Finally! My transfer time is coming up this fall! I will be attending the University of South Alabama, and am excited about all of it. It will be a lot to take in, and finally living on my own and branching off from home will be the biggest change but I'm ready for it all! However, I was not always so positive. Getting out of high school I got the opportunity to see all my friends pack their stuff up and leave for their big universities while I was "stuck" at home going to a junior college. I hated most days of my first year of college. I often would wonder why I didn't have the funds to go to a big university like my friends did, and why didn't I have a car to drive to class. This ate me up and I fell into a depression. I was so busy comparing my life to everyone else's that I neglected my own. I had so much to appreciate, yet I couldn't see it because I was so focused on what everyone else had. Then, somewhere down the line things started to shift. I'll never forget the time I came home and my mom approached me about my recent somber behavior. She wanted to know what was wrong with me, so I told her. When I was done venting and explaining my troubles she hugged me and told me something I will never forget. She said "son, you don't have to have all the answers", and at that moment all the dots were connected. It became so unclear how unfair I was being to myself and to everyone rooting for and providing for me. The very next day I reevaluated everything! I began listening to more positive music, I started reading books of inspiration and self-help ( I really recommend "Be Water My friend" by Shanon Lee), and I started wearing a more appreciative attitude complimented by the biggest smile I could put on. Before I knew it my whole mindset had shifted. I now know the importance of taking care of my mental health, and I seek to encourage others who have had problems similar to mine. Fighting a bad mindset is an uphill battle and one that will take time to win. There were things that particularly helped me win my battle. For starters I got rid of all the negativity I introduced myself to. That includes music, unhealthy foods, sad shows, social media, and staying in bed. Instead of resorting to these easy escapes, I learned to replace them with positives. I got more focused on my studies, I started reading, and I began to get more involved with my church and community. Before I knew it I was back in tip-top shape! Although I do not miss it, I'm glad I got to experience this low point because it taught me just how important it is to take care of myself and appreciate all I have.

Imagine the fear of not amounting to anything and disappointing your family who has sacrificed so much for you. That is exactly how I felt going into my senior year of high school. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I had no clue what I was going to study. For so long I had imagined myself as an architect but upon researching the craft I found it was not for me, so I was back at the drawing board. None of my passions were logical or safe enough to pursue as a career. I was afraid I was going to have to pick a path I was not passionate about and end up in a job I hate. However, God had something else planned for me. When signing up for classes going into senior year, a teacher of mine recommended I take "intro to computer science". He went on raving about the computer science industry and how it is a lucrative field and fast-growing. He said if I joined I would not regret it and bet I would end up pursuing it in college. At the time I was like "yeah, whatever dude", but I would later find out he was right! I fell in love with computer science! I enjoyed all the problem-solving and seeing how my code created itself. I quickly realized computer science was just what I was looking for, and now I am in my second year of college studying it. I'm so very glad I found something I can do that will make my family proud, especially since I have a lot to live up to coming from a long line of veterans. My father was a Marine, my stepmother was in the navy, and both my cousin and my stepdad were in the army, and soon my sister will be in the air force. The list goes on and on of family and friends that have served our country, but these family members in particular have affected my life the most. From a young age, I admired anyone and everyone in the military for their valor and bravery. I was taught to thank anyone for wearing a uniform and to this day anytime I see an active member or veteran I make sure to show my gratitude. My cousin Oscar Sauceda jr passed away in the line of duty serving in operation Iraqi freedom. My family misses him every day, but he lives on through us. Oscar is a reminder for me to do my best. His legacy inspires me to reach for the stars and beyond. Once I graduate, I intend to enlist in the military and serve our country as my cousin did before me.

Imagine standing in front of a crowd. Everyone standing on their feet just waiting for you to do or say something that will influence their day. That is the role I want to be in. This idea of being a positive influence on my community as well as the state my community is in right now is what inspires me every day to get involved and make changes. I wish I could write about this long list of things I have done to improve my community, but the truth is I have not done anything extravagant yet. I wish I was Mr. Beast and could give money out as if it grew on trees. However, I am not Mr. Beast, but I am Chris Segura and I truly believe my name can and will become something great in my community. When I was little my grandfather would always tell me to save my pennies because someday they would make dollars, so I carry that with me today and invest in what I can to make future hurdles a lot easier to jump over. For instance, my dream of becoming a leader starts with me working on myself and becoming a man that I would look up to. Similarly, my dream of improving my community starts with what I can improve today. My friend group, my household, and my church are all things I try to improve every day in hopes they will snowball and turn into greater things. Eventually, when I have the means to do so, I would love to make my community more appealing to the youth. I live in a town popular with those who are retired, which is great, but it means the youth often get looked over. Back in high school, I was big into sports, but there was,t anywhere I could play. I think about this often and wonder just how many other kids are wasting their day away inside because they have no basketball court to shoot hoops on. For this reason, I would love to make a recreational facility that's free for the youth to use. Helping the youth get active is just one of my larger goals in making my community better. Right now I am studying computer science in school. After I graduate, I would like to apply my knowledge and promote STEM majors more in our school systems. I want to get kids involved and show them the things that are possible with a couple of lines of code. As a kid who use to get told he was not good enough for advanced classes, I want to show kids that applying themselves and working hard makes all the difference. Though this journey will by no means be short and sweet, I look forward to it all.

