A Chai tea latte with pumpkin cream cold foam holds a special place in my heart because it is like a part of me and who I am, representing the dual parts of my mixed cultural background. The two parts of this drink, the chai and the pumpkin cold foam, are similar to the blend of my two cultures, Indian and American. Chai in Indian culture is symbolic in the fact that it is more than just a drink that allows you to unwind but it also creates a time for bonding and community. Growing up during the fall I remember all my Indian aunties and uncles chatting and drinking chai together while they would speak to each other about the family drama in our native tongue, Malayalam, and us kids trying to decipher what they were saying based on the words we recognized. My mom would always look forward to the fall season, solely based on the fact that it wasn't really known as fall to her but instead, it was, “Pumpkin spice season.” One of my mom's favorite pumpkin spice-flavored items was, of course, the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. We all knew that fall could officially commence once she had her pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. Before church almost every Sunday she would get her pumpkin spice latte and I remember hoping that one day I would be able to get my very own pumpkin spice-flavored drink and live out the same fall aesthetic that my mom lived. Despite the fall season in the Midwest not containing the crisp fall leaves and vibrant warm colors that most envision when they think of fall, I am able to be transported to that picturesque scenery with one sip of the Chai tea latte with pumpkin cream cold foam. Another bonus of this drink is that it is traditionally iced which is highly enjoyable for the midwest due to our warmer temperatures even in the fall. This drink has really become a part of my fall narrative because now whenever I get the chance to hang out with my sister, who I don't get to see often because she’s in college, we make it a tradition to dress up in our aesthetic fall outfits and reconnect over a Chai tea latte with pumpkin cream cold foam. Now once fall starts I know that instead of having to pick one side of my culture over the other, I can go to Starbucks and get a Chai tea latte with pumpkin cream cold foam that celebrates my favorite fall memories from both sides of my culture.

Growing up in America, education seemed to be overlooked, and to be honest, I've taken it for granted. Education keeps me challenged and gives my mind an outlet to think and process things. My mind tends to overthink and stray to absurd thoughts but education keeps me grounded and gives me a distraction that is beneficial. I was originally in numerous public schools when I went to elementary school then later transferred to a charter school- BASIS Goodyear. My experience at BASIS Goodyear by no means was not easier in a social and academic aspect but gave me a glimpse of what it would be like to work hard and pursue education. I was overwhelmed in my public school with the drama of my peers and I was involved in a lot of it often it distracted me from my studies, but when I transferred to BASIS where there is more rigor and emphasis on education it gave me something to pursue and focus my time and energy on. Not to say there wasn't any drama in BASIS Goodyear because there definitely was plenty of that, but it gave me something that I could really plug into and challenge myself. There were definitely many stressful moments in terms of my academics, with late-night study sessions and a copious amount of flashcards but it was always worth it. Whether I got a bad grade or got an A there was always room for improvement and self-growth. If it was a bad test grade I would reconsider the study method I used and try a different approach, if it was a bad grade on an assignment then I would ask more questions about the teacher's requirements and be more involved by asking questions. I'm planning to use my determination and hardworking skills and apply them to my future career. My life goal career-wise is to become either a Physician's Assistant in women's health or an OBGYN. I know that going into the medical field is a rigorous venture but I think the older I get the more value I put on pursuing education and pushing myself to reach farther limits. My life goal non-career-wise is to become a mom of two kids and be actively involved in their lives as well as in my church. I think it would be cool to lead worship one day for my church and be one of the leaders in the church. I've always grown up in the church with my dad having been a pastor and my mom involved in the women's ministry; I want to make a large impact like them on the community and reach out to others by showing God's love and grace.