My city needs help. The area I live in is historically under-resourced. There are homeless people, addicts, and gun violence all across my community. I was forced into this system of perpetual poverty and violence because of the way I look. When I was born, I was alienated from my family because I was black. They had racist beliefs, and my existence didn’t fit into their family dynamic. My mother has always been a single mom; without any help from her family, it was tough sometimes. I remember having to wake up in homeless shelters, sleeping inches away from crackheads. Because I live in the inner city of St. Louis, there's always violence near. This abundance of crime is because my community is unsupported, underfunded, and neglected by our governing body. Though the area is undergoing gentrification, that only means we’re losing the culture that was originally established here. Instead of beautiful murals, late music festivals, and locally owned businesses, I see white walls, dog parks, and corporate-owned companies prowling on my block. My home is turning into a marketplace before my very eyes. Instead of replacing the culture, I'm doing everything to support my community. When you look up any St. Louis economic statistics, my neighborhood is marked as a red zone. Continually, I see the struggle in my day to day. I love my people, and I’ve tried to do everything in my power to uplift what I think is crucial to the continuation of our society: the children. In 2020, I taught a business/finance class to youths over Zoom. I discussed the importance of understanding how to manage finances. The project was hosted by an elementary school in my area. I stood in front of several elementary classes and had a conversation with the children about economics. I never had resources like this growing up that I remember, so I wanted to provide these children with the most opportunities possible. 2022-2023, I'm planning, funding, and hosting a chess tournament partnered with the St. Louis Chess Club for underprivileged youths. I love chess and I love my community. I especially love when those two passions of mine can come together and form something beautiful. The program would be set up as a normal chess tournament; people would sign up and, through several bracketed rounds, win, lose, or draw (designated by a 1, 0, 0.5 respectively on their score card). The winner would be rewarded with a prize. My tournament would be completely free to enter for children who qualify for free/reduced school lunches or go to school in our public school district. My goal is to allow a child opportunities who hasn't experienced anything like this before. I want a lot of the contestants to be inexperienced in chess and come from an underrepresented or underprivileged background. I chose to organize this project specifically because chess has impacted my life so significantly. I’ve always, like these children, wanted to do more but felt like I didn’t have a way out. I’ve always felt like I wanted to get my family away from a system that doesn’t care about them; my “out” was chess. Children are the future of this world. Volunteering and chess is the way I've helped and will continue to help my community. I love to reflect on where I came from and relate that to where I am now. I’m overcoming the situation I was presented at birth by uplifting my community. I was never supposed to get this far, and the system I was in knew it. Constantly, I was reminded that I was inferior to those above me, and I always felt like me and my people had less growing up in the city. I want to create a truly safe environment for our future. Echoing gunshots and screaming every night doesn’t exactly provide a sense of ease. Though I appreciate my city for all its attributes, it still would have been nice to know I was safe. I want kids to know that not everyone and everything is out to get them. I’ve overcome the sleepless nights, poverty, and violence by contributing to a cause I genuinely believe in: restoring my community.