Do not invest that what you do not have. That is the best investing tip I have ever received. It's simple, dynamic, and a very effective tip. It is one of the easiest rules you can apply to your money. If you don't have it, then don't spend it. it saves you both time and money. It's very easy to get caught up in trends, things that are happening fast, so fast that you end up making a mistake because of instinct. Investors are taught to pay close attention to trends, but they are never taught to do so with control. Investing money you don't have is no different than throwing your money in the trash. In the very likely scenario, your investment does not go where you want it to go, you're instantly in major debt. which as an investor is something you should avoid at all costs. This tip is not just for investing, but it also applies to life. If you don't have the time to invest in doing something, then don't do it. If you don't have the patience to argue with someone, then don't argue with that person. If you don't have the ability to cook, then don't cook. Do not invest what you don't have. Plain and simple.

Although I have not lived a long life, I believe by doing the things you love, surrounding yourself with good people, and remaining uncomfortable will allow one to live a long and healthy life. Allow me to explain. By doing the things you love, you are automatically putting yourself in a good mood and setting yourself up to have a great day. So many people these days go after a high-paying job, but they don't ever question if what they're are doing will keep them happy in the long run. Doing things you love is such a good way to maintain a healthy mindset, which ultimately leads to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, when you surround yourself with good people, you allow yourself to feed off the energy of those around you. If you are already in a happy mood you can easily watch your mood increase tenfold, and if you are in a not-so-good mood, you will most likely be in a great one sooner or later. Surround yourself with those who motivate you, and you will see life change before you. Finally, being comfortable can be pleasurable, but it can also be detrimental to your health. It is easy to pick up another chip or watch another episode of your favorite show. However, It's a whole other ballgame when you decide to change your diet or go to the gym. They say "your body is a temple" for a reason, so treat it right. Travel places you have never been, try foods you've never tried, talk to people you have never spoken to. Life is not short because we don't have enough time, life is short because we often don't use that time wisely. Remain uncomfortable, and your time will be rewarding.

Moving to Alabama from my hometown was a big change for my family and me. Everything changed my education, my social life, and especially the culture I was surrounded by for the majority of my life. I moved to Alabama the summer before my 8th-grade year. Before then school was just something I went to because I had to. I would try but I would never give it my best. I had always been told I needed tutoring because my grades weren't the best, but it wasn't till I moved to Alabama that I realized I'm actually pretty smart, and if I just try I could be really good at my studies. I went on to do just that, I studied hard and gave school my very best, and I ended up surprising myself and making my mother proud. Moving also changed my social life. I had to start from the bottom again with no friends. This turned my loud funny personality into a shy quiet kind. It took a while to break out of my shell too, it wasn't till freshmen year of high school that I really started talking to others. Nothing changed more than the culture I had been surrounded by most of my life. I grew up in a small town right on the border of Texas and Mexico. Suddenly I was one of the very few Mexicans in my whole school. I felt isolated and out of place. The food that I ate most of my life seemed obsolete, and my traditions were unheard of. Although all of this was quite sad to me at first, with time I realized change is not always bad, and there is a lot to look forward to if you choose to be open-minded.

My father is a retired U.S. Marine, and although I did not spend most of my childhood with him, I still was heavily influenced by his career as a Marine. Our contemporary society says we need to go to school and proceed to get a degree that will make us a lot of money if we want to be successful. However, my father taught me otherwise. My Father came from nothing and was the runt of the family. He was super skinny and was not the best in school. That is until he joined the marines. My father quickly built his body and realized that he was quite smart especially when it came to computers. My father is successful, and he even owns his own business now, despite not having a degree from college. He has made it apparent to me that you don't need to go to college to be successful or have your dream job. My Father gained a lot of character while he was in the Marines. Since then, he has shared those characteristics with my siblings and me. These characteristics include respect (not just for others but for ourselves), effort, toughness, and loyalty. I carry these characteristics everywhere I go, especially at work, and I plan to apply them to my future career. Although my father taught me to be loyal, he also taught me to do what's best for me, so if I can't get what I want in one career I'll find it in another. As I said before my father raised us to be tough, which comes in handy in the world we live in today. Being able to handle people with attitudes in a state of calmness is something I pride myself over. I also know not to always accept what people hand me, and instead take what they owe me. That's not in aggression either, but respect for myself and the work that I do. The most important thing that my father's time in the marines taught me is to love what you do and do what you love. There is no sense in sticking with a job you hate just because it pays well. I'd rather do what I love and get paid minimal than do something that's making me unhappy. I respect my father and the work that he has accomplished. I'm forever grateful for the lessons his career as a marine has taught me.

