My goal for the future is to be able to attend University. While I get a degree in accounting, I want to be able to grow as a person and become the best version of myself that I could be. Going to University allows me to prepare myself as a professional and get a step closer to becoming a professional. Being an accountant has a vital role in my dreams. The passion accounting brings to me creates leadership and makes me want to be in an entrepreneurial position. I want to carry out these aspirations to offer employment opportunities and help those in need.

In the fifth month of my gestation, the obstetrician-gynecologist informed my mom that I had hydronephrosis of the right kidney. A blockage of the urinary tract causes a rare condition in 1 of every 100 pregnancies. After receiving emotional news from the doctors, my parents experienced a very shocking and sad day. At that moment, there was nothing that we could do but wait. My mother then continued to have necessary supervision so that I could be delivered and born healthy, but unfortunately, my mother had gestational hypertension, which forced the doctors to remove me before the due date. I was born highly underweight and undersized. At that time, my parents held onto their prayers and their faith so that I could stay alive as I was in intensive care for two months. This process was very strenuous, physically and mentally for everyone. My parents always had to check that I was breathing and warm. I could not lose heat because I had a chance to lose weight and even die. Over time, my parents learned how to handle the difficulties of a premature baby and took care of me as best as they could. Today, I realize that I had another chance at life thanks to God and my parents. Looking at the whole process of my birth and upbringing, I am aware that it was not easy since there were many difficulties in the processes of my childhood. My parents were divorced, this divorce affected me emotionally; the divorce brought me weight gain and anxiety as I was very close to my parents throughout the birth process. When I was eight years old, I came to the United States with my sister and mother. My mother was a volunteer for Afro-Colombian groups displaced by violence; my mother was threatened with death by the guerrillas in Colombia. Since that instance, she applied to an asylum process she's been in for nine years, and the asylum has not yet been approved. Considering that the asylum was not approved yet, it was not easy to find many opportunities for my family and me, for example, FAFSA and others. It is sad to see various chances go by, for instance, when my friends and I can travel over summer break, and I cannot participate. One of my friends named Jack, always invites me on trips with his family, and he says, "I'm going to travel to Florida. Do you want to come?" and I sadly reply, "I'm busy." But I would like to say yes, my friend, very deep in my heart. These circumstances show me that in life, there are adversities, but I have to follow the path towards my goals and dreams. Without these lessons and difficulties, I would not have developed the character and personality I have today. I realized that with love, persistence, and responsibility in the future, I would achieve my goal, which is to have a corporation. Going to university allows me to prepare myself as a professional and get a step closer to accounting. Being an accountant has a vital role in my dreams. The passion accounting brings to me creates leadership and makes me want to be in an entrepreneurial position. I want to carry out these aspirations to offer employment opportunities and help those in need. If I learned anything in my life is that it's complicated, you get put in certain situations to see how they would rule out. The rest of the process is how you use those difficulties to your advantage and overcome them for the better.

My mom fuels my life. Ever since a young kid, I saw my mom work day in and night out to put food and a roof over my head. My mom moved to the United States to give me a better future. I'm grateful to be able to study and live in the United States. I'm incredibly appreciative of this opportunity because my mom gave up time and fun so that I could enjoy life as best as I could. My mom fueled my life since I saw all the struggles and hardships she went through. There were several nights where she never slept so that I could make it to practice or even hang out with friends. My mom motivates me to be the best version of myself and accomplish all my goals. I want to be able to give back to my mom and thank her for all the struggles she went through to make sure I'm living my best life.

Growing up, I had a very rough childhood. My parents were divorced from a young age, so I grew up without a dad. Since my parents divorced, I moved to the united states with my mom when I was 9. My mom and I moved to find better opportunities and live happily. I was a timid and anxious kid; once I came to this new environment, it felt like a different world and nothing I've ever experienced. Since I moved to a new country, there was a language barrier; I only spoke Spanish and barely any English; kids looked at me differently, and I felt judged. Of course, because of my accent, I got bullied, and people laughed at me when I tried to speak English. I liked to be alone because I thought people would bully me, and I was tired of being laughed at and feeling sad. Luckily, not too long after arriving at the school, I met my first friend. He only spoke English, and it was funny because we had to talk making hand motions, but he was a great kid; he thought that I was very friendly and invited me to hang out with his family and friends. I started to learn English slowly from being involved. I then realized how nice and compassionate he was for that. I didn't experience any relationship like that before. After experiencing this remarkable friendship, I learned never to judge anyone because I don't know their experience; instead of bringing someone down, I always try my best to bring them joy and treat them with empathy. I never want anyone to go through what I experienced; I want to make them forget their problems and have fun and enjoy life as I did.

