When I contemplate future goals, I think about my greatest motivations. One of my favorites is the sense of accomplishment I feel after being kind to those around me. Being kind to people—and seeing the joy that my actions can bring—kindles a deep desire to see everyone achieve the best possible circumstance they can. This drives me to discover all that I can to help those around me, including myself, clients, and my family. One of my long-term school goals is to get a degree in accounting, specifically becoming a financial advisor. I know that my assisting others is one of the things that drives me to excel, and having a career focused on helping others make the most and even better their financial situation is a great option for me. People need to see that people care for them, and I want to play a part in that. Another group of people that need love, a deeper form of kindness, is the family that I will one day raise. I strongly desire to teach my family all the opportunities that can come from living life debt-free. It’s not an easy choice to make and certainly requires monumental effort, but it can be accomplished. By assisting those in my future family and teaching them how to financially succeed, I can accomplish one of my major goals as a family leader. I have made it a central goal to be kind to people, no matter the circumstance I find myself or they find themselves in. The joy I receive from being kind to people drives me to find other ways to assist them. Taylor Swift tells us, “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”

What do you want others to think about you after you have departed from this life? Many people believe that we should leave some sort of visible legacy, whether that be starting a foundation or making our name well-known. Although some may enjoy this type of impact, I would be happy with leaving an impact of love and care for those I interact with. The impact I hope to leave may seem small to some. But the truth is, an impact does not have to be large to be memorable. Through my actions every day, I strive to be inclusive of everyone around me and to share my love for others with them. I do this by smiling, chatting with, serving, and assisting my neighbors, friends, and even strangers. Participating in activities that portray my sweeping love for humankind can have more of an impact on others than I may ever know of. One day, I was at a religious conference and overheard a lady who seemed extremely frustrated discussing some aspect of her phone not working. She went to the class instructor, only to find that he redirected her to the tech help center. As she walked by me, I informed her that I had overheard her conversation and would be happy to attempt to assist her. Within a few minutes, I was able to fix her phone. My willingness to help completely turned her day around, and she was able to focus on the activities instead of fretting about fixing her phone. When I pass on, I want to be known as someone always willing to step up and help others in their time of need, whether big or small. People will always need help, love, and acts of kindness. I will be there to provide them.

Let’s face it: It’s next to impossible to live forever. However, living our life as long as we can to the fullest is within our control. There are several things that I genuinely enjoy doing that hopefully prolong my life and allow me to live it to the fullest. I made a goal to participate in daily outdoor activities. These include biking, walking, running, swimming, and more. Although others may not enjoy these activities, I enjoy anything that gets my body moving, which in turn helps keep me in good shape. Sometimes, based on the weather, I settle for running or walking a 5K in the gym. The point for me is to constantly move, in turn burning off calories that I ate throughout the day instead of staying sedentary. Another thing I like to do is find good and healthy foods to eat daily. A big part of our life is the food that we eat. Everything that we consume has its effect on our body, both good and bad, whether we like it or not. To live the longest life that I can, my diet needs to be well-balanced. This means shunning a second serving of ice cream and instead consuming the wonderful salad that most have not touched. We must come up with a diet that works for us, and then do what we can to stick with it. As Melanie M. Koulouris tells us “A healthy life means a happy life.” Living a long life doesn’t take finding the Fountain of Youth. It required hard work and personal discipline. Come up with a diet and workout plan that is tailored to you and find people that will encourage you to stick with it. You will love the results.

An anonymous person once wisely told us, “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.” No matter who the person is, what their religious affiliation is, or what their political beliefs are, I am there to love them. When I help make others are happy, I am joyous. I want everyone to feel that they are accepted, wherever they are in life. I love making sure that people feel loved for who they are. Love has no label. There is a lot of judgment going on in the world today. Some people catalog and judge other people based on weight, skin color, and other such factors that are visibly notable. This is not appropriate, as we should not judge people for their outside qualities, but rather love them for who they are all that they represent. I value this trait of opening loving and serving others because it allows me to create relationships based on the knowledge that everyone needs support while traveling through rough spots in life. Often, we only see what a person is expressing on the outside, not what they are thinking or desiring. Sometimes, we can miss the fact that they are emotionally struggling because they try to hide it. Whenever I see someone who may be feeling lonely or depressed, I sit down next to them, introduce myself, and strike up a friendly conversation. Doing this can completely turn around their day, as they now know that they are noticed and that someone cared enough to talk to them. I have done this and more throughout my community. This characteristic of loving others regardless of where they are in life can be used throughout my life. Currently, I reach out to my elderly neighbors by making them food, having enlightening conversations with them, and teaching them how to use their phones. Although these things may seem simple, they have meant the world to them. Their family has not expressed love for them because they refuse to throw their lives’ savings at their children. Now, they have been able to see that there are still people out there that love them beyond their money and are more than willing to assist them in whatever way they need. I believe that this trait will be especially helpful during my college years and career. College is often a student’s first time away from home and from familial support. As a college student, this trait will help me reach out to students who are homesick, need study help, or just a friend to support them. Simple friendships can go a long way. Additionally, this trait will be helpful in my career as a financial advisor. I will care for the clients that I work with, not just idly give them information that may or may not be applicable to their case. I want to show them that I truly care for their financial wellbeing by being there for them any time they need me, and honestly help them through their financial challenges. Paulo Coelho tells us, “Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.” Let’s give the world love the definition ‘unconditional appreciation for people other than ourselves.’ We all need to love our neighbors for who they are, not judging them based on exterior qualities, but rather trying to discern what is underneath. This way, we can open new relationships and spread this message of unconditional love for humankind to everyone around us, making America and beyond more harmonious and accepting of all people.