To me, friendship means giving your best to another and not expecting anything in return. Supportive, loyal, and kind are all words used to describe friendship. However, when I think about my friendships, I also think of love, and not just any love but unconditional love. My two very best friends have been with me for as long as I can remember. I am very lucky to have them with me in my life, and not a day goes by that I'm not grateful for them. They have taught me just how valuable a good friendship is. I give my friends 110% even if they can't give me the same, because like I said previously my friendships are unconditional. I have committed to my friends, and there is nothing in this world that can sever our bond. Much like my friends can count on me, I know that I can count on them.

This past year self-care has been a big help for me. I struggle with acne and my confidence can easily be discouraged. I found that stepping away from the rest of the world and really taking care of myself helped me improve my whole self tremendously. For me, practicing self-care consists of reading self-help books, surrounding myself with those who lift me up, and honestly just doing the things that make me feel good. Reading has been a big influence on my thoughts of self-care. Normally I read fiction books, but one day I found a book based on the teachings of one of my biggest inspirations; Bruce Lee. This book change the ball game for me. I found that reading self-help books was a good way for me to realize that I am not the only one who has experienced the problems I have. In high school, I did not really enjoy some of the people I hung around, and that would really affect me sometimes. However, as I grew I realized that no one was dictating who I had to hang out with, it was purely my decision. Nowadays if I do not feel I positive vibe from the crowd I am with, I simply find a new crowd to be around. This has really made me appreciate my real friends and family more. Finally, just doing more of the things I enjoy has really had a positive effect on me. everyone has to step away from it all sometimes, and dropping your worries and insecurities to do the things you love has really blessed me with new encounters and experiences. I can't imagine where I'd be right now if I hadn't formed these self-care habits of mine. They truly help me appreciate myself.

From a young age, I think most are taught to be patient. However as people become older, many forget to practice patience. I use to fall under this category, but patience is important to me now more than ever, and I have no intention of letting it become insignificant. I have big dreams and I am constantly trying to improve myself and learn new things, so patience is crucial in keeping myself balanced. They say "only fools rush in" for a reason, and that is because oftentimes when you rush things, they end up getting ruined. cooking is a great example, and it's one of the skills I am trying to learn right now. If you don't cook your food thoroughly and all the way through you will end up with food that has wasted potential because it was rushed. Meanwhile, someone is eating a delicious meal because they had enough patience to cook their food correctly. Patience is rewarding and as a long-time action figure collector, I know this from personal experience. Thousands of times I've seen action figures that I wanted, but for an outrageous price. I've played the sucker a couple of times and paid the price. However, it only took me those couple of times to notice that figures often get rereleased for retail price when they increase in popularity, and now I refuse to pay outrageous prices for any figure, because I know if I stick around long enough I'll be rewarded. For these reasons I will continue to practice patience in my everyday life, and spread the lesson to anyone I can share it with.

I am a very philosophical person, so keeping a good growth mindset is very important to me. Bruce Lee who had a phenomenal mindset, and is one of my biggest inspirations, had some of the best practices in keeping a growth mindset. I use these practices every day when I can, and these practices include: meditating, watching others, and goal setting. I personally have a lot on my plate. I am a full-time student, a full-time worker, I go to the gym every day, and I have 5 dogs to take care of at home. Sometimes, this can all be a lot to balance, and it can get very stressful. However, meditating has helped me tremendously! When I get clouded and I can not think clearly, I find a comfortable and quiet spot where I go through my thoughts and "empty my cup" as Bruce Lee says. It's difficult to add water to a full cup, and the same goes with an overwhelmed mind. For this reason, I meditate to recharge and bring myself back to the present moment. In addition to meditating, I like to watch others who are currently successful. By copying one's cadence or mirroring their style I learn something new. I apply the information I learn and apply it to myself in order to make it uniquely my own. This practice keeps me on a growing path. Finally, by setting goals, my mindset has a destination. By not setting goals, you are sending your mind on a goose chase. There is no point in keeping a growth mindset if you have no purpose for it. Understanding this helps me keep a growth mindset, and helps me get to my goals faster. These are the ways in which I keep a growth mindset.

