Artist Name: Midnight (Since all college students are awake at this time studying or doing homework) Playlist Name: Memories (A playlist that shows how I still hold home/childhood very dear to my heart, but I need to keep moving forward and learn to be an adult) Songs 1) Bidi Bidi Bom Bom ( Selena): College is all about new experiences and meeting new people, and this song represents the joy in your heart when finding something new you like. Also makes me want to dance and still reminds me of home. 2)Confetti (Little Mix, feat. Saweetie) This song talks about not caring what other people think about you, and just vibe my own way, I like listening to this song when I know that I am worth it and belong at my university. 3)Love Runs Out (OneRepublic) This song really gets me motivated to give me 110% to work it out and be successful. Like the song says "I've got my mind made up, and I can't let go". 4)Leave me Alone (IDKHow) This song can really show my mood at college, especially when sometimes I just need time to be alone and process my thoughts, hence I want people to just leave me alone. But its a bop, and I got to see this artist perform in the city where my university is. 5)On Top of the World (Imagine Dragons) There are always those moments where I feel very happy and successful either from a test result or an interview, and this song really just makes me feel like I deserve it and all my work as paid off. 6)Don't Stop Believin (Journey) This song reminds me to not give up and lose hope when something goes bad and to keep trying to improve every second in order to be better off tomorrow. 7)You're Not Home (Keane) This is the only saddish song, and its because there are times in college when I really miss being home and my family, but this song helps me know that my family is proud of me and wishing me the best of luck on this opportunity. Album Cover: The album cover I chose is a picture I took of the wall which displayed the favorite songs of many people and what specific memory comes to mind from this song. Very nice and wholesome seeing everyone's answers and their memories through songs.

I am an anime stan and have watched a lot of anime with different genres, but the one anime that I always return to and hold very dear to my heart is the anime Fairy Tail. This anime follows the life of a wizard guild as they fight against the villains and other forces, and to be honest it is very similar to much other anime out there. However, a big reason why this show impacts me is that it reminds me of my cousins in Mexico who I hold very dear to my heart, and only see them once every year or so. I remember as a kid that they showed me this anime and ever since I always get reminded of the great times I've had with them and how strong our friendship is even when far, very similar to the whole theme of the anime.

Sometimes it's tough to take a moment to express how thankful you are for life's blessings. Either we are too worried about other events, or too oblivious to acknowledge what we have in front of us. All too often, there are never enough minutes in the day for all of your obligations, from family and friends to work and making dinner and laundry. Add in additional stress—jobs, holidays, travel—and the list of to-dos can quickly become overwhelming. And this year, we've had more than our fair share of stress. When you're faced with those "I can't" moments, it can be nice to take a few quiet minutes away from the chaos to reflect on the many things you have to be grateful for. According to experts, expressing gratitude can help relationships, improve your outlook, and even lower your blood pressure and keep you from getting sick. For your health alone, it's well worth spending a few minutes a day focusing on giving thanks. Community has always been a big part of our lives, all of us no matter where we live and it has been here since the day we were born. One thing that I believe not a lot of people take into account is that our community in some way or another determines the way you grow up. I, for example, grew up in El Paso which is a community known for its mixed cultures of both Mexico and the U.S. due to our position across the border. And honestly, I think this was a great opportunity for me, and it has. Being in this community has allowed me to recognize how important is to accept each other as equals no matter the race, ethnicity, or place of origin. Being of Hispanic descent and hearing all these stories about racist communities and unwelcoming cities made me really happy of growing up where I did. However, this is what I consider to be my inner community but not the outer world community which represents essentially everyone. The community in its core are people woven together like fabric. We lean on one another, learn from one another, celebrate together, and grieve together. But like a fabric, even when one thread is weakened or broken, the fabric still remains strong. As a result, this leads to the topic of community service and what you can do to your community. Personally, my life has always been embedded with community service, my parents are almost like preachers about community service and I am glad they are. However, during my childhood, I did not really find the point of it or why we do this until I served as an altar server. Being an altar server at my local church as a community service that I chose to do, and honestly, I loved it. Being that I was the one who initiated this service made me realize we do community service to not only give back to our community but also to be thankful for what we have and the opportunities we get in order to be humbler and giving as we grow up and become adults. You don't have to try out to volunteer, audition, or make the cut. You just need to show up with a positive attitude. If everybody understood this- how easy it is to give back just a little at a time -- I'm really convinced the world would be a better place, and it all starts with where you grow up with your community.

