Dentistry is the only career I intend on pursuing in my college journey. I believe this career will bring me fulfillment because of the opportunity for specialization, business ownership, and the opportunity to mentor future Dentists, and it excites me to learn about the dental field. After graduating high school, several people hummed the saying, "Find what you love before going to college." In my case, it was the opposite. I waited 4 years before applying to college after my high school graduation to spend that time working and seeking an undying passion for a career path. I knew only two things to be true, I wanted to own a business, and I wanted that business to help people and inspire the youth. So, naturally, I postponed taking action to analyze (and over-analyze) my prospects for college majors. It wasn't until I started taking an actual collegiate path that I stumbled on something I knew was my desired career. In December of 2022 ( my first time passing courses in my technical college) I decided that Dental Hygiene wasn't the career I needed to seek. With the encouragement of friends, family, co-workers, the Dentists I go to, and countless hours of research, I decided Dentistry was the career for me. So, how does someone know a career will bring them fulfillment? I can't answer that question for everyone, but maybe someone will agree with the ideology I used to navigate that question. I didn't know until I "did". That simple. Of course I haven't already become a Dentist, so I know only a fraction of the anecdotal evidence it takes to get there, but what I'm trying to convey is that there is no sure way of knowing something. But the closest way to get there is to start the journey. I was told growing up that I should know what I love before going to college. So, I had never explored the possibility of going to college to figure out what I love. Sometimes, action is needed before we know what problems to solve and their solutions. How did I conclude that Dentistry will leave me fulfilled? For a few reasons, I knew this career path would continually intrigue me, but I'll start with continued education (specialization). Dentistry isn't just crowns, root canals, and composite or amalgam fillings. It can be Orthodontics, Endodontics, and Oromaxillofacial surgeons. There is always room for growth if you're willing to invest the time (and money!). The potential to own a business is another prospect that helped me align with Dentistry as a career. I had mentioned before that I always knew I wanted to own and operate a business. This career path allows me to open practices and employ people, changing the lives of patients and my team for the better, one smile at a time! Most importantly, I would then have the opportunity to mentor future talent in the dental field and expose them early to the option to pursue Dentistry as a career. This can come in the form of workshops for dental students, mentorship programs from high school through college, and scholarships for students pursuing dental-related careers. In conclusion, I didn't always know what I wanted to do. Through "doing" I grew to understand that becoming a Dentist is what needed to be done!

Being a first-generation college student is like having the heaviest wings that can take you anywhere in the world if you can withstand the weight. I am a 24-year-old nontraditional student who began pursuing school roughly a year ago. Those 4 years after I graduated high school were filled with a sense of insufficiency and a lack of self-esteem. My mother worked, and I understood the financial burden of attending college. Being that I worked throughout my high school career, I went back to what I knew, making money to survive. My mind could not yet comprehend becoming a first-generation student or graduating for that matter. So, at 22, I decided I could start small. I found a field that I could become passionate about if I could complete the program and become a Dental Hygienist. This decision was unlike my normally ambitious attitude toward life and opportunities. However, I was extremely intimidated about working and affording college and rent, bills, etc. But through trial and error, I discovered there is always a "way out" if you're willing to pay the price. Through scholarships like this, taking courses part-time, changing jobs, finding roommates, and even going part-time at work, I have MADE a way! Relentlessness is what being a first-generation college student has given me. Failing so many times, being told no several times, and the daily inconveniences of being a non-traditional, working student, have made me relentless. Conclusively, after realizing that all of these setbacks and failures are just part of the process, I began to think to myself, "If I'm truly relentless, why stop at Hygiene?". As of, 2023, I have decided as a first-generation student, I will become a Dentist. I'm not concerned with what is considered feasible, possible, or plausible. Up until this point I have always made things happen when the odds were stacked against me. This will be no different. Being a first-generation student has made me relentless.