I always say look good, feel good. To advance in life, you need a break; the body and brain need rest to function appropriately and keep you healthy. Indeed, I advocate for mental health and relaxation; I believe that people need rest to execute and utilize their bodies to their max. Too much work and stress could break us down and surely hurt us in the long run. I try to relax and take care of my mental health very simply. I like to connect with God and my body. I try to exercise daily and pray. Exercise removes all my stresses and worries; I want to stay as healthy as possible and, of course, eat the right way. I consider mental health very crucial; if I'm not in the right state of mind, I won't accomplish what I want and need to do throughout the day. To stay away from lousy mental, I like to breathe and relax. A great thing that keeps me from bad mental health is my surroundings. I want to stay surrounded by positive vibrations. It makes the relaxation process even better and helps me keep on track for good mental health. At the end of the day, if you want to accomplish and utilize your body to the max potential, you need to rest and let your mind breathe to prevail in the long run.

Expression is one of the few things that everyone has the right to do, the craziest thing is a lot of people don't like to use it. When I was younger expression was difficult, I was shy as a squirrel. I couldn't argue with someone or express how I felt because of the fear of being rejected or having a different opinion. The funniest thing about having this fear of speaking my mind was that I always got put in awkward situations like, "Why do you like Spiderman I think he's garbage". Purposely I would agree, but in my head, I would think otherwise because Spiderman is my favorite superhero. I then noticed as I got older, people like to have more serious and intense discussions. I saw how crazy and scary these discussions were that even people were killed. I noticed people die representing what they believe, for example, Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King believed that everyone should be equal and that there shouldn't be discrimination, at that moment I realized that speaking your mind is important. MLK didn't care about other people's opinions, he believed in what was right and that you should express yourself regardless of the situation. Even with the odds, he expressed himself. I recognized that expressing and speaking our minds is more than just talking, it's a way to display yourself and show what you believe in. I started to realize I needed to speak up and express how I feel. After all those years of not standing up for myself, I realized that no matter what, staying true to myself is the best way to speak my mind and show what I truly believe in.

Life is all about joy and fulfillment. Throughout my life, I accomplished things that I thought I would've never accomplished. I lost a crazy amount of weight and ran without using an inhaler, it may not seem like such a crazy achievement, but at the time I couldn't run without having an asthma attack. I see that moment as a turning point in my life; ever since I outstood that challenge I changed completely. My mentality and work ethic became different, I thought nothing was impossible and started to do things that I would've never expected to take off my bucket list. I ran track and qualified for conference finals right after that moment. I thought qualifying was impossible, but somehow I took on another challenge and topped my expectations. I think there are no such things as a bucket list after a moment like that, nothing is impossible. On my bucket list, I wanna have an experience like that for the rest of my life. Any obstacle that I challenge I want to accomplish and not be faced by it, whenever I don't have any more obstacles to do, I fulfilled my bucket list.

What I did to achieve academic success was to learn. Setbacks and failures were what led me to experience academic success. Success can be interpreted in different ways. It can be a small thing such as getting a good test score or passing. In this scenario, it was more than that. It was a huge disadvantage, I realized I cared about others too much. I helped my friends and peers to a point where I was forgetting myself. In reality, I should’ve cared more about myself and my future. While I was getting others closer to success, I was getting further from it. I learned that I needed to focus more on myself and keep a distance from those who weren't helping me. After distancing myself, I realized how much I was lacking with engagement and focusing, I was starting to lose who I was. I had to focus and persevere to become more self-sufficient. I used to be very indecisive and dependant so I had to change my entire persona. I slowly became more independent. I started to work on my ideas and focused more to be able to attend college and ultimately become an accountant. I also hung out less to pinpoint my aspirations and goals to become true. I found out more about my true likings and things that were truly meant for me along the way. The most crucial strategy that I used throughout this whole journey was to never give up. In some moments I thought of giving up and losing, but passion and perseverance led me to ultimately become a better overall student and person.

