Any parent or person who is about to become a parent should set up 529 accounts for their kids. It is a very useful and practical way to save up money for college and any other higher education opportunities. The sooner one set an account up for each kid and starts putting money away, the better. 529 accounts also allow you to put small amounts in each month, so you still have money for other things. However, even with small monthly monetary contributions, little by little, it all adds up. My parents and grandparents had set up 529 accounts for my brother and I, and they have been extremely beneficial for us paying parts of our ways through school.

My favorite art piece is Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne". It is a beautifully carved life-size marble sculpture with so many fine details to it. Some of the marble parts, like the leaves sprouting from Daphne's fingers, are practically paper-thin. It is a marvel that any artist, let alone one back then like Bernini, could pull something like that off. The emotion in the figures is raw and the whole scene playing out is so elegantly rendered. I also appreciate the subject because I am a huge fan of Greek and Roman mythology, and I appreciate the piece because the Baroque style is one of my absolute favorite art styles.

I have stayed optimistic through times like the Covid-19 pandemic by keeping myself busy by working on projects. In this particular case, I used all the time I had after losing my job to research, apply, and get accepted into graduate school. I also spent time researching and applying for scholarships, and got other little projects done that I had been meaning to done, but had not gotten around to. In general, I feel a great deal of satisfaction in getting things done, and that made me happy, and kept me going and motivated. Furthermore, I was living at home, surrounded and supported by my family who always encourage me to keep going as well. Continuing to move forward, achieving little victories, and finding support with people you love was what that experince taught me. I am now currently finishing my first year of my Art History Master's Degree at Montana State University.

Any parent or person who is about to become a parent should set up 529 accounts for their kids. It is a very useful and practical way to save up money for college and any other higher education opportunities. The sooner one set an account up for each kid and starts putting money away, the better. 529 accounts also allow you to put small amounts in each month, so you still have money for other things. However, even with small monthly monetary contributions, little by little, it all adds up. My parents and grandparents had set up 529 accounts for my brother and I, and they have been extremely beneficial for us paying our ways through school.

"Patience is a virtue, but tenacity gets the job done." That is the wisest thing I have ever heard. Both parts of that statement are important. Patience and tenacity are both needed when things do not go the way you planned in any aspect of life. Patience is need to keep you calm and focused, and then tenacity helps you find a way to fix the problem and keep moving forward. This advice can be used in many ways, in many situations throughout one's life, no matter how big the problem may seem. In the end, there is always a solution.

Doing the things I love to do is what fuels me in my life. First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized and peppy. Also, I enjoy traveling to new countries, and with that, experiencing new things and cultures, trying new foods, learning about history, and seeing cool animals. I also enjoy reading a good book, listening to music, visiting museums, swimming, go outdoors, take naps, watching my favorite TV shows and movies, and spending time with my close friends and family. I try to do any number or combination of these things everyday, whenever I can. I'm also currently in graduate school so I can get my MA in Art History so one day I can hopefully work in a museum. All of these things have kept me energized and moving forward throughout my life.

I try to help others and be selfless it by volunteering at events that have a direct impact on other people. I have volunteered at environmental beach clean-ups, packed health kits for the homeless, donated to clothing drives and food drives for the homeless, donated to thrift stores, wrapped Christmas gifts for needy children, raised money for my church at our annual garage sale to keep the church going, and various other things. That direct impact on people's lives through my actions is what means the most to me when I do these things. It means I am already seeing more good in the world.

I first fell in love with history in the sixth grade. It was the first time I was introduced to world history, and there was an instant connection. I loved learning about all the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and so forth. At the same time, my family started going on trips to new and exciting places. Until then, we had only traveled to visit relatives in Idaho. One of the first places we went to was Hawaii, and going there truly opened my eyes to the concept that there were other places in the world and cultures that were different from my own. In many ways, both of these events were my first introduction of the idea of a bigger, wider world with its own stories to tell. My love of history and travel have been intertwined ever since. Not to mention as I traveled more, my appreciation for history grew. As for art history, my first introduction was an AP class in high school. My teacher was very passionate and informed about what he taught, and that passion ended up being contagious. This coincided with my family starting to travel abroad; hence I got to visit many museums and started seeing the artwork we talked about in the class. I discovered that I could more fully appreciate the art in-person. I also eventually took 2 art history courses at my local community college. I'm currently working to get my MA in Art History so hopefully one day I can work as a consultant in a museum, as well as consult/volunteer at some more archaeological digs. I also hope to continue my travels around the world whenever possible.