Growing up in the rural southeast of the United States in a single-parent home, mental health was not considered a priority. In a scarcity mindset environment, the everyday struggle of making ends meet is paramount. I struggled severely growing up with my familial relationships, lack of self-confidence, and striving for perfection to receive some form of validation. It wasn't until my first romantic relationship that I discovered signs of anomie, lack of empathy, and severe anxiety about becoming successful. My childhood has entirely shaped my outlook on goals, relationships, and my understanding of the world. Not until this year, at 24 years old, as I'm pursuing a career in the dental field as a Dental Assistant and subsequently a General Dentist, have I realized that the reason it has been so difficult to pursue my many goals was because of my relationship with mental health. I've been incredibly ambitious since I was very young; always searching for a way to bring my family out of what is considered a lower-class of living. Mental health is an increasingly popular topic in mainstream media, especially among men. Now more than ever, at 24, I understand the importance of relaxing as opposed to over-working myself to prove to myself that I'm worthy. Or to prove to others that I'm not representative of the environment I came from. I'm learning patience in pursuing my career, finding a balance between the pursuit of goals and social life, and becoming comfortable with failure. I'm also discovering better techniques of creating meaningful relationships with people although I don't have much connection with my family. Discovering the importance of being mentally healthy has allowed me to pursue what I have been pursuing for so long, fulfillment and a desire to have relationships. A feeling I have not ever been nurtured to have. From time to time I still struggle with my former ideologies that the environment I grew up in molded me to possess. However, with the knowledge I now have about mental health, I acknowledge these feelings, allow myself to feel them, and then I utilize different methods to work through those bad habits and further understand what triggered them. Ultimately, my goal is to become a Dentist, and instruct and inspire younger people (especially men) in the amazing field of oral health as well as mental health. So much potential is trapped beneath what we refuse to confront. My childhood relationships are my biggest vulnerabilities, and my success is contingent on understanding and healing that part of my past. Mental health has allowed me to pursue a career I have grown a passion for, build more meaningful relationships, and create the reason that I am here.

"Stop watching everyone else, and make things happen". My greatest achievement to date has been completing two semesters of college as a 24-year-old, non-traditional student, and full-time worker after never believing college was my "way out". These accomplishments came after a series of failed attempts at being consistent with anything outside of working at a job. Growing up in the rural southeast to a low-income, single mother, I was familiar with what lots of work looked like; so that's what I did. As soon as I was able to work, my deep-seated desire to make my own money came to fruition. As an antisocial, artistic, and high achiever in academics, I also ironically was not a fan of school. At the age of 14, I got my very first job as a seasonal wildlife preservationist in Savannah, Georgia. I would then go on to work every summer until 17; where I worked part-time through my junior and senior years in high school, until graduation. These series of decisions would then create a domino-effect that I now reflect on at 24 as I embark on the journey of becoming a General Dentist. We can never grow until we make room by letting go. From 17 years old to 22, I worked in retail, carpeting, wildlife, and manufacturing. I learned so many valuable lessons, interpersonal and communication skills, customer service, and a newfound appreciation for my work ethic. However, a void began to grow at the age of 22, as I realized I wanted to accomplish more, and that all my peers were graduating and going into their careers of choice. I did my due diligence and found a career that fits me the most, Dentistry. This prompted me to turn to school once more. I had moved roughly a year earlier further upstate and decided to apply to a local technical college. Although I had preconceived notions about college that had initially kept me from applying at 18, I decided to test those notions out and see for myself. I had work experience, but it was time to seek out more. I not only wanted a higher income, but I desired a career that helped give me meaning and the resources necessary to make a difference to those around me. After attempting a full course load semester while working full time in 2021, I successfully failed all of my classes and was left broken. Mentally, emotionally, and physically, it took an enormous toll on me. I took the next year off and continued working. I needed to not only regather myself, but I needed a more practical approach to school. I worked 80-hour weeks to save enough to feel comfortable taking courses while working, just in case I had to focus more on school. I had to let go of the notion that I had to rush and finish so I could become a Dentist by a certain age. I re-applied roughly a year later and passed my courses. I went on to repeat the following semester and pass those as well. I finally accepted that "playing catch-up" with my peers was nonsensical so that I could finally see growth, on my terms. I learned that my circumstances were unique to me and that my resilience and work ethic gained through the workforce made me wiser rather than "putting me behind" in some imaginary race against time. Looking forward, I will further my education by becoming a certified Dental Assistant to gain on-the-job insight and experience in the immersive field of Dentistry. From there, I will obtain a bachelor's in biology. Subsequently, I will take the DAT, and be accepted into MUSC in Charleston, South Carolina where I will graduate as a General Dentist. The world is wide open at this point. I could go back and specialize in my field before opening my practices. The most important aspect is that I learned to pace myself, focus on my trajectory, and remain resilient. This is my life and my pace. My advice to anyone is to be patient with yourself, take a break to find out what it is that you want to accomplish, then relentlessly, make it happen. My greatest achievement, in just a few words, is I stopped watching everyone else, and I kept making things happen.