The community has always been a big part of our lives, all of us no matter where we live and it has been here since the day we were born. One thing that I believe not a lot of people take into account is that our community in some way or another determines the way you grow up. I, for example, grew up in El Paso which is a community known for its mixed cultures of both Mexico and the U.S. due to our position across the border. And honestly, I think this was a great opportunity for me, and it has. Being in this community has allowed me to recognize how important is to accept each other as equals no matter the race, ethnicity, or place of origin. Being of Hispanic descent and hearing all these stories about racist communities and unwelcoming cities made me really happy about growing up where I did. However, this is what I consider to be my inner community but not the outer world community which represents essentially everyone. The community in its core are people woven together like fabric. We lean on one another, learn from one another, celebrate together, and grieve together. Because of my community, I have learned to not take anything for granted and do not let anyone tell me I don't deserve happiness. However, at the same time, I need to give back to the community and help others achieve what they are looking for.

Austin is a very diverse city and I know my opportunities there in whatever I decide to do will be vast and crucial for my future. During my time at UT, I do plan on attending a Hispanic club at Business School and learning about Latinos in business and how we can make advancements toward diversity in a workplace. I think it's important for myself and my family to not forget about my roots and remember all the hard work my ancestors and parents have done to offer me a better future. I am still not completely sure as to what I want to do, and I know this seems like a generic answer, but at least for now, I do want to spread awareness about diversity at work and ensure everyone gets treated with respect and feel comfortable. I know that business leaders, managers, CEO's and other upper positions in companies have a big voice in terms of employment and diversity. I want to create a better future for my children, and people struggling to find their voice. I know it's an ambitious quest, but I also know that there is a community of people with the same goals. But for now, I need to start small and my goal for the end of the semester is to be more involved in my school/community and start working towards helping the community and applying for internships to build up a good resume for the future.

Being in college made me realize how important it is for someone including myself to take time to take care of ourselves. School, in general, can be so rewarding but it does come with its challenges once in a while with exams, presentations and applications left and right. Currently, I am using my free time to find out what I enjoy doing. I try to find new hobbies that will keep me entertained but also give me time to think about my life and how to balance everything going on at once. One thing that I really try to do whenever I have free time is to go on walks and runs, there is a lot of beautiful sights where I am at and I like to go on walks and just feel the environment and nature around me while processing my thoughts aiming at not going crazy. Either way, I think it is important to sometimes stop what you are doing and just take a break. Mental health is something that as a society we need to emphasize more and acknowledge its importance just like our physical health.

Ever since I was a child something about nature always fascinated me. From feeling and hearing the waves on the beach to the beautiful sunsets that occur in my hometown of El Paso, TX. Nature just in general just gives me so much relaxation and safety. I know many people are afraid of being outdoors and being in the wild but something about makes me feel free and without responsibilities. From them, I have always been someone who loves to explore and learn about nature as much as I can. For instance, I love painting, and 75% of all of my drawings are nature-related from landscapes to flowers and waterfalls. Currently, I am in Austin, TX and I just love how much nature you are able to find here. I am able to connect with nature here by going to the vast amount of parks, trails and conservatories found here in Austin. In addition to that, I also ensure that whenever I go on walks or explore I always carry a bag to throw trash away and try to keep the sights and trails cleaner. One big issue that I hope with my career to tackle is the situation with e-waste. E-waste or the disposal of electronics is a big factor in climate pollution and global warming two events that are changing the war between Earth and nature with its looks. I want to grow up and be able to show my kids and grandkids the beauty of nature and Earth in its most realistic/mesmerizing form.

