Hello. My name is Micah Breneman and I am a nursing student at Pasco Hernando State College. I live in Holiday, Florida. My dad is a paralegal and my mother is a Home Health Aid. I also have one brother whom is to blame for my fascination into medicine and he is the one that helped set my path into this field. I will be twenty during the application deadline and in the middle of my first semester into nursing school by the time you read this. I currently am a sitter/Unit Clerk at a hospital working in the Emergency Room and have accrued a lot of experience working in the medical field but of course my learning will never cease. It's one of the things I love about my job. Throughout my time working in the ER, I have learned or have become aware of how the hospital/healthcare system works and how efficient and yet inefficient the system is, not to mention how flawed it is just on my basic recollection. The main flaw being the delay of care due to lethargic staff being overworked and populated, especially for patients admitted for mental health intervention. The positive impact that I essentially want to make is to dispense the appropriate care at the quickest time for my patients. By working in the acute care setting, I have learned that timing and organization is key to saving lives other than just performing my skills. In how I execute my positive impact is by maintaining an enthusiastic attitude and help fellow team members, including others outside my department, to help keep the Emergency Room as empty as possible by not wasting any time in getting patients to where they need to go. Eventually, I would like to start a movement to encourage the general public to start working in mental health as I have seen that this department struggles the most part due to the lack of available help from qualified psychiatric professionals stemming from understaffed teams. This understaffing issue comes from the lack of incentive to go into this field especially for psychiatrists. In the county I work in, psychiatrists do not work during the night shift and their is no service in which patients can talk to them via video chat unless they are forced to from the volume of patients to see. This means that every night past 7pm, all psychiatric patients who have been Baker Acted are stuck to wait until the morning to talk to the Psychiatrist and formulate a plan of care. If there was a psychiatrist or team of psychiatrists that could work the night shift then they could possibly rescind Baker Act patients that do not need to be housed because because either the patient was demented, had an episode from mental disorder, or was under the influence. Also, this would speed up admission and bed placement times as they do take several hours because the admitting psychiatrist who is on-call sleeps at night so they can take care of patients in the morning, compared to the night-shift hospitalist admitting medical patients with a time between 30-45 minutes. My plan is to incentivize people to staff a part of our health system that is in dire need of help via fundraising and by giving a money prize to nominated staff members for going above and beyond in displaying excellence in their role. This is me. This is my plan. This is my impact.

My positive impact on climate change is to be a steward to my local environment by doing my part in mitigating my consumption and pollution, help clean our parks, using my finances to support conservation, and educating those around me about our home and what we can do keep our environments free from contaminants to mitigate or even eliminate harmful chemicals from killing our precious domestic and marine life. As an avid angler to my local community, my licenses are purchased through the Fish and Wildlife Commission in which the funds they receive from me go directly to them to support their conservation efforts thus giving back to the environment. These conservation efforts focus on improving water quality which does help to mitigate climate change. Because climate change is just one symptom to a much bigger problem that we are facing. The main point is that in order to stop climate change, we have to start with our water. We need to keep it clean so our marine environments can have time to take up and use the excess carbon and other pollutants that we are responsible for introducing. Climate change can be stopped but it starts with us. It starts at the water's edge in which we ought to improve water quality to protect our blue planet. We can do so by stopping harmful runoff from our homes by not using certain fertilizers and even stop using certain sunscreens that kill our coral reefs. I do many more things that are eco-conscious but those are some things that I do to have a positive impact on climate change. All that I ask of other people is that they have the same consideration and be mindful of what we put in the environment.

Never put your eggs in one basket. It sounds simple but It couldn't ever be more true. This means I don't put all of my money in one bank account but in separate places in which it can do much more. Currently, I have 3 accounts with my bank and own stock and plan to own more in the future when I am in a better spot. This simple yet effective principle has better enabled my money to work more for me. The interest that I am receiving is money that I would never have earned if I did put it all into one place. I find it so important because this allows me to use money in places that will help me in my future thus allowing me to be more flexible from a financial standpoint. This also sets the foundation in teaching me so many other lesson in dealing with my finances such as teaching me the responsibility of holding a bank account and being able to spend wisely. I do my utmost to find better deals for things that I need. One such example, is that for work I buy my scrubs on Amazon for less than what I would buy for it at a department store. It all starts with a strong foundation and I am able to learn that from putting my finances in more than one spot. Never put your eggs all in one basket.