From the swaying of a palm tree to the allure of a radiant sunset to a friend’s wedding reception, I thoroughly enjoy using photography to capture the life around me. Freezing moments in time helps me constantly appreciate the beauty around me. Through continuous hours of trial and error, I have learned and continue to improve my skills of capturing the world’s splendor through the lens of a camera. I plan short photography jaunts that often turn into photoshoots. While preparing to take a picture of exquisite plants, such as the hibiscus flower, I pause as questions flood my mind. Is the lighting right? Is the flower properly focused? Usually, I spend several minutes waiting for ideal lighting conditions or adjusting the camera angle before snapping the photograph. I have a vision of the ‘perfect’ image. Unfortunately, the perfect photo rarely materialized. Thousands of awful pictures have shown me where there is room for improvement. A picture of a washed-out sunset alerts me that the aperture needed adjustment. A family friend and former professional photographer gives me both positive and critical feedback of my photos. Applying advice and critique from past failures has increased my odds of capturing the desired images. I am competent enough that my photographs from a friend’s wedding reception impressed even the head photographer. Although it took a great deal of practice and instruction to reach my current ability, the time spent improving was worth the result. Photographs are more than images; they are how I share my worldview. They are mediums to display the charm of towering palm trees, dazzling sunsets, and other marvelous subjects. Because I willingly receive criticism and put effort into practicing, I can sharpen my skills and capture brilliant photographs of the life, nature, and people surrounding me.

When I contemplate a legacy, my thoughts turn to the actions people will remember me by. I desire to, when I pass on, be remembered for the services and kindnesses that I provided to others, both large and small. I don’t need money to have a legacy. Instead, all that is required of me is simple, loving actions. A group of people that I regularly serve is my family, friends, and neighbors around me. Currently, I perform small services, such as cleaning my parents’ cars or making my elderly neighbors some dinner after a busy day. I want everyone to realize that we can be kind to those around us and not seek some sort of worldly payment in return. This can be done in small ways, such as the ones mentioned above. Small things such as those help people find contentment and joy in the moment. I will assist others this long-term through my profession. One of my long-term school goals is to get a degree in accounting, specifically becoming a financial advisor. I know that my assisting others is one of the things that drives me to excel, and having a career focused on helping others make the most and even better their financial situation is a great option for me. People need to see that people care for them, and I want to play a part in that. I have made it a central goal to be kind to people, no matter the circumstance they find themselves in. There is always a way for me to assist. The joy I receive from being kind to people drives me to continually assist others. Taylor Swift tells us, “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”

“Debt is normal. Be weird.” This lesson by Dave Ramsey may seem insignificant but is packed with meaning and wisdom. Staying out of debt is the smartest advice, as doing so enables many more opportunities down the road. In my future career of financial advising, I will be giving people advice about their financial circumstances and do not want to find myself in a precarious financial. Taking out student loans only provides short-term financial relief. Eventually, the loan must be repaid. Because I seek a long-term solution, I have decided to graduate college debt-free. Doing so would allow me to pack up and travel wherever the best opportunity awaits me, without the concern of a monthly student loan payment. Through hard work and diligence, I can obtain scholarships that will bring hope to my financial future. Attending college will be expensive. Without scholarships, paying for college and reaching my goal of graduating debt-free seems hard. I have three other siblings attending college at the same time as myself, so my parents can offer limited financial aid. With scholarships, I could work part-time, keep my attention on my studies, and maintain excellent grades. Eventually, after finishing my degree, I will be able to help people understand their financial circumstances, and maybe even how to better it. By assisting me in paying for school, scholarships will help me allocate more time to focus on my education. Many have completed their education debt-free with the assistance of generous organizations that award scholarships. Whether scholarships are worth $500 or $5,000, they award needed funds that allow students such as myself to focus on my education instead of how I will pay for it. As Dave says, “If you will live like no one else, you can live like no one else later.”

