If you're an anime or Japanese media fan, then you have probably heard of Hayao Miyazaki, the Director of Studio Ghibli. Many of his films are favorites of mine, and there are a few that I could watch over and over again. However, for this essay, I chose Spirited Away. I watched it for the first time with my late grandmother, who introduced me to Ghibli films. Studio Ghibli was something we shared, so rewatching Spirited Away specifically reminds me of the time with my grandmother. Aside from sentimental reasons, Spirited Away has a very relatable message. The movie is about change, fear, anxiety, and the shift from childhood to adulthood, which Chihiro deals with when having to rescue her parents. In the beginning, we see Chihiro traveling with her parents to a new house, representing the change she's facing. She has to go to a new school, make new friends, and start over again. Throughout the film, the audience watches her face challenges, confront her fears, and build courage, confidence, and maturity that she didn't originally have in the form of working in a spirit bathhouse. You end up rooting for Chihiro and grow to love all the unique characters inspired by Japanese culture, which is another aspect of the film I love. I enjoy how Miyazaki can take a theme that's frequently used but make it special and different by creating this supernatural world and unconventional setting for Chihiro to "grow up" and face her fears. The last aspect of Ghibli films I love is the art. Ghibli is known for its stunning, often handpainted backgrounds. Each time I watch the film, the scene with the house on the island when Chihiro is taking the train and the deserted town brimming to life when night falls always blows me away with how beautiful they are.

My favorite K-pop group is ATEEZ! I have been a fan of them since around the beginning of their debut in 2018. They came from a tiny company and had to rely on their dreams and talent to become globally known. I watched them start with nothing to become the powerhouse they are today. They have twenty-four music show awards. Many of their albums topped the Billboard 200, Circle Album Chart, and Billboard Top Albums Sales chart. They were the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella, the second K-pop group to perform in Saudi Arabia, and the first K-pop group to perform at Mawazine in Morocco. They have achieved so much that they are known as the "Global Performance Idols" and "4th Generation Leaders," even though they have competed against huge companies like JYP Entertainment, HYBE labels, and SM Entertainment. Although they didn't pave the way like BTS and older generation groups did, Ateez (among others) proves their music is unique and worth listening to. East Asian culture, interests, and trends weren't popular around 2015-2016. It was something people made fun of you for, whether it was your food, watching anime, or listening to K-pop. Now, K-pop is well-recognized, especially in the Western world. Fans watch their K-pop idols perform on stage or through YouTube and fall in love. Through fan's exposure to K-pop idols, they learn more about the culture and open their minds to new foods, fashion trends, and experiences. K-pop's popularity has also influenced Western artists, fashion, food, and more. K-pop has even opened the door for other Asian idols and Asian pop, with K-pop groups having one or two Chinese or Japanese members. Groups like Ateez have collaborated with Japanese groups, bringing more recognition to J-pop, which is notably significant as Japan is very restrictive about sharing its music with the world. Ateez has proved that K-pop is a beautiful genre of music that takes years of dedication and hard work. They have shown me that success doesn't come effortlessly, but instead, with passion, friends, and support, you can achieve your goals. They have also shown me that destiny and soulmates exist. When all eight members auditioned at KQ Entertainment, fate intertwined them without them realizing it. When Seonghwa was practicing to audition for K-pop companies, his director told him about a trainee who joined KQ Entertainment and trained harder than anyone else. That trainee was Hongjoong, the first to join KQ Entertainment, and was Seonghwa's motivation before they met. Mingi and Yunho had known each other since high school, and both got accepted. Wooyoung and Yeosang were trainees at Big Hit, but Yeosang left, only for Wooyoung to follow him because he wanted them to debut (or fail) together. Lastly, Jongho and Wooyoung were at the same Block B concert without knowing they would become a team. The love and unbreakable bond that Ateez has for each other shows how the people in your life can truly become your family. Not everyone is in a field that they genuinely enjoy with people they care about, so watching Ateez be so authentic and complete with each other is something to admire and aspire to want for yourself. Ateez shows their fans and onlookers to lead with kindness, humility, acceptance, devotion, and authenticity, while also spreading Korean culture and values.

My favorite aspect of the game is the community. Minecraft is a game with endless opportunities where anything is possible, and the community exceeds those expectations. I have watched community members create builds that took them thousands of hours, whether replicating real-life attractions such as the Eiffel Tower or replicating fictional pieces of work such as the Shiganshina from Attack on Titan. I have followed Minecraft YouTubers who have created thrilling stories and music parodies using Minecraft animations or the actual game as their medium. Lastly, Minecraft's community is constantly improving the game and taking it steps further with mods. Mods build upon vanilla Minecraft while giving players unique mobs, biomes, blocks, weapons, and more to keep them playing. It allows players to be more creative and imaginative, which is one of the main goals Minecraft sets to accomplish. This aspect resonates with me because, without an active fanbase, a game can fade away from existence. Although Minecraft consistently updates, their community brings attention to the fifteen-year-old game. Since Minecraft has a huge following, it allows them to hold events like the MC Championship, have mob votes, collaborate with companies like Pringles, Burberry, and AAPE, and collaborate with celebrities like Jack Black and The Rock. Minecraft's long-lasting career and massive success are due to its loving community, which keeps the game popular and relevant.

My experiences with mental health influenced me to pursue the Psychology field. From a young age, I saw how my friend's were affected by mental health and how they were unable to improve it due to lack of knowledge or resources. I have dealt with trauma that has affected my mental health such as my parent's ongoing divorce. It has affected and disrupted my home, social, college, and work life due to the severity and longevity of it all. Although seeking help may not solve all my problems due to the divorce, I have access to it and healthier coping mechanisms. However, when marginalized communities have less access to resources, they're less likely to know about the importance of mental health and mental illness. It also makes them more prevalent to mental health issues as they have less access to coping strategies. The first step to making a positive impact within marginalized communities is education and awareness. It could be hosting interactive lessons or courses at the local library, donating books on mental health, or holding classes on meditation and breathing techniques. If I'm able to provide communities with healthier, better coping techniques, it can help their mental health or prevent a mental health crisis. However, external factors have a huge impact on mental health, like poverty, food deserts, and more. If I want the mental health within a marginalized community to improve, those factors must be faced. For example, creating a community garden would not only bring the community together, but also bring in healthier food options which can improve mental health. If those communities don't have to worry about taking 3 buses to reach a grocery store to buy fresh produce, it may ease some of their anxiety. In some marginalized communities, they may believe mental health isn't important or "not real," so the best way to make a positive impact is to change their mentality. By letting them know that mental health is real and important, it validates people with mental health issues in that community, helps them understand themselves more. The hope is that it allows them to pursue further education on the topic so they can learn the best ways to deal with any mental health issues that arise in the future. It may not be a big step to make a positive impact, but it's an important first step as marginalized communities are more susceptible to mental health issues.