The biggest problem facing the world right now is global warming. Over the course of human history, the carbon buildup in it's natural cycle is killing our environments both on land in below the sea. The more carbon and dangerous substances there are, the more damage we cause that grows increasingly more irreversible. For instance, the carbon in the atmosphere mixes in the water making carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is... an acid in which it makes the water... acidic. Changes in pH of the water can have colossal consequences like killing fish, altering marine life behavior, but mostly bleach coral thus killing off thousands of coral reefs. How can we fix this and at least alleviate some of the symptoms of global warming? We can start to reduce the usage of non-ecofriendly products like switching from fuel to electric, reusing and reducing dependency on plastic, and properly recycling bottles, cans, etc. We should also clean up the ocean from trash finding it's way into our waterways. Plant more mangrove trees to replenish these damaged ecosystems and conserve the land for this very purpose. We can also use more sustainable methods of fishing to preserve more keystone species responsible for supporting coral reef health. We also should implement more harsh penalties and enforcement on sustainable laws to make sure both recreational and commercial fishermen follow these laws. It is our responsibility to clean up, restore, and maintain our land and in effect this will combat global warming and further environmental damage. It starts with us. We need to educate others about the environment that they live on and see the wonders they didn't even know that they have.

I admire Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers from history. Even though he is not dead he still is a person from history and is currently living in the same point in history as me thus I would qualify him as a person I highly admire from history. Throughout his professional career, Rodgers has been a polarizing factor for the inhabitants of Green Bay. First, being drafted to replace the great Brett Favre, Rodgers received many insults, threats, and doubt from the start. Even having tension with the Hall of Famer during camp and during games. For three years, he was backup to Brett Favre and you could only imagine the amount of scrutiny he was under during those years without much opportunity to prove critics wrong. However, he did not waiver in his resolve. From 2008 to now, he has proven himself by winning a Superbowl, winning MVP four times, and being select to 10 Pro-Bowls just to mention a few of his vast resume of records broken and set by him. So why do I admire him? Fist and foremost he has been the Quarterback of my favorite team but, the second and more important reason is that despite the many ups and downs he faced, he had a cool head. Through his example, he teaches me that the opinions of others and the scrutiny we might receive from others do not matter because they are outsiders looking in. He is confident in himself and he filters out what does matter in life. He shows that football is a way of life yet shows that it has it's place. Through his proud humbleness, I consider him as a person I admire from history.

One thing I do to improve the lives of elderly people in my community is to take care of geriatric patients at my job working in the Emergency Room while under Baker Act. Since the mental health system is not properly equipped to take the volume of geriatric patients we face today. They must stay in the Emergency Room for hours or sometimes days with us while they await to either be admitted to the Psych floor or rescinded. One thing that I do to improve their stay is to make them as comfortable and happy as possible. This can be a very difficult thing to do as some are prone to sundowning and just want to get out of their room. I make sure that they are well fed and clean as possible. I make frequent checkups on them so at least they have a person to talk to. More importantly, I make sure that they keep up with hygiene as it is difficult to do so in the emergency room. I make sure to give them a dental hygiene pack and ask if they can use a bath. Some of them cry because they may have gone days without feeling fresh from a nice warm shower with minty fresh teeth. It's very difficult for these patients especially because elderly Baker Act patients are the ones to suffer the most from the backup in the system. It takes more resources to take care of one just on the psych floor my hospital can only house 10 elderly patients. It's sad to see them cooped up like that so it's all of our duty to ensure to not cause them further distress and accommodate to our geriatric patients, providing the best that we can for them.

The most inspiring book that I've read is "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. This book has deepened my love for nature while instilling a healthy fear of it. I love fishing and the outdoors yet this book was an affirmation on my view of nature. This book sold me into the ideals of transcendentalism, being enthralled by being surrounded by nature, one of God's many gifts. Making a pilgrimage would be something that I would love to do to enhance my love and appreciation for nature because of this book like what Chris McCandless did. It has also inspired me to take my role in nature, digging my bare hands into the dirt to be a steward of my home caring for various plants to help the local ecosystem in my residential neighborhood and making more ecofriendly choices in my daily life. Lastly, this book has inspired me to learn all that I can about my home of Florida. It has greatly encouraged my fascination to learn more about my local wildlife and how I can do my part to support our precious birds, turtles, manatees, and other marine life. I have learned so much about my home and I am nothing but content from that thirst for knowledge sparked from that book. This is the first book that I would recommend if anyone asked me because it puts humankind into a proper perspective that we are just specks of dust floating in the cosmos and that Earth is bigger an what we think. That we should never forget nature as to never forget our fragile mortality.

