I love the Giles family motto," The two most important things are to be nice and hard working." It's something that sounds simple but is actually quite complex. You can see in the world around us lacks kindness and understanding, and it doesn't help that is affects the youth my age and younger. Along with our lack of patience, I find it sad that the world mainly the U.S demands everything as soon as possible. I'm just happy my parents took the time to teach me how to be nice and patient. Just like the story "Tortoise and the Hare." slow and steady wins the race. Within my senior year I had to take Anatomy and Physiology which is a college level honor class. Challenging, yet the subject intrigued me as a student, so I took it. My class was very diverse, you have a sprinkle of students from each grade, with different goals, and different mindsets in the class. My goal was to make an A and not to sponge the information given, but to consume it to know without second guessing myself. Overtime I was doing good until we got into the muscle section of the body. I struggled to keep up. Even with the test and quiz I didn't do to good but everyone around did a great. I felt bad and went to my teacher to ask to retake to test and help to understand it more. He had a busy schedule all the time, but he said he'll make time for me because he sees how a hardworking and honest student I am. After re-taking my test and quiz he found something fishy with the class status overall. Majority of students got the multiple questions right, but when it came to discussion questions half of the class got them wrong. Turns out the friend groups of the class were cheating off papers from their friends that already took the class. I felt better about re-taking my test and quiz and actually made a much better grade than last time. Now that I'm in the process of getting ready for college. Seeing the schools and the expenses are quite surprising in a way. I plan to attend college to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner which will take me eight years to complete. Due to me having to finish up with a doctorate in psychology. I really want to pursue this field whole heartedly to help people and the world in general. It takes time and money to go into a field like this, and now that I'm graduating, I will have the time, but that leaves me with the issue of money. Even with my savings I'll still be sitting in debt. My goal is to apply to scholarships and hope for the best to get money to support me. I want my debt to at least be at my ankles, so I will have the room to work to pay it off within a year. It's not an easy job being optimistic, hardworking and staying kind it is a whole job. At the end, being hardworking and nice will cause me more good than any hurt or harm doing the opposite. Every single day I strive to accomplish a goal of mine big or small. Either way I'm being led by purpose and passion rather than short cuts and statistics. Which I refuse for either get in my way of doing better for me, my mind, and the world around me.

Losing a family member or friend is never easy on anyone. No matter how old or young you or they are it's hard. Just a year ago I lost my niece Amina she was young. Only 1-year-old hasn't been to school, made a best friend, or had a sleepover, etc. The bottom line is she hasn't had the chance to live her life. She was one huge part of my world that I'll never get to see again. Losing her sent me into a dark void of depression, anger, and frustration. Especially when my family gave me the news on what caused her to pass. This led me academically to unfocus and lose concentration causing my grades to decline. Sadly her mother was the cause of her passing. By that time all of the court dates, CPS visits, interviews, and along with her passing mentally and physically damaged my brother. It was a really hard time for my whole family. Now, later in my junior year of high school life finally settled I found peace in my storm and the void of pain slowly left me. Yet, it took my brother a while I suggested him therapy which ended up helping a lot more than he as well as my family thought it would. Seeing how much he improved led me to stumble upon a psychiatric nurse practitioner career. For input that career involves the jobs of being a psychologist and physiatrist. A few months later, my family received intel on how the mother of my niece was mentally ill. She suffered from PTSD from her childhood no one knew as well as reactive attachment disorder. Now, looking over my family myself, and the world. I choose to buckle down on my grades and be more involved in school to help out others. Reach out to students especially the quiet ones to work on speaking and work on expressing emotions. Coming onto the point on how emotions are a domino effect in the world Having the loss of a loved one is the equivalent of a wound that leaves a scar. It hurts for a long time and aches. After a while, it heals and fades, yet sometimes you do things that pick at it causing the wound to reopen. Like going to a place where you both used to have fun or a simple song, animal, or smell. Things like this caused me and can cause others to fall back into the same void I was in the first day I lost her. She is the reason I fight to pursue the career path I chose today.