Life can be very brutal sometimes, just last week I had a mental breakdown over something so useless all because it was new and I was afraid. Growing up, we always hear these comments that we shouldn't cry or that we have to stay tough through everything, and especially growing up as a boy with a toxic masculinity culture here in the U.S, it wasn't until recently that learned not everything has to be faced with toughness and roughness. Learning how to adapt to different situations and facing your feelings is crucial to keeping a growth mindset. Personally, the way I'm learning to obtain a growth mindset is to keep true to my feelings and learn to move past them. For many years, I was a person who for the most part remained quiet when something was bothering me or just stuffed my feelings and hide them away deep in my mind. It was not until last year when I went through an emotional journey losing someone I loved, that I learned to express my feelings. I learned that it is ok to cry, that it is ok to take time off, but most importantly I learned that I had to be patient with my feelings and work in being able to control them and get past them. Being sad, being happy, being angry is all a part of being human, and when I realized that I should care for myself before anybody else I grew mentally. Keeping a growth mindset can be tough some days, especially when you are born with some stubborn qualities, but I try to be patient with everything and just let time do its work. Rushing into things will give a good output in the short run but not the long run.

Being far away from home has for sure been a challenge as I embarked on this new college journey, and sometimes one needs time to process everything that is going on around them. I have had a rough few days both with my classes and personal collections amongst my peers, and my temper might get out of hand. Sometimes my mind will think about very dark scenarios or make me doubt if I am doing the right things and choosing the right people. It's moments like these, in which I lose myself that I need patience more than ever. I need to be able to trust the process and be patient about what is going to happen next. Sometimes, I find myself alone in the library or walking around campus, and it's moments like these where I'm finally able to process my thoughts and trust what I am doing in life. Being patient I think is a very important aspect of life and something all of us should try to manage and think about once in a while. Sometimes the world moves so fast that we need a moment to relax and enjoy the present. Being patient is still something I'm working on, but I hope I can maintain a calm mind to make it effective.

I live right across the border of Mexico in the city of El Paso. This city is known for its mix of both American and Mexican cultures, yet many people do not know that it is a location for immigrants to find refuge and opportunities. At the church, I regularly go to my dad began a group of his friends to aid and help the community. At first, things were pretty slow as we did not know where to help and who to ask until we stumbled upon this building all across town. This building used to be the base of a catholic school and was now being used as a refuge and immigrant center. With more details, it came to attention that what they needed the most was food and people to serve them, and knowing the loyal and helpful person my dad is he immediately agreed. So, a week later we arrive a Wednesday evening and take out the food we have made and assumed we will be serving about 20-30 people at the most. We realized how unpredictable this place was and in need as the people in charge received notification of about 150 people arriving at this small location. Instead of being discouraged, we came up with a plan and just settles with ordering more pizza and buying salads and drinks at a local grocery store. Seeing the people arrive with a look of hunger and gratitude in their eyes is a moment that has always stuck with me. To see plenty of people having to go through rough and challenging obstacles to arrive at a place in which success is not guaranteed is something not many people get to see. From there on we committed to serving this establishment every Wednesday each week with new faces of people coming through and different stories to value and honor. We volunteered in this location for about 4 years, receiving special acknowledgment from the dioceses and even my school for receiving the most community service hours. However, it was sadly shut down and personally, it made me devastated knowing that many people were losing the opportunity to a better life, and I know I do not have enough space to write or specifically show me and my dads’ emotion but we felt empty. This being said I learned many things from my encounter with these people. It showed me that I should be grateful and privileged to live the life that I have now and everything that I have. Not only that but to also be satisfied with my accomplishments and what I am capable of doing. Many young adults these days sometimes take for granted everything they have and do not acknowledge how amazing their lives are compared to others, or sometimes they believe they are not worthy or good enough when that is true. This moment changed my perspective in life because I want to better, I want to better not only for myself but for the people around me. I want to better to be able to give back to the community and help others feel the same sensation I am feeling.

