enjoyed being by myself a lot. To the point so much so that my dad has started calling me a cave dweller; yep a cave dweller (because I'm in my room so much). But in the end, I think it's important to realize that, yeah, I need my alone time. But the art of balance doesn't just apply to being an introvert or an extrovert; it applies to almost every aspect of life. Not all, but most. So the next time you run out of things to do during quarantine, self-reflect. Where do you need to create balance in your life? Because I think you'll be surprised at how much the art of balance can make a positive change.

Mental health is an interesting thing. Everyone’s journey with it is immensely different. There’s no exact way to pinpoint and label what exactly you, and the people around you, are going through. And even the terms that are used to describe different mental health conditions are nothing more than spectrums that have overlapping similarities. But one thing is unanimous. Mental health affects everyone. Me, you, and the person sitting next to you unaware of the fact that I am talking about them. While the effects of mental health vary to different extremes, you have been either directly or indirectly affected by its effects. Mental health has a way of creeping into every aspect of life, and if you think about it though, this makes sense. Merriam Webster defines mental health as “the general condition of one's mental and emotional state.” You are always feeling your emotions and using your mind. Everything you do affects these two things and these two things affect everything you do, they are synonymous. But this makes it extraordinarily easy to spiral to a really dark place. The only way to combat this spiral is awareness. The more the fact that mental health is real, and affecting everyone is talked about and normalized, the more individuals will know they are not alone. They won’t feel as isolated. Isolation, being alone with your thoughts and emotions (both physically and metaphorically), almost inevitably leads to a downward spiral. This fact has inspired me to reach out when I am struggling. There is no reason to force myself into isolation to look strong when everyone is struggling. And besides, reaching out for help shows so much more strength than struggling silently. But more importantly, this fact has shown me that I need to create a community within my friends and family that is a safe and supportive place for everyone. I need to reach out to my friends and make sure they are ok. Even if they didn’t ask me to. I need to check in on the person I haven’t talked to in weeks to make sure they don’t feel alone and uncared for. Because if I start doing this then maybe my friends will, and then maybe their friends, and maybe even you. Once we as a society can recognize that mental health is real, and affects everyone. We can start moving towards building safe and supportive communities where no one feels alone. We can create a society where asking for help is a sign of strength, and struggling is a part of the journey but not a final destination. We, both me, you, and everyone else can do this. But we have to start somewhere. Someone has to advocate for change. If I can encourage just one other person to fight for a mental health-conscious world, that’s progress. So yes, I can send a text to a friend. So yes, I can make a post on social media about taking care of yourself. So yes, I can write a short essay about the importance of being aware of mental health. I can sacrifice a few minutes here and there to advocate for change in our world that needs to occur, because if I don’t if you don’t, who will.

Mental health is an interesting thing. Everyone’s journey with it is immensely different. There’s no exact way to pinpoint and label what exactly you, and the people around you, are going through. And even the terms that are used to describe different mental health conditions are nothing more than spectrums that have overlapping similarities. But one thing is unanimous. Mental health affects everyone. Me, you, and the person sitting next to you unaware of the fact that I am talking about them. While the effects of mental health vary to different extremes, you have been either directly or indirectly affected by its effects. Mental health has a way of creeping into every aspect of life, and if you think about it though, this makes sense. Merriam Webster defines mental health as “the general condition of one's mental and emotional state.” You are always feeling your emotions and using your mind. Everything you do affects these two things and these two things affect everything you do, they are synonymous. But this makes it extraordinarily easy to spiral to a really dark place. The only way to combat this spiral is awareness. The more the fact that mental health is real, and affecting everyone is talked about and normalized, the more individuals will know they are not alone. They won’t feel as isolated. Isolation, being alone with your thoughts and emotions (both physically and metaphorically), almost inevitably leads to a downward spiral. This fact has inspired me to reach out when I am struggling. There is no reason to force myself into isolation to look strong when everyone is struggling. And besides, reaching out for help shows so much more strength than struggling silently. But more importantly, this fact has shown me that I need to create a community within my friends and family that is a safe and supportive place for everyone. I need to reach out to my friends and make sure they are ok. Even if they didn’t ask me to. I need to check in on the person I haven’t talked to in weeks to make sure they don’t feel alone and uncared for. Because if I start doing this then maybe my friends will, and then maybe their friends, and maybe even you. Once we as a society can recognize that mental health is real, and affects everyone. We can start moving towards building safe and supportive communities where no one feels alone. We can create a society where asking for help is a sign of strength, and struggling is a part of the journey but not a final destination. We, both me, you, and everyone else can do this. But we have to start somewhere. Someone has to advocate for change. If I can encourage just one other person to fight for a mental health-conscious world, that’s progress. So yes, I can send a text to a friend. So yes, I can make a post on social media about taking care of yourself. So yes, I can write a short essay about the importance of being aware of mental health. I can sacrifice a few minutes here and there to advocate for change in our world that needs to occur, because if I don’t if you don’t, who will.

Education, most people won't deny that the idea of education is great! Learning new things to better ourselves, our communities, and our world. It sounds great! But at the end of the day, the word school holds a very different connotation to most individuals. The stress, drama, basic content, and so many other elements create an unfortunate atmosphere to enjoy getting an education. My school atmosphere as a young child was different though, I grew up homeschooled from pre-school till the middle of seventh grade. Being homeschooled as an early elementary school student was some of the best times of my life. I got to sleep in, go on tons of field trips, and was part of an amazing co-op. But when it came to middle school, my co-op ended, I went on fewer field trips and started to realize I was missing some really incredible experiences. So I sent in my application to the local charter school my parents were fine with me switching to. But based on the lottery system, I couldn't get in. I waited for a year and a half, slowly losing hope. But one weekend my mom got a call. And 48 hours later I was standing by my door in a school uniform, backpack on, ready to attend my very first day of school. I was in awe. School wasn't perfect, I hated getting up so early and had my fair share of bullies. But for the first time, I was surrounded by my friends and had classes that had new and interesting content. I had never done so many science experiments before. School opened my eyes to the world of possibilities, it showed me what I loved, and what I would be ok without. It taught me the lessons I needed to know from books and prepared me for so much more socially. I loved school. Yes, there were days I didn't want to go. And there were plenty of stressful nights finishing homework and studying. But I loved it. It was the first time in a long time I was excited to get an education, I had found my love for learning again. When high school came along, I sent out my applications to different schools in my area and slowly received my letters of admittance or the generic apologies stating I hadn't gotten in. As I picked my high school, an early college program, I saw yet again the opportunities and resources a school could provide. I saw the class listings, the clubs/organizations, the resource centers, and again I couldn't wait to go back to school. My education has opened my eyes. School isn't easy or perfect. But the opportunities, resources, and relationships it provides aren't worth trading for anything.