As of right now, March 8th 2022, If I was given $1,000. I would honestly put it away into my money market account and save it. In the mean time, It's a secure place I can put money with a higher interest rate. Currently, I'm not spending much for college but very soon I will be. Again, as of right now, March 8th 2022, I'm still waiting to see if I will be accepted into the Nursing program at my local community college. There, I would have to spend an exorbitant amount of money on materials, scrubs, and textbooks. Not to mention the price of tuition even though it is considerably cheaper than a private college like Rasmussen or Galen. I am vey conscious about my spending because I still have plans after college. I've found the love of my life and I will propose and marry her after I'm done with nursing school so both of us could live comfortably in case if anything were to happen to us where one of us couldn't work. (She also is in nursing school.) This also means that I need to save up for the engagement ring, the wedding as a whole, the honeymoon, and a place for us to live. The less that I spend and more that I save now will set us up better for our success and future. I have a future and it's meticulously thought out not for the sake of success or wealth, but for love.

I admire Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers from history. Even though he is not dead he still is a person from history and is currently living in the same point in history as me thus I would qualify him as a person I highly admire from history. Throughout his professional career, Rodgers has been a polarizing factor for the inhabitants of Green Bay. First, being drafted to replace the great Brett Favre, Rodgers received many insults, threats, and doubt from the start. Even having tension with the Hall of Famer during camp and during games. For three years, he was backup to Brett Favre and you could only imagine the amount of scrutiny he was under during those years without much opportunity to prove critics wrong. However, he did not waiver in his resolve. From 2008 to now, he has proven himself by winning a Superbowl, winning MVP four times, and being select to 10 Pro-Bowls just to mention a few of his vast resume of records broken and set by him. So why do I admire him? Fist and foremost he has been the Quarterback of my favorite team but, the second and more important reason is that despite the many ups and downs he faced, he had a cool head. Through his example, he teaches me that the opinions of others and the scrutiny we might receive from others do not matter because they are outsiders looking in. He is confident in himself and he filters out what does matter in life. He shows that football is a way of life yet shows that it has it's place. Through his proud humbleness, I consider him as a person I admire from history.

The biggest problem facing the world right now is global warming. Over the course of human history, the carbon buildup in it's natural cycle is killing our environments both on land in below the sea. The more carbon and dangerous substances there are, the more damage we cause that grows increasingly more irreversible. For instance, the carbon in the atmosphere mixes in the water making carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is... an acid in which it makes the water... acidic. Changes in pH of the water can have colossal consequences like killing fish, altering marine life behavior, but mostly bleach coral thus killing off thousands of coral reefs. How can we fix this and at least alleviate some of the symptoms of global warming? We can start to reduce the usage of non-ecofriendly products like switching from fuel to electric, reusing and reducing dependency on plastic, and properly recycling bottles, cans, etc. We should also clean up the ocean from trash finding it's way into our waterways. Plant more mangrove trees to replenish these damaged ecosystems and conserve the land for this very purpose. We can also use more sustainable methods of fishing to preserve more keystone species responsible for supporting coral reef health. We also should implement more harsh penalties and enforcement on sustainable laws to make sure both recreational and commercial fishermen follow these laws. It is our responsibility to clean up, restore, and maintain our land and in effect this will combat global warming and further environmental damage. It starts with us. We need to educate others about the environment that they live on and see the wonders they didn't even know that they have.

I'm brave when I go to work. I work as a sitter for the Emergency Room so being afraid won't get you very far. From time to time, we get violent people/patients and I help in de-escalating, or in restraining them for the safety of themselves and those around them. I do not consider myself as a sizable person being 5 6' and 160 pounds. However, there are many times where I have squared up to men over 6 feet tall and 250 pounds. Do I have fear in what will these patients do? Yes, but am steadfast in knowing that security is around 24/7. You do not know that you have a fear of man until you come face to face with a man of considerable size just growing red with anger. Sometimes coming into work you have to have the foresight that you might have to battle with people reluctantly. Sometimes, the police even bring in suspects to clean them up before heading to jail. Every week is an exercise in in courage and boldness as I am on constant alert for the safety of my patient and especially the safety of myself and others. In the Emergency room we do what we have to do. Bravery is a case of mentality and when I am sitting for a patient who is Baker Acted, you must always come in with a state of mind that anything can happen. For this very reason, I practice bravery on a daily basis living boldly to the best of my ability.