One quote that I repeatedly think about in times where I need motivation, is one that I first heard about when being a part of my band program at school. The quote is “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Will Durant. In a band setting, this is able to show the importance of practice and teamwork. Our band director, always used this quote as a way to teach us about the value of consistency and knowing that excellence will arrive once we have muscle memory about it. This allowed us to win marching festivals and competitions and be recognized at a state level. However, once the band was over this quote still remained in my mind. I have always been a person who was very dedicated to my academic studies and school success, but this year with the pandemic trying to remain focus and maintain high grades became a challenge for me. The new way of learning and doing school created an alteration in our lives not only to me but millions of students worldwide. However, when thinking of this quote I knew that I had to have patience, that I had to learn how to adapt, and at the end of the day I have to do the necessary stuff in order to remain successful. So day by day I tried to work out how to create efficiency in my workplace and once I was able to create a habit out of it, things began to run smooth and better for me. Sometimes we can not expect everything we want to be done quickly, and sometimes the long run might be the most efficient route to take. Now that I am heading off to college, many new challenges, obstacles, and opportunities will open up for me and I know that most of them will require new skills and tasks to be learned. If we want to achieve excellence on a daily basis we must not act like it but rather create a habit out of it. Being successful will not occur in one day but rather from a series of small successes. I will continue my life aiming at creating good habits and habits that will allow me to create a promising future for me and whatever I decide to do.

I grew up on the border of El Paso Tx, and Juarez Mexico, our city is known for its vibrant Mexican-American life and the way cultures from both Mexico and the U.S interwind and become mixed. You can say that I grew up in a very welcoming community since I am Mexican American. I remember being proud that I was a bilingual student, how I traveled to Mexico on the Holidays where my huge family spent time together, learning about my heritage and history from both Mexico and America. Growing up I always thought that every place in the world was like El Paso, and I guess it shows how children keep everything simple and see the good in everything. However, the more I grew up and began to observed how the world functioned, the more I realized that not every place was accepting of everyone. I first comprehended this in a band trip from my high school, I remember we stopped at this local town in the middle of Texas and when entering this restaurant, suddenly the vibe was off. Although no one actually interacted with us, I did feel uncomfortable and like we were not really accepted. I really had no idea as to why this occurred, but once I talked to my parents they explained how sometimes people might feel superior or treat others as inferior all because of the way we look or how we speak. Although, I am very proud and happy about my background and where I am now, sometimes I get worried about my future and the future of others like me. For my next steps after high school since I am graduating now, I plan to attend the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin at the heart of Texas. Austin is a very diverse city and I know my opportunities there in whatever I decide to do will be vast and crucial for my future. During my time at UT, I do plan on attending a Hispanic club at Business School and learn about Latinos in business and how we can make advancements toward diversity in a workplace. I think it's important for myself and my family to not forget about my roots and remember all the hard work my ancestors and parents have done to offer me a better future. I am still not completely sure as to what I want to do, and I know this seems like a generic answer, but at least for now, I do want to spread awareness about diversity at work and ensuring everyone gets treated with respect and feel comfortable. I know that business leaders, managers, CEO's and other upper positions in companies have a big voice in terms of employment and diversity. I want to create a better future for my children, and people struggling to find their voice. I know it's an ambitious quest but I also know that there is a community of people with the same goals.