The area I live in is historically under-resourced; there are homeless people, addicts, and gun violence all across my community. I was forced into this system of perpetual poverty and violence because of the way I look. When I was born, I was alienated from my family because I was black. They had racist beliefs, and my existence didn’t fit into their family dynamic. My mother has always been a single mom; without any help from her family, it was tough sometimes. I remember having to wake up in homeless shelters, sleeping inches away from crackheads. Because I live in the inner city of St. Louis, there's always violence near. This abundance of crime is because my community is unsupported, underfunded, and neglected by our governing body. Though the area is undergoing gentrification, that only means we’re losing the culture that was originally established here. Instead of beautiful murals, late music festivals, and locally owned businesses, I see white walls, dog parks, and corporate-owned companies prowling on my block. My home is turning into a marketplace before my very eyes. Instead of replacing the culture, I'm doing everything to support my community. When you look up any St. Louis economic statistics, my neighborhood is marked in red zones. Economically, my community never fares well, and I continue to see this struggle in my day to day. I love my people, and I’ve tried to do everything in my power to uplift what I think is crucial to the continuation of our society: the children. In 2020, I taught a business/finance class to youths over Zoom. I discussed the importance of understanding how to manage finances as you get older. The project was hosted by an elementary school in my area. I stood in front of several elementary classes and had a conversation with the children about economics. I never had resources like this growing up that I remember, so I wanted to provide these children with the most opportunities possible. 2022-2023, I'm planning, funding, and hosting a chess tournament partnered with the St. Louis Chess Club for underprivileged youths. I love chess and I love my community. I especially love when those two passions of mine can come together and form something beautiful. The program would be set up as a normal chess tournament; people would sign up and, through several bracketed rounds, win, lose, or draw (designated by a 1, 0, 0.5 respectively on their score card). The winner would be rewarded with a prize. My tournament would be completely free to enter for children who qualify for free/reduced school lunches or go to school in our public school district. My goal is to allow a child opportunities who hasn't experienced anything like this before. I want a lot of the contestants to be inexperienced in chess and come from an underrepresented or underprivileged background. I chose to organize this project specifically because chess has impacted my life so significantly. I’ve always, like these children, wanted to do more but felt like I didn’t have a way out. I’ve always felt like I wanted to get my family away from a system that doesn’t care about them; my “out” was chess. Children are the future of this world. I’ve hosted these programs and done volunteer work because I genuinely believe the cause is worth my time. This is the way I've helped and will continue to help my community. I love to reflect on where I came from and relate that to where I am now. I especially enjoy seeing myself in kids that are just like me.

The area I live in is historically under-resourced; there are homeless people, addicts, and gun violence all across my community. I was forced into this system of perpetual poverty and violence because of the way I look. When I was born, I was alienated from my family because I was black. They had racist beliefs, and my existence didn’t fit into their family dynamic. My mother has always been a single mom; without any help from her family, it was tough sometimes. I remember having to wake up in homeless shelters, sleeping inches away from crackheads. Because I live in the inner city of St. Louis, there's always violence near. This abundance of crime is because my community is unsupported, underfunded, and neglected by our governing body. Though the area is undergoing gentrification, that only means we’re losing the culture that was originally established here. Instead of beautiful murals, late music festivals, and locally owned businesses, I see white walls, dog parks, and corporate-owned companies prowling on my block. My home is turning into a marketplace before my very eyes. Instead of replacing the culture, I'm doing everything to support my community. When you look up any St. Louis economic statistics, my neighborhood is marked in red zones. Economically, my community never fares well, and I continue to see this struggle in my day to day. I love my people, and I’ve tried to do everything in my power to uplift what I think is crucial to the continuation of our society: the children. In 2020, I taught a business/finance class to youths over Zoom. I discussed the importance of understanding how to manage finances as you get older. The project was hosted by an elementary school in my area. I stood in front of several elementary classes and had a conversation with the children about economics. I never had resources like this growing up that I remember, so I wanted to provide these children with the most opportunities possible. 2022-2023, I'm planning, funding, and hosting a chess tournament partnered with the St. Louis Chess Club for underprivileged youths. I love chess and I love my community. I especially love when those two passions of mine can come together and form something beautiful. The program would be set up as a normal chess tournament; people would sign up and, through several bracketed rounds, win, lose, or draw (designated by a 1, 0, 0.5 respectively on their score card). The winner would be rewarded with a prize. My tournament would be completely free to enter for children who qualify for free/reduced school lunches or go to school in our public school district. My goal is to allow a child opportunities who hasn't experienced anything like this before. I want a lot of the contestants to be inexperienced in chess and come from an underrepresented or underprivileged background. I chose to organize this project specifically because chess has impacted my life so significantly. I’ve always, like these children, wanted to do more but felt like I didn’t have a way out. I’ve always felt like I wanted to get my family away from a system that doesn’t care about them; my “out” was chess. Children are the future of this world. I’ve hosted these programs and done volunteer work because I genuinely believe the cause is worth my time. This is the way I've helped and will continue to help my community. I love to reflect on where I came from and relate that to where I am now. I especially enjoy seeing myself in kids that are just like me.