With the increasing debate on the cancellation of student debt and a growing interest in personal finance amongst Americans, the best advice that I've personally received was to adhere to a monthly budget for all my expenses and to live on less than I make. There are three beneficial factors to following a budget that became the overall reason I decided to take it more seriously as a 24-year-old part-time college student and full-time worker. The benefits of following a monthly budget and living off of less than you make are the ease of financial stress and anxiety by being organized and aware of income and expenses, developing foundational finance habits for the future, and avoiding the trap of potential "lifestyle inflation" by continuing to live off of less than you make. Therefore, the best financial advice I've been given is to manage your income effectively by budgeting and to live below your means. Many U.S. adults, young and senior, struggle with living paycheck to paycheck. This sense of impending doom is heightened by warnings of a possible recession, layoffs, and overall economic uncertainty. Aside from people just not making enough to cover standard living costs and personal debt, the issue of "barely staying afloat" comes from mismanaging income. A clearer point of view to aid the term "mismanaging" would be the over-consumption of leisure expenses and a lack of saving and investing a proper portion of our income that would provide mental ease in the short and long term. That's where a personalized budget comes in. Personal finance is a topic I've grown an increasing interest in since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Americans began holding onto exorbitant amounts of money that were being disbursed by the government into their savings accounts, which have been depleted since then. Whether because of inflation or lack of budgeting, I'm certain the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Once again, aside from many Americans simply just not being able to make enough to cover the costs of living, the issue lies in the financial stress of living paycheck to paycheck, due in part to financial illiteracy. Hence why, I believe a personal budget that you abide by is the best financial advice. Following a consistent, personalized budget month-to-month builds a net-positive habit of delaying gratification. This habit affords people the skill of saying "NO" to the short-term, for a greater return down the line. Compounding interest (regarded as the 8th wonder of the world) is a testament to the idea of consistent behaviors benefitting us in the long term. Someone who invests 5-10 years before another at a lesser amount (assuming a similar annual rate of return and inflation rates) could walk away with much more than someone who starts later and invests more. Following a personalized budget gives you a clear picture of what to expect assuming you retain employment (and even a plan for potential unemployment). The point is, you have a plan. The issue is, you can't plan without knowing two things; what needs to be improved and how to scale that goal. I was told by a more senior associate at my current job to invest in a 401k at the rate my employer matches to take advantage of that free money. Heeding that advice has now, three years later, allowed me to take a loan on my balance to help pay for some personal emergencies. That money I took a loan out on belongs to me and will be paid back to my account, with interest. Having a personalized budget allowed me to invest in a 401k, and reap the benefits in a time of need without having to deplete my emergency fund. With consistency, taking the right advice, and a personal budget, we can develop better financial habits for the future. Having a personal budget can save you from one more popular trap that many Americans fall victim to as they progress in their respective professional careers. The popularized term, "Lifestyle creep" or lifestyle inflation, refers to the increased activity of conspicuous consumption or "keeping up with the Joneses". As we begin to earn more money, we inflate our lifestyle by finding new liabilities to spend that higher income on. This behavior exemplifies the importance of a personalized budget because had this imaginary person been allocating percentages of their income to respective categories, they'd always see their savings accounts and investment portfolios grow. Personalized budgets make sure you don't spend more, just because you begin earning more. Conclusively, personal finance is an increasingly popular subject matter online and for good reason. Many American workers and students alike are tired of financial illiteracy and uncertainty. However, through a personalized budget, coupled with making more than what is necessary for the cost of living in an area, one can not only survive but thrive financially. Having a personal budget and consistency is the best financial advice I've ever received.