I first fell in love with history in the sixth grade. It was the first time I was introduced to world history, and there was an instant connection. I loved learning about all the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and so forth. At the same time, my family started going on trips to new and exciting places. Until then, we had only traveled to visit relatives in Idaho. One of the first places we went to was Hawaii, and going there truly opened my eyes to the concept that there were other places in the world and cultures that were different from my own. In many ways, both of these events were my first introduction of the idea of a bigger, wider world with its own stories to tell. My love of history and travel have been intertwined ever since. Not to mention as I traveled more, my appreciation for history grew. As for art history, my first introduction was an AP class in high school. My teacher was very passionate and informed about what he taught, and that passion ended up being contagious. This coincided with my family starting to travel abroad; hence I got to visit many museums and started seeing the artwork we talked about in the class. I discovered that I could more fully appreciate the art in-person. I also eventually took 2 art history courses at my local community college. I'm currently working to get my MA in Art History so hopefully one day I can work as a consultant in a museum, as well as consult/volunteer at some more archaeological digs. I also hope to continue my travels around the world whenever possible.

I enjoy traveling to new countries, and with that, experiencing new things and cultures, trying new foods, learning about history, and seeing cool animals. I also enjoy reading a good book, listening to music, visiting museums, swimming, going outdoors, taking naps, watching my favorite TV shows and movies, and spending time with my close friends and family. I try to do any number or combination of these things everyday, whenever I can, because it keeps me motivated and happy.

First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized. Second, I try to do the things I love to do as much as possible. For me, I like to travel to new places, experience new things, go outdoors, swim, go to a museum, listen to my favorite music, watch my favorite movies and TV shows, or read a good book. Finally, I try to hang out or at least talk with my family and friends all the time because they are all a good support network. I've also have been working on making new friends at graduate school. Having moved to Bozeman, Montana for graduate school, not knowing anyone there, and going through graduate-level classes, it has been important for me to try to make sure I play hard and enjoy myself after putting in the time to work hard each day. It helps keep me motivated and happy. Also, keeping in touch with the people I know back in California, where I'm from, plus making new friends insures I always have people to talk to, or who I can turn to for help and advice when I'm facing a challenge or two.

My items on my bucket list mostly include traveling to places all over the world and the US. Being a history lover and animal lover also means I want to see a lot of different types of places. Furthermore, I love experiencing and trying new things and foods. So far, I have been to a number of places I've had on my bucket list, both here in the US and globally. In the US, I've been to several iconic National Parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, and I've been to places such as Hawaii, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco and Gettysburg, just to name few. Abroad, I've traveled all over Italy twice, all over Greece, as well as been to England, France, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. However, there are still many more places I would love to travel to during my lifetime, either for the history or for the animals. History-wise, I would love to go to Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Egypt, Istanbul, Peru, Germany, and Austria, just to name a few. Animal-wise, I would love to visit more countries in Africa like Kenya or Tanzania, I would love to to see the rainforests of South America, like in Brazil, Panama, or Cosa Rica, and I would especially like to go to the Galapagos Islands some day. State-side, I want to see more National Parks, especially the Everglades. Traveling reveals a lot about the different cultures of the world and the stories behind them, and I would love to learn as many of these stories and experience as many of these places as possible.

I try to hang out with or at least talk with my family and friends all the time because they are all a good support network. I have also have been working on making new friends at graduate school. Having moved to Bozeman, Montana for graduate school, not knowing anyone there, and going through graduate-level classes, it has been important for me to try to make sure I enjoy myself after putting in the time to work hard each day. It helps keep me motivated and happy. Also, keeping in touch with the people I know back in California, where I'm from, plus making new friends insures I always have people to talk to, or who I can turn to for help and advice when I'm facing a challenge or two. That is why having friends is important; so you have people you can be with through good times and bad times, and have people who are willing to listen to your troubles. At the same time, it is important to return the favor and listen or help out when your friends are the ones who need help.

First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized and fueled. Second, I try to do the things I love to do as much as possible. For me, I like to travel to new places, experience new things, go outdoors, swim, go to a museum, listen to my favorite music, watch my favorite movies and TV shows, or read a good book. Finally, I try to hang out or at least talk with my family and friends all the time because they are all a good support network. I've also have been working on making new friends at graduate school. Having moved to Bozeman, Montana for graduate school, not knowing anyone there, and going through graduate-level classes, it has been important for me to try to make sure I play hard and enjoy myself after putting in the time to work hard each day. It helps keep me motivated and happy. Also, keeping in touch with the people I know back in California, where I'm from, plus making new friends insures I always have people to talk to, or who I can turn to for help and advice when I'm facing a challenge or two.

Patience is important because it is what will get you through all the challenges life will throw at you. I have to be patient when I get extra homework or projects thrown at me that I have to get all done by a certain deadline. Also, as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I have to be patient with my students, even when they don't do an assignment I've assigned to them, or don't tell me something until the last minute. I even have to be patient when the internet on my computer stops working or is really slow, and I am trying to work on a project or grade tests. In the end, patience is key in order to succeed in school in general. However, it is also good for later on when you are trying to interview for various jobs or are already working at a job. Patience is a skill one will need their whole entire life.