In today’s world, people spend a lot of time with their earbuds in, tuning out the world. As we do this, we miss so many things that are happening around us. I do my best to unplug, get up, and have face-to-face time listening and learning from my peers. It’s not easy but doing so helps me see the needs of those around me. Living life with the world tuned out is not the right thing to do. With everything good that instant messaging can do for us, we sometimes forget the value behind a face-to-face conversation. I do not own any personal Social Media accounts, as it lessens quality time with others. Without these, I put myself out into the world, find people, and listen to the experiences that they share with me. I actively listen to others by focusing my attention completely on them when they are speaking and looking them in the eyes. Often, I also put a smile on my face. Doing those simple things shows respect for the person and that our attention is devoted to them. Listening to friends can often help us discover their needs as well. Actively listening to others to me also means that I look beyond the words they are saying and discern what they are feeling and how I can assist them in any way that they need. By listening to the meaning behind someone’s words, I can discover their true needs. I strive to listen to those around me, whether they be family, friends, or strangers that I meet on a plane. Everyone has an important perspective to bring to the table, and we should respectfully accept and listen to them. It’s time to take out our earbuds and tune into the people around us.

There is a youth sitting in a dank, cinderblock, fifteen-by-fifteen-foot cell. He has nothing to do but read a tattered copy of Lord of the Flies for the hundredth time. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Call of the Wild were nowhere to be found on the single-shelf library available to the youth at the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. Something had to change. These youth needed an activity, such as reading, to link them to their peers in the outside world and give them some semblance of normality. After realizing the detention facility’s need for a new library selection, I lead a service project for youth that are often overlooked. I discovered this necessity through my mother, who visited the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. While speaking to the officers, she discussed my desire to complete a project that would benefit the community. It was then explained to my mother that the resident youth had an extremely limited book selection, all of which were outdated and in poor condition. When my mother informed me of the opportunity, I seized upon it. But I could not rush into this project on a whim. So, I created a plan, which involved how I intended to collect books, the total cost of the project, and a calendar of what tasks needed to be completed by a certain date. After having my parents approve the plan, I set out to start creating relationships with business owners in my community. Working on the project required forethought. Before even amassing books, I visited with many local business owners to request their permission to establish a collection site at their facility. After placing bins at 10 locations, I collected the contents twice a week, approximately four hours a week. After every collection, I spent several hours adding every book to a spreadsheet, labeling its genre, author, title, and publication year. At the conclusion of the drive, I had gathered over six-hundred books. Sorting out any book that could be considered inappropriate, I was left with 593 books. I neatly packaged them up in boxes by genre with my parents and sibling. Once completed, my father and I loaded them in the car and drove down to the detention facility. The most rewarding moment of being a leader was handing the boxes of books over to the detention facility. When we dropped off the books, the officer was shocked when I reported to him that 593 appropriate books had been collected and that I had spent roughly 250 hours on the project. I then handed him my roughly thirty-page spreadsheet, which became their new “catalog”. As the staff members hauled away the books, I smiled, knowing that the books were going where they were needed. Leading this project taught me that leadership has nothing to do with being having power over others, but is truly about assisting those around us. Throughout my life, as I have opportunities to lead both at work and home, I will always keep in my mind that I am not over another person. Rather, I am guiding others to accomplish acts of service. John Maxwell puts it best when he says, “Leadership is not about titles… It is about one life influencing others.

What truly defines happiness? To some, it may be the feeling that they receive from meditation, or the feeling after hard training pays off at the race. The truth is happiness is very individual. It is up to us to discover what makes us happy. To me, seeing other people be happy brings me the most happiness. One of my favorite things to do in my free time is finding quiet ways to serve someone. When my mom would take my father’s car to go grocery shopping, I would vacuum and clean her car to surprise her. Additionally, I love baking treats for my elderly neighbors and then visiting with them for hours. Most of the time, elderly neighbors spend their time alone. I want to be there to talk to them any time they need me. The important thing to me is to help them feel loved and find joy in their lives. When giving my time to others, I am taking care of their needs and putting them first. No payment is required. I want everyone to realize that we can be kind to everyone around us in my community and not seek some sort of worldly payment in return. This can be done in small ways, such as the ones mentioned above. Small things such as those help people find happiness in the moment. People need to know that they are valued, and I can play a part in furthering that cause. I constantly demonstrate this giving some of my quiet time up to provide simple services to others, which help them find happiness in their life, which also brings me joy. Regis Murayi declared, “Part of being a person is about helping others.” We can give our time away to spread happiness to those around us.

