Traveling is art. Traveling is music. Traveling is culture. To be able to travel is one of the most precious gifts in life. It allows us to understand and cultivate a relationship with the past and the future. I believe that if someone is able to travel and see new sights, they will gain an appreciation for so many things in life. But for some, they may not have the means to travel, but that doesn’t mean that they lose out, it just means they have to put in a little more effort to find it, such as in a neighborhood or a city in the county you live in that has a culture different than yours. I wish that all can have the means and ability to travel so that too can gain an appreciation for culture and life on a broader scale. I have been very fortunate and have been able to travel and visit places that we’ve read about in books and seen on TV. I would not trade those experiences for anything. The many always say travel while your young, but even if you’re not, still do it if you can. For me it took being very budget conscious and a flexible schedule to travel the way I did. I truly believe if you want it bad enough and you work hard, you’ll attain your goal of traveling. Traveling is at the heart of fascination and creativity. When you see how someone else has a parallel life with you and yet so different it really helps you grow as a person and individual. You see that there isn’t always one way of doing something, but rather a new perspective can give you new hope and appreciation. When we see places that perhaps are not as developed or is of poorer economics, we can see the change in the world that is need and perhaps things that could be done to help others, even ifs it on a small scale. And when you visit a place of ancient history, it revives the lives of those who lived then and shows us what we can learn, things we can imitate and things we can avoid. So, yes, travel is just a singular word, but really it means so much more. It’s adds meaning and diversity into ones life and when a traveler shares what they know with others, they get to transport them with their experiences.

The office is an incredible show, I always encourage newbies to hold tight and pay attention because the first 2 seasons really set up the rest of the seasons. For me I feel like I resonate with Pam the most. Although she is shy and quiet, she knows what she wants, eventually, and goes for it. She also isn’t afraid of trying new things and putting herself out there, like with her pranks and art. I feel she is perhaps not the most exciting character, but a beloved one nonetheless by the office community. I feel like I would like to be more like her and keep reaching my goals on an educational level and pursue the dreams that I have. I feel like the show represents so many personality types and shows what life is like and what it could be in a nutshell, if we all treated life like the office, we’d laugh more, and enjoy ourselves in the work and school environment. The office is a family and I would like to see that in the workplace. Even though you have pranks and jokes and intense moments, at the end of the day you still care about each other and willing to play desert island.

I consider myself a non-traditional college student because of the interesting and meaningful choices I've made in my life. I have personally have lived an unconventional life in that I have not always done what society has expected me to do, in regard to going to school and graduating right out of high school or working my way up a corporate ladder. There are many ways that society considers successful, and I believe that my non-traditional ways have lead me to what I consider success in my life. I began to take college courses while I was still attending high school, and then planned to continuing right after graduating high school because that was exactly what I was supposed to do, right? Well that's what I thought I was supposed to do because the school teachers and counselors made it seem that's the timing schedule that I need to keep up with to be successful. I challenged that norm and decided to take things at my own pace. And I'm so glad that I did because it allowed me to see what I truly and really want in life. I decided that I would pause school for the time being and begin a life journey around spiritual things. I became a diligent Bible student and then Bible teacher. I was able to do this ministry in my local area in Anaheim and then move for sometime to Mexico. Because of my spiritual goals it allowed me to travel a bit and see places and people that I never would have met, had I taken the traditional and conventional route. Now as life turns in different directions, new courses need to be charted and traveled--for me that means going back to school. Though time has passed, I have educational goals that I would like to attain in college because I know who I am and what I want to do as an individual. I look back thinking if I had continued school out of high school perhaps I would have not liked my career under the major I originally chose. Now I have the confident to know what I want to do and the determination to begin what I started almost 10 years ago. I'm happy to say that my non-traditional college life has led me back to college with the right perspective and motive to succeed now and in the future to come.

I loved growing up watching Disney channel! To think back on those shows reminds me and helps me to think about key moments in my life, a time where we waited for the show to come back on because of actual commercials. I especially loved Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana. If I were to make a cross over I would put the characters from these shows all in to the High School Musical screen play. It would bring the exciting world of Hannah Montana into the musical side High School Music and share a funny side with the characters from Suite Life. Episode 1: Hannah's First Day as a Wildcat Reporters convinced Hannah that she needed to attend high school just like every other teenager. So she needed to make her weekly appearances in school. Miley and Hannah couldn't go to the same school in fear of being found out- so Hannah decided to become a Wildcat along with Sharpay and the gang. The funny thing is, Hannah has to be taught how to do school like everyone else. The characters from Suite life are all in separate classes and are instructed by the school to help Hannah out. Treat her like everyone else, they said, but since she's a popstar--they are star-struck. Zack starts to fall in love, Sharpay wants to be her best friend, and everyone wants to sing back up with her. The school is getting ready for the biggest event of the year: The Musical. Thing is though, Hannah isn't interested in joining the Musical, but she doesn't want to let others down. So she runs away from everyone who is trying to sign her up with a clipboard and pen. All the while, they break into song and a musical montage of how Hannah's day is going in school. She sings about how its hard to get treated like the popstar she is in a school setting, and wishes she could just be Miley while attending school. Then at the end of the day she is confesses that she doesn't want to be in the musical because everyone expects her to be the main role singer. Rather, she used this moment to build others up and to have their moment in the spotlight and to reach their dreams as the singer and star that they would like to become in the end.

