Independence is a big part of my life after graduating high school and going to college. Being independent means making your own decisions and being in charge of yourself. I am a very independent person and was so happy when I was given more independence after getting to college. Being independent has a large impact on my daily life. I like being able to make my own decisions and do things that I want to do without being restricted by anyone. Independence allows me to take responsibility of my own decisions because no one else had influence on it but myself. Another way I look at independence, is the country we live in, the United States. Being an independent person in a free country allows people to practice any or no religion, speak their mind, and the freedom to petition the government, etc. These are all examples of what all citizens get to practice in the United States because of our independence and freedom. In our society, it would be very difficult for many of us to function our unique daily lives without being independent from one another.

Being optimistic, especially through tough times, has been very important to my life. I have been through many different types of tough times that have taught me different things in each situation. I used to be a big "Debbie-Downer" and I was never truly happy and found myself always complaining. I started to force myself to think more positively in my everyday life. I found myself seeing this problem in other people in my life as well. Optimism has allowed me to be much less worried and anxious about certain situations and their outcomes. Being optimistic when going through a rough patch is what got me through. If I was constantly complaining and thinking negatively about the situation it took me so long to recover and get through the challenging time. Overall, I have learned from experience that being optimistic will not only allow you to be a better and happy person but also be less stressed and willing to power through hard times.

As a young adult with most of my life ahead of me, I have lots of dreams, goals, and views for my ideal future. I want to be able to get through my undergraduate degree within 2 to 3 years and finish pharmacy school in 4 years. I want to start my career as soon as possible. Once I am settled down, I want to travel around the world. Traveling is a big hobby of mine and something I want to do my whole life. I hope to find the man of my dreams and eventually have a family of 2 to 3 kids. I would like to live in a medium-sized town and work in a community pharmacy in this town. I would like to live on the edge of town or in the country so I can have some land and space for myself and my family. At some point in my life, I want to be able to coach volleyball at any age level. After I am finished with college, I will be able to settle down and follow my path of what I want my dream life to look like.

My dog's name is Zoey and she is a Mini St. Bernard. Mini St. Bernards are a mix between St. Bernard and cocker spaniel. We got her in June of 2020 as a COVID puppy. She is very excited and still a puppy, but is my princess.

There are countless things in my life that make me happy, it is so difficult to just pick one. After lots of thought and consideration, I think what makes me the happiest are the people and the relationships in my life. Seeing my family makes me smile. Their constant care and concern for me make me feel important and that I am loved. Also, they are some of the funniest people and they know me the best. Being with people that you can be yourself around makes me the happiest. The old and new friendships also make me happy. Friends are the people who fill the gap of family. Every time I see friends I smile, the dopamine is increasing in my brain. Friends have a way of caring and showing support differently than family. Lastly, all of the other people in my life like professors and colleagues for example. The people who are interested in me succeeding. When I reach out for help, most of the time they are all very willing to assist me. All of these people make me happy by showing me that they care in many different ways.

Generosity is a word that can mean different things to different people. To me, the simplest way to define generosity is the willingness to give. To be generous, you are willing to give your time, money, or knowledge for the benefit of someone or something. Generosity is what makes people unite. Small actions of giving can make this world a better place. I try to volunteer as much as my schedule allows and this is my way of giving back and being generous to our community. Generosity also involves kindness and respect. People who are generous give out of the kindness of their hearts. They want to make this world a better place. People who give to make themselves look better or to brag are not actually generous. There is no kindness or respect in that type of giving, in fact, it's pure selfishness. Any act of kindness, gift, or volunteer time are examples of generosity because you are giving something for the benefit of something or someone. One key point of generosity is expecting nothing in return. Generous people find joy in giving or helping others and expect nothing in return. Striving to be generous in today's world is important in making it a better place for all.

There are many problems facing the world right now but the worst is probably the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a very controversial topic and has caused lots of changes throughout the world within the last two years. Different countries have taken different actions to slow the spread and hopefully end the pandemic. There are also vaccinations available in certain countries to all citizens. For example, in the United States, it is highly encouraging to receive the vaccine and it is free. This encouragement is in hopes that more vaccinated people leads to fewer people dying from the virus and slows the spread. In Minnesota, the governor is trying to pass a mandatory vaccine for all residents. This is one way to work on this problem. I am a firm believer to fix any problem in this world is to use our differences in ideas and opinions to work together to find solutions. This pandemic has divided our country because of the opposing views on the topic. In fact, this pandemic is not only involved in the health of the world but also the politics of the world. I think the best way to work on this problem of deaths from the virus is to come together and find a middle ground. Everyone needs to be a little more open-minded and willing to listen to others' opinions while respectfully sharing theirs. Society needs to be a little less selfish and consider more about what is best for the world instead of what is best for themselves.