Look at everything around you. What do you see? Maybe you see old sofas and televisions, thinking you’re ready for an upgrade. When I see these things, I see things and people I have been blessed with. I make it a point to be thankful for everything I have, even if it is not the latest and greatest, because it is more than others have. As teens, we often take for granted the things that have, such as food and electronics. When I see and use these things, I think about my parents and the time and money they put into providing these items. I can never repay them fully, but I can do my best in small ways. I try to unload the dishwasher, do the laundry, clean their cars, among other things, without being asked. I deeply appreciate the ways that my parents have supported me and serving them is part of my way to repay them. Another method that I recently started was keeping a gratitude journal. Every night, I make it a point to sit down and at least write one thing that I am thankful for, whether that be good food, a roof over my head, or loving neighbors. Writing these things down helps me not take the people and things in my life. When I start questioning my circumstances or possessions, all I must do is pull out the gratitude journal, look at all the ways I am blessed, and see how good I have it. Gratitude in any form helps make us content with where we are in life. When it is the people, we can express our appreciation by serving them. Eckhart Tolle once said, “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”

“Can you give me a swim test? Can you tighten my vest? Where is the bathroom?” A plethora of kids constantly bombarded me with those questions. I desired to find a nice, quiet corner to escape to. My training had not prepared me for this. What had I gotten myself into becoming a lifeguard? Lifeguarding seemed to be an easy way to start saving for college. I thought “How hard can watching people swim be?” Such a foolish thought. A few days after being hired, Day Camp started. Over thirty rambunctious children jumped into the pool and frolicked for two hours every weekday. My life was a child-infested nightmare. I had to test every child’s swimming ability before they could enter the pool. No small task. Eventually, after constantly administering swim tests, I became confident doing so. Another aspect of the job was the critical drills and intense monthly in-service trainings. Every so often, our manager surprised us with a drill. Although drills seemed like a real emergency, they were opportunities to hone our skills. Having filmed the drill, our manager would then escort us to her office to review the scenario and evaluate our performance. Staff were also required to attend monthly in-service training to sharpen our rescue skills. In September, all the guards practiced extracting people with back injuries. Such opportunities have helped me improve my abilities as a guard. The skills obtained from lifeguarding can be applied to everyday life. If my brother chokes on a grape, I know how to properly perform the chest thrust maneuver. Additionally, guarding has taught me how to interact well with children, co-workers, and patrons. Thanks to lifeguarding, I can be confident in both emergency situations and when dealing with inquisitive children. Off to my next swim test.

Let’s face it: No one wants to die. But we all must face the fact that we all will die at some point. But how long we live is within our control. There are several things that I genuinely enjoy doing that hopefully prolong my life and allow me to live it to the fullest. I made a goal to participate in daily outdoor activities. These include biking, walking, running, swimming, and more. Although others may not enjoy these activities, I enjoy anything that gets my body moving, which in turn helps keep me in good shape. Sometimes, based on the weather, I settle for running or walking a 5K in the gym. The point for me is to constantly move, in turn burning off calories that I ate throughout the day instead of staying sedentary. Another thing I like to do is find good and healthy foods to eat daily. A big part of our life is the food that we eat. Everything that we consume has its effect on our body, both good and bad, whether we like it or not. To live the longest life that I can, my diet needs to be well-balanced. This means shunning a second serving of ice cream, and instead consuming the wonderful salad that most have not touched. We must come up with a diet that works for us, and then do what we can to stick with it. As Melanie M. Koulouris tells us “A healthy life means a happy life.” Living a long life doesn’t take finding the Fountain of Youth. It required hard work and personal discipline. Come up with a diet and workout plan that is tailored to you and find people that will encourage you to stick with it. You will love the results.

Dave Ramsey once said, “Be willing to wait until you are comfortable with investing. Don’t put money into anything that you do not understand.” I have heard stories of friends losing a lot of their money to poor investments. After hearing about their experiences and completing Dave’s Investment class, I know that learning before investing is extremely critical to be successful. If a friend told you about a stock that made them hundreds of dollars, would you buy it? Odds are, probably not. Weighing your stock options before buying is like the research you put in before purchasing a car. You would look at the car’s entire history before accepting or declining to purchase the vehicle. You need to put in the research before purchasing. The same thing goes with investing. You do not want to invest in a fund that is functioning poorly and has high fees, which eats away at your money instead of making you some. Luckily, finding information on stocks is easier than ever, and right at our fingertips There are several things we can research before investing that only take a few minutes. Hop onto your phone or laptop and sign up for a stock platform, such as Fidelity or Charles Schwab. Once completed, you can look at loads of information on specific stocks, such as their average profit, fees, and any other pertinent information. After learning about the stock or fund, you can decide for yourself, based on the facts, if it is a good investment or not. Investing has many aspects to it. One of the most important steps is to research before investing. Discover what you think will do you the best instead of taking someone’s word for it. You may be surprised by the results of your research.