My favorite hobby is fishing. I live in the beautiful state of Florida and I take pride in my home. There is no other place in the continental United States like Florida. I love to be embraced by the warmth of the sun on a hot yet breezy day, surrounded by nothing but beautiful blue waters, and to have tight lines. I love fishing because I get to see the inhabitants of my home up close. I love to examine the fish I catch... and to cook them. When I harvest my catch I always make sure that the fish are within slot size as to not cause unnecessary damage to my unique home. However, what I truly love about fishing is that you get extremely in tune with your surroundings and find that "spot" or "momentum" in which you start to understand where the fish are. That's when you start catching fish. It's very hard to describe, but you start to "feel" under the water with your line and map out certain details that you can't see. You just... know. You become one with the ecosystem and it feels like that you have a place or purpose in this world. It becomes something more. After some time, it gets addicting and more of a chase. Boy does it get exciting! It's like gambling except less self-destructive. A lot depends on season, weather conditions, and of course, your schedule. Another thing I love about my hobby is that I get to educate others about the natural wonders of Florida. There has been more times than I can count where passersby saw a fish in my hand and ask about my catch. It really puts a smile on my face that people are curious and in effect show more care about the environment. I have taken two years of university level Marine Science so I know about the inner working of the ecosystem both the seen and unseen functions. To me it's like I'm opening people's eyes for the first time in just a brief explanation. Which that's the beauty of fishing, it's something for everyone. It can be cheap or expensive as you make it. So this is why I love fishing and this is why I take pride in my hobby.

The most inspiring book that I've read is "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. This book has deepened my love for nature while instilling a healthy fear of it. I love fishing and the outdoors yet this book was affirmation on my view of nature. This book sold me into the ideals of transcendentalism being enthralled by being surrounded by nature, one of God's many gifts. Making a pilgrimage would be something that I would love to do to enhance my love and appreciation for nature because of this book. It has also inspired me to take my role in nature, digging my bare hands into the dirt to be a steward of my home caring for various plants to help the local ecosystem in my residential neighborhood. Lastly, this book has inspired me to learn all that I can about my home of Florida. It has greatly encouraged my fascination to learn more about my local wildlife and how I can do my part to support our precious birds, turtles, manatees, and other marine life. I have learned so much about my home and I am nothing but content from that thirst for knowledge sparking from that book. This is the first book that I would recommend if anyone asked me.

Never put your eggs in one basket. It sounds simple but It couldn't ever be more true. This means I don't put all of my money in one bank account but in separate places in which it can do much more. Currently, I have 3 accounts with my bank and own stock and plan to own more in the future when I am in a better spot. This simple yet effective principle has better enabled my money to work more for me. The interest that I am receiving is money that I would never have earned if I did put it all into one place. I find it so important because this allows me to use money in places that will help me in my future thus allowing me to be more flexible from a financial standpoint. This also sets the foundation in teaching me so many other lesson in dealing with my finances such as teaching me the responsibility of holding a bank account and being able to spend wisely. I do my utmost to find better deals for things that I need. One such example, is that for work I buy my scrubs on Amazon for less than what I would buy for it at a department store. It all starts with a strong foundation and I am able to learn that from putting my finances in more than one spot. Never put your eggs all in one basket.

One thing I do to improve the lives of elderly people in my community is to take care of geriatric patients at my job working in the Emergency Room while under Baker Act. Since the mental health system is not very equipped to take a certain volume of geriatric patients, they must stay in the Emergency Room hours for or sometimes days with us while they await to either be admitted to the Psych floor or rescinded. One thing that I do to improve their stay is to make them as comfortable and happy as possible. This can be a very difficult thing to do as some are prone to sundowning and just want to get out of their room. I do make sure that they are well fed and clean. If they are relegated to a diaper then I clean them. I try to make frequent checkups on them so at least they have a person to talk to. More importantly, I make sure that they keep up with hygiene as it is uncommon to do so in the emergency room. I give them a dental hygiene pack and ask if they can use a bath. Some of them cry because they may have gone days without feeling fresh from a nice warm shower with minty fresh teeth. It's very difficult for these patients especially because elderly Baker Act patients are the ones to suffer the most from the backup in the system. It take more resources to take care of on just on the psych floor so they can only take so many patients at a time. It's sad to see them cooped up like that so it's all of our duty to ensure to not cause them further distress and accommodate to our geriatric patients.

I work for Baycare, the company that I plan on working for the rest of my career. I want my legacy to be one of the best nurses that Baycare ever has hired. I want my name to be synonymous with elite patient care. I am a very competitive person. I strive to be the very best, competing with myself every shift. I will never be content with my work until the day I retire. Everyday, I want others to look at me and just know that I'm giving the best possible care to my patients. However, if not that, I want to be known as the most compassionate worker in the ER. Other people that I work with lack this quality and it both makes my blood boil and breaks my heart greatly. I want to raise the standard when it comes to care, the best asset to have like an extension of your arm. My legacy will be told through my work.