As a young, inexperienced investor, there are many tips and tricks that I have taken to heart and considered. One that sticks out the most is the idea to invest when the markets are low and sell when they are high. The broker that I work with told me this and it really stuck out to me. Most people see that the market is doing really well and they say "we should invest". This is actually not smart, because it is more likely to go down than to keep increasing for them to make money. Reversely, when the market is low and not doing as great, is the best time to invest because it can really only go up from there. It is not always promised how long it will take for an investor to make money but it will happen at some point. Overall, be sure to make logical decisions when investing your money.

The most helpful piece of financial advice is probably from my grandpa. Even though the most ideal financial situation is debt-free while having everything you need to live, that is rarely the case. My grandpa is a farmer and has lots of costs and revenues. He talks about the debt that you get does not define you as a person. In fact, if you have more assets than you do debt you do not need to worry. As long as you are making your payments and listening to the banker, you will be ok. He also continues to tell me about different investments and how they can financially benefit you for the rest of your life. He and my grandma have an investment fund for each of their grandkids because they want each of us to use this as extra money if it is ever needed throughout our life. He talks about different investments that he has made and the ones that did really well and others that did not do so well. All of this information is very helpful when thinking about my financial future. He has gone through many different highs and lows with farming over the last 40 years. This makes him a good source to get financial advice and knowledge from as he has been on almost all spectrums of finances. Overall, the idea of debt is an acceptable thing to have as long as you are making payments to maintain your credit score, and investments are a great way to make money on your money and have a little extra aside for emergencies.

There are many people from history that I admire in different ways. One person that sticks out to me most is Rosa Parks. She was an African American woman who experienced severe racial discrimination during the Civil Rights Movement. She refused to move seats on a bus because of her skin color and she later got escorted off by the police. I admire this because she was standing up not only for herself but all of the others that were dealing with this injustice at that time. Also, I admire that as a woman she had the confidence to go against the rules and fight for what was right. I believe even in today's society women should stand up for what they believe in. Also, in today's society discrimination against gender and race using Rosa Parks as an influencer and admiration for generations today. People like her are the people in society that make changes for the better. I want to be able to make positive changes to this world like Rosa Parks. The stereotypical world we live in can be changed or challenged by people like Rose Parks.

There are so many things that society can do to most effectively empower women. The most effective way is to allow equal opportunities in any aspect of society to women. This requires businesses to be more willing to hire or at least consider hiring women. Also, for society to let go of the stereotype of women and their specific duties. Also, the reassurance of other women cheering on and rooting for women to be empowered in today's society. Women empowerment is equally as important as male empowerment as both genders so have an equal opportunity at any role in society. To ensure that these demands are met, stereotypes need to continue to be destroyed and obstructed to show the world that society is changing.

There have been many different experiences in my life that have caused me to work hard and push through an obstacle. One that permanently changed my life forever, was the unexpected loss of my dad at the age of 12. This was the worst time of my life. I was just starting to figure things out and then I was hit with this. There were so many times that I wanted to give up because of the death. I felt my dad's presence telling me that it will all be ok and I can push through this. I continued to work hard with my academics, at my job, and through my extracurricular activities in high school. As I continue to work hard, I see small rewards and reminders that this is why I should not give up. I am using this challenge to remind me that I can do anything no matter the obstacle. I have demonstrated leadership in many ways throughout high school and now the start of college. I was the class president of my class for 5 years. I was on the National Honor Society officer team for two years and the Youth advisory committee officer team for two years. I did many things through these organizations such as planning events, community service, and put on different activities for students and other members. I acquired many leadership skills throughout the years of being involved while also being able to work as a team and make student life more fun. In college, I have started being involved in campus organizations. I am a student ambassador for the dining center on campus. This role means I am a student advocate for needs and wants that should be considered for the dining center. I also am a member of the Duluth Campus Lions Club, which is an organization that is specifically designated to volunteer work in the Duluth areas. Lastly, I am a member of the Pre-Med Club, the Pre-Pharmacy Club, and the Chemistry/Biochemistry club. All three of these clubs are good ways to get connected in my field and get leadership opportunities specific to my desired career field. The obstacles that I have overcome, have pushed me to be the person I am today. My academics, work ethic, and leadership desire all stem from this mentality of never giving up and striving to be the best version of myself.