I believe that it is necessary and would advance societal progress if it corrected its approach in responding to issues surrounding the disadvantaged. A disproportionate wealth gap is accumulating amongst upper and lower-class Americans every year. It is a known and understood the fact that being predisposed to lower income can lead to a more violent environment and neglect from state and federal legislature. In other words, adults and children who are in disadvantaged positions are being "left behind" because they aren't seen as valuable assets in our capitalist market. However, my position is that if we invest more in these disadvantaged areas educationally, it won't hurt our economy, it would improve our standard of life by having more professionals available to raise the standard of living. And to be frank, it should be engrained in our core American values to have no one left behind. Society has preconceived notions of what to expect from members of disadvantaged areas. This implicit bias disregards the years of neglect, marginalization, and lack of access to funding and education. When things are left unkempt and without care, they'll likely do what is necessary to survive. We are dealing with communities where people are operating with survival mentalities in a developed country. In my personal opinion, the continued neglect of disadvantaged communities is a gross representation of a so-called "first-world country". We should change the narrative to include these members of society in opportunities starting from a young age. One of the solutions we could implement to alter our responses to problems in disadvantaged communities is advocating for more STEM-related programs via outreach and mentorship in the youth and young adults. More incentivization for these younger minds should be granted via scholarships, grants, and awards to partake in the initiative to shorten the gap of representation in fields that are dominated by other groups. If we're ever to truly accept and advocate what this country stands for, freedom and liberty, we should empower all groups to pursue higher education. If we're ever to live up to the standing of a "first world country" we should create reform to address the problems of the disadvantaged in a "no stone left unturned" type of ideology. For Americans to gain a unanimous sense of pride in our country and strengthen our bonds societally, we should aim to address and rectify all issues with the disadvantaged so that they have access to and benefit from the same freedoms and liberties as their more fortunate counterparts. Addressing and responding these issues aren't just a matter of social justice, but they are a matter of exemplifying true American values. Continuing to neglect them would be everything but the former.

My experience with mental health has both damaged and fixed many relationships, helped me discover new beliefs, and developed a new intrinsic desire to pursue a career in dentistry. My realization about issues with my mental health unfortunately wasn't apparent to me until I was 22 years old. I will be 25 this year and have gained insight and awareness into the importance of not only understanding where your mental health issues originate but methods of remedying those issues to help yourself and others. Some years ago, a family member of mine (male) committed suicide as the result of continued mental health issues that went unaddressed. After this unforeseen event, the lack of interconnectedness became apparent to me in my family. I had already struggled with connecting and opening up with significant others, friends, and as aforementioned, family. Mental health awareness is especially significant to me as a result of my difficulty finding meaningful connections throughout my childhood and into my 20s. I now consistently check on coworkers (especially males) and friends to reassure them that there is no shame in displaying a need or desire for help with mental health-related issues. I will openly admit that I am still on my journey of remedying my relationship with my family and partners, and I am as patient as possible with myself. I struggle from time to time with depression, anxiety about finances, and a sense of anomie, however, I plan on seeking therapy and finding alternative solutions to mental health issues in honor of the loss in my family. My beliefs and career path are closely aligned as they stem directly from my past issues with my mental health and relationships. I have a strong personal connection to giving back to children (especially in fatherless homes and underserved communities). I remember growing up feeling as though college wouldn't be the most feasible option. Financially, I refused to burden my mother with the responsibility of putting me through college. Although that is no excuse to not go, I chose to enter the workforce instead. From 18-21, I worked diligently, from retail to carpeting, warehouse jobs, and eventually manufacturing until I finally decided to put myself into Greenville Technical College. My goal is to shorten that time gap financially and psychologically for underserved youth who deal with those same mental health issues, by instilling a sense of meaning in life through servant leadership, pride in their careers by earning enough to provide a living for themselves, and mental stability by pursuing something in which they can see results. Overall, I aspire to become a General Dentist (then Orthodontist) who owns multiple practices and become a pillar in my community through outreach and mentorship of youth (especially young men 18-25). Not only do I want to attract them to fields in STEM, but mentor them throughout college and even into the professional world. I have received lots of help through my endeavors so far in my education and the workforce. Therefore, I feel an inclination to receive more, so that I can give back more to those who just need that extra push.