When it comes to giving, I picture all the people who assisted my family while my mother went through multiple surgeries to prevent possible cancers. I think of their kindness, and the time they freely gave away. The gift of giving my time away to assist others is one of the most valuable gifts that I can give. Giving comes with no strings attached. Giving freely to others reflects my deep desire to make sure that everyone knows they are loved, and that they have someone in their corner. Additionally, giving does not only serve one race, gender, or ethnicity, but opens its loving arms to all people. I make sure that the people I am with know that I am more than willing to spend my time assisting them. In today’s world, everyone needs to realize that they are loved for who they are. I start that now by serving in my community. Giving is about being selfless. When giving my time to others, I am taking care of their needs and putting them first. No payment required. I want everyone to realize that we can be kind to everyone around us in my community and not seek some sort of worldly payment in return. This can be done in small ways, such as making them a meal or helping them with weeding their yard. People need to know that they are valued, and I can play a part in furthering that cause. I constantly demonstrate this giving some of my quiet time up to provide simple services to others, and genuinely do not desire any payment in return. Regis Murayi declared, “Part of being a person is about helping others.” We can all give away our time to assist those around us.

When I contemplate future goals, I think about my greatest motivations. One of my favorites is the sense of accomplishment I feel after being kind to those around me. Being kind to people—and seeing the joy that my actions can brings—kindles a deep desire to see everyone achieve the best possible circumstance they can. This drives me to discover all that I can to help those around me, including myself, clients, and my family. One of my long-term school goals is to get a degree in accounting, specifically becoming a financial advisor. I know that my assisting others is one of the things that drives me to excel, and having a career focused on helping others make the most and even better their financial situation is a great option for me. People need to see that people care for them, and I want to play a part in that. Another group of people that need love, a deeper form of kindness, is the family that I will one day raise. I strongly desire to teach my family all the opportunities that can come from living life debt-free. It’s not an easy choice to make and certainly requires monumental effort, but it can be accomplished. By assisting those in my future family and teaching them how to financially succeed, I can accomplish one of my major goals as a family leader. I have made it a central goal to be kind to people, no matter the circumstance I find myself or they find themselves in. The joy I receive from being kind to people drives me to find other ways to assist them. Taylor Swift tells us, “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”

Regis Murayi declared, “Part of being a person is about helping others.” When I think of passions, I ponder on what figuratively drives me. One thing that I am incredibly passionate about is serving others while at the same time become more selfless each day. Service comes with no strings attached. Serving others reflects my deep desire to make sure that everyone knows they are loved, and that they have someone in their corner. Additionally, service does not only serve one race, gender, or other factors. Service is for everyone. I make sure that the people I am with know that I will stand by them. I desire that in today’s world, everyone can realize that they are loved for who they are. I start that here and now, by serving in my community. Serving is about being selfless. When serving others, we are taking care of their needs and putting them first. No payment required. I want everyone to realize that we can be kind to everyone around us in my community and not seek some sort of worldly payments in return. I have a neighbor whose family basically abandoned her because she refused to give them her money. Now, I am her family, helping her feel loved by assisting her with anything she needs. I want everyone to know that I love them for simply being them. People need to know that they are valued, and I can play a part in furthering that cause. I constantly demonstrate this by simple services, and genuinely do not desire any payment in return. As Taylor Swift tells us, “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”

In today’s world, people spend a lot of time with their earbuds in, tuning out the world. As we do this, we miss so many things that are happening around us. I do my best to unplug, get up, and have face-to-face time listening and learning from my peers. It’s not easy but doing so helps me see the needs of those around me. Living life with the world tuned out is not the right thing to do. With everything good that instant messaging can do for us, we sometimes forget the value behind a face-to-face conversation. I do not own any personal Social Media accounts, as it lessens quality time with others. Without these, I put myself out into the world, find people, and listen to the experiences that they share with me. I actively listen to others by focusing my attention completely on them when they are speaking and looking them in the eyes. Often, I also put a smile on my face. Doing those simple things shows respect for the person and that our attention is devoted to them. Listening to friends can often help us discover their needs as well. Listening to people means understanding what they are telling us, and what it truly means to them. Actively listening to others to me also means that I look beyond the words they are saying and discern what they are feeling and how I can assist them in any way that they need. By listening to the meaning behind someone’s words, I can discover their true needs. I strive to listen to those around me, whether they be family, friends, or strangers that I meet on a plane. Everyone has an important perspective to bring to the table, and we should respectfully accept and listen to them.

Whether big or small, I do it all. Doesn’t this phrase sound like a commercial for a company remodeling a house or installing a new bathtub? To me, this phrase is derived from the loving service that I perform, such as fixing a neighbor’s loose cabinet door, mowing their lawn, or secretly washing my parent’s car. Serving others can be in both ways large and small. Recently, I carried out a project to collect books for the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. After spreading the word and collecting books for a little over a month, I was able to donate 594 books to the facility. Seeing the joy that books could bring to the staff and the youth made the project even more meaningful to me. I also volunteered to clean off an abandoned lot of dead trees, thick underbrush, and other fire hazards. I spent over 250 hours helping the group clear the lot off, mitigating the fire hazard that it could have caused during the summer. One of my favorite things to do in my free time is finding quiet ways to serve someone. When my mom would take my father’s car to go grocery shopping, I would vacuum out and clean her car to surprise her. Additionally, I love baking treats for my elderly neighbors and then visiting with them for hours. Most of the time, elderly neighbors spend their time alone. I want to be there to talk to them any time they need me. I can serve others in a variety of ways. One message that I desire to portray through my service is that I love everyone. Through small and big acts of service, I can show those I interact with that I am here and will always be willing to assist them.

