My name is Kelly Flores-Medrano. I’m 18 years old and I’m from South Carolina. I’ve grown up here all my life with my siblings and hard working, dedicated immigrant mother, who I love very much. If I’m being honest, I used to not think about my future much. It wasn’t until a few months ago when I started looking at the bigger picture on certain aspects of my life, where I realized “it’s time to put my big girl pants on.” That’s when I decided to began applying for schools and got accepted to my top pick, SC state University. After I found out I got accepted, I began to feel like I could do great things in this journey we call life and to achieve success, I would have to live through my own philosophy, “everything I do, I do with passion and purpose.” I have goals and want a successful career in accounting. I want to become not only successful in college, but to become the best version of myself. I deserve that. And to be able to do that I would have to let go of self-Doubt. Self-Doubt is the reason people don’t get their dream job. Self-Doubt is the reason why some people can’t sleep at night. Self-Doubt is kin to procrastination and anxiety. If I’m being realistic, self-Doubt is the reason why I didn’t think I was good enough for the cheer team, or for class president, or to even apply for an internship this summer. Self doubt is a curse I’m still learning to let go of. I have been able to work on letting go, though therapy, and self care. It’s not the cure to it, but it’s helped a lot. I have been more expressive and more goal oriented since I began my self-Care journey. I feel more alive and at peace because I’m putting my mental health first, and preparing it for great things, like my future. “Anything I do, I do with passion and purpose” Thank you.