The area I live in is historically under-resourced; there are homeless people, addicts, and gun violence all across my community. I was forced into this system of perpetual poverty and violence because of the way I look. When I was born, I was alienated from my family because I was black. They had racist beliefs, and my existence didn’t fit into their family dynamic. My mother has always been a single mom; without any help from her family, it was tough sometimes. I remember having to wake up in homeless shelters, sleeping inches away from crackheads. Because I live in the inner city of St. Louis, there's always violence near. This abundance of crime is because my community is unsupported, underfunded, and neglected by our governing body. Though the area is undergoing gentrification, that only means we’re losing the culture that was originally established here. Instead of beautiful murals, late music festivals, and locally owned businesses, I see white walls, dog parks, and corporate-owned companies prowling on my block. My home is turning into a marketplace before my very eyes. Instead of replacing the culture, I'm doing everything to support my community. When you look up any St. Louis economic statistics, my neighborhood is marked in red zones. Economically, my community never fares well, and I continue to see this struggle in my day to day. I love my people, and I’ve tried to do everything in my power to uplift what I think is crucial to the continuation of our society: the children. In 2020, I taught a business/finance class to youths over Zoom. I discussed the importance of understanding how to manage finances as you get older. The project was hosted by an elementary school in my area. I stood in front of several elementary classes and had a conversation with the children about economics. I never had resources like this growing up that I remember, so I wanted to provide these children with the most opportunities possible. 2022-2023, I'm planning, funding, and hosting a chess tournament partnered with the St. Louis Chess Club for underprivileged youths. I love chess and I love my community. I especially love when those two passions of mine can come together and form something beautiful. The program would be set up as a normal chess tournament; people would sign up and, through several bracketed rounds, win, lose, or draw (designated by a 1, 0, 0.5 respectively on their score card). The winner would be rewarded with a prize. My tournament would be completely free to enter for children who qualify for free/reduced school lunches or go to school in our public school district. My goal is to allow a child opportunities who hasn't experienced anything like this before. I want a lot of the contestants to be inexperienced in chess and come from an underrepresented or underprivileged background. I chose to organize this project specifically because chess has impacted my life so significantly. I’ve always, like these children, wanted to do more but felt like I didn’t have a way out. I’ve always felt like I wanted to get my family away from a system that doesn’t care about them; my “out” was chess. Children are the future of this world. I’ve hosted these programs and done volunteer work because I genuinely believe the cause is worth my time. This is the way I've helped and will continue to help my community. I love to reflect on where I came from and relate that to where I am now. I especially enjoy seeing myself in kids that are just like me.

2021: I taught chess to a group of underprivileged children in a Boys and Girls Club near my home. I wanted to share my passion for chess. My sentiment instantly backfired. On the first day, I brought all my chess sets. Immediately, the children tossed the pieces, put them in the wrong configuration, and disrespected an ancient beauty. Their mouths infected every piece in sight, and the rook was quickly substituted to play a “cute” Barbie rather than a reliably stable guard. The next week, in hopes of a different outcome, I brought several different types of board games: Scrabble, Life, Pictionary, etc. The children immediately sprinted to the stations and picked their favorite game. The sound of their joyous cries filled the air. I remember it, still: the way they laughed, played, and lived. It sounded like freedom. I tried to push my interests into the creative minds of others, while I should’ve just let them communicate their imagination the way they wanted. Their creativity was more beautiful than anything I could've imagined. For a moment, I'd forgotten my purpose; I didn't come there to push chess on unwilling participants but to share the wonders of fostering creativity. 2022: I helped service canned goods to those in need. I packed, distributed, and lifted pounds of canned goods for hours. It seemed like endless cars were lined up to be serviced, but I knew how important this was. I could see the exhausted faces of my fellow humans as they lined up for their food. Their energy was sapped and it looked as if they could collapse at any moment. I don’t take pity on anyone, but I do know when someone needs help. For as long as I live, I know that I'll help anyone who needs it. Although the work might seem enduring, I always remind myself of the purpose; Why do I do this? I do it because I know I’m making a change. I’m contributing to a better life for, at the very least, someone. 