Unfortunately, my family has never had the best aptitude with technology. Whenever a problem would arise, whether that be with our television, tablets, computers, or any other device, I would always be the first one to come to the rescue. Due to there constantly being something for me to fix, I've grown up completely surrounded by technology and figuring out its inner workings. What started out as a chore grew into a hobby, as I would sit in my room and read about all of the different components of computers and how they were built. Then, that hobby slowly turned into a passion as I realized the global need for well trained information technology specialists. Certainly there has been a significant growth in the use of technology in daily life. The availability of information has expanded to the end of our fingertips. Aspects of data and technology has become undeniably intertwined in jobs, school, and recreation. Yet with this growth, there comes a necessity for people to understand how it works. I hope to become trained in information technology because I know that it will allow me to find a meaningful occupation where I am able to feel fulfilled in solving problems and making people's lives easier. I've always loved being able to address problems and fix them. In my mind, there is nothing more rewarding. I am also interested in the way we utilize data. I am considering majoring in data analytics, that way I can take raw data and make it understandable to everyone. I know that these fields are growing and becoming more and more important in our society. Data is used in every aspect of business, and the need for those who can dissect it is growing rapidly. In my life, I was always under the impression that you go to college to get a job that pays well. I never thought that you could also be passionate about what you study. However, I am very fortunate to be able to pursue a stable field that I am also interested in. Although there are a lot of women that are afraid or discouraged to pursue stem fields, I am completely open to the challenge it provides. I am excited to see how technology expands and helps the world in the future. The thought of all the possibilities of how technology could expand is exciting to me, and I can't wait to find my place in this growth.

For many years, all I ever wanted to do was leave my hometown. I dreamed of living in a more exciting city, in direct opposition to my quiet little community. "Bigger and better" was always my objective after high school. I practically made a vow that I would chase a future rooted in more adventure. Yet I never really stopped and reflected on how my town has actually impacted me. Not many parents trust their little kids to take their bikes around town all day long without any supervision, but that's never a fear my mom and dad had where I grew up. Everyone knows everybody, so I've always had people looking after me. If the chain popped on my bike, someone nearby would be able to fix it. If I fell and scraped my knee, I could always knock on the nearest door for a bandage. Even as I grew up, my teachers (who I often knew outside of school) would always encourage me to be the best I can. I slowly realized that there were ways in which I could give back to the community that has helped me in so many ways. In the beginning of my senior year, I took over my high school's new food pantry. The pantry operates to offer quick breakfast, lunch and snack items to all students. Additionally any student could take food home to their families if needed. The experience has opened my eyes to the fact that there is clearly a need for something like this, even in a community as small as mine. It's easy to turn a blind eye to issues in a small peaceful town because there's a tendency to see everything behind rose colored glasses. But I have had some time to reflect on how blessed I am for having lived in such a supportive town where I could help others in a similar way that they've helped me throughout my life. There is such a significant aspect of neighborly duty among everyone and it's instilled in me a sense of responsibility to those around me. I would love nothing more than to continue to show my appreciation for where I live. I still hope to volunteer in various town functions, such as trash pickups, putting on movies for the kids in the park, and hosting a tree lighting ceremony at Christmas time. I would also like to organize more events at our community's retirement home. I have found great joy in participating in bingo nights and writing valentines for the residents, who often don't receive many visitors. There is still a large part of me that yearns to see other parts of the world and experience new places. That curiosity and ambition will always be a part of who I am. And while I plan on travelling to new places and discovering new adventures, I will always find myself returning to the town that has cultivated me into the person I am today.

"Defense is the best offense". When most people hear that quote, they find that their brain instantly switches to sports like football or basketball. Oftentimes, teams cannot win unless their defense is strong and ready to face the challenges before them. Only then can they win. And while sports haven't necessarily helped with my personal finance literacy, a similar logic has served as a key point in my understanding of financial responsibility. I am currently at an age where many of my friends and I are working part-time jobs. I often find it humorous when I hear them complain about how they spent all of their latest paycheck on the newest fashion trends. While I certainly have nothing against spending money on things I enjoy (sometimes I go out to eat more than I'd like to admit) but there is certainly a point where a line needs to be crossed. This is where the quote comes in handy. The "offense" in this case refers to how much money you make. The "defense" refers to how much money you save from each paycheck. I've found that it doesn't matter how much money you make if you end up spending it all in one sitting. The most important lesson I've learned is that setting aside a certain amount of money from each paycheck can go a long way to set yourself up for the future. Before starting my senior year, I'd managed to save $10,000, which I have squared away in a brokerage account to grow passively. Some amount of self-control is certainly necessary to refrain from impulse spending, but saving a modest amount from each paycheck has truly taught me that defense is the best offense.

"The best offense is a good defense." When most people hear that quote, their mind instantly shifts to sports like football, where defense is often described as the key to victory. But I have applied the same logic to money in my own life. I don't exactly remember when I first heard this phrase in regards to personal finance, but it has certainly stuck with me ever since. I'm currently at an age where many of my friends and I have part-time jobs. Whether those jobs are to pay for gas, car insurance, or to simply earn a little spending money, people my age are forced to begin learning financial responsibility. I almost find it humorous when several of my classmates complain that they spent their whole paycheck on commodities like earrings, movie tickets, fast food, and other spontaneous purchases. There's certainly nothing wrong with spending money on things you enjoy (I for one go out to eat more than I'd like to admit) but self control and a little forward-thinking can go a long way to help young adults set themselves up for the future. That's where the quote comes in handy. The "offense" in this case refers to your income. The "defense" refers to how much money you save from your paychecks. When I got my first part-time job, I immediately knew that I wanted to set up a brokerage account. It was almost like a game to see how much money I could save by refraining from making unnecessary purchases and I've been able to save nearly $10,000 before graduating high school, most of which sits in my account where it grows passively. So whether it be football, basketball, or personal finance, the best offense truly is a good defense.

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right". This quote is plastered on posters in many of my high school classrooms. Several times I would look at it and scoff, as though the colorful bubble-lettered words were mocking me while I struggled with difficult math problems or long essays. Oftentimes I would think to myself, "That's the most corny attempt at inspiration that I've ever seen." I know, I was quite the pessimist. But for some reason, that poster became stuck in my mind. I would always remember that quote when I needed it most, almost as though it went with me wherever I would go. Over time, it would become my personal motto. One in which I would apply to every aspect of my life. I've always been hard on myself. Some see that as a positive thing. I mean, at least I challenge myself to do better, right? But that isn't always the case. You see, there's quite a bit of negativity that comes with excessive self-criticism. A fine line is created between criticism with the goal of improvement, and criticism with the intention of self-deprecation. I tended to lean towards the latter of the two. I never believed in myself, and I took any failure as a sign to stop trying. This constant battle deprived me of any actual growth. As I grew up, I slowly started gaining confidence in my abilities. I no longer looked at challenges with the mindset of, "I know I can't do this, so there's no point in trying." Instead, I started taking chances on things that I was unsure of, and allowing myself to fail and succeed. This boost in optimism goes beyond the classroom. Just this past summer, three days before my eighteenth birthday, I completed my first marathon. Three years ago, if you would have told me that I would go on to complete a marathon before I was even eighteen, I would have said something along the lines of, "You're crazy! I could never do that." But I did. I was skeptical, sure, but I was willing to take a chance and I believed in myself. I did something I never would have thought to be possible. Experiences like this have helped me believe that I can truly do anything that I set my mind to. Because ultimately, whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're probably right.