As a kid, watching Disney movies was very common for me. I have always enjoyed Disney and how fun its films are. One of my favorite movies I watched as a kid was the Jungle Book, and my favorite Disney character was Mowgli. I saw Jungle Boy 2, the film that came out in 2003, and the first time I saw it, I immediately became interested in the movie and the characters. The central message behind the film was that Mowgli was trying to fit in with the rest of the people in the jungle with him. Bagheera, the black panther, took him with him as an infant to be adopted by a group of wolves. One of the reasons why I like Mowgli was how curious he was about not just the world around him but how people behaved around him. I think that the fact that animals raised him helped him see the world from a different perspective and allowed him to gravitate toward the animals. He started to acclimate to his environment and wanted to embrace the culture in which he was raised since he was an infant. As a human being, I would imagine it took a lot of bravery to be able to survive in that environment and incorporate a different type of lifestyle. Despite being raised in an environment that was unconventional at times compared to typical human society, Mowgli was able to adapt to his surroundings and escape from adversity in the form of Shere Khan. Many of the character traits that Mowgli possessed are traits all of us have. Mowgli was very courageous and rebellious in some ways. Sometimes his rebellious ways got him into challenging situations, such as his encounter with Kaa, the snake, who attempted to hypnotize him, which he did not. I recall that he wanted to fight Shere Khan on time in the film, and despite almost getting killed by Shere Khan, he managed to survive this encounter. Mowgli was very resilient and had this gift of being aware of not just the world around him but making sense of complex things. You would think he would be more comfortable in an environment with houses and normal human beings. Still, since he was exposed to a different environment, he ended up feeling like himself in an environment where he was around people of his kind.

"Knowledge is power" is a significant statement to me. Since I was a kid, learning about not just myself but how the world operates has always interested me. Through K-8 and high school, I have been able to digest the information my teachers gave me and apply it to different areas of my life, whether beneficial or not. With the growing amount of student debt and people not being able to afford college, it is essential to study ways to lower the cost of students going to college. As a first-generation student, going to college will not just allow me to acquire skills that will not only serve me well in the real world but will allow me to become a successful, productive citizen. I have always been interested in school, and I love to learn new things. As a kid, I always loved reading books, whether it was about history or any topic. My family, specifically my mom, has stressed the importance of attending college. Coming from a low-income family, going to college is very expensive for me. The thoughts of going to college, especially an out-of-state public university, may seem impossible. But with support from my family and access to many scholarships/grants, going to college is a much more attainable goal for me. Education is the pathway to a great future for me and provides me access to many great things, such as a great job with good pay and plenty of career opportunities. Seeing that there are many ways that people can learn about something, whether on the Internet or by reading books, I feel that college has become an option many people overlook. If you work hard and take the time to complete your college applications, then a college will most likely reach out to you about potentially enrolling in your college. One principle I like to follow is that if I am interested and engaged in a subject that I am generally passionate about, I will most likely do my best to learn more about that subject that the teacher is teaching me. I want to go to college not just to make new friends and build connections with others but to identify my strengths and weaknesses as a person. I feel that going to college is a time where you can truly grow as a person because you are being exposed to different things and different people, as well as finding out what career might interest you. As an undergraduate, while I may not have the same benefits as a graduate student or have the ability to get a full-ride scholarship, I believe that going to college would benefit me in ways of not just advancing my career interests of being a sports journalist but would allow me to try different opportunities so that I could build meaningful relationships with people that are interested in sports journalism as well. With the opportunities available to me and the ability to branch out to different things that I have never tried before, college would be very beneficial for me in terms of my development as a young man. I want to be able to inspire future generations of my family to go to college because, historically, not many people have been able to go to college in my family. By going to college, I could break this cycle and empower other students from low-income families to work hard and believe in themselves so that going to college could become a reality for them.