2023: During the start of my Summer, I volunteered with Forest ReLeaf to plant trees. The sunlight was overbearing; the light burned my eyes as the heat exhausted my body. Outdoor work is not my forte. I looked around, however, and saw countless people there to help and be a part of this cause. It was amazing. It was amazing to see how many people cared about the health of our planet. I immediately got to shoveling. By the end of this experience, everywhere was filled with dirt. My entire body was aching; I don’t know how farmers do this. My soreness, I knew, was not in vain. I'd given my body for the betterment of the world in which we stand. It’s the least I could do. Present: Through every one of these experiences, I’ve learned something new. With the children, I learned to help people by broadening their experiences. During the food drive, I learned the validation of helping someone in need. By planting trees, I learned the importance of building a better world for the generations to come. It's taught me that I love to help and see change. Volunteer service has taught me that seeing things grow and knowing you helped during that process is one of the most validating things one could ask for. It’s also made me see growth within myself and the way I think. Helping others, though even selfishly, ultimately helps you in turn. I love to see others succeed. Just because of that, volunteering is the most satisfying thing in the world.

2021: I taught chess to a group of underprivileged children in a Boys and Girls Club near my home. I wanted to share my passion and the pleasantries existing in chess. My sentiment instantly backfired on me. On the first day, I brought all of my chess sets. Immediately, the children tossed the pieces, put them in the wrong configuration, and disrespected an ancient beauty. Their mouths infected, probably, every piece in sight, and the rook was quickly substituted to play a “cute” Barbie rather than a reliably stable guard. This behavior expanded across a long, arduous week. The next week, in hopes of a different outcome, I brought several different types of board games: Scrabble, Life, Pictionary, etc. The children immediately sprinted to the stations and picked their favorite game. The sound of their joyous cries filled the air. I remember it, still: the way they laughed, played, and lived. It sounded like freedom. I tried to push my interests into the creative minds of others, while I should’ve just let them communicate their imagination the way they wanted. Their creativity was more beautiful than anything I could've imagined. For a moment, I'd forgotten my purpose; I didn't come there to push chess on unwilling participants but to share the wonders of fostering creativity. 2022: I helped service canned goods to those in need. I packed, distributed, and lifted pounds of canned goods for hours. It seemed like endless cars were lined up to be serviced, but I knew how important this was. I could see the exhausted faces of my fellow humans as they lined up for their food. Their energy was sapped and it looked as if they could collapse at any moment. I don’t take pity on anyone, but I do know when someone needs help. For as long as I live, I know that I'll help anyone who needs it. Although the work might seem enduring, I always remind myself of the purpose; Why do I do this? I do it because I know I’m making a change. I’m contributing to a better life for, at the very least, someone. 2023: During the start of my Summer, I volunteered with Forest ReLeaf to plant trees. The sunlight was overbearing; the light burned my eyes as the heat exhausted my body. Outdoor work, clearly, is not my forte. I looked around, however, and saw countless people there to help and be a part of this cause. It was amazing. It was amazing to see how many people cared about the health of our planet. I immediately got to shoveling. By the end of this experience, everywhere was filled with dirt. My entire body was aching; I don’t know how farmers do this. My soreness, I knew, was not in vain. I'd given my body for the betterment of the world in which we stand. It’s the least I could do. Present: Through every one of these experiences, I’ve learned something new. With the children, I learned to help people by broadening their experiences. During the food drive, I learned the validation of helping someone in need. By planting trees, I learned the importance of building a better world for the generations to come. In short, I plan to make a positive impact on the world through giving back. I'll continue to do community service projects while always keeping in mind why I’m doing it; I just want to help the planet grow and be as great as possible. Even if it takes years, I'll make a noticeable change in our world and people’s lives through service.

