Nowadays, it seems like more and more kids are coming from low income households. Salaries just don't extend as far as they used to, and more and more people are forced to scrape by on an income that once allowed people to live comfortably. My upbringing was no exception. My parents split after the birth of my brother, and me and him stayed with my mom. It was rather difficult, her raising two kids on her own. It did not help that my mother has not always been the most financially responsible person, even with an income and aid from child support. Because of this struggle, I have always been a very financially conscious person. I've always been hesitant to spend money, carefully considering if I really need something or how much money I'd have left for even the simplest of purchases. This lessened a bit when I got my job, since I was sure I would get it back, but even then I've made a habit of saving and making sure the money I am keeping is higher than whatever I have at my disposal in my checking account. I know what its like to be worried about finances, or to have to move back in with my grandparents when living independently becomes too difficult of a task to handle. I am even living with them at the moment. I have tried to become more educated in the ways of economics, as well. I have spend a considerable amount of time researching different banks and looking at the interest rates of their savings account. I have tried to become informed about investments, although the concept still somewhat eludes me. I have even signed up for some classes that I hoped would educate me further, such as my accounting class. There, I learned about simple accounting concepts, and even helpful skills to budget. At the end of the day, my upbringing has inspired me to make sure my future does not lead to me struggling in the same way I have in the past. One of these ways is to get an education. I plan to attend law school someday, not only because of the passion I've discovered for the law in the past couple years, but because I want to ensure I am able to take care of myself and my loved ones if need be. In order to reach my goals, I need to go to college. This knowledge has driven me throughout my educational pursuits thus far, and it will continue to inspire me into the future.

A lot of people find the most interesting parts of history to be the giant, flashy parts. And there is certainly some appeal to this. However, I have found that when you look beyond the violence and take a look at what surrounds it, you can learn a lot. History is fascinating because it is both ever changing and yet remains stagnant. When we look at changes, one of the biggest changes we can see is through technology. One can recall the first guns, projectiles fired by gunpowder invented by the Mongols in their conquests of Asia, and how that has transformed into modern day weapons. Or discoveries, such as the growth of medical information during world war two, as we increased our understanding of hygiene and surgeries. However, at the same time, things stay the same. People follow the same religions as they did hundreds of years ago, we still have many of the same empires, and better yet, there are still empires to be found. People revolt and take over in cycles. When you are able to look back upon history and see it, using the good and the bad, you are better able to use it to aid the future. Now, in the future I intend to go into law. At first glance, it wouldn't make sense on why I am choosing history. However, in my eyes, history and the law go hand in hand. For one, one of the foundational ideas of law is precedents. A precedent in law is basically how a ruling was decided on a specific case in the past. So, if someone was found not guilty in one situation, a court would see this ruling and base their ruling on this previous decision. In this way, a historical knowledge of the law is vital to a lawyer in order to best present their case. If they can learn to use these precedents effectively, both a judge and a jury could become persuaded to rule in their favor. More importantly, though, I think history is important when it comes to the law in order to provide justice. There were many decisions made in the past that negatively impact people of the modern day. One example I can think of is the treatment of Native Americans, when it comes to their families and being put on reservations. Without a knowledge of their treatment in the past and how that has come to effect them, how could any attorney accurately represent either side? Society shifts and sways over time, resulting in amalgamations of the past and the future. Any good lawyer has to be knowledgeable within their field or even their case about the past in order to lead to a better, more just future.