Only invest what you're willing to lose. As a student, the idea of losing anything is painful to consider. I tried to think of what I was willing to lose as an investment for what I could gain long term, and started with about $30 in a Robinhood account. I played around with short term holdings, getting used to how it felt to sell and to buy. I didn't particularly like it. I read more on the topic. I learned what bull and bear markets were, why dividends are important, how your portfolio might change with your personality and age. I added some more money to play around with. I was willing to lose more because I understood that investing in stocks early in my life and career would be important--I had learned about compounding interest too! I'm willing to lose what I have in my portfolio because every good choice I make, even the mediocre choices, increases the chance that I'll be the first to spread generational wealth. Even if I lose the money, it's better to have risked it for such great gain than to have spent it on coffee or clothes. I'm willing to lose what I have invested, and I'll maintain that trend to ensure I don't land in any hot water. Because I can lose what I have, I'm a lot more comfortable in the rise and fall of the market. I can't wait to see how my patience will pay off in the decades to come.

My sophomore year English teacher had one assignment every day of the year: start the class by writing down three things that made you happy. She was intrigued by the studies showing habits to improve happiness and thought she could pass that on to her students. I continue that habit to this day, often saying my list out loud on my drive to work or in the shower. There are a few things that make it on the list regularly. My dog, Morgan, who went from cowering when he saw any man to sleeping next to my partner and saying hello to anyone we pass on our walks. He wags his tail so hard his whole body wiggles and I can't help but grin whenever I see him doing it. My partner, David, is a first responder and isn't home most of the time. He still makes dinner with me at least twice a week, teasing me about my knife skills or "tasting" so much of the food it should be labeled theft. He cleans the kitchen after we eat so I can study, and I'm never happier than when I get to steal a kiss afterwards. My mom calls me several times a week just to chat and talk about what's happening with my family. She'll send me endless videos of her cats and dogs and talk about recipes that she tried and failed to make the night before. My mom also likes to sing through the phone at my dog to try and get him to howl with her. She's a bright spot in my day, and I hope I'm the same in hers.

I can remember sitting at the kitchen table learning long division with my dad when I was a kid: his encouragement, numbers starting to make sense, and the drive to prove that I could do it to make him proud. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a family that never tried to hold me back or made me feel like I was any less capable because of my gender. I believe that early educators and parents are the key to effective empowerment. Once that self esteem is lost, or not provided to begin with, it's nearly impossible to gain later. Raising young girls to have faith in their abilities is the only way to impact how they grow up. By instilling confidence and curiosity as they grow up, girls will strive to better the world around them instead of proving their place in it. Other solutions are like putting bandaids on our failure to help girls grow up believing in themselves. To ensure that early educators are encouraging young girls, there should be more of a focus on the mental and social side of school than is currently present. Teachers taking a few minutes daily to affirm their students, or providing a space for students to affirm themselves, would instill confidence and the ability to self regulate more than what is currently taught. Providing more counselors in schools to help train and support educators in positive and impactful feedback would keep a consistent presence in the school to ensure it's being executed properly. Hospitals and schools should offer and promote more parenting classes, ideally without a fee to attend. This is especially important to help low income households have access to classes that have the potential to break a cycle of poverty. Every parent will have shortcomings, so having a place where they can learn how to empower their children, especially their girls, would better their home life. Changes in parenting is very effective in changing how children grow up and lead their own families. Many women are considered the primary caregivers to their children in their households, but if girls grow up with the same chores as their brothers or watching their parents divide tasks equally, they're more likely to expect the same from their future relationships. These changes are hard to just stumble upon, and having a class to help guide parents to new ways of acting and correcting their daughters would be very helpful.