I am determined to earn my accounting degree because I'd like to make a difference in the world (and accounting is an integral part of the business world.) The field that I plan to go into is constantly underrated and underappreciated but is super integral to our world. This degree will also give me something to stand on, as a young woman desperately trying to establish herself in the world and who needs extra hope that the work that she does, matters. That my effort isn't just falling on deaf ears. I would be the first in my family to get a degree related to business. I've always been fascinated by the field and wanted to learn more about the processes that go on around us. I want to be able to look at a company and instantly tell how they're doing, if they're solvent or not. I want to use my knowledge to help my community and make a big impact (especially when it comes to gathering knowledge.) Getting this scholarship would prove to me that my hard work isn't all for naught, and that someone recognizes what I do. I give my all in my classes every day, determined to learn something new and rebuild myself as an individual. It would help me to stay the course as it would give me hope that this path will get me somewhere. A few times I stumbled because of how hopeless I'd felt, thinking that nobody cared about the impact that I was creating, rebuilding myself just to have my sacrifices fall on deaf ears. I hope that it will be different this time. Earning this degree will make me feel valuable, that I at least tried in my life and have the evidence to prove it. Others treat it as a piece of paper, I don't. This is why I feel as though I deserve this scholarship because I know that this recognition will go a long way. Not many people can see the value in education and affix a growth mindset to that. Not many people are willing to go through tremendous struggle to improve themselves and face the unpleasant parts in order to be able to do that. People like that are rare, and they make opportunities go a long way. People like me will certainly make a difference in the business and accounting world, but only if their sacrifices and tribulations are appreciated. This degree will be a springboard for me to fly high and to achieve many more of my goals as I go through life. Perhaps I'll become a CPA, or obtain some experience in the accounting field and use it to get into finance. Or I'll be able to make a difference within our government. My hard work and dedication would earn me a place within that world, in places like PwC, KPMG, and many more. I want to assist everyone, no matter who they are. I want to make an impact in their world, and mine. I am just dying, no, thirsting, for that kind of rare opportunity. I want to make something more of myself, but when I get the validation to do so, it'll keep me soaring high. I would be a more-than-worthy consideration for this opportunity, so I implore you to keep my entry in your conscience and pay heed to many more like me who need the recognition for their hard work and sacrifices to get to where they are and where they ought to be.

It wasn’t until relatively recently that I’d become a Swiftie (beginning of 2023, to be exact), but what it had taught me was that it was nothing short of an infectious experience. It was thanks to my sister that I had fallen into the Swiftie craze to begin with. She hadn’t really started getting into Taylor Swift until she was going through something, when she’d discovered that Taylor’s music and artistry would prove a form of escapism for her. With her telling me everything that Taylor had been up to and having her send me clips of the Eras Tour, how could’ve I not fallen into it myself? Simply put, Swift’s music is easy to listen to (and pleasant, of course.) And it’s easy to see why she’s loved - she just creates a sort of community with her fans that serves as a safe harbor within a world that is full of uncertainties and turmoil. Evermore, Lover, Midnights, The Tortured Poets Society, 1989 - these were all of the albums that my sister had gotten me into and the ones that had made me fall in love with the musicality of Taylor Swift. And as for bragging rights, I also happen to own the AMAZING Walmart EP of hers that is Beautiful Eyes! The DVD is just entertaining to get into. I snagged it for a bargain several years ago, not knowing how rare it would become. Of course, I would never part with that prized possession! Now there was one performance of hers that had moved me. Being that “The Man" was my all-time favorite track of hers and one from the Lover album, it was a no-brainer that the performance of this song (from The Eras Tour movie) would stick out to me in particular. You could see Taylor crooning the chorus over the unfair double standards that she’s had to go through as a female pop star in the industry, and as a woman myself who is hip to the unfair disadvantages that women and girls go through within our patriarchal society and the misogyny that I’ve had to face at every turn (and still do), I can say with full confidence that I relate to this particular subject matter all too well. So much so that I find myself having to play this song on repeat every time that it comes up. Sometimes it takes a very notable performer with a platform as huge as hers to effectively bring light to this very issue (an issue in which much of our society pretends is nonexistent, mind you.) And the misogyny that Taylor’s had to go through in the public eye is not lost on me - how could you not notice it? One of her exes, John Mayer, writes songs about his female lovers and he gets praised for his sense of vulnerability. When she does it, however? Putting out her own narrative of the relationships that she’s gone through is just plain unacceptable. Of course, women’s feelings are almost always invalidated, and Taylor’s (very public) experience in the music industry goes to show that no amount of money and success can shield such a woman from the mainstay clutches of misogyny. In a way, it is quite the depressing and sobering realization for many of us women who stare truth in the face. But until then, we at least have Swift’s distinct discography and artistry to turn to for comfort in the midst of it all.

