If I was to receive $1,000 right now I would put it towards buying my school supplies and textbooks for college. What I don’t use to buy textbooks and supplies I would put it towards my room and board so that I don’t have to take as many student loans out to pay for all of my college expenses. I have already purchased a new laptop for myself so that I have one for college in the fall. There is a great amount of money that goes to college and preparing for college.

The very first time I got money in a card from my family, my mom told me to save it and not to spend it. Ever since then I have saved money that my family gives me. Yes I have spent some but I try to make smart decisions with my money. When I was really young my parents helped me to open a savings account at our bank. Years and years later I had a lot of money in my account for college. What I didn’t know was that college is way more expensive than what I had been saving. That was a shocking experience. When I found out that I need to be more of a penny pincher I have really analyzed any purchases I need to make such as a laptop for college. My mom always wants me to be responsible and find the best deals and she has always encouraged me to save money and to spend it sparingly. If she would not have taught me at such a young age to manage my money I would not be where I am financially today. I have learned that when I think I need something I have to analyze if I actually need the item or if it is just something that would be considered a want. My mom has taught me to research the product that I am considering purchasing and that it is a reliable product and will last me a long time so that I can get my use out of it. My mom has always had the best financial tips and always will.

My favorite scientist overall without a doubt is Thomas Edison; he never gave up when he knew that he had an award-winning idea. He failed about a thousand times just to make a lightbulb, people were always telling him that he was too stupid and he couldn't do it. He persisted and continued to try and make the lightbulb, then he finally succeeded. He never gave up and that encourages me because he failed so many times and yet he still pursued what he wanted to do.

The only reason why I decided to start playing chess was that I had just moved 2,000 miles away from my home state of Washington. I only had one friend when I started the school year at my new school in 2020, and she was in the chess club. There was no way that I wanted to walk into another CAPS class and wait in there until we were let out for lunch. I stayed in the class with my friend and I thought, "Chess is kind of a nerdy thing, I don't even know how to play chess. But I don't want to be stuck in a classroom with nobody that I know, so I might as well stay in here with Sophia." The teacher in charge of the chess club told me that it was okay if I didn't know how to play and that Sophia and Daniel could teach me. So they taught me how to play chess, and I watched them play to figure out what the whole point of the game was, and I loved it. A week or so after that day, my dad taught me how to play chess even better. He gave me hints and tips that I would've never noticed, and he plays against me a lot. One huge way that chess has impacted my thinking is that sometimes, you need to think a move ahead. You do that in chess, which in all honesty you really do need to do that in order to win. If you keep on going with the knowledge that sometimes in life you need to think a few moves ahead, you will definitely be going places. I know that later in life, and now as a matter of fact, as I am graduating next year, that everything that I want to do later in life, I need to work on that now. If I want to have an amazing photography business, I have to work hard right now. If I want to be a Veterinary Assistant, I need to work hard in school and get amazing grades, when I do good with my grades and school, then I can get an intern job. You have to have a plan all the time, and even when you don't, you can still win a game of chess or your goals.

There is one unique person that I admire and have looked up to would love to be like my whole 17 years. That amazing person that I strive to be like is my dad. He never fails, never gives up, he is strong easygoing, and gets along with anyone and everyone, and he is one of the nicest people that I know. I know that that is a lot of qualities, but I could go on forever about my dad. My dad never fails. I know, that can sound like I am trying to brag. My dad has this mindset of the fact that you don’t fail, you have just figured out one way to not do it. My dad was working on a project for about a week, and he accidentally cracked the knife blade when he was going through the hardening process. My mom was upset and she told him that she was so sorry that it got ruined. He told her that he didn't really "fail" he just figured out what not to do. He takes everything that gets messed up as a learning experience, and I love that I would love to do that because I always beat up myself whenever I make mistakes. He doesn’t like to give up either because, well, he has the mindset of never failing, so he always wants to retry and make it better and better each time. Another reason why I love my dad so much is that he is strong and easygoing; I know that that sounds somewhat contradicting; but, it’s true. I honestly do not remember the last time that my dad cried, I know that can sound like a bad thing like he has no emotions, but he is just someone that I have always seen acting so tough. Even when my great-grandma and great-grandpa died a few months ago, a couple of months apart, he stayed strong the whole time. When I say easygoing, I mean like not many things bother him, he is pretty chill. I could walk into the house screaming, and he’d be like, "Chill; go clean the shed, come back when you're finished, and take a deep breath!" He has so much self-control as well, I honestly barely remember the last time that I saw my dad get mad about something. My favorite thing about my dad is that he is amazingly nice. I mean, he can legitimately get along with anybody. He worked at a train station in the middle of Portland, Oregon for 20 years. The entire time he worked there, he had to deal with people from everywhere in the country yelling at him, screaming at him, being just terrible humans to him. My dad is super sweet and nice about everything. Whenever he has a bad day, he is still always nice to people. He can get along with anyone even if they are mean to my dad, he still will be super kind to them and try to help them. I could unquestionably keep going on and on about my dad because he is amazing, and I love him so much he is super nice, strong, and has the best mindset ever. I know that this probably isn't supposed to be about someone that you want to be exactly alike, but my dad is absolutely someone that I will always look up to and admire for his strength and his amazing mindset.