"GRYFFINDOR!" I consider myself to be courageous, daring and bold. Much like the traits in the beloved series written by J.K Rowling, Harry Potter. Embodying Rowling's character, I consider my greatest achievement to be perseverance. To never give up despite the difficulty and delay in achieving success. Whether that includes educational, marital or financial. I could sit and write a personal experience about how I traveled to serve a full-time mission in Japan as a volunteer missionary at only 19. But that is not what being bold and brave means to me. It is not one large act that is often told in feats of literature or folklore. Like Beowulf, or Lancelot. It can be something as small as standing up for ones values and standards. Simple gestures and acts of kindness. In a world so determined to stand separately and take sides, it takes bravery to stand together and build community in our differences. I admit, that although I identify as brave and daring, I am more than often afraid. Afraid to stand up to and for others, afraid to peruse life on my own without falling back to rely on my support system. Afraid to voice my opinions and stand my ground when my values are shaken. But courage is not the absence of fear. It is the judgment that knowing something is more important. I may be afraid of receiving harsh criticism, and would want to opt out on hearing negativity directed at me. But knowing and understanding that I need improvement, and listening to the constructive criticism that my peers have to give is more important than running away from it. Which to me is bravery.

"GRYFFINDOR!" I consider myself to be courageous, daring and bold. Much like the traits in the beloved series written by J.K Rowling, Harry Potter. Embodying Rowling's character, I consider my greatest achievement to be perseverance. To never give up despite the difficulty and delay in achieving success. Whether that includes educational, marital or financial. A simple introduction of myself includes many of the indifferent facts that our society uses to distinguish success or status. A system used to tell us who we are and where we are going as a nation in the years to come. How our individual block terms are used to identify and single out those who will indeed raise our Country. A list of statistics used to distinguish the success of communities by logging race, ethnicity, household income, marital status, gender, education and religion. Well, here are my stats. White, female, single, renter, employed, nonminority, nonveteran, high school graduate, heterosexual and nondisabled. However, none of these words describe who I truly am as a person, what I've accomplished and experienced. And how I intend to use my worth and value to shape and forward my community. That person is more complicated, sure. Not as easy to read as a list of simple, straightforward facts. But here I am. Who that is has been shaped and influenced by many people. I could sit and write all day how Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland shaped how I wish to succeed as a woman in todays society. A society that still demands the worth of a woman is still lesser than her counterpart. But my true influencer has always been my mother. A single-parent of 3 kids, divorced, disabled and dependent. There is no one whom I greater admire, trust and respect. In a society that labels her as lesser, has always been greater. From her I have learned the values that shape and direct my life today. From her I have been impressed to expand my simple understandings, and experience the world and its people's sense of community. Not it's separateness. From her I have learned to value education, and above all respect people. And not just those who fall under the same demographic as I do. Throughout my life my mother has counseled me in my career aspirations, encouraging me to utilize my skills and achieve greatness. She has been my number one supporter, and she has influenced my life for better. My love and drive for wanting to work with and help at-risk teens in a therapeutic setting; whether or not that takes form in counseling or social services, comes from a maternal place in my heart. As I have had my own mother to guide and direct me, children in todays society do not always have that luxury. I am determined to succeed and persevere in my educational journey, so that I may more fully contribute to society, especially it's youth.