One of my absolute favorite hobbies is traveling to places all over the world and the US. Being a history lover and animal lover also means I want to see a lot of different types of places. Furthermore, I love meeting new people, experiencing and trying new things, and trying new and exotic foods. So far, I have been to a number of places, both here in the US and globally. In the US, I have been to several iconic National Parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, and I've been to places such as Hawaii, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco and Gettysburg, just to name few. Abroad, I have traveled all over Italy twice, all over Greece, as well as been to England, France, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. However, there are still many more places I would love to travel to during my lifetime, either for the history or for the animals. History-wise, I would love to go to Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Egypt, Istanbul, Peru, Germany, and Austria, just to name a few. These places have a lot of great museums, art, and older architecture that I really want to see in-person. Animal-wise, I would love to visit more countries in Africa like Kenya or Tanzania, I would love to to see the rainforests of South America, like in Brazil, Panama, or Cosa Rica, and I would especially like to go to the Galapagos Islands some day. State-side, I want to see more National Parks, especially the Everglades. For me, traveling reveals a lot about the different cultures of the world and the stories behind them, and I would love to learn as many of these stories and experience as many of these places as possible. I also get to experiences things I do not normally experience everyday and at home.

My items on my bucket list mostly include traveling to places all over the world and the US. Being a history lover and animal lover also means I want to see a lot of different types of places. Furthermore, I love experiencing and trying new things and foods. So far, I have been to a number of places I've had on my bucket list, both here in the US and globally. In the US, I've been to several iconic National Parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, and I've been to places such as Hawaii, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco and Gettysburg, just to name few. Abroad, I've traveled all over Italy twice, all over Greece, as well as been to England, France, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. However, there are still many more places I would love to travel to during my lifetime, either for the history or for the animals. History-wise, I would love to go to Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Egypt, Istanbul, Peru, Germany, and Austria, just to name a few. Animal-wise, I would love to visit more countries in Africa like Kenya or Tanzania, I would love to to see the rainforests of South America, like in Brazil, Panama, or Cosa Rica, and I would especially like to go to the Galapagos Islands some day. State-side, I want to see more National Parks, especially the Everglades. Traveling reveals a lot about the different cultures of the world and the stories behind them, and I would love to learn as many of these stories and experience as many of these places as possible.

First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized. Second, I try to do the things I love to do as much as possible. For me, I like to travel to new places, experience new things, go outdoors, swim, go to a museum, listen to my favorite music, watch my favorite movies and TV shows, or read a good book. Finally, I try to hang out or at least talk with my family and friends all the time because they are all a good support network. I've also have been working on making new friends at graduate school. Having moved to Bozeman, Montana for graduate school, not knowing anyone there, and going through graduate-level classes, it has been important for me to try to make sure I play hard and enjoy myself after putting in the time to work hard each day. It helps keep me motivated and happy. Also, keeping in touch with the people I know back in California, where I'm from, plus making new friends insures I always have people to talk to, or who I can turn to for help and advice when I'm facing a challenge or two.

I enjoy traveling to new countries, and with that, experiencing new things and cultures, trying new foods, learning about history, and seeing cool animals. I also enjoy reading a good book, listening to music, visiting museums, swimming, going outdoors, taking naps, watching my favorite TV shows and movies, and spending time with my close friends and family. I try to do any number or combination of these things everyday, whenever I can.

Doing the things I love to do is what fuels me in my life. First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized and peppy. Also, I enjoy traveling to new countries, and with that, experiencing new things and cultures, trying new foods, learning about history, and seeing cool animals. I also enjoy reading a good book, listening to music, visiting museums, swimming, go outdoors, take naps, watching my favorite TV shows and movies, and spending time with my close friends and family. I try to do any number or combination of these things everyday, whenever I can. I'm also currently in graduate school so I can get my MA in Art History so one day I can hopefully work in a museum. All of these things have kept me energized and moving forward throughout my life.

I first fell in love with history in the sixth grade. It was the first time I was introduced to world history, and there was an instant connection. I loved learning about all the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and so forth. At the same time, my family started going on trips to new and exciting places. Until then, we had only traveled to visit relatives in Idaho. One of the first places we went to was Hawaii, and going there truly opened my eyes to the concept that there were other places in the world and cultures that were different from my own. In many ways, both of these events were my first introduction of the idea of a bigger, wider world with its own stories to tell. My love of history and travel have been intertwined ever since. Not to mention as I traveled more, my appreciation for history grew. As for art history, my first introduction was an AP class in high school. My teacher was very passionate and informed about what he taught, and that passion ended up being contagious. This coincided with my family starting to travel abroad; hence I got to visit many museums and started seeing the artwork we talked about in the class. I discovered that I could more fully appreciate the art in-person. I also eventually took 2 art history courses at my local community college. I'm currently working to get my MA in Art History so hopefully one day I can work as a consultant in a museum, as well as consult/volunteer at some more archaeological digs. I also hope to continue my travels around the world whenever possible.

I try to help others and be selfless it by volunteering at events that have a direct impact on other people. I have volunteered at environmental beach clean-ups, packed health kits for the homeless, donated to clothing drives and food drives for the homeless, wrapped Christmas gifts for needy children, raised money for my church at our annual garage sale to keep the church going, and various other things. That direct impact on people's lives through my actions is what means the most to me when I do these things. It means I am already seeing more good in the world.