In the state of Florida, we have The Baker Act. In short, The Baker Act is a legal document that allows authorities to admit people with mental illness on an involuntarily/voluntarily basis because they were deemed a danger to themselves and others so they come to the hospital (for up three days based on need of care) in order to see a physiatrist. In theory, this is an amazing law that saves lives but however, as a hospital worker, I see law enforcement using this law as a default instead using it as it is meant to be. Policemen protect and serve and they mean the best but they are not psychiatrists therefore they miss the mark on who is actually mentally ill or just under the influence. Some people under the influence express suicidal or homicidal ideation which fits criteria for Baker Act but others do not. So where is the problem? The problem is that there are a lot of people who go through the system that simply don't need to. The sheer volume of patients does get extreme which delays care for people who do need care which can be damaging but the main thing is that psychiatric help is not available 24/7. During the night shift there are no psychiatrists so every morning their is a long line of patients waiting for needed care to just to be rescinded. If we are to appropriately care for people who do need help then we have to do it swiftly not leave them in limbo. Hiring physiatrists to work nights can fix this efficiency issue in our mental care system and benefit millions. However, hospitals make more money in housing these patients than opening a new position for a nighttime physiatrist so sadly this will never happen.

I want to pursue a career in nursing because it's an environment that I thrive in but, the real reason is that my older brother got me interested into nursing in the first place. He's my hero and the person I look up to the most. Every night he would come home with the most wild and hilarious stories. I wanted in, I wanted to be in the place where the action is. As I grew older, my motive changed into helping people and to do meaningful work that saves lives. The work itself drew me. Today, I work as an aid in the hospital in the Emergency Room and I actually love coming in to work. My job primarily, deals with Baker Act patients, stocking supplies, transport, and fulfilling patient's requests. In other words, I am an extra hand in improving patient quality of life in the hospital. To me, it makes me feel so fulfilled when I can do something that can improve patient's experience and provide them what they need. I work shoulder to shoulder with nurses and they have taught me so much about patient care and I am so lucky to be under their wing learning all I can before going into my nursing program. They motivate me to want to do more and take on a greater role. I want to pursue pediatric nursing because it's an even more fulfilling work to do. Before my current job, I was a summer camp Counselor having to keep track of 25 children (ages 6-7) safe and happy. It was very difficult at times but, the many great memories making the kids smile brought the most self-fulfillment to me. Bringing these two worlds together would ultimately lead to pediatric nursing. I love to make people happy but it's emphasized by making children happy. I want my joy to help kid in need and cheer them up. In my mind, I am still a kid in many ways and there is never a dull moment with a life surrounding children. It breaks my heart when a child comes to the emergency room which makes me care even more so not just for the child but also for the parents. Our children are our future and I take it as a sacred privilege to care for them. I feel honored to do so because you can only imagine if the child you are taking care of is your own little girl or beautiful boy. This is the profession that's meant for me. I love it. I hear it calling, the sound of children's laughter.

I want to pursue a career in nursing because it's an environment that I thrive in but, the real reason is that my older brother got me interested into nursing in the first place. He's my hero and the person I look up to the most. Every night he would come home with the most wild and hilarious stories. I wanted in, I wanted to be in the place where the action is. As I grew older, my motive changed into helping people and to do meaningful work that saves lives. The work itself drew me. Today, I work as an aid in the hospital in the Emergency Room and I actually love coming in to work. My job primarily, deals with Baker Act patients, stocking supplies, transport, and fulfilling patient's requests. In other words, I am an extra hand in improving patient quality of life in the hospital. To me, it makes me feel so fulfilled when I can do something that can improve patient's experience and provide them what they need. I work shoulder to shoulder with nurses and they have taught me so much about patient care and I am so lucky to be under their wing learning all I can before going into my nursing program. They motivate me to want to do more and take on a greater role. I want to pursue pediatric nursing because it's an even more fulfilling work to do. Before my current job, I was a summer camp Counselor having to keep track of 25 children (ages 6-7) safe and happy. It was very difficult at times but, the many great memories making the kids smile brought the most self-fulfillment to me. Bringing these two worlds together would ultimately lead to pediatric nursing. I love to make people happy but it's emphasized by making children happy. I want my joy to help kid in need and cheer them up. In my mind, I am still a kid in many ways and there is never a dull moment with a life surrounding children. It breaks my heart when a child comes to the emergency room which makes me care even more so not just for the child but also for the parents. Our children are our future and I take it as a sacred privilege to care for them. I feel honored to do so because you can only imagine if the child you are taking care of is your own little girl or beautiful boy. This is the profession that's meant for me. I love it. I hear it calling, the sound of children's laughter.

