One personal finance lesson that has helped me to accomplish many goals that I thought were out of reach, is that saving money is very important. Since I was 13 years old and earning money through mowing lawns and babysitting, I have split up every check I have received. Ten percent of all of my checks goes towards my offering for church, 60% goes into my savings, and 30% goes into my checking account. Anything that I wanted had to be funded by my checking account, including my phone bill, service bill, and Netflix bill. The first time I touched my savings account was when I was 17 years old and ready to buy my first car. From working 25-40 hours a week and saving the majority of my money, I was able to buy a nice used car. The simple act of putting money aside and living below my means allowed for me to accomplish such an enormous task at such a young age. Since buying my car, I now put 70% to 90% of every paycheck into savings in order to pay for college, and I intend to be debt free. Saving money is a very powerful tool that is necessary in order to ensure financial stability. It provides a safety net that can be used in an emergency, or used to help others out. Saving money also allows for a profit from interest. The more money one has in the bank, the more they make annually in interest. Saving money can quite literally provide free money. Ultimately, saving money has a lot of excellent benefits and rewards to be considered when deciding what to do with your money.

The biggest problem facing the world right now is division. People today are very close-minded. When someone holds a different opinion than others they are publicly, and hated by many. If someone makes a minor mistake they are completely cancelled by society. Politics and COVID-19 have done nothing but intensify this division. Not only does this division negatively impact the world, it also fogs everyone's minds. Decisions are no longer being made based on what someone wants to do; they are being made based on what society wants them to do, or what the 'cool kids' say is right. Everything has become so unclear, and it is absurd. The only way to fix this problem, is for each individual to do their part. The world cannot see change until the people in the world chose to change themselves. Everyone needs to come to the realization, that they only have one life, and that there is no point in wasting that life on judging others and holding grudges for things that have no effect on them. Conclusively, people just need to agree to disagree. It is impossible for everyone in the world to agree on what is correct in every situation, but it is not impossible to accept another despite a difference in beliefs. If everyone works to be a little less harsh and a little more kind, the world could improve drastically. People need to let go and start living, not worrying about what others say and do, it only fills the world with hate. Being accepting both of oneself and of others regardless of race, beliefs, or appearance is the key to improving this world.

In my dream life I am the happiest version of myself. I am successful in my job, and I even work for myself. I own my own business that is thriving and I don't have to constantly stress about money. I work very hard, and am proud of what I do and what I have accomplished. Not only am I successful at work, I also have an amazing home-life. I have a very handsome, whimsical, and knowledgeable husband who is able to hold quality conversation about any subject. We live in Hawaii, or somewhere tropical and warm that is surrounded by beaches, and we spend all of our days with nature. Eventually we have 3 children; two boys and one girl, and 2 golden-doodle puppies. We live an active lifestyle, from swimming to hiking to playing soccer together in our backyard. Our family is happy and healthy. Our house isn't too extravagant. It is small and cozy, and whenever we are there we are relaxed. I am a great chef, and can concoct a delectable meal with no recipes. I cook dinner every night, and we make dessert together as a family. We spend the summers traveling and experiencing different parts of the world, while educating ourselves and our children about all of the different cultures and customs. My heart is full and I am content.

Oskar Schindler is a very admirable historical figure. His selflessness, bravery, and intelligence aided in the preservation of hundreds of lives. Schindler seemed to be a womanizing, greedy, gambler who was just as selfish as any other wealthy German officer. However, after witnessing a German raid of a Jewish ghetto, and seeing the cruel treatment of the Jews by the Nazi's, Schindler became determined to work against the system. Oskar Schindler utilized his past lifestyle, and his similarities with other wealthy officers to climb the social latter and befriend those with power. By doing so he gained power, and that is why his operation was able to run under the radar. During World War II, Schindler was in charge of running two factories, using a Jewish workforce. While the Jews were employed at these factories, the working conditions were expected to be barbaric, but they were actually quite the opposite. Schindler provided for these Jews, making sure they had everything they needed, and worked to create a comfortable environment. He even bribed other officers to let him keep his workers, and risked his life multiple times to prevent these Jews from being tortured and killed. The way that Schindler used the skills he was given is very inspirational. His ability to keep his incredible operation hidden from the Germans, shows how brilliant he truly was. Schindler was willing to do the right thing, no matter how severe the consequences were, he even risked death. If everyone in the world was willing to do the same, this world would be a much brighter place. I aspire to be more like Schindler each and every day. I want to work on putting others before myself, and not allowing my privilege to hinder me from helping others.