I first fell in love with history in the sixth grade. It was the first time I was introduced to world history, and there was an instant connection. I loved learning about all the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and so forth. At the same time, my family started going on trips to new and exciting places. Until then, we had only traveled to visit relatives in Idaho. One of the first places we went to was Hawaii, and going there truly opened my eyes to the concept that there were other places in the world and cultures that were different from my own. In many ways, both of these events were my first introduction of the idea of a bigger, wider world with its own stories to tell. My love of history and travel have been intertwined ever since. Not to mention as I traveled more over the years, my appreciation for both has only grown stronger.

My favorite way to help others it by volunteering at events that have a direct impact on them. I have volunteered at environmental beach clean-ups, packed health kits for the homeless, donated to clothing drives and food drives for the homeless, wrapped Christmas gifts for needy children, raised and donated money for my church at our annual garage sale to keep the church going, and various other things. That direct impact on people's lives through my actions is what means the most to me when I do these things.

First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized and peppy through the day. Also, I like to travel to new places, experience new things, go outdoors, swim, go to a museum, listen to my favorite music, watch my favorite movies and TV shows, or read a good book. All those things are just the stuff that makes me happy and that I am interested in. I also enjoy wearing comfortable clothing that is more loose-fitting and relaxing to wear. Finally, I try to hang out or at least talk with my family and friends all the time because they are all a good support network, and it is good to stay connected with people, especially if I am going through some rough times.

I try to let important people in my life know that they are loved in a couple of different ways. I try to greet them with a smile whenever I see them. I help them, particularly my parents, with projects around the house when I am at home visiting. I send people holiday greetings for every holiday. I also just call people and talk them now and again to see how they are doing and to catch up. Plus, a few times I have had to just be there to listen when something bad is happening in their life and I try to support and encourage them however I can.

I applied the first time for graduate school and I had no guidance on what specific things I should look for in a school or in regards to my field of interest. I did my best and applied to a few schools that I thought would work, but in the end, they all turned me down. Not long after that, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I also lost my temp job as a result. Hence I had nothing to do. However, I did get some important advice and tips on applying for graduate schools from a professor at one of the schools that turned me down. Using that advice and all the free time I had on my hands now, I began to more thoroughly research graduate schools, programs, and professors more closely. I also looked at a whole lot more of them. Based on the advice given and what my research interests were, I switched to go for a degree in Art History instead of Anthropology, I switched to looking for a Master's Degree program instead of trying to go straight for a more competitive PhD, and paid more attention to the professors' areas of research interest. After I did all of that and slowly narrowed down my options, I did a second round of applications, and in the meantime, I took some online art history classes to bolster my resume. I also spent a lot of time applying for the FAFSA, and researching and applying for various scholarships. This time around, I got into Montana State University's MA Art History program, which I am currently attending right now. I also got a small scholarship and a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, which is helping with at least some of the costs. In the end, I came through it all.

Doing the things I love to do is what brings me joy in my life. First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized and peppy. Also, I enjoy traveling to new countries, and with that, experiencing new things and cultures, trying new foods, learning about history, and seeing cool animals. I also enjoy reading a good book, listening to music, visiting museums, swimming, go outdoors, take naps, watching my favorite TV shows and movies, and spending time with my close friends and family. I try to do any number or combination of these things everyday, whenever I can.

My favorite way to give back to others it by volunteering at events that have a direct impact on them. I have volunteered at environmental beach clean-ups, packed health kits for the homeless, donated to clothing drives and food drives for the homeless, wrapped Christmas gifts for needy children, raised money for my church at our annual garage sale to keep the church going, and various other things. That direct impact on people's lives through my actions is what means the most to me when I do these things. It means I am already seeing more good in the world.

My favorite way to help others it by volunteering at events that have a direct impact on them. I have volunteered at environmental beach clean-ups, packed health kits for the homeless, donated to clothing drives and food drives for the homeless, wrapped Christmas gifts for needy children, raised money for my church at our annual garage sale to keep the church going, and various other things. That direct impact on people's lives through my actions is what means the most to me when I do these things.

I worked the cash register at Hanzo Ramen in Tokyo Central Asian Market during the Fall of 2019. I took customers’ orders, gave them to the chefs, helped customers pay for their food, and served them their food when it was ready. I also helped customers with purchases from the greater market, washed dishes, kept the place clean, and opened and closed up each day. However, the place was badly understaffed at the time and I was having to try and wash dishes, keep thing stocked up, and main the front at the same time. Furthermore, the place kept getting busier and they weren't hiring people fast enough to meet the demand. I ended up leaving this position because it was becoming too stressful and because it ended up not matching my skill set. I had been working office jobs before this and I had taken this job because I wanted to try my hand at something else to if I could be good at it. In the end, this was a valuable experience that taught me an important lesson about what types of jobs I’m more compatible with and what types I’m less compatible with. You learn just as much from what you're not good at as from what you are good at.