Disney Princesses. As with everyone else, I’m sure, they shaped my childhood. Who can’t relate to them?; the writers masterfully make their character traits relatively broad while still maintaining unwavering stoicism and individualism, so there can be some kind of inclusion for everyone. All princesses have a lot of shared qualities: leadership, ambition, kindness, finding their identity, etc. These are natural characteristics for any upstanding person to have. The one major thing that can set the princesses apart, though, is their distinct ability to connect with particular individuals. I was nine when I first saw Moana. Initially, I had doubts. I was beginning to age and see that Disney’s targeted and intended audience would soon not fit me anymore. I thought I’d get in front of this self-proclaimed inevitability by rejecting anything Disney-related. I finally stopped watching “Mickey Mouse ClubHouse,” which was quite difficult. I used to watch this show religiously; at one point, my mother made me sit in the corner to take a break because I was reciting the episodes word for word, had not taken my eyes off the TV for over 13 hours, and “looked like a zombie.” She thought all that was very creepy. To this day, I will occasionally indulge in such pleasures; not only does this feed the inner child inside of me, but it also just gives me genuine enjoyment. Although I attempted to break free from this “immaturity,” I couldn’t resist any longer. Eventually, my discipline would falter, and I would see the movie. I remember it so clearly, even seven years later: “I AM MOANA.” She declared it. She declared her name as if it were the Bill of Rights. The way her words echoed, proudly, was so powerful. This is what Disney is about. Counteracting the years of stereotypical female archetypes, creating an ambitiously strong narrative, making core memories, and giving people something to look up to. Instead of being a damsel in distress, Moana is a brave ruler who will do anything for her people. Seeing someone who is so much like me be so sure of their identity was extremely validating. Her empowerment resonated with me deeply. I felt tingles flare upon me, and my hysterical excitement wouldn’t subside. I thought to myself, “I am Moana” over and over again. I begged my mother to listen to the entire soundtrack every day after the movie. Alone, I’ve probably given them thousands of streams. I know I made my mom so upset, but I just couldn’t help myself. Every song is perfect. Again, I fell back into my obsessive habits. Disney will always be a part of my life, whether I like it or not. I can never stay away from the enticing stories, beautiful character development, and infectious songs. Outsiders may call it childish, but I truly believe Disney is for everyone. These concepts can traverse the imagination of just children; the themes intertwine with real-world issues, and their messages apply to everyone. Little kids aren’t the only ones who want a break from reality. Everyone can relate to Disney, so everyone should just start embracing it. Without the guidance and help of many Disney princesses and their principles along the way, I would be a completely different person. Disney has consistently sparked a fire and passion within me and shaped me more so than any other form of entertainment. I’m just glad I got to grow up with so many great influences.

Be yourself. Incredibly simple, right? The world is never inherently against a person, but it definitely feels like that sometimes. To think the universe hates you is pretentious and self-righteous in its own way, so I’ve tried to steer away from this way of thought. There are a few times within my life, however, where I’ve genuinely questioned if some cosmic force, all-powerful entity, was pulling strings to intentionally ruin me. Everyone will eventually struggle with their identity. It’s nearly impossible to constantly stay true to your values and know exactly who you are. This goes for anyone. For me, though, I feel like I was almost destined to never know precisely who I am. Identity has always been a huge struggle for me. I am an Asian/Black person living in America. My identity, from day one, was split. These cultures, primarily Asian and Black culture, are extremely distinct. My experience with multiculturalism is adequately represented by a key point of my life. At this time, everyone shows their true selves, and no one holds back: the holidays. I spent Christmas in 2018 with the Korean side of my family. Everything was fine.. until we (me and my brother) showed up. The atmosphere visibly changed, and it was simply awkward. We hadn’t really spent the holidays with them too often because my mother was afraid of exposing a hateful environment. This time, I could feel the tension. Even as I walked through the house, I felt like an intruder; I immediately took my shoes off, but I still didn’t quite feel welcome. I went downstairs with the other kids. They had so many nerf guns. Honestly, I felt like a targeted, trapped victim. They pelted me with their strongest toys with hysterically