My dream life consists of me raising a family, working in the hospitality industry, and helping those in need. I have always wanted to raise a family; I think being a mother is my main calling on this earth. Having a family of my own would make me feel worthy of love, while also feeling like I have a purpose; a reason to be alive. I am currently attending college to earn two degrees: Associate of Applied Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management and Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts. My dream job is to either be a prep cook at a restaurant or a front desk manager at a hotel. Before college, I had no interest in the hospitality industry but, after taking and excelling in my first culinary course, I gained an appreciation for the industry and the people in it. One of my gifts is to always help those in need. I naturally am a giver and a helper, and I think those qualities work hand-in-hand when forming relationships with people throughout life. My dream life is filled with laughter, love, and patience. In my opinion, laughter and love can heal the soul. Patience is also important to me because it is something I continuously struggle with, but I know that with patience I can achieve my goals in life. Overall, my dream life contains building relationships, working to provide for my family and others in need, laughing, loving, and being patient with people.

In my opinion, the biggest worldwide problem currently is inequality. To me inequality refers to the unfair discrimination against people based on demographic factors such as sexuality, race, and gender. We can work towards fixing this problem in a multitude of ways. In terms of sexuality inequality, we can be more inclusive by inviting people of any sexuality to join in on activities and make public stands just like heterosexual people would. For race inequality to decline, we can prove that everyone is a human being and that neither skin color nor personal background should influence how people treat one another. In regard to gender inequality, people should not be belittled based on how they identify themselves. People should be respectful and use one another's desired pronouns, as well as include everyone, no matter the gender, to partake in school/public events and/or activities. These are just a few examples of how inequality can be further prevented worldwide. I do understand and know that there are more issues worldwide to be discussed; however, inequality seems to be the most important to me.

The most helpful piece of financial advice I have ever received, came from my father. He advised me to always keep track of my money's in's and out's, in order to be able to better calculate my expenses and earnings in life. This advice has impacted my life tremendously because it has helped me to manage my money better, as well as save tons of money. My money managing skills were not all that great in the beginning, due to having the brain of a child who always wanted to buy books or sweets with whatever money I had. However, once my father advised me to keep track of where my money was going, my eyes were opened to a whole new world of budgeting and savings. Over time, I realized that my spending greatly outweighed my earnings, which is not the right financial path to be on. Due to this life-changing realization, I made a plan to set aside some money for savings whenever I earned money, and to also make logical decisions on what I spend my money on. For instance, I was at the grocery store one day and I really wanted to buy an energy drink because it was on sale. My mind immediately mapped out different ways I could spend my money, such as buying a new chef uniform for college or saving the money for emergencies. Over the course of a few months, I was able to save quite a bit of money, as well as buy things I have wanted to have for a while. All in all, my father's financial advice to keep track of how my money is spent, has helped me budget and save my money more efficiently.

My name is Makinzie Miranda, and one change that I would make to improve education for future generations is to include real-world curriculum in the school system. Some examples of this can include teaching students about finances (taxes, credit scores, loans, etc.), informing students on how to handle real-life emergencies (house fires, medical emergencies, etc.), and educating students on communication skills. I think it is important for students to be knowledgeable on aspects of the real world. In my opinion, being "book smart" is important, however being "life smart" is just as, if not more, important. I am currently turning the corner to enter adulthood, and I wish my previous education included tips and tricks on how to tackle real-life obstacles such as budgeting, speaking to people, caring for a child, and more. I have already graduated high school, but it seems as if I am completely unprepared for the real world. I do not know how to change a tire, how to buy a house, or how to build my credit, however I do know the Pythagorean Theorem, how to write a personal narrative, and that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. I think students should be able to choose what to be educated on, especially if what they want to learn is useful in the real world. For instance, rather than requiring history classes or unnecessary advanced math classes, why not let the students have the option to take those classes, or even a class they are more interested in? It is true that most schools offer elective courses for students to learn about topics they are intrigued by, however I believe that students should not be required to take classes that have nothing to do with the career they are trying to pursue. Educating students on real-life applications should include students of all education levels. Yes, it is important for younger students to learn their letters and numbers and basic educational skills, however schools should be encouraging students to explore their interests at the same time. For example, rather than forcing students to learn about ancient civilizations or the Spanish language, why not let them learn about something they are passionate about, like culinary or engineering? Not only will the students pay more attention to a course they choose, but they also are opening their eyes to new possibilities in not only jobs, but the world. Schools should implement more real-life based curriculum, in order to properly educate the new generation.

My experience being the oldest child in my family, has been one full of pressure and high standards. Being the oldest in my family has had both a negative and positive influence on my education. The negative impact on my education is due to being held to seemingly impossible high academic standards. However, these standards also had a positive impact on my education because they have shaped me into the dedicated, hardworking student that I am. Mentally, being the oldest has been very straining. My parents are divorced, so I was forced to grow up and care for my siblings at the young age of 12. Becoming mature at such a young age took a huge toll on me mentally, and continues to cause me struggle in my daily life. I have had depression since age 12, as well as high anxiety and bipolar disorder. However, these mental disabilities have not stopped me from being who I am. Physically I have not been impacted by being the oldest, first-generation child. Although my housing situation might be difficult, my personal health has not been negatively impacted by being the eldest in my family. In all aspects of life, I would say that being the oldest has been a wild, adventurous ride. I have gone from highs to lows and have had many memorable moments due to being the oldest in my family. I have gained many skills and characteristics from growing up in a household where I am expected so much of. Some of these skills and characteristics that I have gained, include the following: punctual, well-mannered, reliable, motivated, and caring. I have also gained motherly qualities from helping my mother single-handedly raise my two younger siblings. All in all, I would have to say that although being the oldest has had its downfalls, I wouldn't trade my position for anything. I enjoy the responsibilities and challenges that come with being the eldest in my family, and I am grateful for all it has taught me.