What do you want others to think about you after you have departed from this life? Many people believe that we should leave some sort of visible legacy, whether that be starting a foundation or making our name well-known. Although some may enjoy this type of impact, I would be happy with leaving an impact of love and care for those I interact with. The impact I hope to leave may seem small to some. But the truth is, an impact does not have to be large to be memorable. Through my actions every day, I strive to be inclusive of everyone around me and to share my love for others with them. I do this by smiling, chatting with, serving, and assisting my neighbors, friends, and even complete strangers. Participating in activities that portray my sweeping love for humankind can have more of an impact on others than I may ever know of. One day, I was at a religious conference and overheard a lady who seemed extremely frustrated discussing some aspect of her phone not working. She went to the class instructor, only to find that he redirected her to the tech help center. As she walked by me, I informed her that I had overheard her conversation and would be happy to attempt to assist her. Within a few minutes, I was able to fix her phone. My willingness to help completely turned her day around, and she was able to focus on the activities instead of fretting about fixing her phone. When I pass on, I want to be known as someone who was always willing to help others in their time of need, whether big or small. People will always need help, love, and acts of kindness. I will be there to provide them.

Some people try to look the other way when it comes to mental health challenges. I tried to look away from the person right in front of me. My youngest brother Calder has severe mental health challenges. He becomes depressed, verbally aggressive, or even combative when he did not get what he desires. His behaviors stole time from my family, which deeply angered me. I allowed my ire to boil into resentment and hatred. I always thought “He is awful. He needs to change for my anger to go away.” Little did I know that I needed to revise my attitude and behavior as well. Calder was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. I did not care about the diagnoses, mostly because their meanings eluded me. My mother and father eventually explained to me the definitions of the diagnoses and what they entailed. After discovering that those issues contributed to his attitudes, I realized that he could not easily change his behaviors. Suddenly, his actions made more sense, and I was regretful about my attitude towards him. I desired to change my perspective to become more accepting of Calder. There was one question though: how could I alter my mindset? The path to healing and happiness was far from easy. After sharing my animosity with my parents and Calder’s therapist, I was armed with an incredible piece of advice: don’t care so much about what Calder does. When Calder would have an outburst, I would engage in an activity to keep my mind off it. After applying the advice regularly, I discovered that I was less angry with him. Although my feelings toward him had improved by utilizing the advice, there was still a step to complete: becoming compassionate. Currently, Calder is residing in a placement to discover means to control his emotions. I have discovered that his circumstances are often not entirely his choice. Like how my anger affected my feelings towards him, his overwhelmingly strong emotions coupled with Autism often clouded his thinking. When I realized that his diagnoses contribute to the magnifying of his anger, I became sympathetic instead of angry. Changing my perspective on his behaviors was difficult, but ultimately aided in improving our relationship. Notwithstanding his current situation, I now have a pleasant relationship with him. I go visit him at least monthly and talk to him on the phone several times a week. Compassion has replaced anger. I have learned to love Calder for who he is, not what I want him to be. Changing my perspective of him from anger to compassion was difficult, but worth it. Doing so ultimately saved my relationship with him. I forced his mental health issues to form a wall between the two of us, when I should have been assisting my brother. My entire experience with Calder has completely altered my perspective on those with mental health challenges. I distinctly remember that, when I was young, I thought that mental health was weird, abnormal, and something to avoid. After all that I have been through with Calder, that’s not even an option to think. Those with mental health challenges are just like the rest of us; desiring a friend to love them for them Those with mental health challenges are just as good as people who don’t. Often, they love you more and will walk through the fire with you. Many people with mental health issues have so much unconditional love that they want to share with others but don’t know how. Many of my closest friends have a wide range of mental health disabilities, but this doesn’t make them bad. In fact, they are some of the funniest, reliable, and loveable people I know. My goal is to help people realize that some people come with mental health challenges. Mental health challenges are not something they make a choice to have and are certainly not something that they can change. I want to help people discover that those with mental health challenges need our support. I want to promote people to find ways to serve those in their community by loving them for who they are. Instead of looking the other way, we can look at, run to, embrace, and assist those around us who they are and how they think.