excited grimaces on their faces. I think I took the punishment well, but I could feel the little darts pierce my face, and it didn’t feel nice. Eventually, it was dinner time. Immediately I could tell that something wasn’t quite right. Before we even took the first bite, my uncle stood in front of everyone and basically said “I can’t eat with them (me and my brother) sitting next to me” in Korean. I was supposed to understand because he’s a self-proclaimed germaphobe, and I suppose I was a trigger. I was expected to overlook his hatred while he could easily compromise. I was with the Black side of my family for New Years. The experiences are drastically different, but ultimately the same. This part of my family is very welcoming. The only reason for complaint is their emotional ignorance. Several of them have called me, my mother, or my brother an Asian slur; their intent doesn’t seem malicious, rather curious, but it still feels cruel. It’s like my sense of belonging was bound to be questioned. I felt like I was always “too” something. There will be people who try to tell you what you need, but their advice should always come after your own. I’m not going to let people dictate who I am because there’s really no point in experiencing life if you’re existing through someone else. My experiences with multiculturalism and racism are unique in that there is a literal split in my person, and the cultures I belong to are arguably opposite in practically every way. I do think my constant struggle with my place in society has contributed to my curiosity now. I’m open to a lot of things because I need to be. My personality is open, so I have gotten some positive attributes from my experiences. I’m grateful for that.

My future belongs to me. I am the one who will control my destiny. I am the one who will shape my fate. Constantly, I’m reminding myself of this; I remind myself in case I ever let that lurking doubt creep up on me and allow me to lose what’s most important to me, my fight. Because of my family’s history, it’s almost as if the world was telling me to stay complacent. The cycle of poverty, dead dreams, and crushed enthusiasm within my family background is vast, and I won’t allow myself to fall into the same traps. I feel an overwhelming responsibility to crush this vicious cycle. My mother, even, has experienced the viciousness of this lineage; she raised us, me and my brother, all by herself. She experienced great adversity in hopes of us getting out of the system. Never will I let her gift go to waste. Too many bright aspirations have already died for me to be selfish and throw this all away. Being strong for my family is my number one priority. I believe that uplifting those closest to you is the most satisfying thing life can offer. I’ve personally seen the effects of instability and the unknown. Growing up in a single-parent household presents extreme financial challenges. Everything could collapse in an instant, and it’s not like there’s someone else to rely on. Several nights I would have to find something to eat myself, eat alone, and there wouldn’t even be a table to dine at. Everyone worked; my mother has always been the main source of income for our family, but my brother and I have helped as much as we can as well. Though I try to focus on other values, it seems that this world constantly emphasizes wealth. Money is intertwined with practically all aspects of life, and financial stability oftentimes means independence and power. I need to be able to support myself to eventually be able to support my family. I need to be able to give back, and the greatest way to do that is through affluence. The way I intend to create greater opportunities for myself and my family is through my education. Studying and researching is the way I am going to get my family away from a system that doesn’t care about them. STEM is, statistically, the highest-paying field. Compared to arts or other fields, STEM dominates the finances. Immediately, for someone like me, someone who needs more financial stability, a career in STEM is my chance for success. Not only will it help me and my family’s financial status, but a career in STEM, specifically technology, just seems very interesting to me. Tech has always intrigued me, and I’ve even had the pleasure of researching, primarily tech-based projects, at Washington University through a summer program. The program essentially solidified my interest in research and STEM. Technology, and several other STEM disciplines, will only continue to grow in its power. It’s a competitive field, promotes curiosity, and most importantly, will provide sufficient finances for my family. Continually, I find myself wanting more. I always want more for my family and the people I care about. I genuinely think my education is the way I can achieve this. Being able to support myself financially as an adult means I’m taking the right steps to finally repay my family. My ticket toward my dreams and aspirations is through a career in STEM, and I won't stop reaching for these goals until I've defined my future the way I want.