Being the product of a poor environment does not dictate your outcome of opportunity if you're willing to do what is necessary. This essay will emphasize my resilience as a non-traditional student after being put in a position to find housing within a week and having to withdraw from all of my classes in 2020, then re-applying in 2022 and completing the next two consecutive semesters. Growing up in a single-parent home, I excelled in school to prove myself amongst my peers. After graduating in the top 10% of my class, I began to wonder if college was a feasible option for someone who had no strong financial foundation. I felt "too far behind" the competition. So, in a similar fashion to my parent, I entered the workforce instead and personally chose to work until I built the finances and courage to attend college. I worked part-time throughout high school and full-time from ages 18-21 before moving three hours upstate in South Carolina to make more money in manufacturing. By this time, I thought I had acclimated to setbacks and failure due to me attending an underfunded public school and facing gang violence and frequent gun violence. "Surely, there couldn't have been more adversity", I so childishly thought; I would soon learn that isn't true. I began pursuing college after getting accustomed to living in upstate South Carolina in 2020. I thought that after saving up enough money, I would strategically attend Greenville Technical College while staying with a distant family member. After unforeseen circumstances, I was given one week to leave my housing situation in 2021, forcing me to withdraw from all of my courses and focus on working to support myself and move out. I was, of course, defeated, and once again that sense of being "too far behind" my peers became prevalent. By this time, many of my high school peers were graduating college. A feeling of insufficiency swept over me. Determined to pull myself out of this depression, I sought out a second job and worked 80-hour weeks for 6 months straight. Reluctant to deem myself a failure, I was able to save enough money to feel comfortable attempting courses again at Greenville Technical College. With the help of close friends, mentorship, and helpful coworkers, I applied for courses and completed the fall 2022 semester successfully. My GPA had suffered tremendously as a result of the withdrawn and failed courses from 2021. However, as of Spring 2023, I have completed my second successful semester, am currently staying on my own, and I've also earned a 4.0 GPA. I am currently pursuing Dental Hygiene at the great Greenville Technical College in South Carolina, with plans of pursuing a bachelor's in biology, then attending MUSC to procure a graduate degree as a General Dentist. I am proof so far, that a poor environment does not dictate the opportunity of outcome. I exemplify how relentlessness, resilience, and a network of helpful individuals can beat all odds. Ultimately, what I've gained from these experiences are two staple ideas that I recount whenever I feel depressed. I have learned that a plan is only as good as your plan for it to not go as planned, so plan against your plans. I have also learned that not everything is meant to be done alone. There are resources and people ready and willing to assist you when necessary; so it is in our best interest to seek out and exhaust all resources before giving up. And right when you think you're ready to give up, try one more time!