Many people around us give good advice, such as a mother telling you to put on more deodorant as to not embarrass yourself when your friend comes. Every piece of advice we receive matters, or the person sharing it probably would not have. The most important financial advice that I have received is to do everything I can to live a debt-free life. Although this may seem difficult, I am determined to accomplish this feat. Dave Ramsey tells us not to be normal. This is because the normal American has thousands of dollars of student and credit card debt that takes years to trim down. Currently, my plan is to become a financial advisor. Debt would only weigh me down. I would find it ironic to try to help people get out of debt while I am in bondage to the same thing. Although it may seem difficult, I can graduate debt-free if I am willing to put in the effort required. When looking at the task of obtaining a debt-free life, college seems a bit daunting to pay for. Over the last three years, I have saved all the income from dog walking, house sitting, and my part-time job as a lifeguard. To help bridge the gap in funding, I have made it a goal to apply for a scholarship daily. With my own part-time job during college and the assistance of scholarships, I can reach my goal. My parents reinforce this daily and encourage me to set myself up for financial success. I will do everything necessary to fund my college education, whether that means working every hour the school allows me or writing a 1,000-word essay for a scholarship. As Dave Ramsey tells us, “Live like no one now, later, you can live like no one else.”

Think about how many people you encounter every single day. It may range from just a few to thousands depending on your situation. Most may seem happy, but some may be silently struggling on the inside, trying to cope with everything that is running through their heads. We can help these struggling people by receiving an education on what mental health issues are and how we can best assist them through their struggles. Many people question mental health because they simply don’t know what it is. I believe that if students were taught in-depth what mental health really is in a classroom, many people who decide to silently attempt to fight it out themselves may be more willing to reach out for both personal and professional assistance. Another key factor in this is that many need to be taught how to best assist their friends who may have mental health challenges. I have friends with significant mental health challenges. At first, I did not understand how their mental health issues affected some of their behaviors. When I took the time to learn, my attitude changed. Often, we can assist someone with mental health issues by being the person that they can trust and talk to. We don’t have to judge those with mental health issues at face value. Instead, we can love them for doing their best. Mental health and learning how to cope with it should not be done in the dark. Being open taught about mental health shows those that have issues that they have a community of people around them more than willing to assist them. If we can learn to be the light that they need, we can do more good than we know.

Friendship cannot be put in a box. It is incredibly unique, as the definition of friendship varies from person to person. Friendship is openly loving and sustaining those around us, for whoever they are and what they represent. When it comes to a friendship, both parties enjoy an aspect of the other person. This can range from one person laughing at another’s joke to a friend’s willingness to listen to everything you say. These friends will genuinely enjoy the time they spend with each other and always assist each other. More importantly than the time itself, incredible friends will uphold and help you, often no matter the circumstance. There is an important quality of lasting friendships that stands out to me. That trait is loyalty. Through the good times and the bad, loyal friends will stay with and assist you through the thick fogs and deep rivers. They understand what you are going through, have compassion, and want to see you make it through a rough patch. I have seen such friends turn and help my other friends through struggles, such as the death of a loved one, or parents getting divorced. Friendship is also loving others for who they are. When I say this, I don’t mean how they dye their hair. I mean that friends will look beyond what you assume to be flaws, and help you realize that those qualities make you who they are. True friends look beyond mental health and physical challenges and love you regardless. Friendship is kind, loving, loyal, and non-judgmental, among many other things. I value all my friends for who they are, what they represent, and that they don’t judge me based on my flaws. I desire to emanate these qualities by always supporting my friends in their time of need.

There is a youth sitting in a dank, cinderblock, fifteen-by-fifteen-foot cell. He has nothing to do but read a tattered copy of Lord of the Flies for the hundredth time. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Call of the Wild were nowhere to be found on the single-shelf library available to the youth at the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. Something had to change. These youth needed an activity, such as reading, to link them to their peers in the outside world and give them some semblance of normality. After realizing the detention facility’s need for a new library selection, I decided to lead a service project for youth that are often overlooked. I discovered this need through my mother, who visited the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. While speaking to the officers, she discussed my desire to complete a project that would benefit the community. It was then explained to my mother that the resident youth had an extremely limited book selection, all of which were outdated and in poor condition. When my mother informed me of the opportunity, I made a comprehensive plan, had them approve it, and then started the project. Working on the project required forethought. Before ever amassing books, I visited with many local business owners to request their permission to establish a collection site at their facility. After placing bins at 10 locations, I collected the contents on twice a week, approximately four hours a week. After every collection, I spent several hours adding every book to a spreadsheet, labeling its genre, author, title, and publication year. At the conclusion of the drive and after sorting inappropriate books out, I was left with 593 books. I neatly packaged them up in boxes by genre with my parents and sibling. Once completed, my father and I loaded them in the car and drove down to the detention facility. As we were dropping off the books, the officer was shocked when I reported that 593 appropriate books had been collected and that I had spent roughly 250 hours on the project. I then handed him my roughly thirty-page spreadsheet, which became their new “catalog”. As the staff members hauled away the books, I smiled, knowing that the books were going where they were needed. Leadership is crucial in a world where tasks get forgotten without organization. Great leadership to me means that I complete a project with minimal stress and maximum effort and organization. Throughout my life, as I have opportunities to lead both at work and at home, I always keep in my mind that I am not better than those I lead. Great leadership is about efficiently leading a group in an effort to benefit others in my community. Being patient while leading others helps portray my appreciation for those who volunteered their time and talent to assist fellow community members. John Maxwell puts it best when he says, “Leadership is not about titles… It is about one life influencing others.