My generation sadly doesn't value books as they should for the many stories and life lessons given throughout the many books out there. The genres of books I read are poetry, novels, memoirs, bio and autobiographies. Sometimes for the fun of it thrillers and scary books. The reason I picked these genres to read all my life; is to get an insight into different people and how they think. Which gives me an informed state of mind about the world and people around me. Books like "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson give you a great story little do you know it was a novel/autobiography about her life growing up. Also, Aron Beauregard's book Playground is a twisted tale of whether these parents let their children play on a playground in exchange for a large amount of money, but the playground is designed to terminate the kids. Two books from different genres together show how sentimental to gruesome the human mind can be. Authors who write many types of books are brave especially if they are part of scary, autobiographies, and realistic fiction genres. These genres can make you ask yourself; "Is this author really okay mentally?" Due to the scary story being really gruesome and wickedly told, and the autobiography to realistic fiction storyline being either traumatizing or depressing. 9 times out of 10, they needed help expressing what they had been through at a younger age yet, didn't have that outlet so writing was their outlet. Now, over time with encountering many different people along with how my parents helped me to develop in this world, I've seen and heard many things. Some are concerning and others comforting leading me to want to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I want to help people who are having conflict with their mental state. Due majority of the time these people do not become authors they become everyday people that you pass by. That has held in issues since adolescence; I want to become that outlet these people come to for their problems or situations they're stuck in a need a solution to get out of it. Because at the end of the day, everyone has their own story. If their story is a simple plot about them having a healthy relationship with family and friends, and the conflict is a minor argument between them and their parents on how much they sheltered them all their lives. Another person's story is about how they have to get a job to help their single-parent home with bills. Their many possibilities to stories of one's life story, and my impact is to guide them into having a healthier and happier ending. Rather than them having to go into a continuing cycle that leads one into a route of a decreasing and saddened fate in life.

I'm Dajah, The majority of my life I spent helping people; to be exact since I was 5 I helped my mother take care of my grandmother till her passing 5 years ago. Growing up God blessed my parents with jobs to take care of our needs plus my siblings and my wants. Though I was the first girl in the family and spoiled I never acted that way. I always made friends with the less fortunate kids at my school. I knew I had a lot of clothes and when I out grew or didn't like something anymore I would gift it to them cause I knew they would appreciate it. I never used it against them even when other kids saw how it was something I use to wear I would shame the kids on how they treated the less fortunate kids. When I started high school it was a difficult time for me once I got the news that my father had heart failure and that he was in stage four of it. Thanks to God he was sent to the hospital hooked up to countless wires and machines I called him Iron Man for the longest just to keep him and me smiling. Both of us knowing once I got home I was in a sea of tears. Figuring out he had to get a heart transplant later on. It wasn't till my sophomore year that he revised it, and once the heart was settled in he finally got to come home. It was October he missed my birthday and I didn't even celebrate it though my sweet 16 wasn't in mind my dad was home and that's all that mattered. Balancing school work and coming home to make sure he took all of his countless medications, was very hard but I pushed through. Also, going to school and having my friends vent to me about issues at home as well as their mental state. I always felt like a therapist and a doctor with no degree. This led me to the light of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Reflecting on the many people I met throughout the years and knowing how to read people to the point where I can see something is wrong mentally as well as emotionally. I want to help people with their emotions and if they are even past the breaking point help them to the point where they can be deemed normal and fulfill their life. Especially knowing in today's world where being the "hardest" and emotionless is seen as cool and popular. I know it's not healthy and since 2021 mental health is now getting the attention it's supposed to get though it's past due. I that's how I want to make a positive impact on the world with my career. From adults dealing with the stress of the world; to young children influenced by social media. Everyone wants to be heard in the world, but no one takes the time to listen and that's where I come in and help. So, we don't have to live with the guilty and negative consequences of people who left the world due to problems along the lines of these.