I grew up playing my dads original Nintendo 64, specifically Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 with my brother. For me, I think that started it all. Although Super Mario wasn't a multiplayer game, we made it so we could take turns playing the same story. I remember blowing into the cartridges and slamming it into the console to make it work (that was probably a bad idea.) We'd laugh and play and try to do tricks. I felt that my brother was an expert and I learned a lot from him. He helped me develop a love for gaming. When we would play Mario Kart, that's when our competitiveness would come out; my once shy and meek brother would be moving to and fro in front of the screen with every turn that he took, and I did the same, while pushing his controller away from him, teasing him. I would almost win and then he'd swoop in with his last shell he was saving and knock me out of first place. Those were good times. Then as we grew older, the games graphics got better and so did the fun, we still loved playing Mario Kart on the game cube, then the Wii and so on. My brother didn't talk much, but that was our bonding time and I will always look back in fondness--all because our Nintendo moments.

The story of Jim Maxwell is very encouraging, in that he spent his life trying to help others. I appreciate that this scholarship is encouraging people of faith to pursue their goals in a spiritual way. I try my best to live by Bible standards and volunteer my time in the community every week. I am a Christian member of my local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, here in Anaheim. My faith is what keeps me going despite a difficult world that we live in. When I was in high school, I had the goal of becoming a full-time Bible teacher, but there were many paths that I had to choose from. I was urged to go here and there by teachers and counselors, so at the time is was a bit overwhelming. I had developed a friendship with God and prayed to Him all the time about what path I should take. With Bible study and research, I learned that I should put God's Kingdom first in my life as mentioned in Matthew 6:33. Jesus encourages us to put Kingdom interests first and then all the other things we need will be added to us. I knew that this was the course I should go and I decided to become a full-time Bible teacher, known as a Pioneer, when I graduated high school. I have stayed on that course since September 2014, and now as September 2024 approaches, it will be my 10th year of full-time volunteer service in spiritual activities. I feel so appreciative and blessed for the life that I have lived. At one point, I was able to go to Mexico and assist the ministry there, it was an incredible experience that I'll never forget! I do not get paid for what I do, everything is voluntary, I must work secularly to support myself. There were times that I had lost jobs and had no food in the fridge, but prayer and faith always was a key factor in my times of need. A neighbor came and left me food, or someone gave me money unexpected, I knew that was God helping me in my time of need. My prayers were always swiftly answered and I never felt alone. Because of my time given in the ministry, I am limited in my job selections. The jobs that allow me the schedule I need for my service are usually low-paying jobs which makes it hard to keep up with rising costs of life. I am currently a Barista at a coffee shop, which allows me flexible hours to carry out my local ministry. My goal is to obtain my health technologies degree so that I can find a better paying job, while still allowing me the flexibility that will support me in my spiritual endeavors. I look to continue to make a difference in the community and help those who love to build their faith and trust in God. I plan to continue in full-time ministry, with the help of our Heavenly Father, and do my best to help others for as long as I can. I am happy to submit an application to a Scholarship Program that appreciates the support of spiritual growth in the community and the bettering the lives of other's with the word of God.

My best friend is my best friend because of the two-way bridge that we've built from each of our hearts. It takes time, energy, and sacrifice to build that bridge, but in the end its worth it. That is true for me and my best friend Ali. My best friend Ali has been there for me through it all. When I was without a job and in need, without question, she came over and filled my fridge full of groceries. When she was sick in the hospital, I was able to do her cleaning jobs so that she would have money for rent. A true friend is there for you when you need them the most, even with the times are trying and difficult, especially when they're difficult. She is loyal and kind, she is generous and silly; there are so many good qualities that I admire about her, but one that particularly stands out to me is her perseverance. Just by looking at her and seeing her you would never know that she battled cancer. She has a beautiful smile and is always telling jokes to get others to smile the same. Her positivity is unmatched. That is why its hard to believe she was so sick as she was. Ali found out that she had stage-four breast cancer and was encouraged to get a full mastectomy of her breast. She underwent chemotherapy and grueling months of sickness because of it. But through it all, she never gave up and persevered through the toughest of times. It really shows to all that her internal positivity radiated out. Her attitude and faith kept her moving forward in those dark times. I'm so happy to be able to call her my friend because of all these good qualities, and because she is a survivor of what can be one of the hardest things a person can go through. Our friendship is important to me not because I expect something in return of her, but rather of all the things that I can learn from her as a person. She has taught me so many things and perspectives that have changed my life for the better. I know that I have become a better person because of her and I feel so grateful to be able to call her not just a friend but I get to call her my best friend, Ali.