My education has always played a dominant role in my way of thinking and general life choices. It provides opportunities for me that would’ve, undoubtedly, been out of reach. Although I’ve experienced struggles or faced obstacles in the past, the effort I put into maintaining my educational prowess has been consistent. Though this is the case, I have occasionally had periods of extreme hardship and had to overcome difficult circumstances. Specifically, my family’s history has had intense struggles with incarceration. As a child, my father and I would often pass the time by taking leisurely walks in parks and around the neighborhood. Generally, these walks would be civil, but they would sometimes turn into something violent or scary. When I was younger (likely 7 or 8), I vividly remember a time that we were on a walk, and we heard gunshots surrounding us. My father swiftly picked me up, and he ran home with me in his arms. Our neighborhood, to say the very least, was dangerous; incidents like these would occur semi-frequently. I hadn’t known these dangers were uncommon nor did I know events such as this one would help shape me into the person I am today. Though the ever-lurking dangers within my neighborhood troubled me, the greatest challenge I faced was my father being incarcerated for extended periods. Although he is a great man with upstanding values, he was subjected to a vicious cycle of discrimination and cruelty, ultimately leading to him repeatedly being imprisoned. The hardships that come from a family member, especially a direct one, being incarcerated are extreme. Every aspect of my life has been and will continue to be affected by this fact. My education, my social life, and my family life have all seen the effects of having an incarcerated family member. My education has always been important to me and my family. I strive to go to college and pursue some kind of degree in mathematics. I have several ambitions and aspirations I would like to achieve later on in life, and I strongly believe education is my opportunity to achieve my goals. My family’s history with incarceration, however, has affected my education and social life. I had to move to several different schools when I was younger because my family was in a constant stream of impoverishment. There was always a certain awkwardness surrounding me as I entered new schools, so my social life also began to deteriorate. In my life, including socially, several things are affected by incarceration and continue to mold me. Hence, family life has constantly been tricky for me. Because of my father’s continuous incarceration, my mother is a single mom who works to provide for her children. It’s made my familial dynamic different from more traditional families, and I’ve experienced the difficulties of a single-income household. It’s altered the way I view finances and how I generally view affluence. Certain saving and working habits have developed because of my outlook on money. I have an extreme work ethic instilled within me because of my circumstances and experience with incarceration. Although I am not defined by incarceration in my family history, it has certainly contributed to difficulties in my life. With that being said, I still have immeasurable opportunity, privilege, and potential in my education and livelihood. Because I’ve seen and experienced the effects of hardship, I don’t take these gifts for granted. I pride myself on my ability to bounce back from difficult situations, and I believe my family’s past surrounding imprisonment has ultimately shaped me into a more dignified and independent individual.

Generational wealth signifies prosperity and security. Presently, our society puts extreme value on wealth and financial stability. To some, affluence is synonymous with success. Although I believe success manifests in several different ways, generational wealth is the absolute form. It’s stability for my family, security for my lineage, and a clear way to establish yourself in a world that puts status above everything else. Wealth would also help with the hardships my family has faced. Poverty is a common thing within my community, so I need to end the pattern while providing new opportunities for others. Coming up in a relatively poor environment, I value money greater than others. My mother is a single mom who works hard to provide for my family. She was not given a grand inheritance and has worked for everything we have. With that, I also have grown up knowing there is no money waiting for me, no estate to be had, and an expectation to work for what I want. Interestingly, half of my family grew up with wealth (my mother’s side), and the other half grew up in poverty (my father’s side). Though this is the case, I was isolated from my family with extreme wealth, but I still occasionally saw the differences in lifestyles and general livelihoods of each side of my family. With this established parallel in my genealogy, I’ve directly seen the effects of generational wealth compared to penury. Inherited wealth simply gives a greater edge and power to families. Power and affluence are so desirable because of the stability and protection that comes from them. The uncertainty of money is what makes it so appealing; because it is so difficult to get, it makes it all the more enticing. Once you have achieved wealth that can go beyond just your immediate family, it is a sign of success. When you hear names like McDonald's and Rockefeller, you immediately think of the success they and their disciples have. The originators of the subsequent businesses were the foundation for these success stories and the eventual generational wealth. One similarity between all of these accomplished companies is that the beginning stages were extremely gradual. Generational wealth does not come from one singular achievement. It’s cultivated over time with several different things contributing to it. Obtaining wealth extending beyond supporting just your immediate relatives can only be achieved one way. Only through consistency and patience will generational wealth occur. To achieve this, I plan to work hard and slowly gain more and more wealth. This is why I pursue my educational efforts so diligently and plan to go to college in the future. Generational wealth needs to be something that has merit and real stability. My wealth will, after college and other educational pursuits, eventually come from my efforts in entrepreneurship. To keep building my wealth empire, I’ll have to create a business or company for my family in the future to carry on. I believe real generational wealth is successful only when properly maintained. Along with me, my future bloodline will need to work to preserve our already established wealth. Affluence and riches are so important in modern society. With that, generational wealth is highly regarded, and when achieved, people and their families are automatically boosted throughout the social hierarchy. Opportunity and prosperity for my family are the reasons why I pursue education and work. I believe generational wealth is something that can get my family and our history out of a vicious cycle of poverty, and I will do everything I can to establish the footing necessary to achieve this.