“The Master said, ‘When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.’” - Confucius, The Analects This Confucian quote from The Analects does not lie. To put it simply, I wish to be with people who elevate me, who motivate me to do better. I look into what life philosophies they hold themselves to, what habits they keep, they way they conduct themselves, and whether they take accountability for anything, as that is the first step to living the life that you want. The life that frees you from feeling as though you lack control in anything. That is the first step. Given how easily influenced and suggestible that we humans are as a species, it is even more imperative for us to inspect closely what we consume and who we choose to allow within our lives. I’ve become privy to this very fact relatively recently (or I should say, over a year ago). The fact is that, depending on where you are within your life journey, many people are simply not good for you. Whether they themselves realize this or not, or whether they intend to be as such, the very fact is that you need to be looking out for yourself. Of course humans, being as they are, this advice (as well as many others that are well-intentioned) is regularly abused - but this does not make the advice itself bad. It simply means that however you choose to take and apply certain concepts speaks loudly of your own character and who you ultimately are as an individual. And I want to be around people who prove themselves a good example of such. Whenever I see people who, in their conduct, irk me deeply, all that means is that whatever I see, I am scared to become. I am scared to let any semblance of that into my life. I see a real-life example of how a certain lifestyle/behavior does not work for someone and what I do not wish to emulate. Unbecoming behavior and actions cause me to look inward within myself and see what it is that I’m actually striving to work towards. Simply put, I don’t ever wish to be that unhappy. I see, with my own eyes, just exactly how their life and attitude choices do not work for them - and I decide that I do not want any of that for myself. It is also a bit frustrating to witness too, should I say. Frustrating mainly because despite the work that I put myself through in order to elevate myself into something bigger than I ever dreamed possible, there are still people who, because they are either unaware, unwilling to change, or are just so deeply insecure and unhappy, wish to drag “me” down with them. I have to witness that. I still have to deal with individuals such as these - and that is what makes me feel unhappy in those moments. It does make things a bit frustrating. Just how easy it is for me to give up, give in, and lower myself to their level because of how painful and uncomfortable it is to consistently resist against the current of negativity - but I don’t. Falling into this trap would seal my fate and rob me of the very life that I wish to live, the legacy that I wish to leave behind. These moments make me look inward, re-examine my feelings and question why it is that I think a certain way. It is work that is uncomfortable - but work that ultimately matters in the long run, nonetheless. I fight every day to build and to maintain my integrity - that’s what’s most important to me. When I see people of worth, I want to equal them in some capacity, because whatever it is that they are doing is clearly working for them and I wish to emulate some part of that. This Confucian quote ultimately encapsulates these feelings.