"Patience is a virtue, but tenacity gets the job done." That is the wisest thing I have ever heard. Both parts of that statement are important. Patience and tenacity are both needed when things do not go the way you planned in any aspect of life. Patience is need to keep you calm and focused, and then tenacity helps you find a way to fix the problem and keep moving forward. This advice can be used in many ways, in many situations throughout one's life, no matter how big the problem may seem. In the end, there is always a solution to any problem. Currently, I am using this advice to help get me through graduate school, and to help me continue to apply for scholarships.

Leaving a legacy to me means setting a good example for future generations and trying to leave the world a little better than how you found it. One does those things by striving to be a good person with a good character. That means treating everyone fairly, giving people a chance, doing good deeds, and helping those who need it. One though does not necessarily need to inspire a million people. Sometimes it is about quality over quantity. If you can even just change a few peoples' lives with your legacy in a truly impactful way, that means just as much. That is the type of legacy I want to leave behind. If my career in art history and museum work, and living my life inspire lots of people, that will be great. However, I would be truly satisfied if even just some people close to me remembered me and felt moved in some way by what I did in life.

Doing the things I love makes me happy. I enjoy traveling to new countries, and with that, experiencing new things and cultures, trying new foods, learning about history, and seeing cool animals. I also enjoy reading a good book, listening to music, swimming, taking a nap, watching my favorite TV shows and movies, and spending time with my close friends and family.

I am enrolled at Montana State University’s Art History Master’s degree program. I am excited to be pursuing a higher degree in the field, specializing in the study of the two-dimensional and sculptural art of Classical Rome. My undergraduate at the University of Redlands permitted me to take a wide range of history, anthropology, religious studies, and cultural studies classes. History and culture are very much intertwined with one another in many ways, and my undergraduate coursework provided the sorts of practical and analytical tools to begin dissecting and thinking deeply about these things. It gave me the opportunity to focus on particular aspects of society and how these aspects are windows into what those past civilizations might have been like. Those aspects can include everything from art and architecture, to traditional meals, to even song and dance. For example, my Introduction to World Religions class allowed me to gain a basic understanding of the five major world religions. Meanwhile, my Saints, Sects, and Society class dealt with the ultimate sociological question, “Why do people believe what they believe?” Given that these major modern religions have been so influential over the course of history, this question can then be applied to the past to see why certain religions became so popular, in what ways these religious teachings affected people’s thinking, and how this affected the way history unfolded. Meanwhile, foundational courses such as Introduction to Archaeology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, and Human Origins taught me the essentials of the anthropological approach, and classes such as Imperial Russia, Islamic Middle East, African History to 1800, and Introduction to Latin America gave me the opportunity to explore a variety of cultures and time periods overlooked by standard curriculum. As for art history itself, I took an AP class in high school and, more recently, some art history classes at my local community college. I hope at Montana State to dive into more specifics about my time period of interest as well as gain knowledge in understanding art historical theory and research methods. Meanwhile, my archaeological field training experience has provided me with a strong foundation in field and lab work and opportunities to interact with remnants of ancient Rome. In both cases, my field experiences dealt with funerary rites and concepts of death in ancient Rome. The first project was the 2018 season of the Via Ostiense Necropolis Project in Rome, directed by Dr. Llorenc Alapont Martin. Our team was responsible for micro-excavations of funerary urns, identifying bones, and compiling an osteological database. The second project the 2019 season of the Porta Sarno Necropolis Project in Pompeii, also directed by Dr. Llorenc Alapont Martin. 2019 marked the first year of active excavation, which allowed me to participate in all aspects of a project, from the moment a trowel touched soil to analyzing the composition and cultural and scientific significance of each artifact we unearthed. I was also selected to work closely with Dr. Martin and other staff members to catalog and organize finds in the project’s database. I’ve been fascinated with art history since high school. I believe art reveals a lot about the way past societies lived and thought. I am particularly interested in understanding the concept of the “Ideal Life” and how it was defined and depicted across the ancient Roman world, especially how definitions and depictions of the “Ideal Life” differed for individuals of different genders, ages, and social classes. I hope to one day pursue a career working in museums to showcase new finds and discoveries and work closely on archaeological projects abroad.

First, I try to eat healthy, exercise when I can, and I try to get plenty of sleep. This helps keep me energized. Second, I try to do the things I love to do as much as possible. For me, I like to travel to new places, experience new things, go outdoors, swim, go to a museum, listen to my favorite music, watch my favorite movies and TV shows, or read a good book. Finally, I try to hang out or at least talk with my family and friends all the time because they are all a good support network. I've also have been working on making new friends at graduate school. Having moved to Bozeman, Montana for graduate school, not knowing anyone there, and going through graduate-level classes, it has been important for me to try to make sure I play hard and enjoy myself after putting in the time to work hard each day. It helps keep me motivated and happy. Also, keeping in touch with the people I know back in California, where I'm from, plus making new friends insures I always have people to talk to, or who I can turn to for help and advice when I'm facing a challenge or two.