I want to pursue a career in nursing because it's an environment that I thrive in but, the real reason is that my older brother got me interested into nursing in the first place. He's my hero and the person I look up to the most. Every night he would come home with the most wild and hilarious stories. I wanted in, I wanted to be in the place where the action is. As I grew older, my motive changed into helping people and to do meaningful work that saves lives. The work itself drew me. Today, I work as an aid in the hospital in the Emergency Room and I actually love coming in to work. My job primarily, deals with Baker Act patients, stocking supplies, transport, and fulfilling patient's requests. In other words, I am an extra hand in improving patient quality of life in the hospital. To me, it makes me feel so fulfilled when I can do something that can improve patient's experience and provide them what they need. I work shoulder to shoulder with nurses and they have taught me so much about patient care and I am so lucky to be under their wing learning all I can before going into my nursing program. They motivate me to want to do more and take on a greater role. I want to pursue pediatric nursing because it's an even more fulfilling work to do. Before my current job, I was a summer camp Counselor having to keep track of 25 children (ages 6-7) safe and happy. It was very difficult at times but, the many great memories making the kids smile brought the most self-fulfillment to me. Bringing these two worlds together would ultimately lead to pediatric nursing. I love to make people happy but it's emphasized by making children happy. I want my joy to help kid in need and cheer them up. In my mind, I am still a kid in many ways and there is never a dull moment with a life surrounding children. It breaks my heart when a child comes to the emergency room which makes me care even more so not just for the child but also for the parents. Our children are our future and I take it as a sacred privilege to care for them. I feel honored to do so because you can only imagine if the child you are taking care of is your own little girl or beautiful boy. This is the profession that's meant for me. I love it. I hear it calling, the sound of children's laughter.

Never put your finances in one place or, never put your eggs in one basket. Investing your finances in more than one place is the foremost thing that my father told me before opening up my first bank account when I was little. In this way, my finances can slow accumulate faster via the interest I get from the bank but more importantly a good long term investment would to invest into stocks and bonds over a long period of time. I have 3 bank accounts: a savings, checking, and money market. All used for different purposes but all accumulate money slowly that I would never have got otherwise. As for stocks, I put money into stock and I have accumulated over $100 over the span of a few years rather than just putting it all into a checking account to just let it sit. By doing this, I have put myself into a better position financially. After this one principle is put into place, the rest will follow through in the basic do's and don'ts of saving and investing. This way also provides me with security in that all my money won't go away if the investment turns out bad. It mitigates my lose on that particular investment. So every day I live and breathe that tip because it allows me to afford aggressive investments while being conservative in preserving my finances.

The pandemic has helped my academic career make leaps. In high school from 2017-2021 I was in the Cambridge Program and the exams were increasing in difficulty and I knew I was not going to pass my English Literature exam because that subject was difficult for me and I am not the best test taker. Due to the pandemic the exams were cancelled that year and we were to turn in our past work to project our scores in which my grade was much better for I am a better worker/learner. I was able to dual enroll as well in high school by attending lectures via zoom and earned an additional fourteen credits otherwise I would have needed transportation which I did not at the time. The best thing however, is that I found love in the thick of it all. Her name is Elisha. If it wasn't for the word limit I would tell you how much of a positive influence she has been for me and how much happier I have been in the past year because of her. She truly makes times like these better and she is my motivation for continuing my education. I love her.

I am vigorously passionate about the environment and the natural foods of my home state of Florida because I want others to care and be enthralled in how diverse and distinguished our subtropical ecosystem is. Being an avid angler myself I love to be soaking under the hot sun looking to the Gulf shimmering back at me while having a wet line in the water. However, the the very survival of my beautiful home has been under threat for the passed four years with the breakout of red tide, pollution, and climate change. Due to this, being able to find fresh fish from the Gulf of Mexico has been getting more difficult for me to harvest. My concerns have been growing year after year with the red tide bloom. To educate myself further in how to play my part in mitigating the human effects on my local environment, I took a college level Marine Science course in high school for 2 years studying the basics of how a marine ecosystem works and interacts. I learned that human activity puts the ecosystem at most risk by unsustainable harvesting, pollution, and a lack of support to clean up our mess. I learned so much from that class that It deepened my appreciation of my home making me a better resident and angler. I learned what specific activities puts specific species at risk. I do my part in sharing what I know to friends, family, and the tourists that pass me by. Whenever I fish, there are always tourists that like the stroll up and down the shore. From my experience, tourists are the ones with interest but residents of this great state are not so enthusiastic about the home they chose to live in. True it may be abnormally humid and mosquitos are as numerous as the grains of sand on the beach, but that shortsightedness blocks out the beauty that we depend on day and night. The key is to get Floridians to be stewards of our home. Strength in numbers will stop big sugar and energy companies from dumping toxic waste into the Gulf and Lake Okeechobee. This will expand the perimeter of conservation for the Everglades, not to mention it's condition as well. Studies have shown that hunters and anglers pay most for local and state conservation yet they get a bad wrap for interfering with wildlife. However, they are not to blame because unlike some keyboard warriors who slander the hunter/angler title, it's been those working with the land and water that understands the plight of Florida's ecosystem. As a community I have been raising awareness and have been performing my duty as a Floridian in cleaning up my local beaches and parks. For these reasons, I am in love with my local environment and the natural foods that I am so fortunate to have. I have been learning about my home and will continue to learn about it even more as an eternal promise to myself. Support our local and state conservation efforts then you would be truly help out me put some fresh snapper on my dinner table. Thank you.