The world has become a very dismal place. Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic everything has gradually gone downhill. Millions of people have lost their jobs, and have in turn lost their ability to provide for their families. Not only have people lost their jobs; thousands of people have lost their lives. This means that more than triple that, have lost a loved one. Grief has wreaked havoc all over the planet. Mental health has also taken an enormous toll on our society. Being in isolation for months on end, with little contact with the outside world has caused the number of cases of depression to sky-rocket. The youth of today are missing out on so many crucial developmental moments because of this pandemic, and the future may pay the price for it. Simply put, the world is falling apart. I think that everyone would agree that the world needs change. I personally would like to see employment rates go up, and COVID-19 cases go down. I aspire for no person to be left hungry. I want communities to start taking mental health more seriously, and I want seeking help to be less taboo. I dream that the world becomes a less cruel place, and that people’s problems are taken more seriously. Someday I would like to see everyone work together to solve these problems, and improve this world that we are living in. The only way to work towards this goal as a whole, is for everyone to do their part. In my community, school was virtual for many months, and during the summer there was no school at all. This left hundreds of students and their families stuck at home, with no jobs, and consequently, no food. The school system tried to supply food to as many people as they could, but with limited time and resources it was impossible to reach everyone. A few churches and other local groups created food stands, where parents could come and pick up lunches for their kids and themselves. However, not every family has the luxury of having a car, and not every child has the luxury of having parents who are willing to care for them, and drive to get them food. Many children are even completely neglected and left to fend for themselves. This is where my local YMCA stepped in to help. Being a member since I was a child, and working there throughout my teenage years, I was more than willing to jump on board. Throughout the summer of 2020, and even during the months when school was virtual, the YMCA collected donations from the community, in an attempt to feed any child that was left hungry. Every morning, the core YMCA staff and a few volunteers, including myself, would meet in the main building to prepare for our day. The exercise floor was cleared of all the machines, and folding tables lined the walls. The buses that were previously used for after school and day camp activities were parked out front waiting to be loaded up. We started off our days by creating a massive assembly line to construct hundreds of sandwiches. After they were made we bagged them up and sent them off to the other side of the building where we added all of the sides into the paper bags. Finally, we loaded the completed lunches onto the appropriate buses and departed. Each bus covered a different route hitting all of the areas that the school system, and churches were unable to cover. While we were on the route we handed out lunches, dinner kits, diapers and formula, toiletry sets, and any other necessities that households were lacking. Watching the kids get excited about the dinosaur nuggets, or the cookies we gave them warmed my heart. Hearing the sigh of relief from parents who were stressing about putting food on the table for dinner,calmed my soul. Knowing that I was able to be a part of something that was so helpful to so many families filled my heart with joy. Working to be a part of the change this world needs is something that I am very passionate about. Every little thing someone does to help others in need is one step closer to seeing progress in the world. I make it a goal to do something good every day, whether that’s helping a friend through a hard time, or complimenting a stranger to brighten their day. I believe that if everyone does their part, all of the bad in the world would be covered up by so much more good. I pray that one day no child is left hungry. I hope that in the future every parent will be able to provide a quality life to their families. I desire for mental health to drastically improve among both adults and children. I aspire for everyone to do their part in making the world a safer and brighter place for the generations to come.