When I become a highly influential figure, I will strive to spread and stand for kindness. Some may believe this is a common answer, but that is most likely because it is a common issue. people who receive kindness often have a change in mood, leading them to spread even more kindness themselves. Although I plan to shoot for the stars, If I can make a difference in just one person, to me it will make all the difference. One person can turn into billions of people if given enough time. This is why I practice random acts of kindness daily. I do things like give people compliments, pay for someone's meal, help a peer with their work, sing someone a song, or make someone laugh in hopes they'll do the same for someone else. Sometimes just acknowledging someone's presence is enough to change their day from gray to blue. Acts of kindness do not need to be grand or expensive. This is what makes kindness so beautiful it's inexpensive yet it's priceless. We see a lot of famous people these days practicing kindness in extravagant ways, and I feel like this affects the way we think of kindness. I'm not saying it's not kind to do big things for people, but I feel like we forget that simply smiling at someone can affect them just as much as a new car would. Spreading kindness not only affects other people, but it also affects you as well. Most people get an overwhelming feeling of joy after they have performed an act of kindness. This feeling is a drive and helps one to continue to be kind. By spreading kindness we're making the world a better place but it all starts with our own community. Thank you, have a good day!

Most people I tell I'm a twin usually have the same response, "Wow, I wish I had a twin.", which I believe is a pretty valid response. Life as a twin is awesome! I'm a fraternal twin, which basically means my twin and I don't look alike, a matter of fact my twin is actually the opposite gender as I am. None the less growing up a twin has been quite the experience, and I'm going to argue it has played a huge part in who I am today. Growing up my sister and I were always in our own little world. Even when we were around other kids, we would gravitate to eachother. Our mom called it the "twin bubble". I think the twin bubble has made me the somewhat shy person I am today. Although we have both gotten better at socializing, we still tend to gravitate to eachother when we are around one another. Having a twin has also helped culture me quite a bit. Although we are much alike, my sister and I still have our own unique personalities. Which comes in handy when keeping up with what's new. We often keep eachother updated on stuff going on in our own seperate lives. We exchange all the music, movies, games, trends, ideas, and skills we experience on our own. This in turn results in knowing a little bit of everything. Ultimately I can't imagine what my life would be like if I wasn't a twin. It's nice knowing there is always someone close by to share a conversation with, someone who will have your back no matter what, and someone to love you when you feel like maybe no one else does. My sister has been the best experience that has shaped a part of me.

I am gladly able to say that I am happy and enjoy life every day . That is coming from a kid who comes from divorced parents, who has moved multiple times in his life, who has seen his mother abused, who has seen his brother suffer from diabetes, and who has struggled with fitting in ethnically. I never like to say I've had a bad life. Instead I like to say I have lived a very humbling life. Despite there being things in my life that are not fond memories or things you would see on a bucket list, I know that there are kids, and people in general who have or had it way worse than I do. For that reason I choose to remain thankful for the life that live. I can't say I'm able to remain optimistic on my own. My family has helped me a lot, my mom in particular. My mom is a real life superhero. No matter what gets thrown at her she tackles it with a smile on her face. I'm lucky to have the opportunity to have such a good role model as my mother. Other than family, some celebrities have also inspired me. When I was having trouble fitting in I looked up to guys like Bruce Lee and Eddie Guerrero, who paved their path to success despite being culturally different than others. This life that I have lived has taught me to be resilient more than anything. Problems may come, but I welcome them with open arms. Even if I am not where I want to be in life, I know that I'll be there someday; for that reason I choose to appreciate the present moment because I know it won't last forever.

It's difficult to select the biggest problem facing the world right now. There are unfortunately so many problems going on as I type this essay. However If I had to choose one, I feel the biggest problem with this world right now is mental health. How are we expected to make changes to our perfectly imperfect world if we can't even win a battle against ourselves? Mental health is a huge problem in our world right now, and it is also an increasing problem. Some of the biggest triggers for decreases in our mental health lay right in front of us on a daily basis. Social media for instance is a big catalyst for a decline in social health. I can confirm this, because I myself was a victim. It had become routine for me to open Instagram daily and scroll through new posts multiple times a day, sometimes I would close the app and subconsciously open it right back up. I found that when I was on the app I would see all these people having fun and doing things the ordinary person doesn't do on a day to day basis. I would compare my life to everyone else's I saw on Instagram, and finally when I would close the app I was left feeling depressed. Luckily I myself was able to find the root to my change in mental health, and I deleted the app which has helped me tremendously. However, not everyone is able to tackle their problem(s) alone. For this reason I think The best way to work on this problem is to: remain aware of our own mental health, speak up when you have an issue, remain calm if you can not get help immediately, remember there are others like you, and finally help others.