"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne Today, people constantly compare themselves to others, especially with the prominence of social media. They always see someone who is richer, prettier, or more fill-in-the-blank than them. As a result, people's self-confidence has taken a hit because they can immediately see someone else who they think is "better" than them. They believe that they are not worth what they truly are. This quote just serves as a reminder that you are so much more than you believe about yourself. Some of the simplest quotes come from children's books, and people need to revisit those beloved stories on their own, not just reading it to their children before putting them to bed. Children need to learn at an early age the truth of this sentence so they can grow up secure in their self-worth and identity.

When I went on my gap year in 2018-2019, I served alongside fifty other young adults in the communities of Costa Rica, South Africa, Thailand, and Myanmar. During that time, we blogged about our experiences weekly, giving updates of our community service and how we were growing as a team and as individuals. Through blogging, I discovered a passion for writing. I did well in writing essays during high school, but this was different. I could finally share my thoughts without having a grade attached to it. With this passion, I now have a goal to write a book one day. I do not know what it will be about, but I have a story inside that will one day be shared with the world. Until then, I will continue to journal my thoughts, sharing them with others when appropriate. As a college student, I realize that I have my whole life to write - I only hope that it will not take my whole life to write a masterpiece.

You know that point in nearly everyone's life when they go through an obsessive phase about the Holocaust and read just about every book that has something to do with it? Yeah, that was me in my teenage years. I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak in high school as a personal choice, and I can say that it is my favorite novel of all time. Looking at the Holocaust through the eyes of a little girl and Death provided such a beautiful and realistic experience of how that war and genocide affected all the characters. Even though the novel is historical fiction, I find that fiction tells the most inspiring stories because it lets the readers see valuable lessons that can be applied in real life. Fiction also provides an escape from reality, and that is also where life lessons can be taught and then brought back into the real world. Also, the role of Death made such an impact in this novel because the spirit of Death was treated as a person observing the terrible events and silently taking people's spirits, giving it a tender, warm touch, instead of the cold and lifeless persona we put on death. There's even a quote that states, "Even death has a heart." Death watched people fighting each other, and it makes the readers realize that although people fought for different causes, they would all face Death in the end. It reminds the readers of their mortality and teaches them to be kind to all.

You know that point in nearly everyone's life when they go through an obsessive phase about the Holocaust and read just about every book that has something to do with it? Yeah, that was me in my teenage years. I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak in high school as a personal choice, and I can say that it is my favorite novel of all time. Looking at the Holocaust through the eyes of a little girl and Death provided such a beautiful and realistic experience of how that war and genocide affected all the characters. Even though the novel is historical fiction, I find that fiction tells the most inspiring stories because it lets the readers see valuable lessons that can be applied in real life. Fiction also provides an escape from reality, and that is also where life lessons can be taught and then brought back into the real world. Also, the role of Death made such an impact in this novel because the spirit of Death was treated as a person observing the terrible events and silently taking people's spirits, giving it a tender, warm touch, instead of the cold and lifeless persona we put on death. There's even a quote that states, "Even death has a heart." Death watched people fighting each other, and it makes the readers realize that although people fought for different causes, they would all face Death in the end. It reminds the readers of their mortality and teaches them to be kind to all.

Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, is by far my favorite scientist. While I myself am not following in her footsteps by pursuing chemistry, I aspire to be like her - breaking down boundaries set by men, shattering people's expectations by exploring the unknown and devoting her life to research and discovery.

Oftentimes, I go through phases where I watch a specific movie over and over again, and this cycle happens at least three times a year. Right now, I am fixated on the film, Julie and Julia. This movie is a pleasant biographical work of art that I will never get tired of. Switching back and forth between the lives of Julie and Julia during their culinary times highlights the journey they took to find themselves and their passions. In a way, I identify with Julie. Although I am not working nor married, I feel that I am in the same stage of life as she was. I am not happy about where I am in life right now, and Julie wasn't either. However, she set a goal to go through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" within a year, and her situation changed. She found joy and developed perseverance. As for myself, I am in the process of realizing what my passions are and how I can make a difference in this world. This movie inspires me to push myself until I get to a place where I feel happy and whole.