I work for Baycare, the company that I plan on working for the rest of my career. I want my legacy to be one of the best nurses that Baycare ever has hired. I want my name to be synonymous with elite patient care. I am a very competitive person. I strive to be the very best, competing with myself every shift. I will never be content with my work until the day I retire. Everyday, I want others to look at me and just know that I'm giving the best possible care to my patients. However, if not that, I want to be known as the most compassionate worker in the ER. Other people that I work with lack this quality and it both makes my blood boil and breaks my heart greatly. I want to raise the standard when it comes to care, the best asset to have like an extension of your arm. My legacy will be told through my work.

My favorite artist is Guy Harvey. His masterpieces feature Florida's ecosystem thus placing an emphasis on how precious it is. Florida is my home and I especially appreciate his work in helping others see the beauty of it. His message of protecting beauty is especially even more pronounced due to the decline of water quality in recent years because of red tide, dumping, and increased CO2 emissions and I'm glad he expresses my same concerns and values as me.

I get through the tough times by focusing on what I can control rather than worry about the things I cannot. It's super cliché but it truly works wonders. This mindset allows me to work around the things I cannot control or mitigate them. Humans are creatures of circumstance and our resourcefulness is one of the best assets we possess. I do my utmost to do the things I can do to better my circumstances. This helps me get through not only in a practical manner but in a mentally reassuring way knowing that doing what I can now to set me up for success will be the best course of action I can take. I know from that point things are guaranteed to get better. I have a life to live and no time to complain so I will not rest until I achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a Registered Nurse with a BSN. My goal by doing this is by achieving financial freedom through learning. This has taught me to be persistent and to find more than one way to solve problems. To never give up in the face of adversity but instead to take it on by the horns because I WILL overcome my tough times. Visions can become real if you work hard and smart about it. I am more determined than ever and I will not slow down.

My best skill is scavenging and saving things. To be clear, I am definitely not a hoarder but I know a good deal when I see one. I find joy in this skill because I know second-hand items still have great value. This skill was instilled in me as a child up to the present as an adult. My parents would always take me to garage sales and thrift stores to find little treasures, nickel and diming things that would last me years on end. To this day, I still continue sharpening this skill. I still go to garage sales and thrift stores. I also save using various coupons and deals on food and other consumables. Leftovers are always saved in the Breneman household thus saving hundreds of dollars. Personally, I collect NFL jerseys and I never pay top dollar for them. I currently have 4 embroidered jerseys never exceeding to pay $30 for each whereas buying online would have costed $100. I also find fishing equipment that I use that my brother and I still use. I'm always on the lookout for good deals on things I need and want putting minimal stress on my wallet. This skill I practice everyday gives me a sense of satisfaction not just for getting a good deal but also reusing things that people made peace with and are ready to let go. Most of the time the people holding the garage sale are looking to clear clutter rather than making a profit. When I buy their things they smile with appreciation that their former belongings are not going to waste. They still have an attachment and the feeling in mutually gratifying. One man's trash is most definitely another man's treasure.

The most inspiring book that I've read is "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. This book has deepened my love for nature while instilling a healthy fear of it. I love fishing and the outdoors yet this book was affirmation on my view of nature. This book sold me into the ideals of transcendentalism being enthralled by being surrounded by nature, one of God's many gifts. Making a pilgrimage would be something that I would love to do to enhance my love and appreciation for nature because of this book. It has also inspired me to take my role in nature, digging my bare hands into the dirt to be a steward of my home caring for various plants to help the local ecosystem in my residential neighborhood. Lastly, this book has inspired me to learn all that I can about my home of Florida. It has greatly encouraged my fascination to learn more about my local wildlife and how I can do my part to support our precious birds, turtles, manatees, and other marine life. I have learned so much about my home and I am nothing but content from that thirst for knowledge sparking from that book. This is the first book that I would recommend if anyone asked me.

The warm embrace of the dark, The grounding sensation of the stars rolling over us, The stillness of the black water as if our lives was frozen in a painting; A fire made with good friends begins to ember and etches itself into the memories of it's makers A kiss from the soothing wind, A bond between people surrounding a fire passing around a drink and the sand between our toes. Conversations about the people we love... and will love.