Why are you mad? You can't afford to be weak in front of all those people. My journey with mental health has been one filled with trials and tribulations. Mental health played a pivotal role in my life, dating back to when I was a freshman in high school. Mental health is an issue that has been historically ignored and is finally getting the attention that it needs. It is one of those issues that has taken priority in my life as a college student. As a black person, mental health has largely been ignored in the black community. While I have had a history of mental health, my battles with mental health have made me the strong, resilient person I am today. I have battled depression and anxiety, all of which occurred during my high school years. It is widespread for teenagers and young adults to go through a phase of mood swings and a general shift in their attitude, especially when they are experiencing puberty. I feel what helped me was asking people for help and having the courage to seek out medical treatment so that I could get better. This made me feel more vulnerable in terms of admitting my struggle with mental health, and, as a result, it made it easier for me to accept the treatment provided by doctors/therapists. When I started seeing my therapist, I began to vent about my feelings and develop coping skills that I still incorporate into my life. I practice coping skills such as playing basketball or taking a walk outside. This helps me get through days when things may not be going great or when I feel lonely. Being able to open up to people and learning how to express your feelings to people, whether it is your doctors or therapists, will allow them to find ways to assist you better so that you can get better. Since I was a child, the idea was that if you were deemed mentally unfit, then that meant that you were "crazy." Looking past this misconception, I have learned that it is okay to admit depression or social anxiety because it will only make you stronger and encourage others to speak up about their struggles with mental health. Another thing that helps me maintain my mental health is drawing closer to God and finding ways to become spiritually stronger every day to combat any negative thoughts I have throughout the day. At my lowest point, when I had to go to a mental hospital because I was not mentally fit to go back home to my family, I leaned on God to help me get through those tough times so that I could go back home to my family. Seeing the vision that God has for my life and knowing that he is guiding me towards my destiny one day at a time has allowed me to shift my mindset from negative to positive. There have been days when I have felt lonely and empty, but following God's vision for my life and having enormous support from my family has helped me stay levelheaded. In conclusion, as I grow mentally and spiritually, I will continue to help others and encourage others to share their struggles with mental health so that I can inspire people to get the help they need. With all the support from my family and the help I have received from my doctors/therapists, I feel confident that I could become a successful, prosperous citizen while prioritizing my mental health.

As an undergraduate student, I feel that college will introduce me to many new possibilities and help me make life-long friends. I feel blessed with how I have been able to meet great people throughout my life, but I think that college will allow me to open up to things I may have never tried before or people I never knew I would meet. Throughout my life, my parents have always wanted me to go to college and do something great with my life, and I feel that attending college would help me broaden my horizons and truly help me find myself as I continue to navigate the world. The ability to set goals and find a healthy work/life balance has always been essential to me. As you grow older, the more responsibilities you will have and the more sacrifices you have to make in your life. I am a strong advocate for managing your stress levels, especially if you are a college student. One of the things that I find very helpful is exercise. Exercise allows me to calm my nerves and remove any frustrations I might have on a given day. I love walking, running, and playing basketball because they are all activities I enjoy. They also allow me to focus on achieving a goal rather than anything that may be stressing me out at the time, whether the goal revolves around reaching a particular milestone in how far I run or making a certain amount of baskets. The second thing that helps me stay composed is meditation and praying to God. I strongly believe in worshipping God and thanking him for giving me life on Earth. Meditating allows me to focus on the present moment and on positive things in my life, which is very important because many negative temptations arise throughout the day, whether from things that happen out of your control or people. When I get up every morning, I love listening to motivational speeches and sermons to get in the right mindset as I start my day. I feel that hearing encouraging messages about life and God allows me to get spiritual nourishment and is genuinely a mood booster. There are some days when I might feel lonely or sad, but I have always made it a habit to think about God and how he is always watching over me. I always like to talk to my family over the phone. My family gives me valuable advice when I am going through tough times. I call my family to tell them how I feel and get helpful advice on issues I have. Their wisdom and tips allow me to approach situations that I may have to deal with in a better way. They are genuinely supportive and encouraging, and I honestly do not know what to do without them. In conclusion, I am excited about my next two years as a college student because they will allow me to find a desirable career where I can make a great living and create great memories with other people. Through balancing school, work, and life, I will have an enjoyable college experience and ultimately move on towards becoming a mature, prosperous young man.

As a young man, I am learning new things about myself and the world around me. As I grow, the more experiences I have, the more knowledge I gain about who I truly am. Learning has provided me a pathway to learn about new things and acquire valuable insight to apply to different areas of my life. I have always been curious about the world and its functions, and I like to provide insight and expertise on passionate topics. The world is fascinating, and with the rise of the Internet and numerous books on issues, people can learn about almost anything that interests them. One of the most potent things that humans have is their brains. The brain allows you to process information and pick up valuable tips that people give you so that you can apply them to your life. Learning does not just take place in the classroom, but it takes place in all areas of society. With the many global misunderstandings and conflicts, I feel that people need to be educated about the issues affecting them to find ways to address them so that the world can become a better place. All the lessons I have learned have come from experiencing different events throughout my life and taking something away from those events to grow as a person. I recall a time when I read this book called the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. One of the habits listed in the book was always being open to learning new things. This stood out because I have always been open-minded to learning about new things. Learning something outside of my horizons will allow me to pick up certain people's behaviors and broaden how I interact with people. When I have questions or concerns about a problem I am experiencing, asking someone for help, whether it is my professor or my family, has helped me become a much more proactive person. Sometimes you feel that you know the solution to every problem, but in all honesty, asking someone knowledgeable about the issues you are having problems with will allow you to gain valuable insight from that person. One of the most overlooked aspects of learning is the idea that the more you learn, the more likely you will be able to share that information with other people. I believe the more willing someone is to educate the uneducated or less fortunate, the more people will be more inclined to learn information that could save their lives and the lives of those around them. As I continue my journey as a college student, I am excited about the people I will meet and the different things I will learn. I plan to continue to educate myself about not just the world around me but also my culture. As a black person, I feel that being able to have the ability to get an education would not only inspire other people to get an education but would encourage them to be more willing to learn. I want to get to the point where I educate the people around me about the knowledge I have gained and what I have learned so that they can feel empowered about themselves and the people around them.

