If you're looking for a faithful friend to take on a daring adventure and travel to the ends of the world with, sign me up. Driven by my dreams, hopes, and passions, I seek a life of excitement and purpose. You can always count on me to bring a spark of creativity and optimism to any conversation, without forgetting some warm coffee. My predominant love language is quality time; being around other people makes me happy, except if I'm with some really good chess players. In that case I would rather just go sit by a warm fire and listen to some smooth jazz with a cozy blanket.

From enjoying a toasty cup of coffee next to the living room fireplace to engaging in a heart-warming conversation with a friend on a starry night, it’s the simple things in life that make me happy. I’m thinking of the kinds of experiences that offer a sense of peace, tranquility, and serenity to the soul, allowing me to simply slow down for a second. But the fast-paced society that I live in makes it hard for me to pursue these restful moments. Many people believe that happiness can be found in a stable, rewarding career or a lucrative lifestyle. Today’s culture in America screams “live to work” instead of “work to live.” At times I find myself caught up in this mindset as well, believing that my inner satisfaction depends on my achievements or social status. Too often I pass up on the opportunity to enjoy a worry-free weekend with my friends, singing songs around a campfire, because of my drive to be successful in my schoolwork or competent enough for certain colleges. But what I’ve come to realize over time is that this philosophy doesn’t quite manage to quench my thirst for deep contentment: my true joy comes from spending time with the people I love and doing the things I cherish. As much as I recognize the importance of hard work to be successful in the professional world, my career-oriented dreams are not where I hope to find a sense of fulfillment. My ambitions are a driving force, pushing me to develop healthy academic and personal habits, but I can’t expect them to provide a “happy haven” where I will find the kind of rest that refreshes my soul. For that, I’ll need the wisdom to make space for creating precious memories that will stay with me forever.

My absolute best skill is rap. I fell in love with this musical genre years ago, when my older cousins bumped a hip-hop track on a vintage speaker one sunny afternoon. That was the day when the beautiful mix of rhythm and poetry met my ear for the first time. I was completely and utterly dumbfounded by the power of a creative rap verse on a simple instrumental. In that very instant I knew: one day I would be a rapper. For years I worked on my craft, carefully mimicking rappers of all genres and backgrounds, dating back to the days of Tupac Shakur. I taught myself to rap and articulate by spending hours practicing fast verses of artists such as Eminem and NF. I started writing more and more original songs both in English and French, using the figures of speech I'd been taught in school, and the cultural references I'd acquired over the years. As I got better, I bought some sound equipment and began recording my music and working with other artists I met on social media. Today, I have released a full studio-recorded album on all musical platforms, traveled to Paris to film a pro music video, and performed in front of large crowds with my rap group. I've developed a presence on Instagram and YouTube with thousands of people that support my craft. It's crazy for me to sit back and think about the journey I've been on, but I know it's only the beginning. In the years to come, I hope to explore a broader range of genres such as Drill, Boom-bap, and Jazz rap to reach a larger audience and expand my skill set. I am also looking to start making my own beats so I can improve in my instrumental creativity.

The most inspiring people throughout history are, in my opinion, the ones who are willing to take the path that no one takes. I'm thinking of the heroes that make sacrifices for a cause that is greater than them, or their time. One that might not be recognized or valued during the person's lifetime, but impacts countless generations in the years to come. One of the heroes I admire the most from history is Rosa Parks. Known today as "the mother of the freedom movement", Rosa Parks has marked the past century like few others. During a time where racism and segregation were still majorly present in many states in the US--which led to all kinds of absurd inequalities--, this young black woman refused to conform to the orders of a bus driver who tried to give the priority to a white passenger. This bold act resulted in a decision to vote bus segregation as unconstitutional in November 1956 under the 14th amendment of the US constitution, despite the fact that it cost Rosa Parks her arrest. She will now forever be remembered as an international symbol of resistance to segregation. Often, it takes the most extreme and revolutionary acts to see progress in society. As a young aspiring individual in a free society, I'm going to use every chance I can get to make a difference in this world just like Rosa Parks did, even if what I'm looking for initially seems impossible to obtain. Because in the end, what is the purpose of life if we don't have something to fight for?

I doubt there’s a better way to change the lazy habits of a 15-year-old teenager than sending him to a Boy Scouts camp; it works like magic. Well, at least it did for me. Three years ago, I spent most of my days lounging about watching Netflix with friends, avoiding any activity that might engage me in productivity. As far as schoolwork went, it was absolutely last on my priorities list. All this changed when I was invited to attend a Boy Scouts summer camp. This three-week rollercoaster was the most bitter-sweet growing experience of my life. I initially showed up because some friends invited me, which had gotten me excited. Little did I know what I was signing up for. The camp was a shock, to say the least. I was forced out of my comfortable habits into a rugged, rigorous lifestyle that woke me up hours earlier than I was used to, and quickly imposed manhood upon me. I was taught to use dangerous equipment, manage teams of people in complicated situations, and make use of the survival skills I learned. The first few days were hell. But to my own great surprise, I ended up loving my Boy Scouts experience. I came back a changed man, with grit and determination directing my ambitions. I never looked back. Not only did the camp shape my character, but also triggered an impressive improvement in my grades. The next year, I went back to the camp to take on a leadership role, with the goal of bringing younger, lazy teenagers --like I was once--to find a sense of accomplishment through hard work. Looking back, I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to participate in Boy Scouts and would encourage any young teenager to consider trying a camp like this.