Within the next five years, I will positively influence and educate my local and global communities on the importance of maintaining oral health, accessing preventative oral care, conservation of water and energy, and the use of eco-friendly dental products. Through the lens of wellness, I intend to not only provide dental education to patients but also be a good steward of environmental protection. Lots of waste and energy consumption come as a result of running and operating a dental office. Long-term, by implementing low-flow faucets and toilets in the office as well as, energy-efficient LED lighting and turning off non-essential equipment when they aren't in use, we can reduce waste, which directly impacts our environment on the local (and likely global) scales. Another innovative implementation I plan on providing is eco-friendly dental products. Throughout the office will be biodegradable cups and gloves (commonly used objects that add up over time). Furthermore, I intend on using dental materials with minimal environmental impact and providing "green" options for sale rather than the conventional popular oral health brands at the end of the appointment. The whole goal is to sell the patient the importance of their contribution to conserving the environment along with dental education. Another useful tactic I intend to deploy to create a positive environmental impact via the dental field is community involvement and advocacy within the dental industry. I am a proponent of "being the change" I wish to see on all levels of life. I strive to be representative of the morals and values I share with others. That being said, even as a dentist (or dental hygienist pursuing dentistry in the next five years), I will incentivize and become an activist for community involvement in initiatives such as planting trees, cleaning up roads and forests, and recycling at scale. I plan to take part in local school workshops and other organizations to instruct the community on the importance of sustainable dental care and how it affects our environment. The overall goal is to showcase that each small act of environmental sustainability is part of a collective responsibility. I wish to instill a sense of pride and intrinsic reward in the community for taking part in oral healthcare while cleaning our planet. I also intend on advocating for the spread of this eco-friendly initiative to other surrounding dental offices. I would like to form an organization of dental partners who support sustainable dentistry and market it as the "upper echelon" of dentistry as we move toward a more "eco-conscious" community for oral health. The end goal is to inspire change through setting an example, being proactive, then building rapport and developing a community centered around shared values and a common goal. That goal is, to create a positive environmental impact on the local and global levels in the next five years, through dental education and sustainable dentistry.

The dream that I envision for my future self is to be a charismatic, inspiring, influential orthodontist with multiple practices, who is a pillar in my community and an advocate for mental health awareness and wellness (especially in youth and men) and will stop at nothing to see things through.

Partaking in free speech is what allows for loopholes in our perspective on the world and society to be challenged by a new perspective that may contain a "missing piece" to our views. The importance of free speech is an ever-growing issue, especially on college campuses. If nothing can be challenged, then where will there ever be room to grow? The purpose of science is to fundamentally improve as a species via trial and error. If that one facet of the scientific method were to be removed, how would we advance further? Similarly, regarding democracy within the higher education system, removing the right to have a different opinion and the freedom to voice it is what would stagnate the intellectual growth of its students. How so? Without the skill of navigating discourse, having an openness to opposing views, and being able to be proven incorrect leaves us susceptible to a higher risk of cognitive dissonance and tyrannical speech monitoring. A less constructive "hive-mind" would be the result of losing access to free speech. For instance, if many historical figures in this country alone had not had access to the power of free speech, certain social justice issues may have not been addressed and remedied. The founding principle of this country was freedom of speech from a tyrannical crown that would execute those who spoke out against its regime. A simple look into the past would reiterate the importance of free speech. It is essential to preserve the right to free speech because it is the very basis of free enterprise and democracy. All of the game changers in American history in social issues, business, and politics had a viewpoint that was peculiar at some point but revolutionized that sector. Nothing worth teaching in history, science, and math ever came as the result of extreme censorship. These discoveries that are taught were challenged in their time for being too controversial because it was not yet understood. What would've happened if Pythagoras, Martin Luther King Jr, and George Washington were suppressed? How different do you think this country would be? I am currently pursuing Dental Hygiene and subsequently, Dentistry, so there is not much advancement of diversity of thought in the sciences that I am aware of. However, every week I produce long-form content about self-improvement and psychological approaches to being more productive. Those forms of thought would not have existed if free speech were not accessible to its founders.

