I'm a girl who grew up listening to true crime podcasts, intrigued by the psychological standpoint of the serial killers. As my senior year was approaching, I had to figure out what career I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted something I could keep learning from, something I would be interested in throughout my life, something a little edgy and would keep me on my toes. At forty years old, my mom decided to go back to school and study psychology, which got me thinking. What if I go into a field that involves studying "unstable" people? I love researching serial killers and the reasons behind their actions, such as childhood trauma, trying to figure out how their brains work, if they are "wired" differently than a "normal" human brain. As I started going down the road of psychology, I realized all the different fields I can get into. I thought of working in psych wards and helping those people. A lot of the time, patients who are deemed "mentally unstable/ill" are just thrown into rooms with no real help. As no one wants to take them on because of the "difficulty", I wanted to change that. Everyone deserves help, no matter how the person got there; they deserve help, period. Another reason I am interested in helping people with mental issues is because of how I grew up. An alcoholic parent is not for the weak, my dad had been drinking for as long as I could remember. The nights I stayed up late, hearing my father yell at mom over things that had happened in the past, got me to think. I started analyzing my dad's behavior, his quirks when he was drinking, the patterns of his arguing, and behaviors that could have been from childhood trauma. This intrigued my idea of getting into psychology, even though this misfortune is something I would not wish upon my worst enemy, but it has strengthened my ability to analyze people. I am still in the process of overcoming this rough patch, which, I will admit it is not easy. But thanks to my therapist, she has given me the tools to help me through this. She lifted a weight off my shoulders, she helped strengthen my relationship with my dad, and she saw him from a different perspective, allowing me to understand my dad more. I will continue seeing her as I overcome this issue.

"Remember kid, there are heroes and there are legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong." - The Sandlot. Every summer, I would watch The Sandlot for as long as I could remember. Even though I am biased, as this is my favorite movie of all time, it has great messages for all ages to learn from. All nine players on the "outcast" baseball team are different; not one acts or looks alike. They did not care about what the other guy looked like or where he came from, they just wanted to enjoy a baseball game. They were kids too focused on the game they loved, instead of judging people based on who they are. After watching the movie multiple times, reciting every line, I have realized one of the important messages of this movie. Most adults nowadays forget to allow their inner child to be free. Politics, religion, and financial topics get in the way of enjoying what life brings. Kindness matters, another great message, The Sandlot demonstrates. In the beginning, Scotty Smalls moved to a new town and went to "The Sandlot" field, the rundown baseball field that the "outcast" players played on. He then met Benjamin "Benny" Franklin Rodriguez, the all-star player of the team. In one scene, Smalls had a hard time throwing a ball, while the other guys on the team started hysterically laughing at him. Benny went to show Smalls how to throw a ball, telling him he was thinking too much, that it's baseball, and he is supposed to be having fun. Throughout the film, Benny continues to include Smalls in their shenanigans, including when Smalls accidentally hit a baseball signed by Babe Ruth into a yard with a "Beast" dog. He offered to help retrieve the ball, quickly brainstorming ideas to help out a friend. These attributes of the movie have positively impacted me and have shaped who I am as a person. Growing up watching this movie, I was able to see a healthy relationship between kids and how race, height, and weight should not interfere with a shared common love of something. Being kind can change lives. Without Benny, Smalls would have gone home feeling alone, not welcomed in his new town. We should all embrace our inner Benny and be kind to others, as you never know what they are going through. Be the Benny in someone's life, who knows, maybe a lifelong friendship will spark.