Over a year ago, I had committed to becoming a better person each and every day. It was only until relatively recently that I’d realized that I was worth the whole package. Earlier this year, on a mission to pursue excellence, I had thrown myself completely into my schoolwork, so focused on improving my skills, increasing my sense of knowledge, and killing it with attaining the highest grades. It was a delicate dance to make sure that I could get whatever I can from the opportunity that I was fortunate enough to have, an opportunity that many people dream of having but could not get (which was being in school), while being sure to actually apply the concepts and to learn, to genuinely educate myself, while also making sure to do what I needed to do in order to secure the highest grades. It was a balance to say the least. Needless to say, I had gotten so focused on fulfilling this objective that I had lost sight of just about everything else. I knew how important education was to me. It could take me places, build a sense of security and confidence within myself that were just unmatched, and bolster my self-esteem. Those were the benefits that were worth their weight in gold. So long as you apply yourself, nobody can take what you learned away from you. However, I did all of this at the expense of other things within my life - my fitness, my time with family, and time spent being in nature and just taking a second to breathe. I knew that I had to reevaluate my strategy before I inevitably tumbled into a spectacular burnout that would threaten the very progress that I was making! Without intervention, I could potentially throw my grades in for a loop! Just recently, I had unexpectedly stumbled into a mentally (and emotionally) tough time that had me questioning everything about myself, wondering if I was really that strong, dedicated, driven woman that I had worked so hard to become and take steps to maintain. Just bad things about the past that had driven me right back into that mindset of a defenseless, impotent, and lost little girl. I was questioning if that was who I was at my core and if all the progress that I’d made as a driven and ambitious woman had been nothing more than an act. It was so deeply triggering and disconcerting, to say the least. Somedays I feel as though I am counting my days until I fall right back into that mindset that had been solidified during my most formative years, a mindset that is so all-consuming in which I cannot breathe and take note of my surroundings. Could that be why it is so hard to shake off? 
However, it is the next day and I am feeling so much better. I knew that I needed to get something done, so here I am working on my scholarship essay as of now. Sometimes it takes me getting out of dodge in order for me to lift up those spirits and remind myself exactly who it is that I really am. I am the girl that gets things done. I am a woman of action. And that, to me, makes me feel as though I am making my mental and emotional health a priority - by writing and establishing my presence within the world. With breaks in between, of course. And staying away from things that awaken those dangerous memories… Can you find yourself rooting for me?

It would be nonsensical for us to dismiss the very real, very scientifically-proven reality that is climate change. Sustainability should be a priority in any field. We all do share the same planet now, don’t we? So why should we, in our best interests, dismiss that? I like living my life, and I’m sure that others do, too. Would I be the type of person to choose not to do anything of worth about a problem right after learning about it? No, because if anything, I am a person of action. And in the field that I am going into, I can strongly suspect that it will be a big player within the fight against climate change. That field would be the much under-appreciated accounting field. Yes, the “bean counters” of the world would prove to be incredibly essential when it comes to keeping track of the important expenditures that would arise from the implementation of renewable energy, as well as switching over our existing infrastructure, little by little, as we get used to our new world. That, as well as keeping track of the amount of money that would be lost from the negative impacts of climate change, such as the crops that could be affected by longer and ever-increasingly brutal heat waves, thereby raising food prices and increasing the strain on our global supply chain, the damage caused by wildfires and hurricanes that seem to make an ever-frequent appearance, and the displacement of many families from many different parts of the world that have been made all the more inhospitable by the dire consequences of global warming. We need important financial information that can be organized into comprehensible financial statements by those of us within my chosen field in order to inform us (and our politicians) of where our expenditures should go, and which ones we should cease, especially in regards to natural gas. Furthermore, these financial statements could help to inform various governments, as well as many corporations around the world on where to best focus our efforts and in introducing legislation to help get us closer to our vision of a sustainable world for many people (and other species) to thrive in. Accountants would prove to be a powerful weapon in our step towards attaining higher sustainability goals. I will use the skills and the knowledge that I attain during my time in school, as well as within my future accounting career, in order to lend a hand to the establishment of a bright future that welcomes the idea of sustainability with open arms and most importantly, put that idea into actual, effectual practice. Because talk is cheap - but action, however? Now that is more than its weight in gold. I can prove that with my wit and my bright spirit, as well as my unwavering sense of work ethic, discipline, ceaseless ambition, and drive to make the world a better place with my meticulous nature, that my contributions to furthering this cause will not be insignificant and that I can strive to do better and to put this scholarship surely to good use. Take this chance on me, and you will not regret it.