I applied the first time for graduate school and I had no guidance on what specific things I should look for in a school or in regards to my field of interest. I did my best and applied to a few schools that I thought would work, but in the end, they all turned me down. Not long after that, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I also lost my temp job as a result. Hence I had nothing to do. However, I did get some important advice and tips on applying for graduate schools from a professor at one of the schools that turned me down. Using that advice and all the free time I had on my hands now, I began to more thoroughly research graduate schools, programs, and professors more closely. I also looked at a whole lot more of them. Based on the advice given and what my research interests were, I switched to go for a degree in Art History instead of Anthropology, I switched to looking for a Master's Degree program instead of trying to go straight for a more competitive PhD, and paid more attention to the professors' areas of research interest. After I did all of that and slowly narrowed down my options, I did a second round of applications, and in the meantime, I took some online art history classes to bolster my resume. I also spent a lot of time applying for the FAFSA, and researching and applying for various scholarships. This time around, I got into Montana State University's MA Art History program, which I am currently attending right now. I also got a small scholarship and a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, which is helping with at least some of the costs. Therefore, that is how I turned things around.

Patience is important because it is what will get you through all the challenges life will throw at you. I have to be patient when I get extra homework or projects thrown at me that I have to get all done by a certain deadline. As a Teaching Assistant, I have to be patient with my students, even when they do not do something or do not tell me something until the last minute. I even have to be patient when the internet on my computer stops working or is really slow and I am trying to work on a project. In the end, patience is key in order to succeed in school in general. However, it is also good for later on when you are trying to interview for various jobs or are already working at a job. Patience is a skill one will need their whole entire life.

I think you live a long, happy life by doing a couple of things. First, you need to do the basics such as eat healthy, exercise a lot, do regular doctor visits, and get plenty of sleep. Second, you should just be yourself and be good to yourself by do the things you love to do. For me, I like to travel to new places, experience new things, go outdoors, swim, go to a museum, and read a good book. Third, you should be open with people in order to make new friends, have a support system, and and have people you can talk to about hard things. You also need to be willing to talk to people about hard things. Finally, give back to people who need help. Volunteer at a food drive or beach clean -up, or simply be there for someone when they are going through a crisis. That is how I believe one can live a truly fulfilling life.

I first fell in love with history in the sixth grade. It was the first time I was introduced to world history, and there was an instant connection. I loved learning about all the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and so forth. At the same time, my family started going on trips to new and exciting places. Until then, we had only traveled to visit relatives in Idaho. One of the first places we went to was Hawaii, and going there truly opened my eyes to the concept that there were other places in the world and cultures that were different from my own. In many ways, both of these events were my first introduction of the idea of a bigger, wider world with its own stories to tell. My love of history and travel have been intertwined ever since, and both make up a big part of who I am today.

I say true to myself by doing the things that I enjoy doing every day. I like to read books, talk about history and art, go hiking in nature, try new foods, watch my favorite movies and TV shows, and listen to my favorite music. Plus I enjoy wearing the type of clothes I love, which are more loose-fitting and comfortable. I am also not afraid to talk to people when something is bothering me, which is very important. I do not think that is something people do enough. Part of being true to yourself is admitting when things are not going well to others instead of trying to put on a brave face. That way, people have a chance to help you through those things.

I love that I always want to explore new places, and experience and try new things. I love to travel, and while I have already been to a number of places abroad, there is a lot more places I want to visit. I want to meet new people, try new foods, see new animals, and explore more historical places. Each place and culture is a whole new world for me, and each experience is something special and unique for me.

I have stayed optimistic through times like the pandemic by keeping myself busy with working on projects. In this particular case, I used all the time I had after losing my job to research, apply, and get accepted into graduate school. I also spent time researching and applying for scholarships, and got other little projects done that I had been meaning to done, but had not gotten around to. In general, I feel a great deal of satisfaction in getting things done, and that made me happy and kept me going. Furthermore, I was living at home, surrounded and supported by my family who always encourage me to keep going as well.

Being independent means being able to doing things and figure things out on your own. I moved to a new state where I don't know anyone for graduate school and I have my own apartment for the first time. I've had to learn how to pay my own bills, have my own insurance, be responsible for maintaining my car, as well as keep up with my studies. Furthermore, I have a job as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, which comes with its own unique responsibilities. Part of being independent is being able to juggle all these different things effectively and managing one's time. Of course, being independent doesn't mean you can't ask for help or advice once and awhile. In fact, there's a certain maturity in being able to ask for help from others when you don't know something or don't know what to do. Finally, being independent is about having confidence in yourself that you will be able to succeed, no matter what comes your way.

I try to turn off any lights, air conditioning, or electronics when I am not using them. I also recycle and compost as much as possible. I am also a big animal lover.

I try to have a positive impact by volunteering my time when and wherever I can. I have volunteered at environmental clean-ups, church garage sale and Christmas events, school and club fundraising events, and Christian organization events. I have done everything from pack health kits for the homeless, raise awareness on certain animals' plights , wrapped Christmas gifts for needy children, raised money for my church, and various other things.

I dream about working in a museum one day or consulting in archaeology as an art historian. In either case, I want opportunities to travel all over the world, and to see and explore new places. I want to visit lots of museums, meet new people, try all kids of foods, and in some cases, see lots of amazing animals. I also want to have lots of friends in my field who are as passionate about their work as I am.