In 2017, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia, which is believed to be caused by untreated depression. All my life, I wondered why my grandmother would become furious so easily and why she never seemed happy. She always degraded herself and never took joy in anything. Also, my grandparents fought so much that I thought they would be better off getting a divorce. However, I am glad they didn't. My grandfather finally stepped up and took control of the family. He stepped up to help her with household chores and other menial tasks. My grandmother ruled the roost for the longest time, and that power was taken away from her upon her diagnosis. Fast forward to today, my grandmother is now bedridden and entirely dependent on my mother, also her daughter. My grandfather passed away on October 19, 2019, after a terrible battle with skin cancer. By now, I am sure that you are wondering why I gave you a small backstory to my family's life of the past four years. Ultimately, what I have learned is this: a person needs to take care of their mental health. I myself have struggled with my mental health, especially since the pandemic hit last year. All my life, I have struggled with anxiety, and recently depression has crept in, leaving me wondering how I need to change so these issues do not overtake or control my life. I have realized that I need to take care of myself because it is my responsibility. Sometimes that thought overwhelms me because I feel like I do not have time to practice self-care. However, I do know that I can only be my very best when I feel my very best. I have seen it affect my participation in clubs and even in my classes. I am still in the process of figuring out what works best for me and how I need to change for the better. Moving forward, I hope to believe in myself and have the confidence to take on my fears. Also, I hope to secure a job that I love and find my passion in life. If I am being honest, I think that I do not know what my passion is, and that frightens me. I want to enjoy life and be present with my family and friends. I want more for myself, but I feel like something is holding me back. I need to figure out what that is and move forward with my life. I do want to help others as well, and my heart goes out to those who are suicidal or self-harming. I hope to help end the stigma behind mental health and make our society a more open and honest environment. Several steps have been made in the past years to promote self-awareness and getting help. I only wish that my grandmother had put aside her pride and accepted help at the beginning of her struggles. I know now that I must not repeat her mistake.

I never knew that I, an introvert, would miss the routine of mingling with fellow students on my college campus. I never knew that I would get excited to go to the grocery store on the weekend. I never knew that could feel so isolated. COVID-19 changed that. Although this time of social distancing and quarantine has been incredibly difficult, I have learned several things about myself, including how to cope with family stress and how to take care of myself mentally. When my college announced that the remainder of the semester would be all online, I didn’t know what to think. At first, I thought it was a blessing for my mom because I relied on her to drop me off at my college campus. Now, I could just stay in my room and attend classes from my laptop. Even though the first couple weeks were an adjustment, I think I transitioned as well as I could. However, when I found out that the fall semester would be all online as well, I was crushed. It was strange, but I realized that I missed getting out of the house. Being a natural homebody, you would think that this quarantine was a dream for me. However, you can only do so much in your home before going stir crazy. Also, going to school was my escape. My grandmother lives with my parents and I. She has Alzheimer’s and dementia. It was very difficult to stay at home while trying to deal with that disease for the whole day instead of just the evening. It’s mentally and emotionally draining. I became very depressed during this time, and the isolation fueled the mental torture I was experiencing. After some time, I realized that I needed to change because I was on the verge of self-destruction. To cope with my feelings, I started taking my dog on afternoon walks and started a gratitude journal. I still have a ways to go before I feel like I used to, but I’ve made a good amount of progress. As for the world, I’m still learning about all of it. Ever since we went into a global shutdown, I’ve never seen so much dissension in a country. However, at other times, I’ve never seen so much unity. Everyone is doing their absolute best in this situation, and many have flourished. For instance, many clubs and organizations are still meeting but virtually, and many churches have started streaming their services on social media. We are finding ways to stay connected even if it means we have to do it from our own homes. However, this pandemic has made me realize that we were not prepared for a virus of this magnitude. I suppose the Spanish Flu of 1918 didn’t give us many tips for how to adjust to a new life. Anyway, some countries have handled the virus very well, but others have yet to be “COVID free.” All in all, I think this virus has opened up everyone’s eyes, and I think it has made people aware of how bad things can actually get. So much is changing that I don’t think life will go back to “normal.” So many businesses are completely remote now, and I’m not sure if anyone will want to go back into the office if they can just do the same work from home. In all, I don’t think society will ever be the same – I think we will only improve to be more prepared and unified. When the pandemic hit, I thought that by Christmas, we could resume a normal life. I didn’t think wearing masks everywhere would become a norm. However, even though I don’t know when the virus will dissipate, I continue to hope that we strive to be strong and focused on a brighter future.

In high school, I was the Vice President of my school's National Honor Society. I held that position for my junior year. At the end of that school year, I ran for President. I ran against one of my best friends who had no leadership experience in that society. I lost to her and was devastated. I was ready to take on that title and serve as the President of the National Honor Society. When that opportunity was pulled out from under me, I contemplated whether or not I should stay at my high school. Now, that sounds extremely dramatic, but at the time, all former Vice Presidents took on the role of President for their senior year. For me, losing the vote made me realize how prideful I had become. I had nearly all A's in my classes and I served in other leadership positions such as band and theater. I thought I deserved the title of President. That day served as a wake-up call for me to take a step back and look at the person I was becoming. I realized that I needed to become a servant again and humble myself before taking on another leadership role. It reminded me of a verse that says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Because of that moment, I have served in several areas to remind me of the importance of humility. After graduating from high school, I took a gap year and served others in Costa Rica, South Africa, Thailand, and Myanmar. While I was out of the United States, I taught English to underprivileged children, spread the message of Jesus Christ and his love, and learned how to serve in foreign countries. In all honesty, if I became the President of my school's national honor society, I believe I would have an entitled attitude and look down on others. Because of that moment, I can remind myself that I am equal to everyone. I am not better than the next person, and I don't deserve anything. I have to put in the work to reach my goals. They won't come to me on a silver platter.