Many people are drawn to K-pop because of their admiration for the idols. These idols have the extraordinary ability to inspire others and help them achieve the unattainable. Today, I'd like to discuss the three ways in which K-pop groups have impacted me: health, inspiration, and positivity. The captivating dances performed by K-pop idols inspired me to try them myself. Additionally, my mother expressed concerns about my weight and suggested that I shed some pounds. I believed K-pop music could help me lose weight, as it had already greatly improved my mental health. The K-pop group that particularly inspired me was BTS. Despite my family's opinion that BTS is uninteresting, I find them engaging. I've been dedicating time to learning their dance routines, which have significantly contributed to my improved health. BTS's music and performances lift my spirits, and I watch them whenever they're on live TV. BTS is an incredibly inspirational group, both in and out of the studio. They exude vibrant energy and authenticity during their performances, which is truly motivating. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they never give up on their dreams. They inspire me to persist in pursuing my ambition of attending college, achieving success as a businesswoman, and being a better person in general. BTS's positivity has brought so much joy and light into my life, especially during moments when I felt surrounded by darkness. As a teenager, I struggled with depression, but their music and energy have helped me transform into a much happier person. Whenever I feel stressed about an upcoming test, I often find one of their songs playing in my head. It's like they have a way of infusing humor into my thoughts, and I find myself imagining funny scenarios or recalling their jokes. Their impact reaches beyond just the music; they have been a source of support in every aspect of my life. I vividly remember how their humor and support have been key factors in my personal and academic achievements. In summary, BTS has had a significant impact on my health, motivation, and positivity by staying true to themselves. Their captivating dance expressions, heartfelt life stories shared with fans, and engaging TV appearances with celebrity friends have inspired me to embrace my authenticity in a very powerful way. It was like I was having a personal conversation with them every time they appeared on TV or in McDonald’s commercials, even though I wasn't. I was glad that their music videos and commercials found me or I've wouldn't still been a lost depressed teen.

Nowadays, people have developed grit in unexpected places such as at home, school, and the workplace. People have shown grit even in their lowest moments. Today, I will share how I developed a mindset of grit through acceptance, determination, and knowledge. Developing a gritty mindset for me meant learning to accept my failures. A particularly challenging failure for me was during my 7th-grade year when we switched from remote learning to in-person school. My mom made me continue with virtual learning with my little brother, but I didn't realize that the learning program had changed from Google Classroom to Virtual Virginia. Virtual Virginia was difficult for me because the teachers would assign work but not grade it when I submitted it. They also didn't provide much instruction. Despite this, I persevered and continued working, accepting that I might fail. It wasn't until my grandmother encouraged me. I truly embraced the need to keep pushing forward, even though I knew I had made mistakes. This experience taught me to accept my mistakes and not stress too much about making decisions. The next thing that helped me develop a mindset of grit is determination. I gained determination when I was in 8th grade, which is when I wrote my first essay. I didn't know how to write an essay because no one had ever taught me in the past, so when my teacher said we were writing essays, I was confused. I wrote an essay and guessed with the prompts. When I gave it to her to grade, she was always on my back. Sometimes she would give everyone two essays to do if we didn't finish during the class period. If this was on paper, she would provide us with this long list of vocabulary words we needed to write down, finish in a day, and then add them to our essays. Even though my classmates were giving up, I didn't, which amazed them. I have babysat kids in my family from newborn to 10 years old, which they didn't know about. When I remember all the things I went through, from multitasking to losing my voice from dealing with those kids, I was more determined to pass everything that she threw at me. In the end, I passed the class with the highest grade and gained the determination to overcome obstacles that got in my way, even from teachers. The final factor that contributed to developing a gritty mindset was my thirst for knowledge. You might be wondering how this desire for knowledge relates to developing grit. People define grit in various ways such as ambition, bravery, and resilience. To me, grit is synonymous with knowledge. For instance, when I was in 3rd grade, I took my first Standards of Learning (SOL) test, and my teacher warned me that failing it would mean failing the grade. I informed my family about this, and they purchased workbooks for me. As I worked through the workbooks, my thirst for knowledge grew. I was motivated to acquire knowledge to achieve a specific goal, namely passing my first SOL test. In conclusion, I have embraced a gritty mindset by acknowledging my failures, demonstrating a determination to overcome obstacles, and gaining the knowledge to surmount them. Accepting responsibility for mistakes, moving forward, and persevering illustrate my ability to learn and grow. This commitment allows me to confront challenges with ease.