“The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.” - Confucius, The Great Learning Given my recent stint in Global Ethics class, I was briefly introduced to the works of Confucius and needless to say, I had found myself becoming increasingly fascinated with it. Namely, this excerpt from one of his writings that I had found perfectly encapsulates my recent life philosophy. This is the journey that I am currently on. To anybody that possesses the trained eye, the underlying meaning behind this excerpt would prove to be quite obvious. The first thing that comes to mind whenever I read this passage is that a lot of emphasis seems to be put on the idea of governance. Typically, governance of a people or the concept of running a kingdom, perhaps. Of course, during Confucius’ time, the idea of kingdoms was completely commonplace. Using this as an analogy is very important when setting into place the intended message that this excerpt hoped to send across. The message that I got from that was that if we were not able to manage ourselves and our own personal affairs, how are we able to manage anything bigger than that? The key to everything is the underlying attitude that drives you. Given that we cannot effectively “flip-flop” our approaches to everything within life (now, wouldn’t that be a massive headache?), our attitude is the key step to self-realization and ultimately, goal manifestation. Speaking of which, I always hear a lot about the topic of manifestation, but how many people actively decide to work for their goals and to really “manifest” that dream? Sitting around and “hoping” won’t get you closer to your goals, and that’s where the role of “attitude” starts. The very first step to self-growth and self-realization is to come to terms with the fact that you do not owe anyone anything. I am aware that to certain people, that sentiment sounds quite harsh, however, do allow me to explain. Achieving that step can get you closer to your goals, because in turn you will also come to the realization that nobody owes you anything, either. Now that is not so much a belief as it is a realization: given that most people are focused on their own self-interests, you cannot depend on people to achieve your dream for you. You cannot expect people to advocate for you and your rights, because they will inevitably disappoint you at any given time. You have to fend for yourself, you have to fight for yourself. Only you can choose to manage your own emotions, you cannot outsource that to anybody outside of yourself. Only you can choose to make things happen within your life, get the ball rolling, and that starts by coming to terms with the fact that only you can keep yourself safe. That, is one big step towards a radical attitude change and achieving self-realization. And thus, that takes you one step closer to being sincere in your thoughts and self, as Confucius mentioned within the excerpt. With that radical shift in attitude, you realize that knowledge doesn’t fly to you via osmosis and that you would need to go around searching for it. With that renewed drive, you learn to do things that benefit you, learn about the world around you, while also not being tied to the shackles of excessive social expectations that demand that you expend ungodly amounts of emotional labor in order to benefit the people that haven’t done their own work mentally in order to come to terms with the fact that they themselves are responsible for their own lives, that there is no shortcut to reaching their goals and sense of fulfillment in life. Choosing to stay within those shackles was all at the expense of you losing your personhood. With your attitude shift, you realize that those shackles no longer weigh you down and threaten to crush you into powder. Not anymore. When you start living life for yourself, living virtuously as Confucius intended, then that is when you really become beneficial to those around you and to society, because that is when you become a self-realized person and cease to eschew your own personhood any longer. You become a much stronger person, able to stand on her own two feet, being able to handle anything that comes her way. That, I believe is when you are finally able to start ruling your own kingdom with ceaseless virtue, but not without continuous effort, for nothing that is worth having in life would come easy.