The day when my family sees my Diploma as Dr.White

When I think about my favorite thing about Disney, my mind goes straight to the princesses. Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White, Ariel, etc. I think about the first time I watched Princess and the Frog.. oh how that movie opened my eyes to my dreams. At the age of six, the only thing I took from the movie was, Tiana was a girl who wanted a restaurant to make her father proud; along the day got turned into a frog and had a long adventure with a prince whom she fell in love with. Since then the movie, in a way showed me that life will alter itself and your plans if you don't focus on what's important. For Tiana, it was love that she never knew she needed. She was headstrong and wanted to get to places A to B with no distractions. Resulting in her not spending time with friends that missed her presence, also in her not finding love, and making a family of her own like her mother wanted. I loved how she was goal driven but, when I contemplate and evaluate the movie for its morals more details came to light. In detail, the incredibly strong sisterly bond between Charlotte and Tiana. Even though they only became friends due to the work relations between Charlotte's father and Tiana's mother. Maturing into young women, the bond remained the same; dismissing their backgrounds. This strong bond taught me loyalty in friendships. Even in the end Tiana and Naveen got married, and Charlotte had her eyes fixed to be married to Naveen. Instead of getting envious, she supported the fact that he was in love with Tiana and her having what she needed. In her adventure, she formed even more friendships with other people besides Charlotte. Like Mama Odie who had given her wisdom on life, but at that moment she was still blind to what she needed. Thirdly, the movie has taught me that balance is key. Tiana is a headstrong type while Charlotte is the dreamgirl who believes in superstition and fairy tails. When Tiana meets Naveen she sees how he is the live-life type. Showing me that when certain personalities meet they bring out different yet good qualities in another. At the same time when relationships immerse, they rub off each other and mirror. Naveen being carefree, in the end, found himself in an orderly way and saw how hard work does pay off and it's rewarding. Tiana saw how important it is to have fun and focus on people "in front" of her and if you work too hard it will stress you. For the most part, this movie is my favorite thing about Disney. I use to be goal driven but, I lost many people in the past. Leaving me overwhelmed and stressed out. The lost time that I needed to spend with friends and family I wish I could have back. Luckily, I have a Charlotte in my life and she has stuck by me for a long time. Now I take time off for myself, family, and friends. I listen to my elders for their wisdom in life. If you can dream it, you can do it. If Tiana accomplished her dream then so can I. Disney's creation of this movie has been so dear to my heart. Now leading this princess into my own fairy tale. Though the story between me and Tiana is similar my dreams are still a bit far. Yet with all this hard work I'm doing, I know I'm almost there.

Music has taken a part of my life dramatically there is never a day where I don't listen to music. Since I was little I've seen how music has grown but, depending on your taste you may agree it has either gotten better or worse. May you open your eyes and mind up to my scenario on how music has shaped the way I look at the world. Music has a plethora of genres blues, country, jazz, and the list goes on. Yet depicting how you grew up culturally, as well as spiritually music has a more in-depth take on you. Like religiously I'm Native and have beliefs in taking care of the world around you so soundscapes are meaningful to me. While also, being Baptist going to church and singing gospel are other ways of music shaping my views on the world and life itself. The times when I'm not in religious settings the art of music can do many things to the mind and body. For example, the art of meditation music calms and relaxes the mind and body so you and focus on things ahead. Along with the point of music shaping my eyes on the world. With the duration of the music, you have artist who take the political route of informing their listeners with music. Growing up listening to artists like J- Cole, Michale Jackson, Prince, etc. Have made many meaningful songs about life. Rather if it was about the highs or lows of it or situations that may occur that I or you may relate to. Heartbreak, fake friends, losing someone, worldly matters, having fun, corruption, anger, you name it I have a song in one of my many playlists about it. Music has in a way informed, and other times prepared me for how life may be before that feeling or situation occurred. To gather my points music in a way is not just sounds and words put together or something made up half the time. Music to me is a journal and guide to how the world is and how it may make you feel. It has transformed me as a person over the years. Changing my views of people, my emotions, my self-esteem and how I see the world. How I can join a person hand in hand if they do or don't like me. If I'm dealing with their or my emotions. It has taught me about other cultures' ways of having fun, and lastly, music has shown me that its a way of connecting with others if you do and don't speak the same language. It has shaped me in a positive way and with music it pushes me to show the same light and views to others. So, I hope you did open your eyes and mind to my view of music in my life.

This comes from a teen who is more observant rather than taking action like others. Even though I took a Finance class I already knew how to manage money through my parents whom I'm grateful for teaching me even before I got my job. See, with them growing up either one of them didn't have much. So, when it was their turn to have a family they saved, budgeted, etc. Now, all adults don't know how to save, budget, and manage their money as others do. Due to the lack of teaching or their simply refusing to learn how to. Managing your money is a huge thing, people... well everyone needs to know how to do it. Especially in a world where it has power due to how many people of the world believe it does,... It makes the world go round you know? That's how the rich stay rich they know how money works and how to grow it like a plant, or generational wealth aka grandfather's garden ( Money). If they (middle to low class) don't know how to manage and grow their money as the wealthy do. Now, I know you're wondering well since you know so, much about money and dealing with it elaborate on everything you know about how I put my money to work instead of me working for my money. So, towards the end of the year 2021, I got a job at Chick-Fil-A. Now, before I started saving my money. I did what adults who don't manage their money tell kids to do," Spend your money on all the things you want get it out the way and then start saving." No, and never do it. Due to the fact every human in the world wants (wants and needs) never stops wanting something. So, I started saving money every check using the 50/30/20 rule. Then now and again I would buy something I wanted. For Christmas, I saved my money and bought my own iPhone 11 instead of getting my parents to get it. Now what I'm not saying is saving, budgeting, and investing money is easy. You have to know the rules of the game and know what rules apply to you and what don't. Managing your money well as a student can get you and keep you prepared for your life ahead. High school, during college, after college, into adulthood, and furthermore. For me, so far how I manage my money is by saveing and budgeting. I will later start investing so, I can start making "my money work for me." due to the fact are you have to be at least 18 to start investing within your name independently. That's why it's very important to save early in life and keep saving cause it helps out a lot in a money-functioning world.