My name is Macy Williams and I am a first-year student at University of Minnesota - Duluth. My major is Biochemistry B.A. with a minor in Biology. I am hoping to go to pharmacy school in the next three years as I should be graduating with my undergraduate degree. Also, I graduated from high school and got my AA degree in the spring of 2021. I come from a small town and a split family. I lost my dad at the age of 12, and my mom raised me from there on. These challenges that life has thrown at me has shaped me into who I am today, and I am proud of that. There are many ways I want to make an impact on the world through mental health. Even though my major is not specifically geared toward mental illness, I will deal with patients on a daily who struggle with my mental health and it will be my job they receive the correct medication and support they need. Having struggled with my mental health at points in my life, it is easy for me to connect with other people who may have or are currently struggling. I want to make sure that everyone knows that it is ok to not be ok. I want pharmacy patients to be comfortable with me when consulting them on their anti-depressant or anxiety medication, for example. My pharmacy will be a place where no judgement will be put on any single person based on their mental health.

Name of playlist: Living the College Life Songs in the playlist: 1. Whatever You Like by T.I. 2. High School Never Ends by Bowling For Soup 3. I'm So Tired..... by Lauv & Troye Sivan 4. You Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman 5. Here's To Never Growing Up by Avril Lavigne Artist Name: Free timerz

The most inspiring book I have read was Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. I love romance novels with both a good romance story but also a good life lesson. I find this plot very inspiring because I can relate to the main character's problems in a way. She has to escape her old life because of a very toxic relationship and she finds a new life with very caring people and soon-to-be her true love. Her new lover finds out she is not actually who she says she is and he gets very upset. Soon, he understands why she did what she did and once again accepts her for who she is. This is inspiring and most relatable to me because despite of my past and hardships that I have came from, people that are closest to me do not judge me or look at me different because of these experiences. In fact, they accept me for who I am, like the main character and her new friends did to her.

I am passionate about natural foods and the environment for many reasons. Natural foods are important to me because they come from plants and animals that have not been genetically modified. There are trends that show that genetically modified foods can lead to certain illnesses and diseases. Natural foods are what our body has been used to for many years before genetically modified products became a thing in our economy. I am also passionate about the environment because I want to see this Earth thrive and slow the harmful effects caused by humans. If we, as people, continue to treat the Earth like we are today, there will be nothing left for future generations of many species. Even though the negative effects are happening slowly, it is still possible that if it is not stopped it will be something that cannot be fixed in the future. If we start now by trying to halt these negative effects it will slow the harmfulness it can do to our environment. I am learning more about these topics through science and the details backing up global warming, waste, deforestation, and pollution. These are all things that are happening throughout our environment that are harmful to the environment. I find small, but many, ways to contribute to bettering and helping our environment. My family and I try to recycle and compost as much waste as possible. This will allow less waste in our landfills and hopefully less deforestation. My family and friends collect plastic grocery bags to give to local organizations that use them to make benches for the community. I help local organizations for trash clean-up events. Also, when I see litter I try and pick it up and properly dispose of it. Lastly, to help with global warming, I try to walk or bike as many places as possible. Also, I and my friends try and carpool to as many events as possible. I remind myself that doing my part and reminding others what they can do will be very helpful for the sustainability of the Earth. Being passionate about natural foods and the environment is something that I take pride in my everyday life.

My favorite scientist is Louis Pasteur. He had many different discoveries that tied the biology and chemistry fields together which directly affects my interest in pharmacy. He created the first vaccine for rabies and anthrax while also learning about pasteurization. His discoveries about vaccines have impacted what we know today about vaccines and diseases.

Friendship means a lot to me and is important to everyone's life. Friendship is the positive and close relationship between two individuals. Friendship is the idea that you have someone to go talk to whenever and they are willing to listen. Also, they always have your back no matter what. Friends are important to my life because they allow me to have fun and express my thoughts and feelings. They also make me a better person because they show me different perspectives and ideas on life. Friendship also allows me to give other people my perspectives and advice. It allows me to become more loyal and respectful of other people and their personal situations. I learn more about where people come from and how it affects them. Having many friendships allow me to become more social and better my communication skills, but also be happy and have people to go to in times of need and to go to for fun.

I practice self-care on a daily basis without truly knowing that I do it. Physically, I take care of myself by keeping up my personal hygiene and also being sure that I get the optimal amount of sleep. This impacts my life more than I realize. Without the optimal amount of sleep, I would not be able to function properly with my day-to-day activities. I would fall behind in my classes and relationships. This could affect my life indefinitely. Mentally, I practice self-care by allowing myself to take breaks, pray, and do some form of meditation. Breaks from the strenuous brain or physical activity are important so I do not overexert myself. Also, prayer and meditation are important to my life because it allows me to unwind and not think about anything going on around me. This impact on my life allows me to be less stressed and more relaxed leading me to be a happier more productive person.

