To put it simply, friendship means the world to me. There is nothing that can replace the people in my life who I know will support me at my worst and uplift me at my best. And I would do the same thing for them. While I have made many acquaintances throughout my life, I consider friendship an unlocked door that invites someone into your life in a special way. What unlocks this door? Above all, commitment. A friend will be committed to your life in one way or another, and it’s this aspect that will separate a friend from a mere acquaintance. One of my best friends recently moved away to another state, so seeing each other in person isn’t an option for us anymore. While this is unfortunate and makes me miss her terribly, I draw comfort from the fact that I know we are still committed to each other, but now in different ways. We call each other on the phone, we send little daily life updates over video chats, and we still talk about all the big and little things going on in our lives. Friendship means everything to me because it’s my friends who I have been able to rely on in times of hardship and times of celebration. We stay committed to one another because our relationships hold great value. And to me, there is no greater value in this world than my friends.

To keep a growth mindset, I look to my past to see how far I’ve come toward any goals I have. Oftentimes, I look back to see where I came from just to reassure myself that I’m right where I’m meant to be in the present. One example I recall often is when I started a new job in November of 2020. When I submitted an application to my current employer I had fears and doubts but was still excited about the opportunities I could gain if I succeeded in getting hired. Fast forward through being in the second batch of applicants, one interview, and a couple of hours of job shadowing later and I got the job! I was so excited for this change, but also had a constant stream of anxieties about all of the worst “what if”s I could imagine. One of my duties at this job is to check on all of our printer areas that house important office supplies for each department. In total, the five areas I maintain make for a lot of supplies that need to be inventoried and ordered each week. I remember just about worrying myself sick over this task, simply because I didn’t know how to do it. Looking back at myself now, I just have to laugh at how nervous I was. And that’s when I look at myself now and am reassured that while growth can be difficult, it can happen right before our eyes without even realizing it. For me, keeping a growth mindset is all about taking the time to look back and realize just how far I’ve come, and that my goals are attainable through hard work and determination.

Patience is defined as "the capacity to accept or tolerate trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Having patience is important to me because I know that being rational and level-headed is one of the most important qualities a person can have in a world that continues to only move faster with each passing day. I believe that practicing patience is a way to be kinder to myself and those around me. Growing up, I found it very difficult to talk about my emotions, and when I experienced strong responses to what was happening around me, I often lashed out in unfavorable ways. I would immediately resort to having intensely negative thoughts about myself and others involved in the situation. As I got older and continued to have trouble gaining control over myself and my emotions when provoked, I came to realize the importance of patience. Having patience is so vital because it allows me to not become inundated with feelings that cloud my judgment. In turn, practicing patience allows me to handle myself and others more maturely and positively. I can efficiently think through what I feel and make rational decisions on what actions would best serve me and others in any given circumstance. Being patient is important to me because I believe that it makes me a kinder and more reliable person to myself and others. And I believe that being kind and tolerant in a world that continues to move faster every day is one step towards a better future for everyone.

My favorite hobby is knitting. I haven’t made any extremely complicated garments, and I haven’t been actively working on my skills for very long, but it’s my favorite nonetheless. Why? Because my grandmother taught me. I grew up watching her knit whenever I would be at her house, sitting on the living room floor watching the Noggin channel while she sat in her chair, knitting bag and supplies right next to her on a little end table. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I asked her to teach me, searching for the next best activity to occupy me while on summer vacation. I learned the necessary basics in a single afternoon lesson and went on my way with a tote bag of donated yarn, a set of needles, and a couple of beginner’s booklets. I didn’t keep up with my practice for very long before I became bored of the repetitive movements and overwhelming amount of patterns to choose from. My grandma never ceased to ask me what I was going to make next, much to my annoyance and embarrassment that I had so quickly become disinterested in the activity. Fast forward a few years and I decided to pick the needles back up. I taught myself the basics again-I couldn’t bring myself to bother my grandma to teach me again, for fear that I wouldn’t keep with the hobby for a second time. I found, however, that I enjoyed the same things that made me stop practicing in the first place. The repetitive stitches, one after another, were comforting. I could sit and knit and reflect on my day, listen to music, or even watch a show while keeping my hands occupied and my mind focused in a way that I’ve always found difficult. And while all the different patterns available to me were still a bit overwhelming, I saw them this time as stepping stones. Once I mastered one I could move on to the next and it was only up from there. So far, I’ve made headbands, hats, scarves, and am currently working on a blanket that is made entirely from yarn scraps from my grandmother’s never-ending yarn stash. That blanket, while incredibly simple, will end up being my most precious project. Not only is it made with yarn that my grandma so gladly gave to me, but it is also representative of our relationship, our memories, and our shared interest in this hobby. I enjoy this hobby because it brings me back to myself and more importantly it will always bring me back to my family. Every time I pick up my needles and yarn, I think of my grandmother and that summer afternoon she spent with me to teach me this hobby that I’ll take with me through the rest of my life.

Staying true to myself has been more than a daily check-in ritual, and more akin to long weeks and months of introspection to determine who I was, who I am, and who I want to be. This past year I experienced a lot of firsts. Ones that broke my heart and ones that had me overflowing with joy. Overcoming the difficult days was not easy. I chose to take time to myself and realized that those around me may not always be looking out for what's best for me. The loss of some people in the process of learning how to stand up for myself was hard, but it brought me closer to those who saw the real me and encouraged my growth. These days, I feel that I've learned so much about myself, and thinking about my past, present, and future is what helps me stay true to the version of myself that I strive to be. I look to my past to draw on my lived experiences, and how it has impacted me and my perceptions. I look around me at the present to determine how far I've come and what has worked or not in improving myself. Mostly, though, I look to my future. Even through feelings of fear and anxiety, I have a sense of excitement about what the possibilities could be and where I may be led. In this way, I can learn and help myself stay true to who I am and who I want to be every day.