The community has always been a big part of our lives, all of us no matter where we live and it has been here since the day we were born. One thing that I believe not a lot of people take into account is that our community in some way or another determines the way you grow up. I, for example, grew up in El Paso which is a community known for its mixed cultures of both Mexico and the U.S. due to our position across the border. And honestly, I think this was a great opportunity for me, and it has. Being in this community has allowed me to recognize how important is to accept each other as equals no matter the race, ethnicity, or place of origin. Being of Hispanic descent and hearing all these stories about racist communities and unwelcoming cities made me really happy about growing up where I did. However, this is what I consider to be my inner community but not the outer world community which represents essentially everyone. The community in its core are people woven together like fabric. We lean on one another, learn from one another, celebrate together, and grieve together. But like a fabric, even when one thread is weakened or broken, the fabric remains strong. As a result, this leads to the topic of community service and what you can to your community. Personally, my life has always been embedded with community service, my parents are almost like preachers about community service and I am glad they are. However, during my childhood, I did not really find the point of it or why we do this until I served as an altar server. Being an altar server at my local church was a community service that I chose to do, that I was not forced to do, and honestly, I loved it. Being that I was the one who initiated this service made me realize we do community service to not only give back to our community but also to be thankful for what we have and the opportunities we get to be humbler and giving as we grow up and become adults. Community service should open our eyes to a big part of the world and a system on which many people rely in. You don't have to try out to volunteer, or audition, or make the cut. You just need to show up with a positive attitude. If everybody understood this- how easy it is to give back just a little at a time -- I'm really convinced the world would be a better place, and it all starts with where you grow up in with your community. As a business major, I would most likely want to specialize in Human Resources. Human resources deal a lot with employee and customer interaction and want to make a company seem both successful yet welcoming. I want to be challenged by setting my expectations high and proving people wrong by saying yes it might be an easy major to learn but not an easy major to master. Other than proving people wrong, however, I really do want to revolutionize the way corporations and businesses manage their employees. Many companies are moving towards a path of total equality and good employee satisfaction but the number of companies that have not is still tremendous. One day I aspire to start my own business with the proper requirements that will help other businesses achieve high employee performance and customer satisfaction and the best way to do that is to study business at its finest especially from one of the best business schools in the country. In addition to that, I have also been honored to be a part of a special business magnet program in my school where I was able to understand some aspects of the business world including human resources management, banking and finance, accounting, and the basic principles of business. I do not plan on taking this major and making it a waste of my time and your time but rather use it to influence the world around me and make it better for not one specific group of people or one specific social hierarchy but all.

I do not believe I have experienced a big traumatic event in my life compared to others but I have encountered a situation recently in which I felt a void in my soul and for a period of time I was sad and afraid. Very recently towards the end of the 2020 year, I, unfortunately, lost my grandma as she died very suddenly on New Year's Eve. I personally beforehand have never experienced loss in my family especially someone so close to me. Growing up she was the only grandparent I have known as the rest of my grandparents died when I was either very young or not even alive. Being that she was my only grandmother, I became very attached to her and cared for her very much. She was admitted to the hospital on New Year's Eve and a week later she was pronounced dead, this was very sudden and shocking for my family since she had never shown any signs of weakness or sickness throughout the year, but I remember her death being sort of a wake-up call to her kids and legacy to stay united and love each other more. I think what affected me the most is that due to the pandemic this past year I never got the opportunity to see her at all, nonetheless say goodbye, and this made me feel guilty of not being there with her for her last moments. I understand that there was nothing I could've done but I wished that she would have known that I miss her dearly and loved her until the end. Going into this last semester of High School I was very discouraged knowing my grandma will never see me graduate and walk across the stage to receive my diploma as a top ten member. For a few weeks, I remember shutting everybody out and not wanting to talk to anybody which began to worry others. However, with more time to myself and space to think about how much she has meant to me, I decided to do the opposite and rather dedicate this last semester to her, dedicate all my hard work for all the years she has endured providing for my dad and his siblings and as a result, create a better life for her and myself. As a person, it became to my realization that life is not about being rich or having the best individual life, but rather enjoying the journey with our families and friends especially during this time that everything is unpredictable. Many families have lost countless family members this past year and sometimes it can be a traumatic experience especially with the unknown of what is going to happen next. The only thing that I am grateful for is that she did not die with pain or a condition, and for the years that I saw her she was up and running. This unfortunate death, although sad made me be more engaged in school/volunteer work and try to perform at the utmost of my abilities. I will push forward for her, and I will become a better person in her honor.

When I was asked as a freshman in high school what I want to be when I grow up, honest to god I had no clue. I remember having my parents and friends very perplexed by this comment because since I was a kid I have always been committed to the school and placed in the top ten of my class every year. And you know when I think about it, I believe my response is totally valid, I do believe it is important to have a goal or dream of what you want to be when you grow up but one should not feel pressured in having the decision right away. I personally, barely decided on a choice towards the end of junior year, and whether it be when you were 5 years old or 25 years old the main goal is to commit to your education and the major you want. This is why I am choosing to go into human resources in the business field at UT Austin. The business world is growing every day with new jobs and opportunities every day. However, many people view it as an easy major or a career only the corrupt and rich go to. This being said, as a business major I would most likely want to specialize in Human Resources. Human resources deal a lot with employee and customer interaction and want to make a company seem both successful yet welcoming. I want to be challenged by setting my expectations high and proving people wrong by saying yes it might be an easy major to learn but not an easy major to master. Other than proving people wrong, however, I really do want to revolutionize the way corporations and businesses manage their employees. Many companies are moving towards a path of total equality and good employee satisfaction but the number of companies that have not is still tremendous. One day I aspire to start my own business with the proper requirements that will help other businesses achieve high employee performance and customer satisfaction and the best way to do that is to study business at its finest especially from one of the best business schools in the country. In addition to that, I have also been honored to be a part of a special business magnet program in my school where I was able to understand some aspects of the business world including human resources management, banking and finance, accounting, and the basic principles of business. I do not plan on taking this major and making it a waste of my time and your time but rather use it to influence the world around me and make it better for not one specific group of people or one specific social hierarchy but for all.

