There are many changes we can undertake to make education better for future generations. Make it more affordable, guaranteed job placement after graduation, make the curriculum more engaging, and so on. For me, the number one problem I had at the beginning is not knowing what to do. I didn't know what I wanted to major in. I didn't know how I would pay for everything. I didn't know how to survive in this new environment. If I had some kind of guide, I believe I wouldn't be coming back to college at 36 years old attempting a master's degree. It took so long for me to really know what I wanted to do. I know I'm not alone in this. I had many friends with no direction drop out because they kept changing majors. Sure, there are academic counselors and professors to talk to, but they are not there every step of the way. There should be a step-by-step tool that all students can access. It should be updated by current and former students daily. It could be a user-friendly app. A digital navigator that never leaves your side. It could be a start to finish road map used by previous predecessors or current students that have learned something new to add to the service. With services like how to finance your education, what a day in a specific career looks like, course roadmaps, internship information, etc. This would not be a cure all for students, but it's a start. I believe this would alleviate a lot of the stress that comes with the first years of college. I think future generations would thank us for this. I don't want students going through what I had to go through to finally know what they want to do in college or life. I want to make college easier to get through. That is the change I would like to make.

Dogs are always there for you when you need them. They are caring and compassionate. They can be strong when they need to protect loved ones. They come in all manner of personalities. These are just a few reasons why I love dogs. Growing up in a low-income home meant my parents were always busy. Busy working, running errands, and looking after my siblings and myself. There was hardly time for them to spend leisurely on us. My siblings both had their own hobbies that usually involved staying indoors confined to a room. I was more energetic. I liked the feel of the sun as I ran around the yard. I would pretend to be a superhero defeating imaginary villains trying to invade my home. As imaginative as I was, I still got lonely. All the energy in the world means nothing if there's no one there to share in the adventure. I wanted a companion. I wanted a dog. I thought my parents would be against it, but to my surprise they were on board. Now, the question was what kind of dog to get? I wanted a medium sized dog like Labrador retriever or a border collie. Big enough to intimidate those fictional bad guys. What I got was a miniature pinscher. A miniature pinscher is a small breed dog which originates from Germany. They look like a German pinscher only half its size. not the sidekick I had in mind. I was heartbroken. How was this tiny animal going to keep up with me without me carrying him? I was 8 years old with a dog the size of a cat. Don't judge a book by its cover. This dog was a ball of energy wrapped in a sheet of ferocious. He kept up with me and then some. He wouldn't fetch he would destroy. In the yard he ran amok and cremated concocted criminals. A demonic spawn that terrorized everyone in sight, and he was my best friend. I don't know why he spared my life, but I loved him for it. My joy skyrocketed and I was never lonely for the remainder of my childhood. I now know the impact my mighty miniature pinscher had on me. He taught me dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and attitudes. He taught me that being prejudice is not worth missing out on friendship. By all means that is no small feat.