My name is Macy Williams and I am a first-year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. My major is Biochemistry B.A. and I hope to be attending pharmacy school here in Duluth within the next few years. I am interested in retail pharmacy for many reasons. I started working in a pharmacy when I was 16, hesitantly and coincidently. I did not think that this would be something that I would want to do for the rest of my life. I am now in the process of becoming a certified technician through the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. The fast-paced environment and opportunity in this field are what made me so interested. There are so many different areas of pharmacy to go into that helps patients both indirectly and directly. The main impact that I want to make in this field is to better deliver medications safely and efficiently to patients. The field provides a service that will always be needed so it is important to have many people interested in this field. With my experience, I notice many people who do not properly take their medication or do not know exactly why they are on a certain medication. I want to use my social, communication, and personal skills to provide my knowledge of pharmaceuticals to a patient that has little to no knowledge. The importance of safely getting the correct medication to the correct patient is a challenge that our society is constantly facing. It is important that controlled substances and other medications get to the right patient to treat the correct symptoms. If this is done incorrectly, it could result in harm to the patient. Overall, I want to bring my passion for leadership and pharmacy together to build a safer and more efficient field for our patients. Reading is something that I do not do leisurely. I do, however, read my textbooks for classes and occasionally read a novel to pass by time on a bus or an airplane. These different types of reading have taught me many different things about my field and my personal life. It has shaped my goals with the information and different perspectives provided. The academic reading has taught me the different connections that biology and chemistry have to pharmesueticals. Medication is made through chemistry and is tested through biology to make sure it is suitable. This has shaped my goals by signifying that I enjoy what I am studying and understand and enjoy the challenges that come with these subjects and this field. Novels or leisure reading is something that more affects my personal goals. I read about love stories and different events in history. Some of these stories are very easy for me to connect with and I find different prespectives on life when reading these. Different backgrounds of fictional stories allows me to grow as a person and become more knowledable. This ties to my goals as it allows me to be able to communicate with many different people no matter their background. Also, these readings allow me to think about what I want to get out of my life. Overall, reading different genres can have many different affects on my personal and career goals.

At a young age, my dad committed suicide. I was about 12 years old and it was something I had never thought would happen to me. He was my inspiration and it was heartbreaking to have something like this happen to me. Even though it was a very difficult time in my life, it has shaped me into the person I am today. I have learned that I am going to work that much harder for my dad. I always want to make him proud of what I do. I have learned that even when life throws curve balls there's always a way to make it through. I have moved on from the tragic event and taking only the positive things out of it.

There are so many ways to live a long, healthy life. I think that the best way to accomplish this is to simply be happy with where you are at. I catch myself wishing my life away or wishing I was at the next chapter of my life. I constantly remind myself to enjoy where I am now. If you are not content with where you are at now you will never have a healthy life. There is also the aspect of eating healthy and staying active. I am a firm believer in doing small, simple physical activities a day can increase your life span. Eating healthy and being active are important physical aspects to living a long, healthy life. There are so many ways to do it and the best ways can vary from person to person. For me, is to enjoy every moment while involving physical activity and healthy habits to my everyday life.

Even though the pandemic has had a negative effect on many people's lives, it has had a positive effect on mine. If the pandemic would have never happened I would have never found the career of my dreams. When the pandemic hit, I was asked to work in a pharmacy because they were short-handed. I was very apprehensive and had no idea what I was getting myself into. Once I started working there and started learning new things I learned to love it. I am now going to college to become a pharmacist while also working through training to become a certified technician. The pandemic has given me many different opportunities at the workplace that have positively impacted my life forever.

There are many different aspects of my life that help me keep a growth mindset. I am constantly trying to become a better worker and student by managing my time and doing my best work while working on homework or at my job. Also, when I am working with groups I am open to new ideas and perceptions for me to understand different topics from a different point of view. I think this is vital to having a growth mindset because I may become more well-rounded and open to learning different things. Lastly, having a growth mindset means that you always are trying to learn more through hard work and dedication. Communicating with different professors, employers, and fellow students I learn many new things about their backgrounds about different interests. Through communication and collaboration people can put their growth mindsets together and learn and contemplate many new things.

Being patient is important in any day-to-day life. For me, it is important because it allows me to be more relaxed. When I am impatient I become very anxious and annoyed. To be in a better overall mood and less tense I constantly remind myself to be patient. As I get older I realize patience becomes more important. Learning in college with different people and professors requires patience when asking questions or working together. In the workplace, I have learned that it is important to have patience with new employees because they are learning many new things. Lastly, someday I want to have kids, and being patient is key to parenting. Overall, patience is key to have a less tense more relaxed life that will allow me to easily learn new things and work with others as a team.