Currently, at my school, I am a part of a special business endorsement program in which we learn about finance, communication, human resources, accounting and etc. At the start of this year, we have been lucky enough to get certified to do tax returns by taking special courses. These courses were sponsored by the school and they taught us all about how to interact with clients and knowing the language and style of business people. Once we finished this course and passed the test we are able to finally make tax-returns. This allows me to enhance my knowledge and view of the business world as that is the major and career path that I want to take in college and it gives me hands-on experience on what to do with clients. With this grant, I will be able to go to a more focused training done by a Credit Union outside of school activity and learn more about the business world instead of taxes this upcoming summer. This training will prepare me and motivate me to do better in college and work hard towards achieving my goals. I know that the whole training might not cost 2,000 offered in this grant but it will greatly help me attend and also pay off some of my tuition for college as a college freshman.

Sometimes it's tough to take a moment to express how thankful you are for life's blessings. Either we are too worried about other events, or too oblivious to acknowledge what we have in front of us. All too often, there are never enough minutes in the day for all of your obligations, from family and friends to work and making dinner and laundry (so much laundry!). Add in additional stress—jobs, holidays, travel—and the list of to-dos can quickly become overwhelming. And this year, we've had more than our fair share of stress. When you're faced with those "I can't" moments, it can be nice to take a few quiet minutes away from the chaos to reflect on the many things you have to be grateful for. According to experts, expressing gratitude can help relationships, improve your outlook, and even lower your blood pressure and keep you from getting sick. For your health alone, it's well worth spending a few minutes a day focusing on giving thanks. One of these events in which I reflect upon more constantly during this time was my time helping and volunteering at a local immigrant shelter. For reference, I live right across the border of Mexico in the city of El Paso. This city is known for its mix of both American and Mexican cultures yet what many people do not know is that it is a location for immigrants to find refuge and opportunities. At the church, I regularly go to my dad began a group of his friends to aid and help the community. At first, things were pretty slow as we did not know where to help and who to ask until we stumbled upon this building all across town. This building used to be the base of a catholic school and was now being used as a refuge and immigrant center. It was pretty old and used up and even I felt uncomfortable or misplaced in that location, but we gave it a try to see what they needed help with. With more details, it came to attention that what they needed the most was food and people to serve them, and knowing the loyal and helpful person my dad is he immediately agreed. So, a week later we arrive on a Wednesday evening and take out the food we have made and assumed we will be serving about 20-30 people at the most. It was then that we realized how unpredictable this place was but also in need as the people in charge received notification of about 150 people arriving at this small location. Instead of being discouraged, we came up with a plan and just settles with ordering more pizza and buying salads and drinks at a local grocery store. Seeing the people arrive with a look of hunger and gratitude in their eyes is a moment that has always stuck with me. To see plenty of people having to go through rough and challenging obstacles to arrive at a place in which success is not guaranteed is something not many people get to see. From there on we committed to serving this establishment every Wednesday each week with new faces of people coming through and different stories to value and honor. We volunteered in this location for about 4 years in total receiving special acknowledgment from the dioceses and even my school for receiving the most community service hours. However, it was sadly shut down and personally, it made me devastated knowing that many people were losing the opportunity to a better life, and I know I do not have enough space to write or specifically show me and my dads’ emotion but we felt empty. We had finally found a service to make us feel happy and grateful for being able to help others. This being said I learned many things from my encounter with these people. It showed me that I should be grateful and privileged to live the life that I have now and everything that I have. Not only that but to also be satisfied with my accomplishments and what I am capable of doing. Many young adults these days sometimes take by granted everything they have and do not acknowledge how amazing their lives are compared to others, or sometimes they believe they are not worthy or good enough when that is true. This moment changed my perspective in life because I want to better, I want to better not only for myself but for the people around me. I want to better to be able to give back to the community and help others feel the same sensation I am feeling. In the future, I will aim at not making selfish choices or choices that will ultimately make me lose control. This will be a benefit because it will allow me to open my eyes and challenge myself to create a change, a change to help these immigrants, and change to create a cause in this country where everything is sadly going downhill. Someone once wrote, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” That is something I tell myself every day to be a better person and keep my perspective on a life pure and with honesty.