Driving under the influence is a serious issue that affects individuals, families, and society as a whole. DUI accidents are a prominent issue within America that affects a significant population. Even I have seen the psychological and physical effects of DUI accidents through my father. He was in a severe accident because of an intoxicated driver. He had to go through surgery, still has medical bills, never drives on the highway, is always apprehensive in vehicles, and has never been the same since. Although DUIs occur quite frequently, there are several ways to prevent them. In doing so, we would ensure the roads are safer, educate people on the dangers our society faces every day, and reduce the deaths of innocent civilians with dreams and important aspirations like Anthony McPherson. Though having many significant effects, DUIs have the most notable consequences regarding bodily injury. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2022, there were 10,142 deaths in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28% of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States. The physical injuries can be minor or severe, ranging from bruises and cuts to spinal cord injuries and brain damage. Not to mention, the emotional and psychological impact on the victims, their families, and friends can also be severe and long-lasting. Emotional instability and mental trauma are extremely common after an incident involving DUIs. The psychological effects of DUIs are often overlooked but can be more severe than the actual accident. The emotional trauma of a DUI accident can also impact relationships with family and friends. The social pressure and guilt that comes from a DUI are immense and often irrecoverable. The majority of victims of a DUI accident are reportedly 55% more likely to have PTSD or other effects on their psyche. Pressuring a victim after a mental illness-inducing accident is abhorrent, but sufferers of DUI accidents are often subjected to financial consequences. The cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation for those injured in these accidents can be substantial, and the loss of income due to physical injuries or legal consequences can be devastating for families. To prevent DUIs, several strategies can be implemented. Firstly, education campaigns can raise awareness of the dangers of DUIs and promote responsible drinking practices. Education campaigns can be conducted through traditional media: television, radio, print, or social media platforms. The focus of these engagements should be on promoting responsible behavior, such as choosing a designated driver or using public transportation. Along with education, we can also use our technologically advanced society to our benefit. Ignition interlock devices are just one example of technology that can prevent DUIs. These devices require drivers to blow into a breathalyzer before starting the vehicle, and if their blood alcohol concentration is above the legal limit, the vehicle will not start. Ignition interlock devices have been proven to be effective in reducing DUIs and can be required as part of the legal penalty for DUI convictions. Speaking of penalties, our legal system should introduce new prevention practices. Law enforcement agencies can increase their efforts to detect and deter DUIs. This can be achieved through sobriety checkpoints, increased patrols, and stiffer penalties for offenders. DUIs have significant effects on individuals, families, and the world overall. Preventing DUIs requires a multifaceted approach that involves education, legal enforcement, technological advancement, and efforts from our society as a whole. If these preventative measures were in place, maybe my father would not have changed so drastically, DUIs would not be such a problem in modern society, and Mr. McPherson could continue spreading his brilliance and passion throughout the world.