I consider myself (and hopefully others think so too) an up-stander in my community for a few reasons. I came from a very poor small rural town in the lower part of South Carolina and chose to distance myself from the pressures of drug use, gun violence and gang activity. I maintained A's and B's throughout my high school career and completed dual-enrolled courses for a "head start" in college. I was always and still am a huge advocate for mental health awareness (especially in men) and I always encouraged my peers to make decisions with the next 10 years in mind. Statistically speaking, coming from a single-mother home with my ethnic background proves to be a crippling quotient in terms of achieving success. However, I choose to look past the "numbers" and become the exception to the rule. I graduated high school in the top 10% and decided to take a gap year and work to save up to go to school. But my lack of a supportive mental and financial foundation became my Achille's heel in continuing my education into college. After moving to upstate South Carolina at 21, I rediscovered the desire to pursue higher education. I began working at a factory here in upstate South Carolina, and I tried out college again (since high school). Once again, I failed by overloading myself with too many classes while working full-time and was asked to leave by the family member who I was staying with. But to be an up-stander, perseverance is a quality we must possess. I dropped my classes, moved out, and began working 80-hour weeks in two jobs, for the next 6 months. Fast forward to 2023, I have just completed my second semester of school and will be taking more courses this upcoming fall. I am pursuing a degree in Dental Hygiene, then pursuing a bachelor's in Biology at UofSC. Ultimately, I will transfer to MUSC and study to become a General Dentist. Based on the progress I have made so far, even if no one else sees it, I believe I am already an up-stander coming from the community in which I came from. Although I am light years away from where I would like to be, I have made so much progress that I cannot just stop here. I currently use my voice to build a community online. I make long-form video content about self-improvement, personal finance, and scientific ways to be more productive. Using my voice has been one of the superpowers I have possessed since I was a child. I plan to use this social media platform to promote self-improvement and spread the need for mental wellness while scaling it to a larger audience over the years as I pursue Dentistry. Being an up-stander is the narrow path that I've always taken, and will continue to take while I spread the message in hopes that others will follow.

I was born in a small town in the lower part of South Carolina where "mental health" was a phrase you would only see on T.V. commercials. Ever since I was a kid, I experienced a desire for nurturing and comfort from the unknown that a single mother from a broken family herself could not provide. Everything I would do academically to surpass my peers became a race to see if I could please my mother to be nurtured and listened to in a way she could not give. I excelled throughout middle and high school, all while keeping a smile on my face, and suffering from anxiety, depressive episodes, and an emptiness I couldn't explain whenever I finally got home. Fast forward to 24, I moved from my small hometown to upstate SC, and I am consistently told by all my coworkers and people who get to know me that I have a warm personality and I listen to them. One of my passions now is being of service to others, whether it be advice, scientific ways to improve your mental health and well-being, or the videos I upload every week on social media about self-improvement and being productive. By helping others in the small ways I can, I find that it offers some meaning to life and therapy to myself. I still struggle weekly with a sense of anomie and emptiness, but I won't give up, because someone may need what I needed growing up and I could deliver. My goals are the reason I choose to not give up. A few years back, I lost a first cousin to suicide. This prompted me to get more serious about my mental health, and the need for mental health assistance in men. I try my hardest to be a beacon in that community by offering resources to my male peers constantly that could potentially save their life. Ultimately, my goal is to pursue Dentistry by attending MUSC after obtaining my bachelor's in Biology from UofSC. I'm currently taking the prerequisites necessary to become a Dental Hygienist at Greenville Technical College. Although I dedicate lots of time to my studies, the "bigger picture" is offering men an alternative route to success; through the sciences. I read a lot of psychology, philosophy, science, and finance literature to make sure I translate pertinent information to other people. My goal isn't to just be the cool, charismatic, young Dentist. I would like to be a Dentist who is a pillar in his community and an advocate for the mental wellness of men everywhere. This isn't just something I want to accomplish; this needs to get done for myself, and my peers.