What I love about me is that I do not care what other people think about me. I think too many people of my generation care about what others think about them. I like the policy, "what you see is what you get". I like that I have the fortitude to not sell myself as anything else. I don't expect anything out of other people and I will always cherish and greatly appreciate the smallest act of kindness that anyone gives me. I love how I don't mind being the butt-end of a joke or making other people laugh at my conduct and colorful attitude. What I love about me is that My joy and my drive comes from the benefit of others. I love to make people laugh and bring them joy through laughter, a little mental vacation away from our daily troubles. I am a pretty simple guy and I am easy to please. What I also love about me is that I love to show people that I love and care for them because you don't then drawing out the joy in people will be harder. I love that I am a people person and I also love that I have the chance to take part in the care for others as a job. I am a very joyous person and I would love to show and share it with you. Self appreciation is key and I love myself for those reasons.

Honesty. More than ever, famous people or influential figures have been exposed for past mistakes committed that have been hushed up and hid under the rug. If I was an influential figure, my message would be to encourage those as influential as me to be as honest as possible and to recognize the magnitude of power they have through their liking. This is geared more toward political figures to expose anything egregious in their past. People have the right to not disclose personal information for their personal safety such as a medical diagnosis and things as of that should remain confidential but as for committing crimes of sexual abuse of other felony-level will come to the light. In this sense, people who run for office will not be elected based on the persona they put up front but of the person within. This equalizes races and makes committees more honest with each other thus decreasing partisanship in a congress that starves for parties to cooperate and get urgent matters solved. I would herald to the people vetting political figures for everything that they stand for. In other words, I would be an unfunny John Oliver. They way that democracy can work efficiently is if the people routinely check and vet the people they elect even after they have been in office of some time. My message and I would spearhead the effort in which to carry out and look after the political welfare of the people. Once we eliminate those sly political figures that have something to hide then bipartisanship will be healthy enough for a democracy to function. Honesty is the best policy.

What makes me happy is my faith. I'm not going to get preachy but it's the plain truth. My faith has given me the wisdom and the way to grow up as a normal, healthy boy. I am part of a community of good people that genuinely care about my wellbeing as well as my family. My life long friends that I have found were met on the common basis of our faith. My faith enabled me to contrast my life from others and educated me to never stray from the happiness that I have now. Life is precious and it is a gift. How we use that gift is the difference of what makes us happy and what doesn't. With this knowledge, I, in a way, elevate myself to become more sensitive and aware of other people than that of not being educated through my faith and community. In these facets, I consider myself so much happier because my faith has equipped me for the real world much better in daily interactions and teamwork. My faith have taught me that I am unique and that nobody can take away my relationship with God. I am not alone. I find great joy with the prospect of creation and am very satisfied with the answers the bible provides. My faith motivates me to express my joy to others and that's were my joy will and always be.

Never put your finances in one place or, never put your eggs in one basket. Investing your finances in more than one place is the foremost thing that my father told me before opening up my first bank account when I was little. In this way, my finances can slow accumulate faster via the interest I get from the bank but more importantly a good long term investment would to invest into stocks and bonds over a long period of time. I have 3 bank accounts: a savings, checking, and money market. All used for different purposes but all accumulate money slowly that I would never have got otherwise. As for stocks, I put money into stock and I have accumulated over $100 over the span of a few years rather than just putting it all into a checking account to just let it sit. By doing this, I have put myself into a better position financially. After this one principle is put into place, the rest will follow through in the basic do's and don'ts of saving and investing. This way also provides me with security in that all my money won't go away if the investment turns out bad. It mitigates my lose on that particular investment. So every day I live and breathe that tip because it allows me to afford aggressive investments while being conservative in preserving my finances.

Never put your eggs in one basket. It sounds simple but It couldn't ever be more true. This means I don't put all of my money in one bank account but in separate places in which it can do much more. Currently, I have 3 accounts with my bank and own stock and plan to own more in the future when I am in a better spot. This simple yet effective principle has better enabled my money to work more for me. The interest that I am receiving is money that I would never have earned if I did put it all into one place. I find it so important because this allows me to use money in places that will help me in my future thus allowing me to be more flexible from a financial standpoint. This also sets the foundation in teaching me so many other lesson in dealing with my finances such as teaching me the responsibility of holding a bank account and being able to spend wisely. I do my utmost to find better deals for things that I need. One such example, is that for work I buy my scrubs on Amazon for less than what I would buy for it at a department store. It all starts with a strong foundation and I am able to learn that from putting my finances in more than one spot. Never put your eggs all in one basket.