There is one movie that helped build my childhood, helped develop my mindset, and helped build how I walk through life- ‘The Secret of Kells.’ Each aspect and part of the film highlighted a new point I wanted to acknowledge in my life and grow in. This was the first film I remember watching, sitting in a log cabin, tucked in my blanket, eating my Cheeto-Puffs at age 5.  The movie is about a young boy named Brendan- nephew of the village leader Abbot Cellach- who secretly studies mystical calligraphy, all while his village builds a fortress in preparation for the Northmen invasion. His uncle forbids him to study at the scriptorium. However, the famous scriptwriter, Brother Aidan, comes to visit. Brother Aidan sends him on dangerous tasks into the forbidden forests to find berries for ink and other supplies, causing him to meet Aisling (a forest spirit girl), who shows him the beauty of nature and its magic. The ignorance of the severity of the Northman attack allowed Brendan to experience the beauty of the unknown. I dreamed of seeing the world the way he did. I wanted to feel the magic of the plants and animals around me and give my appreciation to the Earth rather than dwelling on conflict and suffering.  Later in the film, Brother Aidan explains to Brendan that the Northmen destroyed the tool he used to create the Book of Iona. This tool was one of the eyes of Crum Crauch, an ancient Celtic deity, and he needed the other eye to finish the book. Aisling decides to help Brendan take the eye of Crum Crauch even though this ancient god killed her family and some of the forest. Her final words to him as she lets him in Crum’s tomb was, “Turn the darkness into light.” He does so by fighting Crum and drawing a box around him with chalk to trap him. It was here where I was terrified as a child. The idea of fighting something so dangerous in order to retrieve what I needed seemed impossible. Brendan’s fight always inspired me as a child. It showed me that sometimes you have to persevere against something that might scare you to come back out on the other side stronger, as well as how powerful creativity can make you in hard times.  Once Brendan returns the eye, the book is complete in the most beautiful calligraphy. While all seemed good, the Northmen were approaching the fortress. The movie turns grey and sad as the Abbot tries to hide the women and children. At this point, the Northmen attack, and they burn, shoot, and kill all the villagers. It was quite a morbid scene. Brendan sees his dying uncle and, at that moment, understands the seriousness of the situation that surrounds him. While Brendan and Brother Aidan escape and continue their lives, he will never forget his experience. It was the end of this movie that showed me how even though I wanted that ignorance as Brendan had, the world and its problems will still play out around me. I would need to acknowledge the issues in my world and have the courage to persevere through them. Through that, I will be able also to see the beauty in the world and honor it. This whole film was an important lesson and allowed me to see the world with such an open and excited mind.

My father, who works in real estate, Always taught me the importance of financial literacy as I was growing up. Every time he had meetings or a closing he would take me and walk me through the processes of buying homes and different types of loans; he would explain the value of credit score and give me books to read about saving and investment. My mother, coming from a poor immigrant background, always taught me the value of saving my money and to not spend so recklessly on things I don't really need at the moment. Now, my mother, who I predominantly live with, is jobless. All the while my father, who had decided to reopen a mortgage company, is in severe debt and making a low-income while living with his girlfriend. Instead of making this financial fiasco a depressing situation, I used it as motivation. I got to work to make my own money. During this process I began to understand the work it takes to earn and keep money. It requires discipline. Sometimes you need to wake up early and go to bed late, work when you are tired and stressed, and give people your best when you feel at your worst. And once you get that paycheck it takes a lot to not just throw that money away on frivolous teenage things. There is a pressure to fit in with those around you and blowing my money on trends and the newest item is something I know I cannot afford to let myself do. Instead, I save and Invest my money when I can and set budgets of how much I can spend on personal things after taking care of my needs. The things I was taught growing up, I was finally able to put into play and start building good financial habits. As my father will not be supporting me financially through college, me and my mother are spending our time making financial goals, saving money, and working hard to allow me to go to college. I plan to use what I learned growing up and in my current working experience to not lose myself financially in college, but to invest in my future. Starting good financial habits now will not only leave me with less debt and a higher credit score when I get out of college, but mental preparedness to enter the professional work force and maintain financial stability. My end goal is to create generational wealth and a prosperous life for me and my family, and it is never too early to start.