Obtaining generational wealth is the result of planning a future in which others will benefit more than you. Generational wealth is the transfer of assets that give your heirs a "leg up" on the competition of capitalism. In my eyes, the goal in this free-enterprise market is to ultimately improve from one generation to the next. Simply put, kids should always be better off than their parents. One of the most selfless and tangible ways to transfer value is by obtaining generational wealth. I am a huge proponent of financial literacy and am routinely telling people that money is called "currency" because it is meant to move. "Move?", you might ask. Yes. A current is not a body of still water, but a steady flow of water from one location to the next. Wealth can be obtained by buying assets (purchases using the currency for a resource that has value). When we add the word "generational", we understand that this currency is not only being moved into assets, but moved from our hands to the children after us, and so on. Conclusively, obtaining generational wealth is the most selfless and tangible way to add value to your family. It is planning a future in which others will benefit more than you. I've given a very concise and original definition of what I believe generational wealth is. But how exactly would I go about achieving it? I have a plan that on paper sounds a lot simpler to execute than in reality. My long-term goal to achieve generational wealth is to become a successful orthodontist and open up multiple practices then allowing newer talent to eventually take over. The overall goal is to leverage the skillset to get into the business side of dentistry. I mean merchandising, oral health products, of course owning several practices, and creating a social media business presence centered around oral health and education. The ultimate goal is to provide as much value as possible to others. I study several successful millionaires and the common denominator is, they find a relevant issue and provide a solution. I plan to achieve generational wealth through dentistry and promoting oral health and finding the most relevant issue in the space while providing a valuable solution. I'm also very interested in investing in artificial intelligence, automation, and tech to take oral health to the "next level". In conclusion, generational wealth to me comes as a result of planning and moving currency into wealth-building assets to be transferred to those who come after you. In short, it is planning for a future in which others will benefit more than you. Through the field of oral health and education, opening dental practices, and building a profitable social media presence, I plan to build generational wealth.

Life is a game of "give and take" and a little bit of luck. Over the past year, I would have this reaffirmed to me through people, experiences, failures, and books I have read on my journey of pursuing a degree in Dental Hygiene. As my first successful undergraduate semester finally comes to an end, there were two books that I read that guided me. Those two books were, "Winning" by Tim S. Grover and "12 Rules for Life" by Jordan B. Peterson. Here's how they helped formulate the impact I want to make on the world. "Winning" by Tim S. Grover, is a book showcasing the skills it takes to know how to think like a winner. It examined some of the most common household names in the athletic world (and even business) in what mentality it takes to be considered not just competitive, but a "winner". One of the rules in this book that helped me grasp the concept of "give and take", was "Winning takes you to hell. And if you quit, that's where you'll stay." (Grover, 137). That concept, of sacrificing something, is one that I would want to teach to my peers, loved ones, other students, etc. Accomplishing anything requires more of you than sometimes you'll be willing to give. It calls out your name, as it did mine, to push through the days that I didn't want to complete coursework after a 12-hour shift. I work full-time at a factory and I take courses part-time. I knew that if I wanted to win and pursue being a Dental Hygienist, "hell" would be staying up until midnight a lot of nights, turning in work, just to be up in 5 hours again. Sometimes it meant saying no to the weekend invites downtown, the house parties, and hearing the stories about it the next day. If you want to accomplish anything, you must be willing to go through your own personal "hell" and find your way out. "12 Rules for Life", by Jordan B. Peterson, is a book that I have a more intimate connection with. Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist from Canada, made a significant mark on my life after I first encountered his lectures through Youtube as a 20-year-old, 4 years ago. He became more than a guy I would watch for psychology lectures. He became a father figure to a 20-year-old who grew up fatherless. He subtitles this book, "An antidote to chaos", which quite literally, the 12 rules laid out remedies in each chapter that offer order to our lives. The one that impacted me the most was, "Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping." (Peterson, 31). The "give" here, is that you have to keep promises you make yourself and have a vision or "why" and seek that out in life. This principle helped turn me into my own father figure just as I considered Jordan Peterson. It made me responsible for myself and helped me realize that where I end up is a result of my actions. In conclusion, the impact that I would love to leave on everyone I meet is that life requires something of you, to get anywhere desirable. Want to go out? You need gas and money. Do you want a degree? You need to stay up and complete the work and put the hours in. Do you want to win? You have to be willing to do what no one else will. Life itself is a game of "give and take", and maybe a little bit of luck.