The most inspiring book I have read would have to be "The Spark" by Kristine Barnett. It was about a mother and her autistic son, and all of the challenges they overcame together. This book was so inspiring to me because the mother became a leader in autism therapy that is individualized and not just drills. Although I was already very interested in autism before I read this book, learning about how Kristine Barnett helped so many little kids changed me. It got me interested in jobs that worked with people with autism and helped me learn about applied behavior analysts. Ever since I read that book I have been set on becoming an ABA. But Mrs. Barnett is not the only person from this book that inspired me. Jacob, Kristine's son, was told he would never be able to tie his shoes. At age nine he built a series of models that expanded einstein's theory of relativity, he completed his undergraduate studies at 15, and he has come up with original theories. While I know I will never achieve any of these things, it is inspiring to read about someone who was told he would never be able to tie his shoes become an astrophysicist by age 15. If he can do that, all because of the support of his mother, who didn't give up on him when everyone else did, then I know that I can do incredible things with the support of my friends and family.

If I was an influential figure, I would stand for helping others. My entire life revolves around helping other people. I spend a lot of time volunteering at my church's food pantry and handing out food to those in need. My career goals are to become a police officer and an ABA, both of which are careers focusing on helping others. To be a police officer is to be selfless, to put others above oneself. To be an ABA is to work with individuals to help them be the best they can be. If I was an influential figure, I would continue to live my life how I do, volunteering and helping others, because actions speak louder than words and I want people to learn from my actions. If everyone gave just a little bit of their time or money, the world could be a better place, and that is what I want to stand for.

The most helpful piece of financial advice I have received is that debt is a master, and no one can serve two masters. This means that I will not go into debt to achieve my life goals, which means I will not take out any student loans, or any other loans. Matthew, an apostle Jesus, says, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money." To continue my walk in faith, it is important to me to remain faithful to only one master, which means I cannot go into debt because then I would be trying to serve two masters. While this advice does not tell me how to avoid going into debt or instruct me on ways to use my money wisely, it leads me to seek out all different forms of advice, tips, and tricks. It is a catalyst, causing me to learn how to wisely use my money. This is highly important because, without this exigence to seek financial advice, I would likely take out loans, and be in debt for many years to come. With this advice, I know the importance of staying debt-free, which helps me stay much more motivated to search for as many ways to stay out of debt as I can, instead of just taking the seemingly easier way, although in the long fun, the much harder way, of taking out student loans.

I practice self-care in many different ways. Some of the most impactful ways are by eating well and staying active. When I'm not in soccer, I make sure to do something to get my heart rate up each day, such as biking, weight-lifting, volunteering, or working. Staying active helps me to feel better physically, and to feel better about myself. Eating well is much harder for me to do, as sugary treats are very enticing, but I try my best to limit the amount of sugar I eat, and I also maintain a well-balanced diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables. This helps me to feel healthy and strong, which helps me maintain a better mental state. I make sure to take routine breaks, but also not break my routines. Having a routine or schedule helps keep me motivated, which is very important. These main three, along with other, smaller and less frequent, forms of self-care have helped me to keep moving and maintain good mental health.

Optimism is not easy to maintain, but it is easy to give. I stay optimistic and positive through trials by helping others. I volunteer at my church and our local food pantry. I participate in sports and 4-H clubs. I attend local events. In everything I do, I try to maintain a positive attitude, because nothing helps me stay optimistic like sharing kindness and joy, and watching that improve someone's day, and even be passed on to others. I also try to stay active and healthy, because a healthy body leads to a healthy mind and a healthy attitude. I participate in soccer, weight-lifting, and I have many hobbies such as reading and crafting. Through the recent trials of a pandemic, I have learned that people are strong and resilient, and can overcome almost anything. It can be difficult to overcome large obstacles, but with the right family, friends, mentors, and support system, humans are capable of doing anything.