My name is Na'Jay Lewis, and I am a sophomore at Northern Arizona University. I am majoring in journalism, and my career aspirations involve working in sports journalism. I am 20 years old and was born in Berkeley, California. My family and friends will describe me as someone intelligent, ambitious, and compassionate towards other people. I have always wanted to impact the world in some form significantly. My passions are sports and writing, making sports journalism an appealing career path. I think going to college would help me not just navigate the world but allow me to see all the different types of opportunities that would be available to me in the future. As it relates to what I envision in my dream future, I could see myself working for a prominent sports media newspaper such as Sports Illustrated. I could also see myself creating my own sports media company, where I could make my vision and tell my own stories that can empower people. Of course, I do see myself having a car, a house, and my own family, but I want to ensure that I have a job that will provide financial prosperity for the current generation of my family and future generations. I have always been a big advocate for choosing a career that will pay you significant money and have a job you enjoy. There has always been this glaring problem in the journalism industry and the entire workforce. A lack of diversity and representation among minorities has led to misrepresentation and lower career pathways for minorities to enter the force. While I may not experience racism daily, I see this as a sign that I will have to work twice as hard as a white person who is getting into the same career as I am. Sometimes, I might go to a job interview, and the manager has a choice between two people. He might choose the white client over me, even though I have the same qualifications and a more diverse skillset than them. Racism and institutional racism is still a problem that has persisted, but I know that I have a great support system in my family that will help me along the way. I am determined to help break this barrier and allow people that have been historically underrepresented to get opportunities to get high-quality jobs in the workforce. I plan to remove this block by creating my own sports media company and promoting awareness of the misrepresentation of minorities in the media. I think if people of color were to develop their own businesses and promote their ideas, it would signal to others that we could have sustainable success and wealth in our communities. I think owning our own companies would show that minorities could offer many great things to companies, especially when it relates to higher positions in multi-billion dollar companies. If I want to help end the problem of the press not being diverse enough, I, along with support from others, have to urge other newspaper companies to hire more people of color in their communities. I feel another thing that would help alleviate this problem is to start to bring different perspectives to not just the journalism industry but the entire workforce. The more people are willing to hear other views, the more they will be willing to accept someone from a different background. I strive to do great things in the world and impact people's lives in both a positive and an emotional way.

One personal finance lesson I find essential is always asking for help and reaching out to your financial advisor when you have the chance. One of the things I have learned as I navigate throughout my journey in college is that if you take the time to ask for help when you are having trouble with something, you will feel less pressured and will be able to succeed in life. As it pertains to handling my finances, as a college student, I need to be able to learn about financial literacy, especially at the young age I am. There was a point where I was spending my money from my savings account on rideshare apps such as Uber and Via because I did not have enough money in my secondary bank account. In late February, I got accepted into Northern Arizona University's four-year college. As a result, I couldn't afford to attend school because nearly half of the money in my savings account had been either spent or overdrawn. After this happened, I learned a valuable lesson about saving my money and communicating with others to let my loved ones know what I am doing with my money. One thing that I would strongly emphasize to all college students is to make sure that you create a budget and write down a plan where you spend 50% of your money on your needs, 30% on your wants, and 20% should go towards your savings account. My parents have always told me to make sure that I save my money and spend my money on things that contribute to my school and other life necessities. I firmly believe that saving your money will only lead to positive financial returns in the future and ensure financial stability for everyone.

One thing that I have learned that changed my perspective on life, in general, is that it is always important to do something that you enjoy in your life instead of focusing on negative things or doing things that make you feel bad. I have always been someone that truly believes in the saying that "Life is too short to be mad and miserable." I can relate to this because there have been times when I have felt mad at myself and the people around me because of things that were going on in my life. It was not me taking out my anger on my family members and friends, but it was that I was overwhelmed by the stressors in my life. I am optimistic and generally want to make the most out of my life. It was not until one day I came across this video I was watching on Youtube, and there was this guy who I still enjoy watching to this day, who made a great point about the idea of people making the most of their life. He said that It is essential to find things that you genuinely enjoy in life rather than constantly feeling pity or anger towards things that make you feel stressed and angry. When he said this, it changed my perspective on life as a whole because, at the time, I was not doing things that would bring me happiness, such as playing basketball, and I was going through some issues with my job. During that time, it felt like a weight was on my shoulder, holding me down. By hearing another person's perspective and being able to digest what he was saying, my mood improved, and I could steer myself in the right direction.