I would recommend that any parent or person who is about to become a parent should set up 529 accounts for their kids. It is a very useful and practical way to save up money for college and any other higher education opportunities. The sooner one set an account up for each kid and starts putting money away, the better. 529 accounts also allow you to put small amounts in each month, so you still have money for other things. However, even with small monthly monetary contributions, little by little, it all adds up.

My favorite art piece is Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne". It is a beautifully carved life-size marble sculpture with so many fine details to it. Some of the marble parts, like the leaves sprouting from Daphne's fingers, are practically paper-thin. It is a marvel that any artist, let alone one back then like Bernini, could pull something like that off. The emotion in the figures is raw and the whole scene playing out is so elegantly rendered. I also appreciate the subject because I'm a huge fan of Greek and Roman mythology, and I appreciate the piece because Baroque is one of my absolute favorite art styles.

"Patience is a virtue, but tenacity gets the job done." That is the wisest thing I have ever heard. Both parts of that statement are important. Patience and tenacity are both needed when things do not go the way you planned in any aspect of life. Patience is need to keep you calm and focused, and then tenacity helps you find a way to fix the problem and keep moving forward. This advice can be used in many ways, in many situations throughout one's life, no matter how big the problem may seem. In the end, there is always a solution.

Generosity means giving your extra time, resources, and talents towards helping people who need it or who do not have as much. Generosity can take many forms, in acts big or small. Generosity can be simply offering your seat on the bus to an older person, collecting and distributing food to hungry people, volunteering to tutor school kids, or even just being someone willing to lend an ear to listen to their troubles. Each time we do an act of kindness towards someone else, that is generosity, and it helps make the world a little better.

My favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It is a very well-told story that deals with racial issues from back in the day from a point of view many people can relate to easily. Also, along with the characters being very relatable, Atticus Finch is one of the best written literary figures ever, in my option.

I admire Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is not only the reason many women, like myself, enjoy the rights we have today, she fought for the rights of all people, regardless of their gender. Furthermore, she overcame her own challenges with prejudice in her day, being a woman, a mother, and Jewish. She fought for what she believed in to the end of her life. Finally, she became a figure who was admired across multiple generations, becoming affectionately known as "The Notorious RBG."

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" - Eleanor Roosevelt This quote means a lot to me because, to me, it means you only truly feel bad about yourself or what's happening in your life if you allow bad stuff people say or bad things that happen to you to get you down. You're only truly defeated when you believe you are. However, if you have the right attitude in life, keep persevering, and don't listen to what other people say, you can go far and accomplish some amazing things. Once in a while, life has gotten challenging or complicated for me, and that has led me to wonder at times if what I go through to keep my life moving forward in the direction I want it to is all worth it. I remind myself that while things can be rough at times, if I approach it with the right attitude and keep pushing on, I will eventually accomplish what I've set out to do and that I will eventually get to my desired destination in life in the end. This quote reflects that process and that journey that I'm on as I head off to graduate school.

I will be attending graduate school in the fall, where I will be pursuing my Master's degree in Art History. I need the scholarship to help cover costs for things like books.

The COVID-19 pandemic gave me the opportunity to spend lots of time researching graduate schools and their programs. Since my area of study is art history and I needed to find programs with professors whose specific research interests matched closely to mine, I had to research a lot of schools. Not only was I able to have the time to research lots of different schools across the US, I found a couple of them that I liked and met my requirements, had time to research them even more closely regarding the specifics of the school, program, town, etc., worked on the essays for them, and applied to them. I also had the opportunity to bolster my resume by taking a couple of art history courses online through my local community college in the fall. I have, since then, been accepted to graduate school in Montana, and I am starting preparations for moving and going to school there this fall. In the end, the pandemic gave me the opportunity to move forward with the next phase of my life.

We need to empower women by giving them equal pay to men, equal job opportunities, and really help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. As we reopen the country, we need to give the women who lost their jobs the chance to either get the one they lost back or find an easier way for them to get a new one. Furthermore, unequal pay and opportunities have been issues facing women in the workforce long before the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic in a way resetting things, now would be the opportunity for society to make some much needed changes to the workplace for when women do return to their jobs. Along with paying women the same amount of money for the same amount of work as men, women deserve more opportunities to climb the corporate ladder and become leaders in their industries or companies. We also could be supporting more female independent, small business owners. These things can happen if we push our government leaders to enact new laws and legislation that would guarantee equal pay across the board, create new employment programs to help women return to work, and set up funding opportunities for these women who need help recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic or who own their own businesses. We need to make our voices heard for these things because women are empowered when they can make their own money, pay for their own things, and can take their career and their future into their own hands.