Small things can often make our day better. When you are feeling down, what do you turn to? For some, it may be downing a cup of coffee or a relieving session of yoga. For me, leaving the house and into the world around me can make even the hardest of days feel just a bit bright. My favorite form of this is taking walks or runs around my neighborhood. In a world where many choose to spend countless hours a day behind screens, I make time to get outside and appreciate the world around me. If something has impeded my daily walk, I find that I sometimes start to have trouble focusing. I slide on my walking shoes, ask any of my siblings is they would like to join me, and then step outside and start strolling. No matter the longevity or brevity of the walk, every stroll I take helps me appreciate the nature around me. Another activity that always helps me clear my mind is running. Running is a great way for me relieve stress that also has a hidden purpose. Before every run, I set a goal for what pace I want to run at, as well as a minimum distance. After accomplishing these goals, I return home feeling proud of my accomplishment. Running helps me remember to push myself and set realistic goals in other aspects of my life as well. Actions as simple as walking and running help me remember all the beauty of the world that surrounds me. Although these two behaviors may be someone else’s least favorite activities, I participate in them because I always feel better after completing them. These activities help me re-align—and sometime rediscover—what I enjoy focusing on and pursuing passions in.

There is a youth sitting in a dank, cinderblock, fifteen-by-fifteen-foot cell. He has nothing to do but read a tattered copy of Lord of the Flies for the hundredth time. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Call of the Wild were nowhere to be found on the single-shelf library available to the youth at the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. Something had to change. These youth needed an activity, such as reading, to link them to their peers in the outside world and give them some semblance of normality. After realizing the detention facility’s need for a new library selection, I lead a service project for youth that are often overlooked. I discovered this necessity through my mother, who visited the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. While speaking to the officers, she discussed my desire to complete a project that would benefit the community. It was then explained to my mother that the resident youth had an extremely limited book selection, all of which were outdated and in poor condition. When my mother informed me of the opportunity, I seized upon it. But I could not rush into this project on a whim. So, I created a plan, which involved how I intended to collect books, the total cost of the project, and a calendar of what tasks needed to be completed by a certain date. After having my parents approve the plan, I set out to start creating relationships with business owners in my community. Working on the project required forethought. Before ever amassing books, I visited with many local business owners to request their permission to establish a collection site at their facility. After placing bins at 10 locations, I collected the contents on twice a week, approximately four hours a week. After every collection, I spent several hours adding every book to a spreadsheet, labeling its genre, author, title, and publication year. At the conclusion of the drive, I had gathered over six-hundred books. Sorting out any book that could be considered inappropriate, I was left with 593 books. I neatly packaged them up in boxes by genre with my parents and sibling. Once completed, my father and I loaded them in the car and drove down to the detention facility. The most rewarding moment of being a leader was handing the boxes of books over to the detention facility. When we dropped off the books, the officer was shocked when I reported to him that 593 appropriate books had been collected and that I had spent roughly 250 hours on the project. I then handed him my roughly thirty-page spreadsheet, which became their new “catalog”. As the staff members hauled away the books, I smiled, knowing that the books were going where they were needed. As you youth as picks up a crisp copy of Find the Good, his cell becomes just a bit brighter. He can choose books from Star Wars to the Hobbit, and even Spiderman comics. No longer reading the same plot line for the fifteenth time, he is now free to be taken on a brand-new adventure. Leading this project taught me that leadership has nothing to do with being having power over others, but is truly about assisting those around us. Throughout my life, as I have opportunities to lead both at work and at home, I will always keep in my mind that I am not over another person. Rather, I am guiding other to accomplish acts of service. John Maxwell puts it best when he says, “Leadership is not about titles… It is about one life influencing others."

Currently, I am assisting my elderly neighbors learn more about technology. Both of them have really nice electronic devices, but have no clue how to use them. I am helping them improve their knowledge on using the devices that they have. The other day, I brought them over some banana bread, and then sat down with them for over an hour. I taught them both how to add quick-dials to the Home Screen so that they didn't have to search for each other's numbers every time they needed to call each other. Additionally, they basically had every app the downloaded to their phones open in the background, which consumes a majority of the battery power. I showed them how to quit the apps that they are not using, and how to activate the Low-Power mode when needed. Additionally, they have a tablet that they really had no clue how it worked. Recently, I have been showing them little things, such as how to download apps and other basic activities on the tablet. They have both learned a lot from my little lessons on technology. I have a skill with technology that I can use to help others learn more. Eventually, they will be able to use their devices to the fullest capacity.