Being outdoors brings me relaxation and peaceful vibrations. The outdoor lifestyle makes me happy and relaxes me from everyday stresses such as school and work. I think being outdoors is unappreciated, nowadays people like to stay indoors and underestimate the importance of the outdoors. Various individuals would choose to stay indoors just because of the convenience of it, you have easy access to the internet and television. I mean why wouldn’t you pick the indoors, you have everything you need and want at home. However, I think otherwise, I believe people should go outdoors and experience an impactful feeling that you only get outside. The outdoors gives me an opportunity to relax and a feeling of freedom. Being outdoors is undeniably effective, it brings calm and peace. Peace and relaxation are things that many people are missing out on. When I decided to be outside I got those benefits and also an unexplainable feeling. The feeling is very ineffable. When I was younger and got home from school the first thing I wanted to do was be outdoors. After a long time of studying and being at school, the only thing I wanted to do was go to the park and have fun. I realized that the outdoors was relaxing and brought me peace, in the long run, I discovered that it helped me through school. The outdoors slowed down the time. The sun was shining and I felt free. The outdoors made me so relaxed that I released my worries and stresses. It's the break that I needed after a long day, the open air made me feel more connected and brought peace to my inner self. Being outdoors not only provided me with tranquility and calm, but it gave me a break that I don't have at home.

Looking at the whole process of my upbringing, I am aware that it was not easy at all, since in the processes of my childhood there were many difficulties. My parents were divorced, this divorce affected me emotionally, the divorce brought me weight gain and anxiety as I was very close to my parents throughout the birth process. When I was eight years old, I came to the United States with my sister and my mother. My mother was a volunteer for Afro-Colombian groups displaced by violence, my mother was threatened with death by the guerrillas in Colombia. From that moment she applied to an asylum process which she’s been in for 9 years, the asylum has not yet been approved, this means that it was not easy to find many opportunities for my family and I, for example, FAFSA and others. It is sad to see various chances go by, for instance, when my friends and I can work and travel over summer break and I cannot participate. One of my friends named Jack always invites me on trips with his family and he says, "I'm going to travel to Florida, do you want to come?" and I sadly reply, "I'm busy." But very deep in my heart, I would like to say of course my friend. These circumstances show me that in life there are adversities, but with persistence, I could overcome those hardships and get closer towards my goals and dreams. Without these lessons and difficulties, I would not have developed the character and personality that I have today. I realized that with love, persistence, and responsibility in the future I will achieve my goal which is to have a corporation. A corporation that I could develop as a professional and offer job opportunities.

Going to university allows me the opportunity to prepare myself as a professional and get a step closer to accounting. Being an accountant has an important role in my dreams, the passion accounting brings to me creates leadership and makes me want to be in an entrepreneurial position. I want to carry out these aspirations to offer employment opportunities and help those who are in need.

Circumstances show me that in life there are adversities, but I have to follow the path towards my goals and dreams. Without these lessons and difficulties, I would not have developed the character and personality to decide what I want in life. I realized that with love, persistence, and responsibility in the future I will achieve my goal which is to have a corporation. Going to university allows me the opportunity to prepare myself as a professional and get a step closer to accounting. Being an accountant has an important role in my dreams, the passion accounting brings to me creates leadership and makes me want to be in an entrepreneurial position. I want to carry out these aspirations to offer employment opportunities and help those who are in need. If I learned anything in my life is that it’s complicated, you get put in certain situations to see how they would rule out. The rest of the process is how you use those difficulties to your advantage and overcome them for the better.

Diego Rodriguez Paasch Honors Language And Composition 12 January 2022 Go Your Way And Hold The Hand Of Dreams In the fifth month of my gestation, my mother was informed by the obstetrician-gynecologist that I had hydronephrosis of the right kidney. A rare condition that occurs in 1 of every 100 pregnancies and is caused by a blockage of the urinary tract. After receiving emotional news from the doctors my parents experienced a very shocking and sad day. At that moment, the doctor reports that nothing can be done and the only thing we could do is wait. My mother then later continued to have necessary supervision so that I could be delivered and born healthy, but unfortunately, my mother had gestational hypertension which forced the doctors to remove me before the due date. I was born extremely underweight and small. At that time, my parents held onto their prayers and their faith so that I could stay alive as I was in intensive care for two months. This process was very strenuous not only physically but also mentally for everyone. Over time, my parents learned how to handle the difficulties of a premature baby and took care of me as best as they could. My parents always had to check that I was breathing and that I was warm. I could not lose heat because I had a chance to lose weight and even collapse. Today, I realize that thanks to God and my parents I had another chance at life. Looking at the whole process of my birth and upbringing, I am aware that it was not easy at all, since in the processes of my childhood there were many difficulties. My parents were divorced, this divorce affected me emotionally, the divorce brought me weight gain and anxiety as I was very close to my parents throughout the birth process. When I was eight years old, I came to the United States with my sister and my mother. My mother was a volunteer for Afro-Colombian groups displaced by violence, my mother was threatened with death by the guerrillas in Colombia. From that moment she applied to an asylum process which she’s been in for 9 years, the asylum has not yet been approved, this means that it was not easy to find many opportunities for my family and I, for example, FAFSA and others. It is sad to see various chances go by, for instance, when my friends and I can work and travel over summer break and I cannot participate. One of my friends named Jack always invites me on trips with his family and he says, "I'm going to travel to Florida, do you want to come?" and I sadly reply, "I'm busy." But very deep in my heart, I would like to say of course my friend. These circumstances show me that in life there are adversities, but I have to follow the path towards my goals and dreams. Without these lessons and difficulties, I wouldn't have developed the character and personality to be who I am. I realized that with love, persistence, and responsibility in the future I will achieve my goal which is to have a corporation. Going to university allows me the opportunity to prepare myself as a professional and get a step closer to accounting. Being an accountant has an important role in my dreams, the passion accounting brings to me creates leadership and makes me want to be in an entrepreneurial position. I want to carry out these aspirations to offer employment opportunities and help those who are in need.

