I believe that kindness is often underutilized in most people's lives. People spurting out words that they will later regret in a fit of frustration at someone, misunderstandings between individuals that cause relationships to suffer, and many other hurtful situations are all too common. Because of this, I choose to try and implement as much kindness as possible into my daily life. Through kindness, I hope to improve the lives of everyone I come in contact with, no matter how small. Kindness doesn't need to be difficult, and it doesn't need to be big. Simply asking someone if they are alright and listening to them is something that anyone can do, and it can create a tremendous impact in that person's life. Simply giving a genuine compliment to a random stranger can do wonders for their self-esteem, and may be a moment they will never forget. Any kind of favor done with no other intention than to make the day of the person you're doing it for better, is appreciated more than is realized. That 5 dollar bill you gave to the person who didn't have enough money to buy a bus pass might seem insignificant to you. But to them, it allowed them to get home in time to spend time with their family who missed them. My goal is to improve the world through kindness and compassion. However, I am not just talking about the planet we all live on. I want to improve everyone's individual world, and everyone's individual life. One small act of kindness might seem inconsequential in the moment, but it just might mean the world to someone else. That is what I strive to do every single day, and that is the example I want to set for everyone around me.

How do you console someone who is suicidal? One might think that there is no clear answer to a question like this. But to me, there is. To me, my experience demonstrates that you just have to listen to them. I have a friend who I have known for more than 8 years. We have spent countless hours together, said countless things to one another, and we know each other like the back of our hands. And yet, there was something about my friend that he kept hidden from me. Something that had been tormenting him for years, and I was completely oblivious to it. What I didn't know, is that he was depressed and had been contemplating taking his own life for a very long time. One day he wasn't acting like himself and I asked him if he was okay. That was when he told me everything; his issues with his family, his personal insecurities, and many other things that all weighed on him. I was shocked at first from hearing all of this, but I let him vent all his frustrations, and I did the best I could to offer advice and to support him emotionally. I told him that I cared for him and that he is worth it. A couple months later, he told me that I stopped him from committing suicide. He had already planned it out, and was going to act on it very soon. But my intervention prevented him from doing it. This experience made me realize that my passion in life is to help other people struggling with mental health, and kickstarted my want to major in Psychology and become a therapist. No one deserves to live their life while suffering silently, and I want to help those who are.

My uncle once told me that one of the worst things one can do is be irresponsible with their money. He said that the most common mistake that people make is thinking they can afford a purchase and remain in their budget, when in reality they cannot. He told me that the easiest and most accurate way to know if you can afford something, is to follow The Rule of 2. Essentially, take the price of what you are considering purchasing, and double it. Look at the new price and ask yourself, "Would I be able to afford that price with my current salary while still being able to cover my other mandatory expenses such as rent, food, clothing, and anything else?" If you answered a definitive yes to that question, go ahead and buy it. If you answered anything other than yes, then don't even think of purchasing it. This advice demonstrated to me that to be financially well-off, you need to know the difference between needs and wants, as well as the concept of delayed gratification. Knowing that you should wait to buy something and save up a little money to then have enough later to make that purchase is one of the most valuable lessons to know when handling finances. You don't need that $300 manicure, you only want it. What you actually need is enough money to pay for your food, your tuition, and your personal well-being. And after you have taken care of those, take the rest of your money and save it. This advice is one that I will always live by. People say time is money, but I think it is the other way around. The more you invest and put aside finances for later, the more you will have in the long-run.