Currently, education is essentially the only thing that is keeping me up and running and distracted from all the craziness in the world. This is not necessarily bad because ever since I have been a kid in elementary school I have always enjoyed and wanted to do great at school. I remember people calling me weird or crazy by how much I like and enjoy school. Yet, when I explain why I like school it is not necessarily because I just learn and do worksheets but because it is a place where I am able to hang out with friends, and sometimes it can work as a distraction to the boredom that I will have at home. Without education, I honestly do not know how I would be able to go on with life and I know that many people hate and despite school but for me, it is a place preparing me for the future. Currently, we are in a pandemic and all my classes have been online. Honestly, this took a toll on me and made me sort of slack and hate this school year especially as a senior in high school. However, now that I am in the second semester of my final high school year I began to look forward to the future and going on into college and better things in life. Education shouldn't be just memorizing and completing tests over every subject but instead what many teachers have been teaching me, education should be as a warmup to adulthood and gaining the necessary skills and techniques to succeed in life in the future. Education should be fun as it will show you what you want to be when you grow up but also help you gain experience in social skills, and time management and etc. In my life, education has played a role of a distraction and a fun activity to do but most importantly it plays the role of a teacher and guide all along, education has helped me prepare for what the next step in my life is.

This might be weird but the song I chose is a classical piece called October. This is generally a slow moderate piece and for many it might seem boring but something about it calls me and inspires me. It starts calming with a single note but builds up into such an intense and powerful lyric that just sends goosebumps all over my skin. It inspires me to keep growing and keep pushing forward and similarly the rest of the songs I chose from musicals to foreign singers inspire me to overcome my obstacles and just keep pushing forward and succeed.

One role model that I have personally been inspired by recently has been my current high school endorsement teacher. I met this teacher in my sophomore year of high school in my business class during BIM. At this point, I was very bored in this class and did not see myself having a future career in the business environment. When he became our new teacher his attitude and work environment in business were completely different. He always taught us that he does not expect us to go into the business field but into a career that we are truly passionate about now and can show our skills. I think the simple fact that he saw us as different individuals instead of plain business students was the thing that made me trust him more. Last school year as a junior I was lucky enough to advance into the Business Professionals of America state competition here in the state of Texas. Part of this trip was an eight-hour bus ride to Dallas which actually passes by very fast. During this trip although it might seem sad, I actually set very close to my teacher and was able to have full-on conversations about school and life. One of those stories was how he ended up with a job as a teacher and an accountant. His story was honestly very inspiring in how he struggled in finding a career while having a job in order to support his family. However, during that conversation, he showed us that his biggest inspiration was to ultimately do something that he is proud of and can feel accomplished for. That trip was both a great experience and memorable as it was the last trip that I was able to take before the school shut down due to the pandemic. Even now though with classes being virtually he has never stopped giving me daily messages and recommending me to scholarships and universities. Now that I am a senior and have known my teacher for well over a year now he has also been able to see my attributes and talents which will aid me in my own future. My whole view changed and suddenly I was interested in a business career and actually enlisted into a university as a business major. He helped me in becoming the top ten of my class, helped me in choosing a career path and even a university without the aid of my teacher. I will honestly have no clue what it is that I would be doing now and that is why my current role model is my business teacher Mr.Nwihim.