Often people see mental health as a negative aspect of life. However, mental health has ultimately helped me in my achievements and personal dreams. My name is Makinzie Miranda and I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, severe depression, and general anxiety disorder. I am not telling you this to start a pity party, but to explain how these challenges have positively impacted my life as a whole. When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress. I thought it would be so cool to be someone new every single day. Soon enough though, my mind changed. I became severely depressed and I did not know what I wanted anymore, except to have it all end. School was a big cause of my depression and stress, because of the essays and the workload and having to face the pressure to be perfect. While I was facing the struggles of depression, I realized many students felt the same way I did. We all had one thing in common: the school system made us hate ourselves and our lives. With this in mind, I instantly knew who I wanted to be in the future, and suddenly I had multiple goals set into place. The main three, in order, are as follows: graduate from high school, go to college to become a teacher, change the school system. Knowing that school was one cause for my depression made me want to change schools to become more understanding of us students, rather than expect so much from us. If I were to change the school systems, I would provide optional after school therapy groups for students, as well as include mental health content in the teacher training programs, in an attempt to help teachers better understand their students. My mental health has also had a huge impact on my relationships with people. Once my family started seeing my mental downfall, they started to become more understanding of my disorders, and they tried to help me in any way possible. My very few, honest friends were also very supportive of me during both my mental health decline and my healing process. I am so grateful for the people that have stuck and continue to stick with me through my daily challenges. When I was first diagnosed with my disorders, I felt defeated and alone. However, after some time I was able to change my thought process about having my mental illnesses. My mind shifted from focusing on the negative aspects of my mental health to focus on how I can help other people that are experiencing the same things I face daily. Suddenly, I did not seem as alone in the world anymore. Instead, I tried being there for people that needed a listening ear or some advice or simply just a friend. The world is an imperfect place, and having my illnesses has helped me understand that. Rather than thinking of people as suffering from mental illnesses, I try to think of it as a battle that can be conquered. People have the strength to accomplish anything they put their minds to. If you continue to wallow in self-pity, you will not get better mentally and you might start to also decline physically. It is important to try. Try seeking help, try getting better, and try being the best version of yourself that you can be. Without effort, there will be no change. My mental illnesses have also helped me better understand that the world is not always sunshine and rainbows. Before my diagnosis, I looked at the world as filled with feelings of happiness and love. Now that I have first-hand experiences with feeling hopeless and lost, I can safely say that the world is not only filled with happiness and love. The world is filled with many trials and challenges such as grief, loneliness, disappointment, and so much more. My perspective has grown in depth since my first mental health episode. People often see mental health in a negative light, more specifically in the sense that people cannot fully succeed as long as they are mentally ill. I strongly disagree with this idea. I think, if anything, that people are more likely to succeed if they have mental illnesses. People with mental health issues experience so many different emotions and trials and, because of this, I think they are more likely to be able to problem-solve and understand life in general. My mental health has had many positive impacts on my life. It has helped me understand what I want to do and who I want to be in the future. It has helped me form better connections with people and understand other people. It has helped me view the world realistically rather than focusing on the fantasy of the world. Mental health is something that everyone can overcome, and I have faith that anyone with any mental illnesses can accomplish anything they put their mind to.

From routine sunshine to sudden rainy days. My name is Makinzie Miranda and I battle daily depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Let's begin at the age of twelve, when everything really started declining. I grew up with an abusive father and a warrior mother. My job? Protect my younger siblings. I was forced to grow up at a very young age, which ultimately had a poor effect on my mental health. When my parents announced their divorce, I was crushed. I was forced to change my life after their split. From popular to lonely, from joyful to depressed, from having everything to having nothing at all. I felt lost, lonely, and numb. My depression grew worse and at the age of fourteen I was admitted to a behavioral health hospital, because of an attempt to end my life. I was broken. I felt like I was not enough. I hated the idea of waking up every morning and trying to force a smile. Once I was released from the hospital, my life changed for the better. I was given medication to help with my diagnosed depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. I switched to online school because it was clear that social interaction caused me severe anxiety, and that I work better mentally at my own pace. It has taken me a long while to end up where I am at now. I still struggle with battling my mental illnesses, but I have found reasons to keep fighting to live. Now, as the reader you might be wondering "Why does this random stranger feel so comfortable telling her story?". Well, luckily I have an answer for you: to help people who struggle like I do. For the longest time I thought of my mental illness as something I suffer from. However I have grown to realize that I don't actually suffer from my disorders, but rather battle and conquer them daily. Things do get better in time. Patience is key and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If you felt lonely before, know that you aren't anymore.

I almost fell off a cliff for this picture! My family and I hiked a hidden trail in Arizona, and I decided to climb up the side of a mountain. Why, you ask? To get this awesome back drop of the river and rocks! I felt on top of the world. I struggled getting up the mountain, but the view was totally worth it! This experience taught me that the journey is definitely worth it, if it gets you to your dream destination.