1. College is very important for my family and I. It would be a great opportunity coming from an immigrant student born in Colombia. I would be able to accomplish my dream as a professional accountant and be able to provide opportunities for others. 2. A typical day outside of school is filled with activities. I do many things throughout the day. I like to do exercise, either track and field or weightlifting. After that, I like to advance in my hobbies of photography and social media, I create videos and film all kinds of art. I try to monetize those hobbies to be able to attend college and pay for my tuition. 3. I feed my curiosity inside and outside of school by learning. I believe that learning is an important trait that everyone should have. Learning helps you advance in things that raise curiosity. I wouldn't have found my intrests for art and exercise without learning more about my likings and feeding that curiosty. Diego Rodriguez Paasch Honors Language And Composition 14 January 2022 Go Your Way And Hold The Hand Of Dreams In the fifth month of my gestation, my mother was informed by the obstetrician-gynecologist that I had hydronephrosis of the right kidney. A rare condition that occurs in 1 of every 100 pregnancies and is caused by a blockage of the urinary tract. After receiving emotional news from the doctors my parents experienced a very shocking and sad day. At that moment, the doctor reports that nothing can be done and the only thing we could do is wait. My mother then later continued to have necessary supervision so that I could be delivered and born healthy, but unfortunately, my mother had gestational hypertension which forced the doctors to remove me before the due date. I was born extremely underweight and small. At that time, my parents held onto their prayers and their faith so that I could stay alive as I was in intensive care for two months. This process was very strenuous not only physically but also mentally for everyone. Over time, my parents learned how to handle the difficulties of a premature baby and took care of me as best as they could. My parents always had to check that I was breathing and that I was warm. I could not lose heat because I had a chance to lose weight and even collapse. Today, I realize that thanks to God and my parents I had another chance at life. Looking at the whole process of my birth and upbringing, I am aware that it was not easy at all, since in the processes of my childhood there were many difficulties. My parents were divorced, this divorce affected me emotionally, the divorce brought me weight gain and anxiety as I was very close to my parents throughout the birth process. When I was eight years old, I came to the United States with my sister and my mother. My mother was a volunteer for Afro-Colombian groups displaced by violence, my mother was threatened with death by the guerrillas in Colombia. From that moment she applied to an asylum process which she’s been in for 9 years, the asylum has not yet been approved, this means that it was not easy to find many opportunities for my family and I, for example, FAFSA and others. It is sad to see various chances go by, for instance, when my friends and I can work and travel over summer break and I cannot participate. One of my friends named Jack always invites me on trips with his family and he says, "I'm going to travel to Florida, do you want to come?" and I sadly reply, "I'm busy." But very deep in my heart, I would like to say of course my friend. These circumstances show me that in life there are adversities, but I have to follow the path towards my goals and dreams. Without these lessons and difficulties, I would not have developed the character and personality to decide what I want in life. I realized that with love, persistence, and responsibility in the future I will achieve my goal which is to have a corporation. Going to university allows me the opportunity to prepare myself as a professional and get a step closer to accounting. Being an accountant has an important role in my dreams, the passion accounting brings to me creates leadership and makes me want to be in an entrepreneurial position. I want to carry out these aspirations to offer employment opportunities and help those who are in need. If I learned anything in my life is that it’s complicated, you get put in certain situations to see how they would rule out. The rest of the process is how you use those difficulties to your advantage and overcome them for the better.