Leaving a legacy to me means that you set a good example for future generations and try to leave the world a little better than how you found it. One does those things by striving to be a good person with a good character. That means treating everyone fairly, giving people a chance, doing good deeds, and helping those who need it. Furthermore, it is about persevering through all challenges one has to face in life, including unexpected ones, and inspiring people through that journey. I do think some people have to overcome more than others and those people who succeed leave a slightly more impactful legacy. That being said, one does not have to be the first female president or the first Asian governor in order to inspire others and future generations. One also does not necessarily need to inspire a million people either. Sometimes it is about quality over quantity. If you can even just change a few peoples' lives with your legacy in a truly impactful way, that means just as much. That is the type of legacy I want to leave behind. If my career and life inspire lots of people, that will be great. However, I would be truly satisfied if even just some people close to me remembered me and felt moved in some way by what I did in life.

My archaeology professor, Dr. Wesley Bernardini, during my undergrad at University of Redlands played a significant role in helping me further my education and come up with possible career paths. I first got to know him through taking a couple of his courses during my time at the university, which I did well in. He not only thought I was a great student, but he could see how passionate I was about all things history. Since at the time I was particularly looking into archaeology as a possible future career, he told me about archaeology field schools and how to apply for them so I could volunteer at a couple of archaeological excavations so I could see what it is like. I ended up volunteering at an excavation in Rome for two-and-a-half weeks one year, and then at another excavation in Pompeii for five weeks the next year. Both experiences were amazing and allowed me to experience a fuller spectrum of the skills, methods, and different components that go into such projects. He also recommended Cultural Resource Management as a possible career path, along with some programs to look into for it. Then later on, when I was nailing down what I was interested in studying specifically, he pointed me towards pursuing an Art History Master's degree instead based on what I wanted to study. Finally, he agreed to and wrote me letters of recommendation for all my graduate school applications. I've kept in touch with him since and have updated him on my pursuits to graduate school.

My favorite film is "The Shawshank Redemption." It is a great movie because it is thought-provoking and has a couple of deep, powerful themes in it. First, there's the idea of a system that's supposed to stop bad and corrupt people being bad and corrupt itself, and with that, questions about what it truly means to be bad or good. Then there is Andy's line "I had to come to prison to become a criminal." The system not only ends up being corrupt itself, but ends up corrupting other people. The second theme is about growing to depend on something you hate. The main example is when Red explains the idea of becoming "institutionalized' in prison, where after being locked up long enough, the prisoners grow to depend on the system, instead of hating it. However, another example is how Andy depended on the warden for a while in order to get what he wanted, like building up the prison's library, by doing the warden's dirty work for him. Finally, one other reason I like the movie is because I'm a fan of Morgan Freeman and I think playing Red was one of his best all-time roles.

The year started off like any other. The New Year came and went, I celebrated my birthday, visited my relatives in Las Vegas in February, and had just started a new temp job. Then right before St. Patrick's Day, it all hit at once. I lost my job, everything closed down, travel plans evaporated, and everything was halted. Suddenly, everything from going to church to seeing friends and family all had to happen virtually on Zoom, instead of in-person. Basic things like going to a restaurant or the movies suddenly were out of the question, my family was glued to the TV for news updates, and I'll never forget the first time my mom and I tried to go to Costco and everyone was panic buying everything from toilet paper to hand sanitizer. In general, the year was insane to say the least, between the pandemic, the election year, and various other events. However, despite all of it, some good things came out of it. Since I lost my job and was stuck at home, I put the time towards thoroughly researching graduate schools, Zooming with potential professors, and applying to graduate school programs. I also filled out the FAFSA and I am currently applying for scholarships. Furthermore, I had more time to work on other little projects that I had been meaning to do but never got around to doing. I also spent more time talking to my relatives on the phone, and I did end up enjoying Zooming with friends. Therefore, I felt like I still had direction in the midst of all the chaos, as well as things to do to keep me busy. One of the other things I did was I took the opportunity to take a couple of extra art history courses online during the fall through my local community college. That was a big learning experience because as well as learning how to take classes online, I learned the pros and cons of having a synchronous class (scheduled) versus an asynchronous class (unscheduled). I discovered that I liked synchronous better because the class had more structure in terms of what specific topics we needed to focus on learning and take notes on. Whereas, the asynchronous class just gave you a bunch of materials to learn about and the assignments you needed to complete for the week and then it was up to you to figure it out. While that was a bit of a challenge at first, I eventually came up with a system that worked that allowed me to balance everything out and get everything done in a timely manner. In the end, while 2020 wasn't a great year, it was still a productive year for me and it really didn't deter my future plans for my education. I might have to start graduate school courses online, but that won't stop me. My plans for working and earning some extra money did get delayed, but I hope to eventually get a chance to start working again once I'm in graduate school and things with the pandemic settle down. Therefore, 2020 was a setback, but not a complete derailment and I was able adapt to the situation.

At the start of my freshman year of college, I took a trip with the school's Outdoor Programs to hike from Griffith Observatory all the way to the back of the Hollywood Sign, and then back again. All together, the trek was 3 miles each way, totaling 6 miles. It was also challenging because most of the public trails we took were very steep. I was so exhausted by the time we got to the sign, my legs felt like jello, but the view was totally worth it. However, I was very tired by the time we hiked back.