Well since it's the new year (2023) I will recite how I have grown and developed from the year 2021 through 2022. Now, all my life I loved school and loved learning new information. To the point where I would teach myself new things. When the pandemic happened I missed the school setting and going hybrid was okay it wasn't regular school. My rhythm for school was not as upbeat as it used to be. Luckily, when my school came back for all students to come back my rhythm was back to normal. I went to class to learn, study, and get back to the normal routine that I missed. But, the more classes, grades, report cards, IGP meetings, and class meetings for grade levels. My love of school turned into an obsession with always doing my best. Which I didn't know would mutate me into being hard on myself. My parents didn't see it until I would come crying about how overwhelmed I was. With all the clubs and organizations I was in, and projects, class work, tests, finals, and exams I was pushing myself so hard to be the best. Even though mentally I was hurting myself. So, toward the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. I wanted to change for the better. For myself to be less stressed cause I'm a teenager and child going through all this stress that I have a chance to control. Unlike in the adult world, stress is controlled by the world and no mortal person can control that. So, I cut down on my expectations, yes I still strive to do my best but, I didn't force myself into things. I'm still in clubs and organizations but, not as many as I used to be. I'm back into loving school and learning again. Instead of me and my mental health going through constant stress and being overwhelmed. In the middle of 2022, I got a job at Chick- Fil- A. I wanted to work to continue and pursue further my education after high school. Even though I'm a Junior I like to prepare for the future and stay prepared. Also, to have my own money. I was happy and my mental health was at peace. Little that I knew what was going right was about the take a huge left. I lost a loved one and had a class that was challenging, also it didn't help that my job would schedule me 4 to 5 days so a girl was lacking sleep. It took me a long time to adjust to young adult life. At the end of 2022, I learned a plethora of things about myself that I thought I already knew. Which was I'm a productive procrastinator I work better under comfortable pressure. That I was hard on myself because I want to change societal norms in school and clubs and organizations. Also, I wanted to be a role model for my female younger cousins. I still love learning as I did before and am now in the process of making a youth group at my church to get other kids to have a derive for knowledge like mine but not for it to transform into something horrendous like mine did. Though this was a tough time for me I have bloomed into something more complex. I know myself more than ever though there are chances I might change a little. Self-discovery is a beautiful thing and it was tough I'm glad I went through it.

Over my years of living my mental health has been all over the place. Depressed from grieving a loved one young and old. To feel overwhelmed with anxiety when overworked. Mentally exhausted from socializing at times I didn't, etc. If I didn't tend to my mental health I wouldn't be okay right now as a junior high school student. I now look over my life and see how much mental health has affected my life as well as others. When I graduate, successfully in my senior year I know for a fact, I want to pursue my education in college and receive my degree in psychology. Why you might ask? Well, mental health has not been a huge subject around the world until I believe the pandemic. Also, back then when people did talk about mental health in a positive light. It was always negative and they tend to go the "your insane and crazy" route and that's not the case. The world doesn't understand the concept that people need to know more about mental health and how much it affects the world we all live in. I'm most definitely not talking about just America. I'm talking about Asia, Europe, and even Africa. Everyone is affected. Let's stop making people feel bad about feeling consumed by their emotions. Stop making mental health a forbidden topic in society and help everyone with their mental health, because it's more than that. I want everyone to get the care they need mentally, so they wouldn't be suffering physically and mentally. A lot of people don't know you can get sick to deathly ill if your mental health is not taken care of right. You can be in a good mood now then the next moment crying and have a meltdown due to you either having a panic attack or being overwhelmed. It's never okay to hold emotions because it can hurt you and others you love even society. After all, all emotions can mutate into one another. From sadness to depression, anger, and overwhelming, rage. All we need to do is change social norms. Many people don't know how much mental health can take a toll on your body. The world needs a change for the better now or never? I want to pursue this goal in my career when I get to that point in my life. That's what positive impact on the world I want to do with my career.