Throughout much of my life, I had been lost on knowing what it is that I wanted to do, what career I wanted to pursue, and what the future would hold for me. Ironically those years of relative inaction would only serve to prepare me to start pursuing something different within my life. It wasn’t until after that period of inaction that I had started wondering to myself, “what would be the harm in taking risks? Where do we go from here?” Only from that sense of ennui did I start to really appreciate the process of learning, and feeling like I wanted to make a tangible difference out in the world instead of just consuming and existing. I wanted to explore the depths of my own potential, just to see how far it is that I can go. And only after an extended period of time that I had spent learning on my own, perusing career advice and financial podcasts that had served to empower women such as me with the information that was needed to become our absolute best, as well as engaging in a period of soul-searching and finally being able to come into myself, did I finally realize that my career interests and passions would happen to lie within the accounting/financial industry. This had inspired my drive to start the process of applying to college last summer. Fast-forward to now, in the middle of my first term at SNHU, with the skills that I have learned (and still continue to learn), I have put together a plan for myself. Obtain my bachelor’s, secure an internship at one of the “Big Four” accounting companies, sit for the CPA exam, then come back for my master’s and obtain a CPA licensure. My community service ambitions lie within my chosen field of study because of the very fact that accounting is extremely integral to many facets of our world. Especially when it comes to bookkeeping, which is a simple and integral part of accounting, and is the backbone of many businesses. Now, imagine that there were no bookkeeping or accounting processes? Then we wouldn’t be able to figure out “who owed what,” or be able to tell just how well a business is doing and what steps they can take in order to insure that they don’t sink into financial insolvency. And not just businesses, governments. Entire governments and nations could crash, as you would have no way of figuring out just where to funnel taxpayer funds into our much-needed programs, including infrastructure. And considering the fact that almost everything costs money, it would only be best for us to be able to keep track of where that money goes in order to keep society functioning. But sadly, not many people recognize the true value of the accounting industry and why it is imperative for myself and many others who wish to pursue this field. That is why my field of study and future career is so important. The career that I wish to break into would be integral to the world and to keep things running as they should. For instance, how else do we keep track of how much spending goes into needed scientific research to propel ourselves, as well as figure out ways to keep climate warming to a minimum? Keep track of how much that we spend on foreign aid (spoiler alert: it is really not that much)? And for that, I wish to become part of the backbone as to why society functions as well as it should, and for many years to come.

Mental health is the catalyst behind all of the things that we do and how well we do them, which explains exactly why it is important to me. My mental health makes all of the difference between how much I give of myself to my studies as opposed to just throwing my hands up in the air and drifting through the moment, or even just sulking in a corner about my hurt feelings (or rage), which would do wonders for my productivity. Sometimes when my anxiety gets bad enough, I feel firmly planted against my will where I am sitting or standing, struggling to do even the most basic of tasks, so my life feels as if it is in a standstill by then. So all of that is to say that it is doubly important for me to have the tools on hand to keep my brain from becoming my own worst enemy, and getting in my own way. I’ve become somebody that now likes to take time on things to perfect them, and school assignments are no exception. Just like this essay, I took time last night to create a bare-bones draft for this where in it I just let out a stream of consciousness, not worrying about flow or wordplay or how coherent my thoughts were, just typing out whatever came to mind in order for me to have a mess of ideas to glean off of as a form of inspiration for my final draft. I always believe that there’s room for improvement, but that wasn’t always the case. I used to let my anxiety overcome me and prevent me from taking time on things, always in “fight-or-flight” mode, never feeling grounded. Even now, I feel my anxiety try to creep up over me, but I believe being a few hours short on sleep doesn’t help, either. Sometimes, one of the things that does help is reminding myself that it is okay to recognize when I am mentally overwhelmed, those times where my mind starts going in 500 different directions and I get easily distracted. So I am someone that likes to exhaust all of my options before throwing my hands up in the air and “giving up” (giving up under quotations, meaning that I don’t really give up so much as I do decide to postpone things for a bit), so I am not afraid to ask for help should my techniques to self-manage my mental heath decide to become insufficient. Speaking of my techniques, one of the things that is most important, the most helpful yet the one thing that I often forget to do in the thick of things, is to just breathe. Deep breathing, to be exact. Whether I get so angry that it causes me to sulk at the expense of my productivity, indignant at all the unique societal and biological struggles that we women have to go through, so anxious and “on” that my mind is racing a million miles an hour, or just so sad and fearful that I just go throughout the day with a sick feeling in my stomach and a lump in my throat, I need to just let it out. Cry, breathe, write in a journal, or use the Finch app on my phone. Sometimes I need to let myself sit with my feelings in order to allow myself to move forward and to not prevent myself from doing the normal adult things that I need to complete as well as to take on additional opportunities that would better enrich my life.